LGBTQ2S+ Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
An opportunity to deepen knowledge and understanding of LGBTQ2S+ rights, histories, experiences, and contributions in Alberta and across Canada, and available supports and resources at UCalgary.
May 14, 1969
The Canadian government decriminalizes homosexual acts between consenting adults over the age of 21.
April 1, 1972
The first recorded gay rights group in Alberta, Club Carousel, is established in Edmonton.
June 1, 1978
Gay Alliance Toward Equality (GATE) Calgary is formed, providing support and advocacy for the gay community.
June 20, 1981
The first known Calgary gay pride celebration takes place. It is a small, private event.
Nov. 15, 1983
Nancy Miller testifies to the Canadian Human Rights Commission during their cross-country hearings on discrimination against homosexuals in the military.
March 15, 1984
The Calgary Lesbian and Gay Political Action Guild (CLAGPAG) is founded to advocate for LGBTQ rights and organize pride events.
June 11, 1988
Edmonton hosts its first official Pride event, including a march and other activities.
May 1, 1991
Calgary's first official Pride Parade is organized by CLAGPAG, drawing a modest crowd.
Feb. 1, 1993
The Alberta Human Rights Commission ruled that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited under provincial human rights legislation.
April 2, 1996
The Alberta Court of Appeal ruled in Vriend v. Alberta that the exclusion of sexual orientation from the Alberta Individual Rights Protection Act is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court of Canada later upheld this decision on April 2, 1998.
July 20, 2005
Canada legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide, impacting couples in Alberta as well.
June 11, 2011
Edmonton's Pride Festival sees record attendance, with over 30,000 participants.
Sept. 4, 2012
The City of Calgary raises the Pride flag at City Hall for the first time.
Nov. 1, 2014
The Rainbow Railroad, a Toronto-based organization that helps LGBTQ+ individuals escape violence and persecution abroad, expands its outreach in Alberta.
Sept. 5, 2015
The first Trans March takes place during Calgary Pride Week, highlighting issues specific to the transgender community.
Sept. 4, 2016
Nancy Miller receives the Chinook Fund LGBTQ Hero Award for her contributions to Calgary's LGBTQ+ community.
Aug. 18, 2018
Calgary Pride bans uniformed police officers from marching in the parade, reflecting broader concerns about police relations with the LGBTQ+ community.
June 28, 2019
Alberta passed Bill 8, which bans conversion therapy, making it one of the first Canadian provinces to do so.
Aug. 23, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Calgary Pride events move to a virtual format.
Aug. 29, 2021
Calgary Pride returns with a mix of virtual and small in-person events as pandemic restrictions begin to ease.
Aug. 3, 2023
Calgary Pride celebrates its largest parade and festival to date, reflecting significant growth and support for the LGBTQ2S+ community in the region.
LGBTQ2S+ at UCalgary
LGBTQ2S+ members have always been present in the UCalgary study body, across teaching and research staff, and among management and professional staff, support staff, and university leadership, their identities and experiences have been understated, undisclosed, selectively recognized in a number of symbol initiatives such as Pride, International Trans Day of Visibility, and access to gender inclusive washrooms.
- Since 1966, UCalgary Students Union (SU), as well as faculty and staff, have engaged in human rights and equity advocacy to decriminalize homosexuality and to support equity and inclusion for gender and sexual diversity.
- Historically, three student media outlets, CJSW 90.9 FM, NUTV and The Gauntlet provided a platform for LGBTQ2S+ students.
- Campus associations have advocated for LGBTQ2S+ students, staff and faculty: Gay Liberation Front (1972), Gay Academic Union (1978), Gay and Lesbian Academic Students and Staff (GLASS) (late 1980s and 1990s), Q Centre, Queers on Campus, Students Union for Sexual and Gender Diversity (2010s-), Gender and Sexuality Alliance (Graduate Students’ Association), Positive Space Campaign (late 1990s to 2017), Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Academics (early 2000s), as well as groups in various faculties.
- UCalgary students, faculty, staff, and senior leaders have participated in Pride events and parades yearly.
- The first gender-neutral washrooms on campus opened in 2014. There are now inclusive washrooms across the campuses.
- Students have advocated to see themselves in institutional culture, curricula, professoriate and university leadership. Change is occurring with more equitable and inclusive faculty hires, inclusion and belonging policies and initiatives, and innovative courses and programs.
- Specific university-community initiatives such as the Calgary Gay Mapping project and work engaged in by researchers across campus are regularly featured in UToday, Arch magazine, The Gauntlet, and local and national media.
- Members of the LGBTQ2S+ community have been successful in securing research and teaching chairs, grants, and awards.
- Our campus community continues to work together to close equity gaps experienced by LGBTQ2S+ persons, including getting names changed, simplifying administrative processes, recognizing intersectionality, and mitigating biases, microaggressions, and discrimination.
Influential People
An opportunity to remember, celebrate, and educate future generations about the inspirational role that LGBTQ2S+ Calgarians have played and continue to play in communities across the city.
Campus + Community Supports
Navigating your communities and the internet for support, allyship, and information can be challenging. Listed is information on LGBTQ2S+ campus and community support.
LGBTQ2S+ History and Archives
A list highlighting some of the work done by local historians across Alberta and Canada to preserve LGBTQ2S+ history.
Age distribution of 2SLGBTQ+ and non-2SLGBTQ+ populations with disabilities, 2022
Statistics Canada - Canada is the first country to provide census data on transgender and non-binary people
Of the nearly 30.5 million people in Canada aged 15 and older living in a private household in May 2021, 100,815 were transgender (59,460) or non-binary (41,355), accounting for 0.33% of the population in this age group.
Just over half of non-binary people aged 15 and older (52.7%) lived in one of Canada's six largest urban centers: Toronto (15.3%), Montréal (11.0%), Vancouver (10.8%), Ottawa–Gatineau (5.6%), Edmonton (5.4%) and Calgary (4.5%).
A profile of 2SLGBTQ+ persons with disabilities, 2022
- “2SLGBTQ+ persons with disabilities are younger on average than their non-2SLGBTQ+ counterparts”
- “Around 7 in 10 2SLGBTQ+ persons with disabilities have a mental health-related disability”
- “The most common barriers to accessibility faced by 2SLGBTQ+ persons with disabilities are related to communication”
- “Similar employment outcomes among 2SLGBTQ+ and non-2SLGBTQ+ persons with disabilities — Looking at the highest level of educational attainment among 2SLGBTQ+ persons with disabilities aged 25 to 64 years”
Rabinowitz, T. (2024, July 8). A profile of 2SLGBTQ+ persons with disabilities, 2022.
That's so Gay!: Homophobia in Canadian Catholic Schools
Callaghan, Tonya
Professor, Werklund School of Education
University of Calgary
Alt Kid Lit – What Children’s Literature Might Be
Edited by Kidd, Kenneth B. and Mason, Derritt
Acting Senior Director, Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning
University of Calgary
Books by and on LGBTQ2S+ Canadians
A curated book list from various authors, including novels, memoirs, and historical accounts. You can find stories that will foster not only joy and compassion but also resilience and understanding.
Films by and on LGBTQ2S+ Canadians
This selection highlights many of the accomplishments of LGBTQ2S+ Canadians who, throughout Canadian history, have made a rich and diverse nation through film.
Podcasts by and on LGBTQ2S+ Canadians
Listen to various podcasts across the spectrum from hosts and guests with a wide breadth of experience about Canada from LGBTQ2S+ communities.
The Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
If you have any questions about this page or want to see some additions, please email equity@ucalgary.ca.