Like many Albertans, I was dismayed by the hateful events at Fort Macleod Pride last weekend. One constructive response is to support future Fort Macleod Pride programming through a donation: e-transfer to fmpride.payments@gmail.com.
Another response is to lean into community—it truly sustains us. Thirty-five years ago, Project Pride, a relatively new Calgary organization, hosted a softball tournament and dance at the end of August called Connection ’88. Through uniting many disparate groups, Project Pride’s events gained momentum at a time that was decidedly more hostile to queers than today—all the while during a worsening pandemic decimating the gay male community (AIDS). Project Pride eventually blossomed into the organization we know as Calgary Pride.
As we go into a busy Pride weekend in Calgary, I have been reflecting on a Sinead O’Connor song I was obsessed with when I started the Calgary Gay History Project in 2012. Called Something Beautiful, I find it especially poignant now that Sinead has passed. The biblical line in the song: “they dressed the wounds of my poor people as though they’re nothing/saying peace, peace, when there is no peace,” has stayed with me since I quoted it at my first queer history presentation in 2013.
So, my wish for 2023 is that we dress the wounds of our poor people. Let’s connect to our shared humanity. Let’s celebrate Pride.
{KA}
Calgary Gay History 