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.
CBC RadioActive talks The Gay Straight Jacket
June 11, 2025
In 1981, the Pisces Health Spa in Edmonton was raided by Edmonton police, who arrested 60 gay men. It’s believed to be the largest mass arrest in the history of Alberta. This week, in honour of Pride, Metro Cinema is screening a CBC documentary from that year, called The Gay Straight Jacket. Ron Byers was a staff member at the Pisces but was not arrested that night. Now, he is a queer historian in Edmonton with the Rainbow Story Hub.
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
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
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
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