University of Victoria | Calgary Gay History

Tag Archives: University of Victoria

Coming Out YYC & Heading Out YYJ

Posted on March 10, 2016 by Kevin Allen | Leave a comment

Next week, the Coming Out Monologues touch down in Calgary. The 7th iteration of this popular event will be held at the downtown John Dutton library theatre March 16, 17, & 18. Doors open at 7:30 pm, and the shows begin at 8:00.

The Coming Out Monologues celebrates diverse local stories from our queer community. Most people who perform have little to no performance experience, and are generously coached and supported to become stage ready. Tickets and info can be found: here.

Next week also, the Calgary Gay History project heads to the University of Victoria, to take part in Moving Trans History Forward 2016 conference. We look forward to immersing ourselves in trans history and trans activism connecting Calgary to these larger conversations. We will be in Vancouver for a few days post conference. If you know any former Calgarians who we should interview while we are present, please let us know – we would love to meet them.

And if that is not enough happening next week, Friday, March 18th, we have the final instalment of It’s Getting Drafty in Here, and the development of the play: 69 Legislating Love and the Everett Klippert story at Loft 112 at 5 PM. So you have lots of opportunities for queer culture and history next week. See you out there.

{KA}

Club Carousel Concert Highlights & Other News

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Kevin Allen | 2 comments

We had two packed houses at One Voice Chorus’ Club Carousel concert last weekend, and a dozen former Club Carousel members were in attendance. Nick de Vos, a Club Carousel alumnus and photographer, took the pictures below.

Calgary Gay History Project’s Kevin Allen provided history narration between choral moments.

Club Carousel Alumni, Nick de Vos and Lois Szabo, with Kevin Allen.

One Voice Chorus receiving standing ovation from audience.

Gavin Caldwell (Piano), Kevin Allen, Lois Szabo (Club Carousel Founder) and Jane Perry (Artistic Director, One Voice Chorus) in front of the recreated Club Carousel logo.

It was a magical day, and the Calgary Hay History Project would like to thank One Voice Chorus for focusing on our city’s gay history in their artistic programming.

In other news, our colleague in queer history, Dr. Aaron Devor, the founder and academic director of the Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria, let us know that their publication, The Transgender Archives: Foundations for the Future, is now a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award in the category of LGBT Nonfiction. Click on the book link for a free PDF copy; it is an absorbing read and exploration of trans histories.

The 27th Annual Lambda Literary Awards–or the “Lammys,” as they are affectionately known–kick off another record-breaking year with the announcement of the finalists. They were chosen from a record 818 submissions from 407 publishers. The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on Monday evening, June 1, 2015 in New York City.

Lethbridge-based artist and curator Leila Armstrong, is looking to fill her Cabinet of Queeriosities with an open call for submissions. This is the third Queeriosities exhibition, celebrating LGBTQ history, identity, culture, and pride through a diverse range of subject matters and approaches. Let all of the queer artists and historians in your network know that they have until June to submit.

In closing, I will leave you with the final poem of the Club Carousel concert, sourced from the Club’s September 1973 newsletter and written by the editor.