“ 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 be held at Camp Harris, home of the 49th Battalion, The Loyal Edmonton Regiment Association. It was attended by about 75 people in 1980 to bring awareness to our community […]
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 wouldn’t otherwise have access to the knowledge and experience of those who lived Edmonton’s queer history. “Because it’s all up here,” he said, pointing to his head. “It opens up […]
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 Edmonton. He is a community leader and story teller. He is the founder of the Rainbow Story Hub / Edmonton Queer History program. Courtesy of the Edmonton Pride Seniors Group
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
When Drag Queens Became Charitable
To call any of those who did drag as charitable… while in drag… would be stretching the truth. Known for their caustic wit, quick retorts and haughty gestures, raising money for anything charitable was almost non-existent.
Then in 1984 reports that had been surfacing out of San Francisco and New York for the previous few years of a new “gay-related immune deficiency” (GRID), finally named by the CDC in the U.S. as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), attracted the attention of the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose in Edmonton.
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 14, 30 and 36, Heir Apparent to Nicole The Great – Leah Way and Emperor 25 and Co-Regent Emperor 29 Ron Byers talk about the beginnings of our Court and […]
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 on the 40th anniversary of the Pisces Bathhouse raid by the Edmonton Police Service May 30, 1981. Catch the podcast at the link below. https://www.listennotes.com/en/podcasts/630-ched-afternoons/queer-historian-ron-byers-on-NL-g3dqPTot/embed/
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 massage parlours, other common bawdy houses in the city, which were more straight-oriented,” Byers said. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/lgbtq2s-edmonton-pisces-raid-1.6047015
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 and outed to the broader community, changing their lives completely. Fifty-six men and six employees were arrested under bawdy house laws when 40 Edmonton police, seven RCMP officers and two […]
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 the trauma and impact of the raids, and to show their support to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Transgender, and Queer (2SLGBTQ+) community, the EPS is releasing a documentary-style […]
« 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
Tales of the LGBTQ+ Interview
In this podcast interview with Tales of the LGBTQ+ I talk about the early years of the AIDS epidemic in Edmonton and how the community reacted to the virus that was taking so many of our friends from us. I also share how I dealt with the deaths of many close to me and the lasting impact it had on me to this day.
Global News Interview
Why did Edmonton Pride Festival Society cancel 2019 event? Wednesday we told you the Pride Parade had been cancelled this year. Thursday, we are hearing why. Organizers say they were pushed too far. Kendra Slugoski looks at how to move forward. https://globalnews.ca/video/rd/1488974403705/?jwsource=cl
DTF – ETC at the Grindstone Theatre
Feb. 23, 2019 Live @ the Grindstone Theatre With hostess Connie Lingua & guests Ron Byers & Imani. Click the link below to view on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/connielinguadragqueencanada/videos/2246590378934458