🌈 Who Rainbow Story Hub Is
Rainbow Story Hub Foundation is a registered non-profit organization focused on preserving and sharing the history of 2SLGBTQ+ people and communities — especially in Edmonton and the surrounding region. Our work highlights stories from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, Two-Spirit, and other diverse identities through first-hand narratives, photos, videos, podcasts and other media.
The project began in 2020 when local advocates started documenting community history — first with stories like the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose and the History of Edmonton’s Gay Bars for the Edmonton City As Museum Project — and soon expanded into a larger ongoing effort to collect and share queer lived experience.
Rainbow Story Hub works with community storytellers and institutions like the City of Edmonton Archives, the Edmonton Heritage Council and the Royal Alberta Museum to make sure queer histories are recognized, preserved and accessible.
📚 What We Do
Our activities include:
- Collecting and publishing stories from people who lived through or shaped the local queer experience — from pioneers and activists to club owners, performers, advocates, and everyday community members.
- Producing multimedia (written articles, interviews, videos, podcasts) that make history engaging and relatable.
- Partnering with archives and museums to safeguard materials, grow 2SLGBTQ+ archival collections, and improve how history is represented in public institutions.
- Supporting public recognition and celebration, such as commemorating Edmonton Queer History Month with stories and events that spotlight community leaders and moments in 2SLGBTQ+ history.
- Inviting community contribution, so that people can share their own experiences and help expand what’s recorded and remembered.
❤️ Why Preserving LGBTQ+ History Matters
Saving queer history isn’t just about looking back — it has immediate and lasting benefits for both the LGBTQ+ community and broader society:
1. Affirming Identity and Belonging
Learning that queer people lived, organized, loved, struggled, and celebrated years ago helps current 2SLGBTQ+ youth and adults feel seen and connected to a lineage of resilience and creativity. People often feel less alone when they see their identities reflected in real stories from their own city or culture.
2. Recognizing Contributions and Struggles
Queer history includes triumphs and hardships — from community building and activism to fighting discrimination and inequality. Preserving this history ensures that those who contributed to social change are acknowledged, and that the community’s battles and gains aren’t forgotten.
3. Fostering Understanding and Respect
When broader audiences — such as schools, allies, researchers and institutions — can access authentic queer narratives, misconceptions and prejudice can be reduced. Education through history helps build empathy and inclusion.
4. Informing Current and Future Change
By knowing where the community has been and what strategies worked, people today can better understand ongoing struggles and opportunities for advocacy and policy change.
5. Strengthening Cultural Heritage
Queer experiences are part of the cultural fabric of any place. Preserving these stories ensures that local history reflects the full diversity of human experience, not just mainstream or dominant narratives.
Be Part of Preserving Our History
Queer history lives in our memories, our photos, our stories, and our lived experiences — and we can’t preserve it without community participation.
You can help by:
- Sharing your story — your experiences, memories, or milestones are part of our collective history
- Contributing photos, documents, or artifacts that help bring the past to life
- Supporting our work through donations or partnerships so we can continue documenting and sharing 2SLGBTQ+ history
- Spreading the word by reading, sharing, and talking about queer history in Edmonton and beyond
Whether you’ve been part of the community for decades or are just beginning to explore your place in it, your story matters. Together, we can ensure that 2SLGBTQ+ histories are preserved, honoured, and accessible for generations to come.
👉 Get involved. Share your story. Help keep our history alive.
https://yegqueerhistory.ca/contribute/