Queer History Month 2025 marks a special milestone for Rainbow Story Hub as we celebrate five remarkable community leaders who have shaped the 2SLGBTQIA+ movement over the past 55 years.
With generous support from the 47th Reign of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose, we honour the profound contributions of these leaders—not only to Alberta’s longest-running 2SLGBTQIA+ organization, but also to the broader community they continue to cherish and serve.
Each story is shared through video, featuring these remarkable leaders in their own words, enriched by historic images that highlight their journeys and legacies.
Coming October 2, 2025 (10:00 am)
Marni Panas is a proud transgender woman and respected advocate from Edmonton. Her life’s work focuses on advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion, while breaking down barriers for 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Through courage, compassion, and authenticity, she inspires change, uplifts communities, and encourages others to live openly and unapologetically as their true selves.
Coming October 9, 2025 (10:00 am)
Duane Shave, a retired Edmonton school teacher, is also the city’s longest-performing drag queen, known as Empress II Chatty Cathy of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose. With decades of artistry and advocacy, Duane has inspired generations, leaving a lasting legacy of education, performance, and community leadership.
Part One Coming October 14, 2025 (10:00 am)
Part Two Coming October 16, 2025 (10:00 am)
Scott Bryen, an Edmonton-based leader in the LGBTQ leather community, is a proud advocate for inclusion, visibility, and acceptance. Through his work, he celebrates leather culture, builds understanding, and creates safe spaces where people can embrace authenticity, challenge stigma, and strengthen connections within the broader 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
https://yegqueerhistory.ca/scott-bryen-part-one
https://yegqueerhistory.ca/scott-bryen-part-two/
Part One Coming October 21, 2025 (10:00 am)
Part Two Coming October 23, 2025 (10:00 am)
Ron Byers, an Edmonton queer historian and long-term AIDS survivor, came out in 1968 and has since devoted his life to community. From working at Edmonton’s Flashback club to a career in customer service management, he left his impacts on any community organizations. As the founder of Pride Edmonton and Rainbow Story Hub he promotes Pride events and Queer History Month in collaboration with Explore Edmonton to foster inclusion and preserve history.
https://yegqueerhistory.ca/ron-byers-part-one
https://yegqueerhistory.ca/ron-byers-part-two/
Part One Coming October 28, 2025 (10:00 am)
Part Two Coming October 30, 2025 (10:00 am)
Rob Browatzke is a queer fiction writer, community leader, and lifelong advocate for Edmonton’s 2SLGBTQIA+ scene. From bathhouse clerk and bartender to co-owner of Evolution Wonderlounge, Rob has helped shape safe, vibrant spaces where queer stories, culture, and community thrive—building connections, celebrating identity, and championing visibility with passion and creativity.
https://yegqueerhistory.ca/rob-browatzke-part-one
https://yegqueerhistory.ca/rob-browatzke-part-two/
Bonus Queer History Month Events
As a special Queer History Month feature we are holding Screening Previews at EVO on 115 featuring two of our community leaders and we invite you to come enjoy the video’s and a Q & A following each. Admission is free to the events.
Special Preview Screening
Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM watch the story of Duane Shave aka Empress 2 of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose Mr. Chatty Cathy Jackson. Sponsored in part by the ISCWR and Empress 50 Wanda Lust and Emperor 50 Georgie Street we will celebrate one of the founding members and Matriarch.
Event Listing:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1334554468025357/
Special Preview Screening
Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM join Rainbow Story Hub and community partners for a special sneak preview of another Queer History Month mini-biopic, this time about the life of local leatherman legend Scott Bryen. Scott had long been an advocate for inclusion, visibility, and acceptance, and we look forward to celebrating this change agent!
Event Listing:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1141164414041949/
We are also looking at doing a third special screening with Marni Panas possibly on November 16, 2025 to mark Trans Awareness Week. Stay tuned for additional details when they become available.
Rainbow Story Hub
Rainbow Story Hub brings the history of Edmonton's 2SLGBTQ+ community to life from the perspective of those who lived it. Through stories, videos and other media we hope to capture and preserve these stories from the people who lived them. These stories can then be used to inform, educate and enlighten not only our own community through GSA’s and hopefully one day school curriculum but also the greater community we live in today.
Ron Byers
