Tag Archives: Everett Klippert

Klippert Case Officially Recognized as Historic Event in Canada

Posted on November 27, 2025 by Kevin Allen | 2 comments

We are happy to report that our application to the National Program of Historical Commemoration was rewarded. The Klippert Case recently got an official nod from the Government of Canada. It is now designated a historic event of national significance. Parks Canada, which administers the program, has an intensive screening and deliberation process—they conducted extensive research before reaching their decision.

Parks Canada wrote a detailed backgrounder on the designation, explaining, “The Klippert Case of 1967 was a pivotal moment in the fight for 2SLGBTQI+ rights in Canada.”

One of the goals of the Calgary Gay History Project is to make our history more visible in the City. With this designation, we will get a bronze plaque in Calgary (in a public location) to finalize the commemoration.

Learn more about the Klippert Case—watch our award-winning short film, directed by Laura O’Grady!

We would like to sincerely thank Mount Royal University history professor Joe Anderson for informing us about the application process to the National Program of Historical Commemoration.

Anyone can submit a nomination to this program!

We believe that there was no queer history represented in the Directory of Federal Heritage Designations before this, but we changed that! Now we need more…

{KA}

2 Comments

Posted in Gay history, Press Release

Tagged bisexual, Calgary, Everett Klippert, gay, Gay history, Government of Canada, gross indecency, human-rights, Klippert Case, Laura O'Grady, lesbian, National Program of Historical Commemoration, Parks Canada, queer, transgender

The LGBT Purge: The True Story

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

Montreal-based journalist Shawn Dearn has released the second season of his award-winning podcast, Queer Legends: The True Story of Canada’s LGBT Purge. Impeccably researched, it tells the story of the LGBT Purge in Canada from World War I until today. “The Purge” was the Government of Canada’s effort to eliminate queers from the military and public service, which the Government apologized for in 2017. The story of the purge is significant queer history in its own right, but it also parallels the community’s ongoing struggle to achieve equality.

Kevin Allen from the Calgary Gay History Project is featured in episode 3. He discusses Calgary bus driver Everett Klippert and his pivotal role in Canadian history.

Queer Legends was sponsored by the LGBT Purge Fund, which notably has also commissioned Thunderhead a national queer history monument in Ottawa. The Purge Fund is programming events across the country. Rumour has it that there will be a pop-up event in Calgary sometime in August. We’ll keep you posted when we find out more.

{KA}

1 Comment

Posted in Gay history

Tagged bisexual, Everett Klippert, gay, Gay history, human-rights, lesbian, LGBT Purge, LGBT Purge Fund, Ottawa, queer, Queer Legends, Shawn Dearn, Thunderhead, transgender

Queer Legends Podcast

Posted on January 5, 2024 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

Happy New Year, Calgary Gay History Project readers!

Shawn Dearn, a Montreal-based investigative journalist and historian, is the creative force behind Queer Legends: An Oral History Podcast. The series just won the Outstanding Documentary award at the annual Canadian Podcast Awards.

Shawn was interested in the story of Everett Klippert and recently interviewed Kevin Allen from the Calgary Gay History Project for the pod—check out their conversation: here.

Queer Legends is about the people who built the rainbow, created space and held their own! The series has featured: Margaret Cho, Jane Rule, former MP Svend Robinson, queer historian Sarah Worthman and many more. One reviewer calls Queer Legends “binge-worthy.”

We at the Calgary Gay History Project hope you discover even more queer history in 2024!

{KA}