No lack of people to honour during Pride Month

Embracing diversity is best way forward, Heather Klimchuk says.

Happy Pride Month! As we continue to acknowledge and celebrate the rainbow month in cities and communities all over Alberta, I want to thank my mom, who always encouraged me to be inclusive, celebrate differences, and most of all, lead by example.

My challenge to all of you is to be mindful and intentional every day and appreciate our diverse community. This includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, two-spirited and other points on the gender spectrum.

There are varying definitions of the word pride. I like the open one that states it is a feeling of pleasure, joy, delight and satisfaction from one’s achievements. Gay pride is about confidence, self-respect, and solidarity as expressed by gay people, associated with openness about one’s own sexual identity, and the celebration of gay culture and history.

I recently heard the fabulous playwright Darrin Hagen of Guys in Disguise speak with radio host Ryan Jespersen about his personal journey as a drag queen and how empowering, life-changing and vulnerable he felt to put himself out there. There was no turning back. Darrin also spoke about the process of writing his most recent play about ted northe and the decriminalization of homosexuality 50 years ago, The Empress and the Prime Minister.

When I saw this play at Theatre Network, it was obvious to me that this story is not over. An exhausting, emotional performance with standing ovations every night. On a related note, it is also the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, which is one of the reasons why Pride Month is in June.

Darrin also has incredible knowledge about queer history in Edmonton and produced the play Witch Hunt at the Strand about the ’80s bath house raids and wrote a book, The Edmonton Queen, about the many friends he lost to the AIDS epidemic.

You may be wondering where I am going with this, but I also had friends who passed away from AIDS. In the ’80s, I was a fierce hair model with the help of talented hairdressers and makeup experts and competed in events that took place mostly in gay clubs. I still think about Sam and how beautiful he was inside and out and what that disease did to him.

What does pride mean to me? On March 24, 2012, I was the first Tory minister and MLA to attend and speak at the 25th Anniversary of Guys in Disguise. Journalist Liz Nicholls noted in her column, “the minister of culture was there, and dressed to kill — in sequins, major false eyelash action, and red lipstick.” I told the Guys, not only have you shown vision, you are a vision!

I had immense pride also with the honour of introducing the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose in the Legislative Assembly. This non-profit organization continues to raise funds for charities in support of LGBTQ2S+ communities and was established in 1976.

Then there is Camp fYrefly, which was started in 2004 by Dr. Andre Grace and

Dr. Kristopher Wells. This is a summer camp that focuses on leadership, individual development, socialization and resiliency for queer and trans youth aged 14 to 24. Proud to say the Edmonton camp was initially supported with a grant from Alberta Culture and I was able to visit and see acceptance and kindness in action.

My pride is also based upon being grateful for inspiring leaders like Marni Panas and Murray Billett who continue to inform, advocate and blaze trails — specifically, the recent apology to the LGBTQ2POC+ by Edmonton police Chief, Dale McFee, as part of the reconciliation process. I am also fortunate to know Kevin Allen, author of the book, Our Past Matters, Stories of Gay Calgary. Kevin reveals, “We were here, and we always have been.”

Real dialogue, mutual respect, and understanding that embraces diversity is the only path. Darrin Hagen believes pride is a million different things (in his words), including flags and parades.

The Edmonton Public Strathcona Library recently had drag queens out to read stories, and Lourdes, an awesome drag queen, stated, “It is OK to be different.” So, grab your rainbow gear and live it every day. I know I do!