Edmonton Queer History
Edmonton Queer History
Darrin HagenOne of the most memorable and enduring Flashback personalities – larger than life!
Edmonton’s only Divine Approved Divine Impersonator – Sister Neon (Terrie Grieve)
Footage captured by John Reid or whoever was free to run camera.
VHS videos digitized by Jim Bilodeau.
Darrin HagenDrag Legend Twiggy: Mz. Flashback 11, Entertainer of the Year VI, And Empress more times than one can count!
Darrin HagenEvery once in a while, a queen is born. Whether through osmosis or immaculate misconception is still mostly a mystery, but they appear. Suddenly and without warning, a new pretender to the throne stands in front of you. Under the terms of the Sisterhood of Unrecognized Royalty, they all get their grab at the tiara at some point in their career. Darrin HagenThe Edmonton Queen: The Final Voyage – 2007 July 1982 a young man ventured out on his own with a few clothes, a love letter from an older (33) man and his accordion strapped to his back…
Chloe CamaraMost foundational LGBTQ+ organizations in our city were influenced by Liz Massiah, Edmonton’s lesbian community leader extraordinaire. From GALA to Womonspace, the AIDS Network of Edmonton, and the Liaison Committee, Liz was there for it all. Her steady head has worn many hats as a community leader, civil rights activist, social worker, and psychologist. Liz was an out lesbian when she moved to Alberta from Ontario in 1983 after graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University with her MSW. Like many lesbians of her time, she married a man before coming out later in life. Years earlier, she and her husband…
Nik ZemlakSonya Moyer is a 70+ year old Deaf queer woman from Medicine Hat. She discovered she was a lesbian while attending Gallaudet College in Washington D.C. Like many queer people in the 70s and 80s, she married a man to hide her sexual identity but the marriage did not last long and she moved back to Canada… “where her roots are.” After she returned, she found the love of her life, started to come out and found out something new about herself. She was kinky. As a Deaf person… connecting to the kink and queer communities has been difficult. When she was active in queer and kink community, finding other Deaf people in those communities was rare and most of the hearing people she met did not know sign language.
Gwen TonackIn the mid-seventies, Big Joey – who was born Janet Wilkeson – was a character slightly larger than life. Though she was a founding member of Club 70 as well as a huge supporter of Flashback, she is primarily remembered for her no-nonsense behaviour and the power of her physical presence. It may surprise you to know she was also a dog loving softie.
For some reason Joey and I were ‘roommates’ for a short time sharing a house with John Reid – a founding partner of Flashback. I think it was his house, located in a totally cute, blue-collar working-class neighbourhood in Edmonton.
Rainbow Story HubOn Saturday, September 30, 2023 Deborah Chymyshyn passed away after a brief but aggressive battle against cancer. Deborah along with her wife Tracey Smith owned Prism Bar on 101 Street and then The Junction Bar & Eatery in the space that had been the site of Edmonton’s Club 70 then Boots N Saddle.
Dennis CamblyWe were cruising along in front of The Bay store where crowds were loading on and off the buses. The sidewalk was very crowded so I moved this lovely lady closer to me.
I asked “What name shall I address you?”
“Millie Empress I… when I’m in Drag and you may call me Paul when I am not doing a Drag Show. Will you come to see me?” she said.
Rob BrowatzkeI moved to Edmonton at the age of 21 from a small town and didn’t know the slightest things about gay life. Edmonton embraced me and through friends, drag and the ISCWR, I have become a well respected member of the community.
Matthew HaysWatching “I am Divine”, the feature-length documentary about the late legendary performer, I was struck with a powerful, overwhelming sense of nostalgia.
My mind raced back to the very first celebrity interview I ever did. It was 1986, and I was an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada, struggling to find my way through a liberal arts degree. Back then, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I was fascinated with gay politics and culture and I loved movies.
Ron ByersReverend Charles Bidwell, PhD was an ordained minister with the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Edmonton beginning in 1978 and was active in advocating for the LGBT community
Rob BrowatzkeWhen thinking of the Edmonton gay scene, and the people most heavily involved with it, few names come to mind faster than Murray Billett. From work on political campaigns and challenges to discriminatory laws, to his work with the Edmonton Police Service, Murray Billett’s career has helped transform our community, making it a safer, fairer, and juster place.
Michael PhairAn ‘out’ Lesbian in the 1980’s, Maureen Irwin was considered fierce and to be reckoned with! At a time when there were very few members of Edmonton’s queer community who were out, Maureen was a strong proud mother, grandmother and Lesbian!
Within the queer community Maureen became an active volunteer assisting GATE (Gay Alliance Toward Equality) as it moved and set up an office and services in the downtown. She also actively worked with and assisted Womonspace, a Lesbian volunteer organization.
Rainbow Story HubThis video is a collection of still images from the Archives of Times.10 Magazine and were taken at Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose Coronation Balls from 2001 – 2003. This video has a music background.
Rainbow Story HubHistory is always made by the actions of people. We look to celebrate some of these people here. From those well known to some who may never had been widely known we look to tell their stories. It took people like Paul Chisholm also known as Empress 1 Millie, Michael Phair, Edmonton City Councillor, Chevi Lee Rabbit, Trans activist, Murray Billet, Former Edmonton Police Commissioner, Corey Wyness, Sexual Health Education worker and so many more to advance the interests of the LGBTQ2S+ community in Edmonton and area.
