Edmonton has a big place in Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ history — but it doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Now, there are people trying to change that. In recent years, projects highlighting Edmonton’s queer history and stories have gained traction, and there is work being done to preserve decades of activism and community for the next generation. Host Clare Bonnyman sits down with Ron Byers of the Rainbow Story Hub, to talk about Edmonton’s queer history and what’s so unique about our city’s story.
Queer History Month kicks off in the City of Edmonton
“Our queer history doesn’t just date back to the 60s when we started becoming more visible; it actually dates back centuries but our opportunities to start telling those stories have only begun recently,” said Ron Byers a queer historian. “Back in the 60s when I came out, it was illegal to be a gay man. I could have been thrown in jail and most of the young folks today don’t understand that,” said Byers.
How Edmonton’s first community archivist builds better records
Edmonton created the community archivist position in part because queer historian Ron Byers lobbied the city to do so. He […]
We Are Survivors – Backroom Chatter
We Are Survivors – Backroom Chatter Podcast In this Premiere episode, non-other than Mr. Ron Byers, Rhoda B, long-time host […]
Partying with Ike & Tina in 1976
Seeing Tina Turner that night at the Edmonton Gardens in 1976 still remains one of the biggest highlights of my lifetime.
I was a young 21 year old when I had a chance to “run away with the circus”. I was asked to join a traveling drag show called the Fantasy Follies as their sound and lighting technician. What a chance to go way past my shyness and fears and live in hotel rooms travelling across Canada with a group of amazing Drag performers.
Radio Active with Jessica Ng, Min Dhariwal – April 25, 2023: Iconic Edmonton club is the subject of a new documentary
We speak to Ron Byers a queer historian about the impact of the former Flashback bar in Edmonton. Radio Active […]
Capturing And Sharing Edmonton’s Queer History
This Powerpoint style presentation brings the story of the work that has been done to bring the history of the […]
From Hiding to Acceptance: Uncovering Edmonton’s Queer History
“ I remember a time when there was no place in this town where I could go and come out as a gay man and have a beer with another gay man.” — A quote from Ron Byers, queer historian and founder of the Rainbow Story Hub
Edmonton’s Pride Celebration History
The First 21 years 1980 – 2001 Edmonton’s first recognized Pride event was a Picnic In The Park thought to […]
Evolution of the Edmonton Queer History project hits the web and city streets
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/evolution-of-the-edmonton-queer-history-project-hits-the-web-and-city-streets From the audience, Ron Byers said the latest iteration of the project is particularly valuable to future generations who […]
Aging with Pride — January 6, 2022
Aging with Pride — January 6, 2022 Ron Byers Ron will talk about local queer history and the clubs in […]
Fire destroys downtown building that housed Milla Pub, Club 70
CTV News https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/fire-destroys-downtown-building-that-housed-milla-pub-club-70-1.5650073
Leah Way and Ron Byers – The History of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose – Part 1
The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose chats with Tales of the LGBTQ+ on their history. Watch as Empress […]
Out of the Closets & Into the Streets
Most major cities have a neighbourhood that has clearly defined itself as the “gay” neighbourhood, an area where LGBTQ2S+ folks can build a community together while living, working, shopping, and eating at welcoming businesses. Toronto’s Church Street and Vancouver’s Davie Street are just two that come to mind. Edmonton breaks tradition by having not one but two gaybourhoods that have come together to form a community for LGBTQ2S+ Edmontonians.
Queer historian Ron Byers on the fortieth anniversary of the Pisces Spa bathhouse raid with J’Lyn Nye – 630 CHED
I chat with radio personality J’Lyn Nye from 630 CHED about the impacts and damage done to the gay community […]
40 years later, Edmonton’s queer community looks back on the Pisces bathhouse raid
“They just did this raid in such a totally different manner from what they had done in previous raids in […]
Shattered lives’: A look at Edmonton police raid of Pisces Spa bathhouse four decades later
Four decades have passed since dozens of gay men were arrested during a raid at Edmonton’s Pisces Health Spa, charged […]
40th anniversary of Pisces Health Spa raids – Edmonton Police Service
2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the Pisces Health Spa bathhouse raids by the Edmonton Police Service (EPS). To acknowledge […]
« Intrusion et intimidation » : quand la police s’en prenait aux gais d’Edmonton
“Trespassing and intimidation”: when the police attacked gays in Edmonton https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1796889/descente-police-spa-gai-edmonton-pisces-lgbtq-michael-phair