Coming June 1, 2024 | Season 2 of Queer Legends shares The True Story of Canada's LGBT Purge in a landmark, eight part documentary series. This is the first documentary to examine the full extent of Canada's anti-homosexual campaigns using newly declassified documents released by the LGBT Purge Fund. From ridiculous to shocking, you'll hear amazing true stories from courageous survivors; academics; researchers; former MPs and cabinet ministers. 

The Calgary Gay History Project's Kevin Allen shares his research into an important and reluctant queer legend - Everett George Klippert.

Klippert was the only Canadian ever declared a "dangerous sexual offender" by the Supreme Court of Canada and he was sentenced to life in prison for being incurably gay.

Public and political outcry over the Klippert verdict helped lead to changes to Canada's criminal code in 1969 that (among other things) decriminalized homosexual acts, in private, between two consenting adults. 

Despite the change in the law, Everett Klippert remained in prison for another two years and was released in 1971. 

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WATCH | Gross Indecency: The Everett Klippert Story https://youtu.be/QABY0q7jJfc?feature=shared 

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Meet Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter, social justice activist and Member of the Order of Canada, Lorraine Segato in episode 17 of Queer Legends.

As co-founder of The Parachute Club, Segato and her 1980s bandmates struck a chord with Canadians with their top 10 hit Rise Up, which helped inspire a generation of human rights and other activism during a pivotal time in Canadian history.

Enjoy this fun, smart and candid conversation about The Parachute Club's impact and their accidental queer anthem.

Cover photo: LorraineSegato.com

It was an honour to be invited by the Canadian Labour Congress to host a 'fire-side chat' with comedian, actor, writer and human rights activist, Margaret Cho at their #CLC2023 conference! Hear about Margaret's connection to the labour movement, 2SLGBTQ+ rights, her involvement in anti-racism campaigns and the fight for a more equitable future.

“Everyone is connected to the queer community, whether they realize it or not," she said.

I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed hearing from one of our community's true queer legends. 

If you enjoy Queer Legends: An Oral History Podcast please tell your friends about us and go give us a good review/rating wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks! 

This Queer Legends Quickie introduces you to Sarah Worthman, founder of the Newfoundland and Labrador Queer Research Initiative. Worthman is investigating the persecution of 2SLGBTQ soldiers during the First World War by the Government of Canada and she has uncovered some amazing things.

This story is the about a young, queer Canadian hero from Brandon, Manitoba - Private Frederick Lea Hardy. He enlisted as a teenager, was imprisoned for being caught with another soldier and later made the ultimate sacrifice for Canada at Vimy Ridge. Private Hardy is the only known gay or bisexual soldier to have their name on the Canadian Vimy Memorial.

Hardy wasn't the only queer Canadian soldier in the First World War. However, we only know of the heroic sacrifices of Canada's queer soldiers from instances when Canada turned on its own soldiers for simply being themselves.

You'll also hear more from Sarah in Season 2 of Queer Legends: An Oral History Podcast.

Cover photo: Todd Ross

In this episode of Queer Legends: An Oral History Podcast we're looking back at the legendary people and moments of 2022! Featuring queer activists, artists and community historians on what will be remembered about the “queer that was.” My guests include: Public health expert Michael Kwag, journalist Mel Woods, historian and author Hugh Ryan, recently elected Ottawa city councillor Ariel Troster, iconic activist Fae Johnstone, drag queen Uma Gahd and Mufseen Miah of the UKs Queer Talk podcast and UK comedian Joe Lycett.

This self-made black queen has one of the most fascinating origine stories you've ever heard. "Barbada de Barbades" has been exciting drag and comedy show audiences across Quebec for nearly two decades. She co-hosts Call me Mother across Canada on OUTtv, is always booked for drag story hour and is currently popping up in online French advertising on streaming services. Barbada hasn't had to race anyone for her success, she's just had to say "yes." Please enjoy this kitchen table chat with Barbada as much as I loved speaking with her! 

Did you know? After the community protests against the violent 1990 raid of the queer loft party 'Sex Garage' (listen to episode 1 for details), Montreal police continued to harass protesters. Linda Dawn Hammond's photos put police brutality against 2SLGBTQ+ Montrealers in the headlines and that made her a police target afterwards. This episode's story seems lifted from a movie script, but Montreal police (or somebody) did this. It's among the many awful things Montreal police have done to to gay, lesbian, bi and transgender Montrealers - and apologised for in 2017 (listen to the Parc de Lespoir episodes for details).

Did Canada already have its first gay Prime Minister? In Canada's capital, there's a romantic statue of Sir Galahad on Parliament Hill. It was created in 1905 by then future prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, in memory of a heroic act by his dearest friend. Former Member of Parliament, Bill Siksay, the first openly gay man to be elected to Canada's parliament (but not the first openly gay MP), spills some historical Tea about the late prime minister and a very curious - and likely queer - statue.