Tag Archives: human-rights

Same-Sex Marriage @ 20

Posted on July 19, 2025 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

This Sunday, July 20th, marks the 20th anniversary of the legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in Canada. It was quite an achievement back in 2005. We were only the fourth country in the world to legalize it, the vote in the House of Commons was incredibly close, and it forced the Alberta government to blink in its opposition to gay marriage.

As someone who married a same-sex partner in 2006, this issue is meaningful and personal. Although it happens infrequently, it’s always a surprise to be told with candour by a stranger that they don’t believe in gay marriage when they find out I have a husband. (The sentiment also doesn’t feel very Canadian, in that the offence should be more indirect…)

Fortunately, the rate of Canadians who support same-sex marriage has grown significantly in the last 20 years. In 2025, 78% of Canadians polled support it, with 11% opposing (the remainder are undecided). However, we can’t take this consent for granted. There is evidence that support is slipping globally, particularly in the United States, as our community’s existence becomes a wedge issue for partisan politics.

The Civil Marriage Act was introduced to the House of Commons of Canada by Prime Minister Paul Martin’s Liberal minority government on February 1, 2005, as Bill C-38. The House of Commons narrowly passed the bill on June 28, 2005, and the Senate approved it on July 19, 2005. It received royal assent the next day. {For a more detailed timeline and the legislation’s impact in Alberta: read this.}

To celebrate this milestone, the community is coming together at Contemporary Calgary from 1:00 to 4:00 PM on Sunday for a same-sex marriage event. Four couples will be renewing their vows. There will be live music by JazzYYC, a history segment featuring journalist Gary Bobrovich, and performances by drag artists Terry Stevens and Mystare. The celebration is being supported by: Safelink, Skipping Stone, Centre for Sexuality, and the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

Sponsors for the event are the Alberta Federation of Labour, Texas Lounge, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401, United Nurses of Alberta, and Contemporary Calgary.

We wish everyone a happy and love-filled celebration!

{KA}

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Posted in Gay history

Tagged alberta, bisexual, Canada, Civil Marriage Act, gay, Gay history, history, human-rights, lesbian, news, Paul Martin, politics, queer, same sex marriage, transgender

Queer History @ FairyTales27!

Posted on June 10, 2025 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

The 27th Annual Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival launches this week and will run June 12-15 at Contemporary Calgary. The Festival opens with Pride vs. Prejudice: The Delwin Vriend Story, which revisits the landmark 1998 Supreme Court case that led Alberta to include sexual orientation in its human rights legislation.

The screening, followed by a “Then and Now” panel discussion, couldn’t be more timely as the province again finds itself at the center of national conversations about 2SLGBTQIA+ protections. The panel (featuring Brendan MacArthur Stevens – Blakes law firm; Amelia Newbert, trans advocate and founder of Skipping Stone Foundation; and Keith Purdy, 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate and representative of the Alberta Federation of Labour) will reflect on the legal and cultural impact of Vriend’s activism—and the ongoing work for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in Canada.

The Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival is one of the longest-running and most impactful queer film festivals in Western Canada. It features 21 film screenings, an Artist Market showcasing 17 local queer artists and makers, interactive workshops, and dynamic drag performances—all celebrating the diverse intersectionality, talent, and lived experiences of queer creators.

On the Festival’s final day, join the Calgary Gay History Project’s Kevin Allen for one of his favourite films, Winter Kept Us Warm. Experience the ground-breaking film that changed Canadian cinema forever: the first English Canadian gay film ever made! This beautifully shot black-and-white gem captivated audiences worldwide upon its 1965 release, boldly depicting queer desire at a time when homosexuality was still criminalized in Canada. Winter Kept Us Warm was remastered for its 60th anniversary—a time capsule of pre-liberation queer intimacy and a watershed moment in our nation’s film history. Kevin will host a talk-back session after the film. Kevin will host a talk-back session after the film.

Winter Kept Us Warm, Sunday, June 15th @ 4:30 PM.

Visit the festival website for the full schedule.

Tickets can be purchased through the Arts Commons Box Office: here.

See you at the Festival!

{KA}

May 17th: Celebrate IDAHOBIT

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

The Calgary Gay History Project observes the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) every year. We like that it is a global moment of solidarity and visibility for queer communities. It connects the local to the international—the past to the present.

The IDAHOBIT 2025 theme, “The power of communities,” was announced during the ILGA World Conference 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.

“IDAHOBIT, observed annually on 17 May, commemorates the 1990 decision by the World Health Organization to remove homosexuality from its International Classification of Diseases. Since then, the day has served as a focal point for raising awareness of the violence and discrimination still faced by LGBTQIA+ people across the globe.

“The power of communities” reflects the diversity and richness within LGBTQIA+ communities, from the grassroots to the global, celebrating our varied and intersecting backgrounds, identities, and experiences. The theme for 2025 highlights the strength and resilience that emerges from our collective solidarity, recognizing the contributions of human rights defenders, LGBTQIA+ civil society groups, allies, and millions of people in our communities who support human rights and collective liberation.

IDAHOBIT is not a centralized campaign; rather, it is a shared moment for communities and allies driving change around the world to take action in ways that resonate with their specific contexts and reflect their realities and priorities. Every initiative—big or small—counts and can make an impact, amplifying the movement’s reach and contributing to a world free from discrimination and violence.” – May17.org.

We still have work to do to bring full equality and dignity to our communities in Calgary, but we should also pause on Saturday to consider how far we have come since 1990, and consider as well the challenge of queer existence in other parts of the world.

{KA}