Exploring Calgary Connections During Queer History Month

There’s a lot we can learn from the connections we make. Through finding common ground or acknowledging our differences, we can have a better understanding of our community. 

Tess McNaughton, Calgary Public Library’s 2024 Historian in Residence, has spent the past six months helping facilitate conversations between queer people who have lived in Calgary. McNaughton was inspired by a project done by Sarah Worthman, the Executive Director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Queer Research Initiative, who brought queer seniors and queer youth together to have an ongoing conversation and create art. 

“I thought (the Queer Research Initiative) was a really cool process. I condensed it in a bit of a shorter form for this project,” McNaughton explained. 

Through this research, McNaughton found that generations of queer people are not that different from each other and it's important to connect to share our stories. There were many shared topics, including coming-out stories, cultural identity, safe spaces in the community, community challenges, and moments of resilience. 

“There’s something to be said about the hope that comes from looking back at the history of queerness and threading it together. The fact that the thread has never been dropped, even in times when it’s spread thin," one participant said. 

While there were heartfelt moments, these conversations also brought challenges to light.  

“We heard these really difficult stories or experiences that people were going through from both ages. Elders talked about their experiences growing up, including experiences with hate crimes. Then youths were also talking about feeling like rights are being taken away and not feeling safe. That was hard to hear, but I think those connections made it all worth it in the end,” McNaughton said. 

These stories and conversations are being shared at McNaughton’s final showcase at Central Library in October, which is also Queer History Month. McNaughton hopes that their findings can start conversations to have people thinking beyond themselves.  

“Like other areas of history, we need to be able to learn from queer history. I think if you ignore what has happened or if it doesn't exist, you risk repeating this history.”