In Canada, June has become synonymous with Pride Month. Pride events often occur this month in commemoration of the Stonewall Uprising, an important catalyst in the Queer Liberation Movement.
If you are unfamiliar with the history, the Stonewall Uprising began in the early hours of June 28, 1969 when a Greenwich Village gay bar was raided by the New York City police. This incited violent clashes between bar patrons, community members and law enforcement officers that sparked riots and protests that lasted for six days. These protests marked the beginning of a movement that sought to abolish discriminatory laws against the queer community.
At its core, Pride continues to uphold the spirit from which it was born: as a political movement seeking to uplift LGBTQ2 voices, celebrate LGBTQ2 culture and garner support for LGBTQ2 rights. Throughout the month, celebrations traditionally involved parades, protests, drag performances, live theatre, memorials for those lost and more. Though we cannot meet in person this year, we still celebrate and recognize the many contributions and achievements of the queer community. We have curated some recommendations of content that can be enjoyed from home and have showcased some of the authors, artists and creators available in our collection in the following booklists: Must Read Titles for Pride Month and our Two Spirit Authors book list. These are contemporary titles by queer authors or with LGBTQ2 representation that you may enjoy.
To view some recommendations of content that can be enjoyed from home, check out this video by EPL staff members, Emily and Kyle. All of the resources mentioned can be found on our website or through the individual platforms that are showcased.
If you are interested in learning about local queer history, check out the Edmonton Queer History Project's website or download their app. This project includes art, artifacts and oral history interviews to showcase Edmonton's queer history going back 40 years. Included in this collection are interviews filmed in the old Stanley A. Milner Library's Makerspace as well. Below are a few examples of the interviews you may find.
Interested in learning more? Or still have questions? The Pride Centre of Edmonton has some resources and further reading available. Consider checking out this recent post by Darrin Hagen about the Pisces Bathhouse Raid. You can also chat with our knowledgeable staff to find more on the topic!
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