Queer in Alberta

Want to support the filming and recording of future episodes of Queer in Alberta? ⁠⁠⁠Donate here ⁠⁠⁠ 🌈

And here's a perk just for listeners: use the code "QINAB15" to get 15% off ⁠⁠⁠Devon&Lang life changing underwear⁠⁠⁠!

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What’s next for Queer in Alberta?

Kels is joined by Kattie Laur from PodtheNorth and the Canardian Podcast to reflect on three years of Queer in Alberta on Telus Optik TV. After over 30 episodes interviewing 2SLGBTQIA+ Albertans, Kattie turns the tables and puts Kels into the hot seat. Together, the pair talk about how the show started, what's next, and if guests can expect a buzzcut from Kels in season 5.  

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FOLLOW KATTIE/PODTHENORTH

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@podthenorth

FOLLOW KELS

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⁠⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠@topsilog.xo⁠⁠⁠

TIKTOK:

⁠⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠

Want to support the filming and recording of future episodes of Queer in Alberta? ⁠⁠⁠Donate here ⁠⁠⁠ 🌈

And here's a perk just for listeners: use the code "QINAB15" to get 15% off ⁠⁠⁠Devon&Lang life changing underwear⁠⁠⁠!

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Motherhood is fulfilling, just ask Dana Demento.

Meet Dana, a beloved figure in Lethbridge’s drag community. Alongside her sisters Poppy Puffter and Brandi Jayne, Dana helped co-found Babes and Brews, a staple monthly drag show in the city. Today, Babes and Brews is largely credited for cementing a regular presence for drag and for inspiring many new queer artists and collectives to take to the stage. When she’s not at Babes and Brews you’ll find Dana continuing to give back through drag workshops, clothing swaps, and community queer film screenings.

On the pod, Dana teases pushing her comfort zone as an artist, dives into her signature DIY style, and tip toes around the highs and lows of mothering the next wave of drag performers in southern Alberta.

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FOLLOW DANA

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@danademento

FOLLOW KELS

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⁠⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠@topsilog.xo⁠⁠⁠

TIKTOK:

⁠⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠

Want to support the filming and recording of future episodes of Queer in Alberta? ⁠⁠Donate here ⁠⁠ 🌈

And here's a perk just for listeners: use the code "QINAB15" to get 15% off ⁠⁠Devon&Lang life changing underwear⁠⁠!

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What even IS queer scum pop? Ask SHY FRiEND to find out.

Originally a solo project, SHY FRiEND is a raucous high energy band fronted by Jubs, a Calgary based artist and content creator. Before the band's first ever show in Lethbridge, Jubs/SHY FRiEND stopped by the Queer in Alberta studio to record. In the episode, Jubs tells Kels all about their latest EP, growing up in Sylvan Lake, and explains why her mom won't say "I love you."

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@shy_friend_

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⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠⁠

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TIKTOK:

⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠

Want to support the filming and recording of future episodes of Queer in Alberta? ⁠⁠Donate here ⁠⁠ 🌈

And here's a perk just for listeners: use the code "QINAB15" to get 15% off ⁠⁠Devon&Lang life changing underwear⁠⁠!

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After a brief hiatus to catch my breath, we’re back to rolling out S4!

Apollo’s Friends of Sports is the oldest organized queer sports league in North America. Founded in 1981 in Calgary, Alberta, Apollo continues to strive to create safe, inclusive spaces for everyone to play. Ian Watt (Apollo’s president) joins Kels in the Lethbridge studio to spill the tea on Alberta’s fruitiest sports league. 

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TIKTOK:

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Want to support the filming and recording of future episodes of Queer in Alberta? ⁠Donate here ⁠ 🌈

And here's a perk just for listeners: use the code "QINAB15" to get 15% off ⁠Devon&Lang life changing underwear⁠!

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In Part 2 of our conversation with the Haus of Ebonii, Kels asks Keeks and Lu about the origins of the Haus. The three answer audience questions about producing inclusive shows and share favourite moments from almost two years of performing together.

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FOLLOW HAUS OF EBONII

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⁠@hausofebonii⁠

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Want to support the filming and recording of future episodes of Queer in Alberta? ⁠Donate here ⁠ 🌈

And here's a perk just for listeners: use the code "QINAB15" to get 15% off ⁠Devon&Lang life changing underwear⁠!

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Repeat after we: E-B-O-N-I-I! 🤎

Founded in March 2024, the Haus of Ebonii is Alberta’s first and only all Black drag, burlesque, and performance Haus. Drag and performance artists CallmeKeeks and Lucian LaPearl come onto the pod for not one, but two episodes to represent Edmonton and the Haus. In part one, Keeks and Lu share a broad overview of the history of Ballroom, highlighting the continued contributions of QTBIPOC folks to "queer culture" as we recognize it today.

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FOLLOW HAUS OF EBONII

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Want to support the filming and recording of future episodes of Queer in Alberta? ⁠Donate here ⁠ 🌈

And here's a perk just for listeners: use the code "QINAB15" to get 15% off ⁠Devon&Lang life changing underwear⁠!

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Writer, musician, filmmaker, and certified donut lover, Vivek Shraya does it all. The Toronto based artist with Edmonton roots joins Kels to explore her experiences of returning home over the years, pushing more Alberta in her work, and the importance of grace in our relationships with others.

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FOLLOW VIVEK

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https://vivekshraya.com/

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Want to support the filming and recording of future episodes of Queer in Alberta? ⁠Donate here ⁠ 🌈

And here's a perk for you: use the code "QINAB15" to get 15% off ⁠Devon&Lang life changing underwear⁠!

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After a long hiatus and one heck of a filming schedule, Queer in Alberta is back for season four! Kicking off the season is Rowan, our first ever guest to represent Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Kels and Rowan first met after they'd both been booked to perform at a David Bowie themed drag show in Edmonton. Outside of performing as their drag alter-ego DadbodRod, Rowan is a passionate queer and trans activist most known for their work founding TransRightsYEG (now TransAction.AB).

The two discuss Rowan's advocacy, name a drag kid or two (Thickwood we are manifesting you so hard right now), and Rowan shares his experiences leaving home and deciding to return as his authentic self.

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FOLLOW ROWAN/TRANSACTION.AB

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⁠@transaction.ab⁠

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THANK YOU STRINGAM LLP

This episode of Queer in Alberta was brought to you with the support of Stringam LLP. Stringam Law is a regional law firm serving clients through professional, tailored legal services. As a full-service law firm in Western Canada, Stringam strives to always challenge the status quo – providing uncompromising solutions through innovative methods no matter how complex the case is.

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SUPPORT QUEER IN ALBERTA HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️💖⁠⁠⁠🌈🌈

USE CODE QINAB15 FOR 15% OFF @ DEVON+LANG

Welcome Kurt Schlachter, CEO of Stringam LLP and the first lawyer on the show. In addition to supporting three additional episodes of Queer in Alberta, Kurt co-founded the first ever scholastic endowment fund for 2SLGBTQIA+ students at the University of Lethbridge with his partner, Jason. In the interview, we talk about Kurt's hometown of Bow Island, Alberta, the impact of representation, and Kurt's personal perspective on queerness and professionalism. Stick around until the end of the episode- we take some audience q's and also discuss the recent book bans as flagged by Alberta's UCP government.

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FOLLOW KELS/QUEER IN ALBERTA:

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⁠⁠⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

VIDEO/EDITING:⁠

Shivani Mullerpatan

SOUND:⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠CKATSOUND⁠

LINKS TO SUPPORT VANCOUVER'S FILIPINO COMMUNITY AFTER THE LAPU LAPU FESTIVAL TRAGEDY:

⁠⁠⁠https://vanfilemergency.my.canva.site/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠GoFundMe's ⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠SUPPORT QUEER IN ALBERTA HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠ ☕️💖⁠⁠⁠🌈🌈

With gratitude, welcome Mama Melinda Verga to the show! Joining from Edmonton, Alberta, Melinda Verga made herstory as the first Queen to represent Edmonton on Season 4 of Canada's Drag Race. Fresh off her iconic run on the Traitors Canada, Melinda joins Lethbridge podcaster Kels to dish the behind-the-scenes of reality TV and speaks to the joys of creating Filipino queer spaces in Alberta today.

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FOLLOW MELINDA:

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FOLLOW KELS/QUEER IN ALBERTA:

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⁠⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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⁠⁠⁠@kels.valendela⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

VIDEO/EDITING:⁠

⁠⁠⁠@gablopez⁠⁠⁠⁠

SOUND:⁠

⁠⁠⁠CKATSOUND⁠