Queer Legends: An Oral History Podcast Shawn Dearn

Coming June 1, 2024 | Season 2 of Queer Legends shares The True Story of Canada's LGBT Purge in a landmark, eight part documentary series. This is the first documentary to examine the full extent of Canada's anti-homosexual campaigns using newly declassified documents released by the LGBT Purge Fund. From ridiculous to shocking, you'll hear amazing true stories from courageous survivors; academics; researchers; former MPs and cabinet ministers. 

The violent Montreal Police raid of a popular after hours party known as ‘Sex Garage’ sparked two days of LGBTQ2S protests and a Queer rights revolution in the province of Québec. We must never forget the police violence, even as we celebrate the courage of Queer Montrealers and the ACT UP New York "groupies" who helped change everything. This is their story, in their own words. 
Hosted by: Award-winning broadcaster and journalist, Shawn Dearn. Cover art by Tim Singleton. Produced by Secret Agents.
Listening Note: Take care of yourself during this episode. It includes graphic descriptions of police brutality and violence aimed at Queer Montrealers. The sounds of protests are real and some clips are of people who are no longer with us, taken from 1990 TV news coverage. 

One of the first openly Gay actors and comedians on Canadian television was Greg Malone. His comedic charm and unforgiving satire - of the Catholic Church or politicians - made him a star on the CBC.
Greg shares what it was like growing up "Gay" in Newfoundland and Labrador, discusses his TV legacy, AIDS activism, dabbling in politics and how he’s now focussed on art and supporting "Team Rainbow."
Hosted by: Award-winning broadcaster and communicator, Shawn Dearn. Cover art by Tim Singleton. Produced by Secret Agents
Listening Note: Take care of yourself as you listen to this episode. It includes discussion about the abuse of children by Roman Catholic clergy.

Jane Rule helped “create a nation” of Queer activists and activism along the west coast of Canada and the United States. She is one of the most influential authors and lesbians in Canadian history.
Rule wrote honestly and courageously about Lesbian love and relationships at a time when it was still illegal to be a Lesbian in Canada.  She contributed to the unraveling of Canada Customs censorship of her and other authors’ LGBTQ2S works at the Canadian border, as well as the broader acceptance of queer and lesbian citizens by Canadian society.
My amazing guest is Bishop's University English professor, Linda Morra, PhD. She is a leading scholar of archival theory and Canadian women’s writing, and a multiple award-winning instructor and researcher...and she was super fun to speak with. You'll also hear from Jane Rule herself.
Hosted by: Award-winning broadcaster, Shawn Dearn. Cover art by Tim Singleton. Produced by Secret Agents.

Discover how "Black music" transformed the 1990s club scene in Canada’s second largest city. Meet Claudy Philius, who created two of the hottest regular club events for Montreal’s Black Queer community. Hot Chocolate and the Girls In Da Hood celebrated Black culture and music, when black people were often made to feel unwelcome in the gay village. Philius’ events cut through the white privilege and were so successful that hip-hop rooms started popping up in bars all over town (not just the village). Have a listen and find out if a fresh cup of ‘Hot Chocolate’ may get served up after the pandemic.

I bet you didn't know that it was a Black American with a flair for fashion who inspired a new kind of in-your-face gay activism in Montreal. Blane Charles had already made a name for himself in ACT UP New York by the time he attended the 1989 International AIDS Conference in Montreal. 
Blane stayed in Montreal for a few years and co-founded ACT UP MTL with fellow activist Michael Hendricks. Blane went on to co-found the 'Parc de l'espoir' AIDS memorial and co-create the 'World Ball For UNITY.' 
The ‘World Ball’ helped build bridges and allies within Montreal's fractured LGBTQ2S community through ballroom culture.
This episode showcases a fierce, Black, New York queen who helped spark a revolution in activism across the province of Quebec. 
Hosted by: Award-winning broadcaster and communicator, Shawn Dearn. Cover art by Tim Singleton. Produced by Secret Agents.