Queer in Alberta

Ending season one with a bang! Kels chats with Shaneen and Paveena to talk about Stonewall Recovery Centre, Canada's first 2SLGBTQIA+ addictions treatment centre that started with a dream in Calgary, Alberta. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELUS STORYHIVE supports compelling, original stories told by creators from British Columbia and Alberta...

Meet Haley (she/they/he), a two-spirit, Cree Filipino who grew up in Calgary, Alberta. Kels hears about Haley's experience growing up disconnected from their cultural identity and the journey of reconnecting while discovering your queerness. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELUS STORYHIVE supports compelling, original stories told by creators f...

Oki! Kels sits down with Ryan Crosschild (he/they) from the Kainai Nation. Ryan tells Kels about the importance of understanding queerness from a cultural lens for a powerful conversation about diversifying queer spaces today. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELUS STORYHIVE supports compelling, original stories told by creators from British Columbi...

Meet Alexis (she/her) the creator of Stump Kitchen in Edmonton, Alberta. Using her "stump" in the kitchen, Alexis creates powerful representation about limb differences and tells Kels about living authentically, queer, and disabled in Edmonton. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELUS STORYHIVE supports compelling, original stories told by c...

Meet Paxton (they/she/he), a quadruple trans eight year old superstar living in Lethbridge, Alberta. Paxton and mum, Heather (she/her) tell Kels all about growing up genderfluid in Southern Alberta and demonstrate the power of a loving family. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELUS STORYHIVE supports compelling, original stories told by creators fro...

Kels sits down with HotWheelz (she/they/he), an up and coming disabled filipina drag superstar from Edmonton. The two talk about the intricacies of disability, accessible spaces for all performers, and about their shared mixed identity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELUS STORYHIVE supports compelling, original stories told by creators from Briti...

Lethbridge local Kels Delamarter sits down with Alissa Takahashi from Edmonton. Alissa asks Kels about what it was like growing up in rural Alberta, coming out, and the pair share in their experience of being mixed and queer on the Canadian prairies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TELUS STORYHIVE supports compelling, original stories told by creators from...

To have a conversation with me and to protect his identity, this week's guest will remain unnamed. In this episode, we speak with a dear friend of mine who is trans and stealth in Edmonton, Alberta. We talk about the factors that motivated his decision to keep his transition private, how he still feels proud despite not being out, and we establish ground rules on what to avoid asking your tran...

Lex (they/them) is a non-binary screenwriter working in downtown Calgary, Alberta. When they first reached out to me, they wanted to talk about the close knit queer community that they found in the city. But by the time we filmed together, the rise in anti-trans/anti-drag hate in the United States had begun to make it's way into Calgary. We talk about the ways Lex has seen the community band toget...

Meet Makaylah Rogers (they/them), a business owner who serves up community, mental health, and queer representation over donuts at Frankie D's in Canmore, Alberta. Makaylah is an advocate in their community for reducing the stigma around talking about mental health, queerness, and gender diversity. Together, we also reflect on the aftermath of the Valbella incident that sent waves through the...

Back with a BANG! I am so happy to introduce Cassie (she/her) based in Calgary, Alberta. Future theatre design technician and artist, Cassie reached out to me back in the fall on behalf of the University of Calgary's Graduate Student Association's Gender and Sexuality Subcollective (GSA^2). We've linked up again to share her experiences of moving from BC to Alberta, and to talk about N...

Business owner, queer advocate, and trans model? Chinese-Canadian Cece Chow (she/her) does it all.  At the age of 42, Cece came out in Calgary to her loved ones as trans. Hear what it was like to grow up in Alberta in the 70's while not understanding what she was feeling and about the journey of embracing identity later in life. Cece continues to break boundaries in our province today.  FOLLOW CEC...

Meet José (they/he,) a student from St. Albert, Alberta. José and Kels talk about immigrant experiences of queerness and the power of diverse representation within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Coming from an incredible family, José shares how their parents views have evolved and changed over time, and how the power of their love and support has enabled them to be the confident young person they are t...

Meet Nic (he/him) a twenty-one year old student from Edmonton who started his transition just two weeks before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nic tells Kels about the challenges of growing up in a deeply religious home while also experiencing gender dysphoria and questioning his identity. Fiercely protective, Nic shares his story in the hopes that others will not have to experience what he ha...

Today's episode is very special. Meet Michelle (she/her), the first person that Kels ever interviewed. After only having come out two weeks prior to connecting, Michelle was a light of bravery and strength. Working in Calgary's K-12 school system, Michelle carries a passion for learning, language, and for encouraging others to find the bravery to be your authentic self.    FOLLOW MICHELLE: TikTok:...

Have you ever felt alone or like you were the only person from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community living out on the Canadian prairies? Trick question. We've all felt this way at one point or another and my hope is to show you how simply untrue that stereotype is. Through this series, you'll hear me talk to everyday Albertans who are living their lives proudly and vibrantly, whether they're from Calgary or E...

Meet Grace (she/they) a nineteen year old student from Calgary and lifelong athlete. Grace tells Kels about coming into their queer identity, fears of acceptance amongst fellow teammates, and the power of support from others when facing ignorance.    FOLLOW GRACE:  TikTok: @grracehill    FOLLOW KELS/QUEER IN ALBERTA:  TikTok: @_kelsifer  

Kels sits down with Alix (she/her), a bisexual elementary school teacher from Stettler, Alberta. Alix introduces Kels to the work that she does with her own podcast, Small Town Not Small Minds. Alix dismantles stereotypes about queerness and small town life, as well as creates invaluable representation and safe learning spaces for her students.    FOLLOW ALIX/SMALL TOWN NOT SMALL MINDS TikTok: @sm...

Kels sits down with Kaine (he/they), a non binary/trans piercer in Banff. Kaine introduces Kels to the work he does to make his clients feel safe and respected as their authentic selves. He also talks about the importance of establishing queer friendly business spaces, the trust that should always exist between you and your piercer, and shares his unique perspective on the queer community in Alber...

Kels sits down with Alissa, a non-binary teacher in Edmonton, Alberta. Together, they talk about the overlap in experiences of growing up mixed and queer on the prairies, about the lasting effects of the #buryyourgays trope, and Alissa opens up about the happiness found in being your authentic self.    FOLLOW ALISSA Insta: @alissataki    FOLLOW KELS/QUEER IN ALBERTA TikTok: @_kelsifer

Meet Madi, an MA Anthropology candidate from Edmonton, Alberta. Madi and Kels talk about bisexual representation, the impact of positive reinforcement and support when coming out, and queering up anthropology, one crop top at a time.  FOLLOW MADI TikTok: @madisonbadger  FOLLOW KELS/QUEER IN ALBERTA TikTok: @_kelsifer

Kels sits down with Paisley, a nurse living in Edmonton, Alberta. Together they talk about the experience of being a minority within a minority, finding representation, and being BIPOC individuals in Alberta.    Follow Paisley  TikTok: @pais   Follow Kelsey/Queer in Alberta  TikTok: @_kelsifer

Happy Pride and National Indigenous History Month! Today, we are celebrating pride and our first episode with Sabryn, a sapphic poet from Edmonton/St. Albert. Kels and Sabryn talk about queer history in Alberta, queer guilt and religious upbringings, the power of art, and Sabryn takes one big step on her own personal journey.     **Correction to the queer history in Alberta that we discuss, this i...