“One can learn a lot from reading historical queer fiction to see how the LGBTQ2S community has evolved over the decades. This list includes some of the most celebrated, award-winning novels from our community, plus a few of my fan favourites. (I wanted to be a Vampire when I was 18 years old, thanks to Anne Rice!) On this list, I have included some Calgarian authors as well as a couple of non-fiction historical surveys — one Canadian, one American — for those looking for an accessible and comprehensive understanding of our human rights struggles. I can read any of these books over and over and over; they have a special place on my bookshelf.”
About Kevin Allen:
Kevin Allen is a fourth-generation Calgarian who has been documenting and profiling queer people and events for 30 years. Allen started the Calgary Gay History Project in 2012 to uncover and preserve stories from Calgary’s LGBTQ2 past (www.calgarygayhistory.ca). The Project has achieved national recognition and led to the award-winning documentary film: Gross Indecency: The Everett Klippert Story; and the best-selling book Our Past Matters: Stories of Gay Calgary. Additionally, Allen works as a senior election administrator for both Elections Canada and Elections Alberta.