Tag Archives: Gay history

We Are Back!

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

Kevin Allen is now (almost) finished with the federal election so look forward to weekly posts from the research collective until the end of the year.

Lots has happened in the last couple of months. Catch Kevin’s interview on Yeah, What She Said, Calgary’s only feminist radio program, airing every 3rd Monday each month on CJSW 90.9FM. Ironically, the pre-recorded interview aired on election day, Monday October 19th!

Tereasa, and partner Dan, in Ottawa on Parliament Hill. Gosh that statue looks familiar…

Tereasa Maillie represented us in Ottawa, October 15-17, at Canada’s Annual History Forum. She also had tea with the Governor General at Rideau Hall after attending the Governor General’s History Awards. The Calgary Gay History Project was invited because of its honourable mention for excellence in community history programming.

The 2015 National Trust Conference Gay History Tour. We are in front of the Cecil Hotel – what, the sign is gone… Photo: Harry Saunders @harry_historian

Heritage Canada’s 2015 National Trust Conference was held in Calgary. We were invited to give a downtown gay history walking tour to delegates from all over the country. The tour on October 22nd was well received by a particularly enthusiastic crowd.

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Phew. YYCGayHistory Pride Week Recap.

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

There was lots of gay history this year as Pride Calgary celebrated its 25th Anniversary. In sharp contrast to our past, politicians from many political stripes were thick at events. Their speeches respectfully acknowledged the founders of Pride and we hosted a special Origins Panel Discussion, sponsored by the Hyatt Regency downtown.

Pride Founders (L to R): Nancy Miller, Stephen Lock and Richard Gregory, and Moderator: Kevin Allen. Photo credit: Twitter @MastersMatt

There were three gay history walks, well attended, despite the cool wet weather, and lots of people came to speak to us at the Gay History Booth at the Pride Festival.

Finally, we did a lot of media interviews during Pride Week. Here are links to a couple of the more significant pieces in case you missed them.

CBC’s Calgary Pride Celebrates 25 Years – with archival footage from the original Pride rally in 1990, by Danielle Nerman.

Calgary Sun’s How the persecution of a popular Calgary bus driver half a century ago prompted Canada’s decriminalization of homosexuality, by Michael Platt.

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Origins: The Pride Calgary History Panel

Posted on August 20, 2015 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

25 years ago the LGBTQ community decided to get political – and here we are today…

On Friday, September 4th, 2015 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM we will have Nancy Miller, Stephen Lock, and Richard Gregory on a panel moderated by the Calgary Gay History Project’s Kevin Allen. Our panellists were all key figures in the Calgary Lesbian and Gay Political Action Guild (CLAGPAG), who organized the first Pride Rally in Memorial Park in 1990 and the first Pride Parade in 1991.

Come out to hear about the particular tenor of their time: fighting back against homophobia and intimidation, as well as the great camaraderie and tangible human rights victories.

Stephen Lock, Nancy Miller & Richard Gregory: Pride Founders

Origins is presented by the Calgary Gay History Project and Pride Calgary, and is proudly sponsored and hosted by the Hyatt Regency Calgary, 700 Centre Street SE. The panel formally begins at 5:30 PM but come early and grab a drink from the cash bar. The panel is a free event – open to everyone.