Calgary Gay History

Intrepid Jane’s Walkers who Love Queer History

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

Please remember to vote online for our short video proposal in Telus’ STORYHIVE competition. 11 more days left for voting. If successful we will get $10,000 to produce a short queer history doc. Vote: here!

The Jane’s Walk went ahead with 15 hearty souls who did not mind the sudden snow storm we found ourselves under when we awoke on May 3rd. The walk actually went longer then expected due to the nature of having a smaller group who could converse. Thank you everyone who came out and shared stories. The history project is richer because of it! Thanks also to Michael Wright for these candid Jane’s Walk photos.

Beginning walk on the steps of CommunityWise (Old Y). Note the snow in May! This building has been the defacto gay community centre since the early 1970s.

Catching a break from the elements in the Palliser Hotel - former location of the Kings Arms Pub.

Catching a break from the elements in the Palliser Hotel – the former location of the Kings Arms Pub, a much visited gay drinking hole from the 1960s.

Near the Bay downtown. Department store washroom cruising was a well-documented phenomena across North America. In this case, reading the threatening washroom notice, put up in the early ’80s to deter and intimidate gay men.

Walk. Vote. Educate Yourself.

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

The Calgary Queer History Project is excited to be participating in Jane’s Walk again this year. We will be launching a new gay history walk heading Downtown instead of last year’s Beltline Walk. We are meeting up at CommunityWise (the Old Y), 223 12 Ave. SW on Saturday, May 3rd from 10-11:30 AM. Dress warmly!

Do you like the Calgary Queer History Project? You can show your affection for us by voting for our short video proposal in Telus’ STORYHIVE competition. If successful we will get $10,000 to produce a short queer history doc. Vote: here!

Finally, did you know that our project researcher and volunteer Tereasa Maillie, has her own blog too: HistoryMinion. She describes it as: “a porridge of history as it relates to current events in the news.” Check out her latest post about Russia, gay rights, and how they are now moving backwards on the human rights front and potentially creating a public health disaster.

[KA]

Next Gay History Walk & Other News

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

We are excited to be participating again this year with Jane’s Walk, an event coordinated by the Calgary Foundation. There are over 40 community walks to take in. Our Downtown Gay History Walk (new) will take place Saturday, May 3rd at 10 AM. Our meeting point will be at the front steps of CommunityWise (the Old Y) at 223 12 Ave. SW. Everyone is welcome.

To be perfectly honest the full walk has not been scripted yet. If you have a good downtown gay history story, contact us in the next week or so, and we will try to incorporate it.

It has been a sad time in Calgary with the murder of five young University of Calgary students. Of particular note, is the passing of Lawrence Hong, who was an active and visible volunteer in the queer community.

The Calgary Herald’s Val Fortney and Xtra.ca’s Douglas Boyce have both written lovely memorial articles. Calgary Transit’s touching gesture of creating bus route 430 in honour of Lawrence was quite moving, with funds raised to support our very own Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival.

One can often find solace in the arts, and I wanted to note Third Street Theatre’s original theatrical production, The Passion of Sergius and Bacchus has opened this week.

Created by the lauded Queer Theatre Creation Ensemble, this three-person historical drama is on original work based on the controversial true story of two Roman soldiers married by the Christian church in 300 AD and martyred for their faith by the Roman Empire. The production runs April 22^rd – May 3^rd, 2014 at EPCOR CENTRE’s Motel.

[KA]