LGBTQ2S+ History and Archives

Gay Alliance Toward Equality

During the 1970s, the Gay Alliance Toward Equality (GATE) was primarily driven by a political agenda to advocate for fair and equitable representation of LGBTQ2S+ individuals in Canadian society. However, alongside its political lobbying efforts, GATE also served as a vital social platform, offering a safe and supportive environment for LGBTQ2S+ individuals taking initial steps towards embracing their identity openly.

One significant action by GATE was presenting a brief to the Alberta legislature, urging the inclusion of sexual orientation as a protected ground in the new Individual's Rights Protection Act. During an address to the legislature, it was emphasized that by neglecting to afford basic human rights protections to gays and lesbians, the government was effectively denying civil liberties to nearly 82,000 Albertans.

Gay Information and Resources Calgary

Gay Information and Resources Calgary (GIRC) commenced operations in June 1975, led by Windi Earthworm, a prominent gay artist and activist. GIRC's tenure extended into the early 1980s, during which it hosted the National Gay Rights Conference.

Initially located in the historic Thomson Brothers Block on Stephen Avenue, GIRC faced challenges promoting its services, particularly through local media outlets. Despite Calgary boasting two daily newspapers at the time - the Albertan and the Calgary Herald - GIRC encountered divergent responses to its attempts at outreach.

While the Albertan accepted their advertisement, the Calgary Herald rejected it outright. The Herald's advertising manager expressed concerns about GIRC's purported impact on family values, asserting the newspaper's commitment to upholding its family-oriented image.

Despite GIRC's efforts to address this issue through official channels like the Alberta Human Rights Commission and the Alberta Press Council, their grievances still need to be addressed.

This incident highlighted the prevalent media censorship of LGBTQ2S+ content across Canada during the 1970s. In Calgary, this censorship persisted until the late 20th century, as evidenced by media resistance to campaigns like the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Association's Out is OK, which faced similar obstacles to GIRC's advertising efforts.

National Gay Rights Conference

One of the earliest confrontations between City Hall and the gay community happened in 1980 when the Gay Information & Resources Calgary (GIRC) hosted a national gay rights conference at the University of Calgary. 

During the 70s and 80s, these conferences moved around the country as the gay rights movement began to pick up speed, with Calgary’s conference being the 8^th annual event. At each conference, the organizers would stage a human rights parade; however, City of Calgary Police Chief Brian Sawyer refused the permit for the parade, citing that “confrontation was a possibility.” On June 28^th, 1980, organizers decided to march anyway with forty conference delegates, marching for half an hour, ending at City Hall with their signs of protest. Forty conference delegates marched silently for half an hour, concluding their march at City Hall with protest placards. Following the march, delegates gathered for a rally in Centenary Park on St. George’s Island. 

GIRC, originally located in the Old Y Centre for Community Organizations, serves as a precursor to Calgary Outlink, which continues its advocacy work today as a direct descendant of the 1970s incorporated non-profit society.

Project Pride Calgary 

In 1987, Project Pride Calgary (PPC) emerged as a coalition uniting various gay and lesbian organizations in Calgary to advance LGBTQ2S+ visibility and rights. By 1988, inspired by the Stonewall Riots, PPC organized Calgary's inaugural Pride festival to celebrate LGBTQ2S+ identity and assert demands for equality.

By 1990, PPC had become a leading force for LGBTQ+ advocacy in Calgary. In preparation for the International Gay Games in Vancouver, PPC collaborated with the Calgary Lesbian and Gay Political Action Guild (CLAGPAG) to organize a rally featuring participants wearing Lone Ranger masks, symbolizing the discrimination faced by the LGBTQ2S+ community. Approximately 140 individuals gathered at the Old Y building, then marched to Central Memorial Park, with some donning paper bags to further highlight the pervasive fear and stigma. This rally underscored the urgent need for LGBTQ2S+ rights and laid the foundation for a more inclusive future in Calgary.