Kootenay Gay History Project Reveals Hidden LGBTQIA+ Stories

A significant initiative has emerged in the Kootenays, aimed at uncovering the hidden histories of the local queer community. On September 19, 2023, author and historian Kevin Allen officially launched the Kootenay Gay History Project during the Elk Valley Pride Festival. This project seeks to document and celebrate the unique experiences of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the region.

Allen plans to embark on his research journey this month, visiting cities including Nelson, Rossland, and Trail. He aims to interview local 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors, gathering first-hand accounts of their lives and experiences in the Kootenays. The long-term goal is to expand the project to include interviews with around 50 individuals representing various backgrounds and gender identities across both East and West Kootenay regions.

To facilitate this ambitious undertaking, Allen will collaborate with regional pride organizations and historians. As narratives unfold, he intends to share these stories on a newly created website, with plans to compile them into a book and potentially develop a traveling museum exhibition.

Uncovering a Marginalized History

“Oral history is a crucial aspect of researching queer history,” Allen stated. “We are often absent from mainstream archival collections and libraries due to decades of marginalization. Many individuals lived concealed lives, and hearing their experiences is vital for reconstructing our history.”

This research builds on Allen’s previous work, Our Past Matters: Stories of Gay Calgary. Originally from Calgary, Allen has resided in Fernie for the past 20 years and was a founding member of the Fernie Pride Society. He expresses enthusiasm for showcasing lesser-known aspects of local history and telling the stories that define the queer community.

Among the events Allen hopes to highlight is the Lesbian Conference, which attracted visitors to Fernie for a golf trip in the 1990s. He also aims to document the annual Fruit Float, a camping and river floating weekend that has drawn attendees from across North America since 1979.

Not all histories are light-hearted, as Allen reflects on the challenges faced by the community in earlier decades. “Fernie was a really tough place,” he recalled. “My husband graduated from high school in the 1970s, and it was a mining town in transition. It wasn’t the most welcoming environment for diversity.”

Collaborative Efforts and Activism

Allen has enlisted the help of Kelsey Rodier, a project manager with ties to pride organizations in Castlegar and Nelson. Rodier will assist in identifying potential interviewees and emphasizes the importance of this historical exploration. “It really opened my eyes about the history,” she remarked. “In the 1970s, queer communes of gay men were settling in the Nelson area. Understanding the roots of Nelson Pride and the perseverance it took to establish pride events is crucial.”

For Allen, the project serves as a means of preserving history before it fades away. “I have a deep love for history,” he explained. “There is an activist agenda behind this work, as many of our gay elders are passing away, taking their stories with them. I feel compelled to reclaim our past before it is lost.”

He believes that acknowledging this history is vital for asserting the presence of queer individuals in society. “By reclaiming our past, we assert our space in the present and future,” Allen asserted. “It’s essential for queer people not to hide in the margins, which is why Pride events hold such significance for me.”

To learn more about the Kootenay Gay History Project or to follow the stories as they develop, interested individuals can visit the project’s website at www.kootenaygayhistory.ca. This initiative promises to bring to light the rich, yet often overlooked, narratives of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the Kootenays.