W9R: "The Louder We Get"
A standing ovation from the packed house at opening night for The Louder We Get at Theatre Calgary; January 31, 2020.
Shif and I attended the world premiere of The Louder We Get at Theatre Calgary on Friday night. I had the honor of bringing greetings from the City of Calgary to a packed VIP reception full of donors, leaders in the LGBTQ2S community - including Marc Hall himself - and the proud families and friends of the stunningly talented creative team that brought this story to the stage.
Marc’s 2002 fight against the Ontario Catholic School Board for the right to bring his boyfriend to prom made international headlines.
At the time, it was precedent-setting.
Gallingly, that fight is just as relevant — in this province, at this time — as it was 18 years ago.
Shif and I both agree that The Louder We Get is a big thumbs up for Ward 9 Recommends. The only proper response to the politics of today is rejecting the sense of entitlement we have towards a more equitable and inclusive world as ‘inevitable’; it’s time to get loud in support of the world we want.
But we also recommend The Louder We Get because it is another tour-de-force in Theatre Calgary’s leadership of our City’s world class theatre scene. It’s super-fun, it’s super-uplifting, and it’s technically excellent. We both encourage you to experience it for yourself before it concludes on February 22, 2020.
- Gian-Carlo Carra
MLA Janis Irwin, Marc Hall, & Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra at opening night for The Louder We Get
Council will be voting on a motion to ban the practice of conversion therapy in Calgary, Alberta on February 3rd, 2020.
If you are unfamiliar with the practice of conversion therapy, it often involves “trying to change someone’s sexual orientation, is abusive, dangerous, and simply does not and will never work”, says local activist and community leader, Pam Rocker. We encourage all Calgarians to read her piece and learn how they can participate in addressing the issue.
Calgary’s City Council won’t be the first to put forward a motion supporting a ban. And we hope it certainly won’t be the last.
In December 2019, Edmonton’s City Council unanimously voted to ban the practice, alongside approval for a $10,000 fine for any business or entity found to be violating these rules. For more information, you can review the City of Edmonton’s Bylaw 19061.
Other municipalities in Alberta that have also passed similar bans include Wood Buffalo (which includes Fort McMurray), St. Albert, and Strathcona County. Vancouver’s city council was the first municipality in Canada to pursue a ban and unanimously vote in favor of doing so on June 6, 2018.
While many question the role and efficacy of a municipal ban, we welcome any opportunity that makes Calgary a safer, more inclusive city for our LGBTQ2S+ community. We also hope that it reminds other orders of government (both provincial and federal) of the role they play in protecting and supporting vulnerable citizens in Alberta and across Canada.
Full Notice of Motion
[City of Calgary]
To learn more about efforts across Canada, read the Fulcrum’s feature story: The Fight to Ban Conversion Therapy.
If you or someone you know is looking for support, consider contacting the Calgary Centre for Sexuality and/or Skipping Stone Foundation.