Tag Archives: lgbt

Late in ’88

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

Do you want to explore Calgary’s Queer History from an autobiographical grade school perspective? (I think you do…)

Late in ‘88 is a limited-series podcast created by Bronwin Parks and Elinor Svoboda. The grade school classmates share their experiences of growing up queer and gender non-conforming in Calgary in 1988, at a time when there wasn’t language to describe identities that were fringe and undefinable. Shining a light on their middle childhood, Bronwin and Elinor explore the impact of historical context and the gift of contemporary language that allows more freedom of self-expression. The Calgary Winter Olympics acts as a backdrop to these conversations.

Elinor Svoboda and Bronwin Parks: creators of *Late in ’88*

Late in ’88 welcomes special guests and experts. The Calgary Gay History Project’s Kevin Allen makes an appearance in episode two, recounting his own queer history from 1988 as well as the story of Mark Perry Schaub, a Winter Olympics volunteer dying of AIDS.

Calgary is a different city than it was in the 80s. Late in ’88 explores how life has changed for queer people (and how it hasn’t) and the gravity of human connection which can make us whole. Recommended listening!

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Posted in Gay history, Press Release

Tagged 1988, AIDS, bisexual, Bronwin Parks, Calgary Olympics, Elinor Svoboda, gay, Late in '88, lesbian, lgbt, lgbtq, Mark Perry-Schaub, non-binary, Pride, queer, transgender

Edmonton Queer History Collection

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

The Calgary Gay History Project recently contributed historic gay media to our colleagues in Edmonton for digitization. Heroically, they have already digitized hundreds of magazines! You can find the collection: here.

Most of this online collection focuses on Edmonton, but several publications have a provincial reach. We contributed issues of Modern Pink, Alberta Gay and Lesbian Press (AGLP), and Outlooks Magazine, which were all published in Calgary but distributed province-wide.

*Outlooks Magazine, September 1998 Issue with GLCSA’s OK Campaign*

The close connection between our two cities is long-standing. Importantly, this collection includes several Club 70 Newsletters. Club 70 was the sister organization to Calgary’s Club Carousel, and the Club 70 Newsletter was similar in format and style to Carousel Capers. In their newsletters, one can read about the camaraderie between the Clubs.

For example, on July 29, 1972, Club 70 hosted their “Klondike-Calgary Night” after a blanket invite was sent to the members of Club Carousel.

*Club 70 Newsletter with Calgary Invite!*

This digital archive has been spearheaded by the Edmonton Queer History Project, an innovative university-community project designed to help celebrate the people, places, and moments that have helped to build Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.

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Tagged AGLP, bisexual, Calgary, Club 70, Club Carousel, Edmonton, edmonton queer history project, gay, Gay history, GLCSA, lesbian, lgbt, lgbtq, Modern Pink, OK Campaign, Outlooks, queer, transgender

IDAHOBIT 2024

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Kevin Allen | 1 comment

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) was established in 2004 to shed light on the violence and discrimination experienced by individuals with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, or expressions, and sex characteristics.

The date of May 17th was specifically chosen to honour the World Health Organization’s decision in 1990 to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.

This day serves as a global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision-makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders, and local authorities to the challenges faced by the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The initiative is now collectively managed in collaboration between regional and national networks working to advance the rights of gender and sexually diverse communities.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is currently celebrated in more than 130 countries, including 37 where same-sex acts are illegal. The May17.org website is illuminating in how our human rights struggle is global and how the movement continues to grow.

In Canada, since Monday we have had the Rainbow Week of Action, with thousands events and letter writing campaigns. Today, there is a rally in Calgary at 5 PM at Central Memorial Park in support of the queer and trans community. You can also send a letter to your MP through the Rainbow Week of Action website.

In Calgary, let’s support and recognize the importance of this day and work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting world for all!