Tag Archives: Club Carousel

Countdown to IDAHOT + StoryHIVE (vote)!

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

May 17th is the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

In 2014, 81 countries criminalize same sex relationships, which makes up 40% of the world’s population (2.8 billion people)! Although we have made great human rights strides in Canada since homosexuality was decriminalized in 1969, there is still stunning homophobia here.

Two recent examples spring to mind. On April 26th I was invited to speak at Knox Presbyterian Church for their Don’t Be Afraid benefit concert and forum, with special guest Scott Jones, from Nova Scotia. This anti-homophobia campaign was started by Scott after being brutally stabbed last October and left a paraplegic. He has taken the courageous step to transform his attack into something positive – reframing his world. Furthermore, just this week I was contacted by CBC reporter, Carla Benyon, to respond to homophobic tweets twittered May 12th by Calgary Stampeder, Maurice Price.

May 18th is the last day to vote for our Telus StoryHive Project.

One of the facts that comforts me when confronted by homophobia now is the incredible courage of our elders, who fought for the human rights we have today. Their stories inspire us to continue the fight against homophobia and transphobia. Our documentary project: Club Carousel: A Queer Flag in the Sand, delves into the history of Calgary’s queer community.

Looking beyond the danger, a small group of people set out open Calgary’s first gay bar. In 1968, Club Carousel quickly became the hub of LGBTQ community activities. This windowless, basement club wasn’t pretty, but it offered safety, friendship and support. It was the foundation of a hopeful community.

Club Carousel changed lives and our culture. More than just a social club: it
was a communal flag in the sand whose impact can still be felt today.

Please vote today – and madly share this with others. Voting ends on Sunday,
May 18th – just 3 days away. Helpful hints:

Register with your email address: here.
An avatar is NOT required unless you want to comment on projects.
You get 10 votes, please assign your max. of 5 votes to our project.
Spread the word and promote voting for Club Carousel via your networks.

Club Carousel Founder Lois Szabo in the 1960s

Thanks for helping us in gathering support and sharing the stories of our community.

[KA][NM]

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]

Check your basements – we want your stuff!

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

We needed a quiet month after the excitement of the Club Carousel Cabaret. The amount of press we had was amazing and the sold out performance was more amazing still. Check out the Calgary Herald review by Stephen Hunt.

The Calgary Gay History Project owes a big thanks to the artistic vision of Third Street Theatre: Paul Welch and Jonathan Brower for the creation of the cabaret. Their next production opens this month: Late, A Cowboy Song runs from March 11 – 22nd, 2014: you should check it out. Congratulations also to Paul for getting the Enbridge Emerging Artist Award at the recent Mayor’s Lunch for Arts Champions.

Look for new weekly gay history posts this month on Thursdays. Now, however, we are calling you to search for old files, photos, meeting minutes, T-shirts, badges, pins, flags, queer publications, or other memorabilia that you could donate to a newly forming gay archives. We (Kevin Allen and Carolyn Anderson) met with the Glenbow Archives last month, and walking through their vaults, saw that our community’s history is missing.

Here is where it could go:

Future Gay History Archive at the Glenbow here? Photo: Carolyn Anderson

The Calgary Gay History Project is currently gathering archival materials. If donated to the future archives they will be cared for in perpetuity and made accessible to future researchers. You might even be eligible for a tax receipt! Contact Kevin for more information.

[KA]