“As a 2-Spirit person, I’ve never really identified as male or female, masculine or feminine roles,” says Brad Jones, “in or out of drag.” From politically inspired satin dresses to mirrored masks inspired by Final Fantasy, Jones—AKA Jennifer DaFuque—is refashioning drag culture and making space for 2-Spirit identity in Halifax. The only 2-Spirit drag performer […]
Pride Guide
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Drag princess
Lucas Campbell stands behind the tall amphitheatre entranceway doors. The glances from his big, blue eyes suggest high levels of nervousness and excitement. The crowd is cheering. It’s his moment. He’ll never look back. He hears his song playing and steps onto the stage as Patricia. It’s only the second youth drag show in Nova […]
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Queer erasure on stage
Since Kamp began its readings and workshop performances in 2015, much of its buzz and accolades surrounded the cast, which has been a showcase for many local queer performers who audiences have never seen on stage. “I remember someone asking me who all these people were,” says Garry Williams, co-creator, with Jamie Bradley, of the […]
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Checked out: AIDS testing in Nova Scotia falls behind
Five years ago, the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia launched a campaign called “Check Me Out” to encourage gay men in Nova Scotia to get tested for HIV and other STIs. The campaign ran for almost two years, and during that time the provincial department of health and wellness reported a significant rise in new […]
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Happy ours: A history of local gay bars
Halifax is a city with a vibrant history, and that extends into its queer culture. Since the first gay bar opened in 1971, Halifax’s queer community has found a home in nightlife. The first “officially gay” gay bar in Halifax was Thee Klub. It opened in 1971 in the Green Lantern Building on Barrington Street. […]
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Before the parade
[Image-1] It was spring of 1972 when Anne Fulton stumbled upon a poster that read It’s Time for Gay Liberation. That rallying cry appealed to the budding lesbian activist—Fulton was 20 then, maybe 21—and she went to the meeting the poster advertised. This gathering would turn out to be vital, for both Fulton and, more […]