It's kinda crazy that I followed you for books, and then you reblogged a queer in alberta post and I was like 'oh cool, they must be Canadian if they're amplifing voices outside of BC and Ottowa. I expected similar types of posta for other places, but it was always queer in alberta. And I realized you live in alberta too. I myself am stuck rather deep into the bible belt, one of the towns that can't have rainbow crosswalks because people would burn rubber to cover it up kinda place. It's just nice to know how small the world can be sometimes, knowing people are fighting the good fight in a rather bleak battlefield such as ours. Currently 1 week post-op top surgery, get my drains out tomorrow. I've never been too afraid to live my life as I am, but it's relieving knowing that I'm not the only one trying to carve out their place in this province
Honestly, getting this means so much to me. I've lived in Alberta for most of my life and genuinely love it here. It has actually been a bit difficult lately, because whenever I post about something negative happening in Alberta the notes are FULL of smug people making snide comments like "of course it's Alberta", which is annoying at the best of times and disheartening at the worst.
I grew up in Claresholm, lived in Lethbridge and Fort MacCleod, and in all of these spaces I found queer people to cling onto. Now that I live in Edmonton it can be difficult because so many people here haven't ever experienced the small towns they look down on, and have no idea the amount of resilience and beauty there.
When things are hard here, no part of that is helped by people's condescending attitudes. What reminds me to keep fighting is people like you, and all the gentle, fierce, and vital queer connections I have made over my years here.
Anyways, thank you for sending this in. I appreciate it more than you can know, and I hope some other queer Albertans can see and take comfort in two queer people thriving in difficult conditions.
(Also here is some queer Albertan history, George Everett Klippert, and Jean-Baptiste L'Heureux)
