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Edmonton Queer History Collection

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

The Calgary Gay History Project recently contributed historic gay media to our colleagues in Edmonton for digitization. Heroically, they have already digitized hundreds of magazines! You can find the collection: here.

Most of this online collection focuses on Edmonton, but several publications have a provincial reach. We contributed issues of Modern Pink, Alberta Gay and Lesbian Press (AGLP), and Outlooks Magazine, which were all published in Calgary but distributed province-wide.

*Outlooks Magazine, September 1998 Issue with GLCSA’s OK Campaign*

The close connection between our two cities is long-standing. Importantly, this collection includes several Club 70 Newsletters. Club 70 was the sister organization to Calgary’s Club Carousel, and the Club 70 Newsletter was similar in format and style to Carousel Capers. In their newsletters, one can read about the camaraderie between the Clubs.

For example, on July 29, 1972, Club 70 hosted their “Klondike-Calgary Night” after a blanket invite was sent to the members of Club Carousel.

*Club 70 Newsletter with Calgary Invite!*

This digital archive has been spearheaded by the Edmonton Queer History Project, an innovative university-community project designed to help celebrate the people, places, and moments that have helped to build Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.

{KA}

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Tagged AGLP, bisexual, Calgary, Club 70, Club Carousel, Edmonton, edmonton queer history project, gay, Gay history, GLCSA, lesbian, lgbt, lgbtq, Modern Pink, OK Campaign, Outlooks, queer, transgender

IDAHOBIT 2024

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) was established in 2004 to shed light on the violence and discrimination experienced by individuals with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, or expressions, and sex characteristics.

The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to honour the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

This day serves as a global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision-makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, and local authorities to the challenges faced by the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The initiative is now collectively managed in collaboration between regional and national networks working to advance the rights of gender and sexually diverse communities.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is currently celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal. The May17.org website is illuminating in how our human rights struggle is global and how the movement continues to grow.

In Canada, since Monday we have had the Rainbow Week of Action, with thousands events and letter writing campaigns. Today, there is a rally in Calgary at 5 PM at Central Memorial Park in support of the queer and trans community. You can also send a letter to your MP through the Rainbow Week of Action website.

In Calgary, let’s support and recognize the importance of this day and work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting world for all!

{KA}

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Tagged art, bisexual, books, Calgary, gay, idahobit, lesbian, lgbt, May 17th, queer, Rainbow Week of Action, transgender

Queer History Conference

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

We are thrilled to be attending the first National Queer and Trans+ Community History Conference in Edmonton this weekend. The conference is set to take place at MacEwan University, where researchers from all over the country will be coming together for a unique queer history immersion experience.

The conference “is designed to bring together 2SLGBTQ+ community members, non-profit organizations, heritage professionals, academics, historians, and emerging scholars who have an interest in documenting, preserving, and celebrating diverse and intersectional queer and trans+ histories in Canada. This conference serves as a scholarly community gathering space to share best practices, foster research collaborations, mobilize knowledge, and build upon existing community and professional networks.”

Registrations are sold out, and the program of outstanding scholars, community historians and activists looks stimulating. The Calgary Gay History Project is contributing a poster about the history and significance of Club Carousel—Calgary’s first gay bar—to the conference. We are happy to represent Calgary at this national gathering and hope to glean many new ideas of how to best preserve and share queer history in our City.

*Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Lois Szabo, and Councillor Evan Woolley (2021) at the opening of Lois Szabo Commons commemorating the founding of Club Carousel. Photo source: City of Calgary.*

A special shout-out goes to Dr. Kristopher Wells and his colleagues, who have been labouring behind the scenes to manifest this remarkable gathering—thank you!

{KA}