10/03/2026
October is FINALLY HERE! We at Q***r Calgary thank you for waiting with antici..............................................................................................................pation.
We all know Halloween is Gay Christmas, so we here at Q***r Calgary wish you a very cozy SPOOKY SEASON!
For our North American fellows, October is also LGBT History Month! So let's learn some history of some q***r terms, and about our own city.
Some of us have heard the term ‘Two-Spirit' before, but where did it come from? According to research, "the term “two-spirit” itself was introduced by Fisher River Cree Nation Elder Myra Laramee (Aboriginal Awareness Consultant, Aboriginal Education Directorate, Manitoba Education) , through a vision she had prior to the gathering…” who proposed the use of it during the Third Annual Inter-tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Le***an American Conference held in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
While “Two-Spirit” is a common expression for Indigenous people who do not meet colonial gender norms it is also important to note that “Most Indigenous communities have specific terms in their own languages for the gender-variant members of their communities and the social and spiritual roles these individuals fulfill. Each nation’s understanding of gender and sexual diversity is different and grounded in specific spiritual beliefs. Even with the modern adoption of pan-Indigenous terms like Two Spirit, not all cultures will perceive two spirit people the same way, or welcome a pan-Indigenous term to replace the terms already in use by their cultures” (History of two-spirit 2020).
Now, let's look at some notable history of the CITY OF CALGARY, according to the City of Calgary Archives
East Village boasts its own LGBTQ2S+ history, with references to historic bathhouses like Dan Dominique's, contributing to the diverse tapestry of Calgary's q***r past.
Formerly known as The Old Y, Initially serving as the site for pioneering peer support organizations such as the People’s Liberation Coalition (PLC) and Gay Information and Resources Calgary (GIRC), it evolved into a thriving hub for q***r non-profits and collectives.
Central Memorial Park, once a notorious gay cruising spot in the 1970s, witnessed frequent police harassment of q***r individuals. In 1981, law student Henry Berg challenged this discrimination and emerged victorious, paving the way for progress. In 1990, the park's Boer War Memorial became the backdrop for Calgary's inaugural Pride Rally, marking the genesis of Calgary Pride.
Tomkins Park, nestled on the south edge of the Beltline, played host to numerous Pride Festivals in the 1990s, aligning with the Pride Parade's route down 17th Avenue. Books N' Books, an independent bookstore adjacent to Tomkins Park, proudly stocked LGBTQ2S+ literature and publications, contributing to the community's intellectual and cultural landscape.
(LGBTQ2S+ history and Archives 2024)
Andrew Guilbert wrote about an incident that made the papers. “In 1965, Calgary bus driver Everett Klippert was arrested, charged with four counts of gross indecency and declared a dangerous sexual offender, all because he was gay. Klippert was the last person in Canada to be jailed for this offense before homosexuality was decriminalized with the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act in 1969. [in February 2016], the Trudeau government expressed its desire to posthumously pardon Klippert". (Guilbert,A. 2016)
Kevin Allen, , is a local researcher and author if you want to learn more about Calgary specific q***r history! He is the lead researcher for Calgary Gay History Project, an initiative to archive the history of the LGBTQIA+.
Our Mayor, , is our first openly q***r Mayor, having been elected in October of 2025. We at Q***r Calgary wish you a happy SPOOKY SEASON, Mr. Farkas, and hope to see you at one of our events.
References:
Guilbert, A. (2016). Mapping Calgary’s LGBTQ history - avenue Calgary. Avenue Calgary.
https://www.avenuecalgary.com/city-life/mapping-calgarys-lgbtq-history/
History of two-spirit. Q***r Events. (2020, October).
https://www.q***revents.ca/q***r-history/article/history-two-spirit
LGBTQ2S+ history and Archives. University of Calgary. (2024, July 31).
https://ucalgary.ca/equity-diversity-inclusion/literacy-education/lgbtq2s-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/lgbtq2s-guide-and-glossary/lgbtq2s-history-and-archives
***r ***rCalgary ***reventsyyc
