What’s new

27 Jun, 2018 2018-2019: The Archives on tour in Quebec museums

The Quebec Gay Archives have contributed to an exhibition which will be presented in three Quebec museums in 2018-2019:  InterReconnaissance – Une mémoire citoyenne se raconte.

« Solidarity, dignity, violence, marginalization, visibility, creativity, alternative…  These words describe the theme of the exhibition which allows us to explore a half century of struggle for recognition of the rights of marginalized groups » (translation from French: I.B.).

Many items drawn from the collections of the Quebec Gay Archives are now on loan to this exhibition.

-Photograph: Demonstration against police brutality towards the Montreal gay community, 1976.
-Photograph: Façade of the Bookstore L’Androgyne, 1979.
-Document: First edition of the magazine, Le Berdache, 1979.
-Document: Charter of the Association pour les droits des gai(e)s du Québec – ADGQ (loan of original document).
-Press clipping: Omnibus Bill, 1969 – Decriminalization of homosexuality.
-Poster: Outgames Montreal, 2006.
-Poster: Stonewall40 – Commemoration of the New York gay community demonstrations of 1969.
-Program: Image & Nation Film Festival, 1988.
-Poster: RÉZO

The InterReconnaissance – Une mémoire citoyenne se raconte exhibition was developed by the Écomusée du fier monde (Montréal).

A people’s history museum, the Écomusée du fiers monde invites you to explore little known aspects of Montreal’s culture. Discover the daily life of ordinary people and explore the inspiring paths of popular and community organizations. Come see the exhibitions at the Écomusée and the former Généreux public bath, a magnificent example of 1920s architecture.

INTERRECONNAISSANCE on tour.

– From June 14 to August 26 2018: Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent, Rivière-du-Loup
www.mbsl.qc.ca

– From September 6 2018 to February 3 2019: Écomusée du fier monde, Montréal
Opening: September 5 2018
http://ecomusee.qc.ca

– Winter/Spring 2019 (dates to be confirmed): Musée POP – Quebec’s Folk Culture (formerly Musée québécois de culture populaire), Trois-Rivières
www.culturepop.qc.ca

Credit: Façade of the bookstore L’Androgyne, 1979 (Fonds Androgyne, AGQ, 2/2, ch. 187)

15 Jun, 2018 The Quebec Gay Archives receives the support of Fierté Montréal

The Quebec Gay Archives is happy to announce that it has received the support of Fierté Montréal for two activities.

Fierté Montréal has chosen to support financially our August event, “THE QUEBEC GAY ARCHIVES AT THE CINÉMA DU PARC” and include it in the festival’s official program.

– The event include a free public exhibition of posters on HIV/AIDS, in the lobby of the Cinéma du Parc (noon to 8:30 pm every day, Free entrance).

– In the evening of 15 August, attendees will benefit from a lecture given by Gabriel Girard as well as the premiere of the documentary film, “John Banks – Une vie d’engagement” (entry fee of $15, taxes included).

– In addition, Fierté Montréal shows its support to the Quebec Gay Archives this year with its Programme de bourses communautaires, which will permit the organization to broaden its outreach with new communication strategies.

Join us at the Cinéma du Parc in the month of August!
The Quebec Gay Archives thanks Fugues for its partnership.

And take part in all the activities of Fierté Montréal, from August 9 to 19 2018!
Come to meet us at the Quebec Gay Archives’ kiosk during Community Day: Saturday August 18, 11 am to 5 pm, free access.

fiertemontrealpride.com

15 Jun, 2018 AGQ’s Annual General Assembly

Held June 10 2018, during the annual general assembly of the Quebec Gay Archives, five out of a total of nine board members were elected.

Board members elected were: Iain Blair (vice-president), Raymond Thibault (treasurer), Jonathan Dorey (councillor no.3), Alexandre Fortier (councillor no.4) and Robert Tessier (councillor no.5).

On even years, five positions on the Board are open for election, and on odd years the remaining four.

The Board of the Quebec Gay Archives is currently composed of:
Jacques Prince: President
Iain Blair: Vice President
Yvon D’Amour: Secretary
Raymond Thibault: Treasurer
Julie Podmore: Councillor n^o 1
Tony Esposito: Councillor n^o 2
Jonathan Dorey: Councillor n^o 3
Alexandre Fortier: Councillor n^o 4
Robert Tessier: Councillor n^o 5

Ross Higgins chose to not stand for re-election this year. Co-founder of the Quebec Gay Archives in 1983, he has chosen to leave the Board while continuing to be an active member of the Archives.

The new Board of the Quebec Gay Archives. From left to right: Raymond Thibault, Iain Blair, Yvon D’Amour, Tony Esposito, Jacques Prince, Alexandre Fortier, Jonathan Dorey and Robert Tessier. Absent: Julie Podmore (Councillor no 1).

Photo: Ross Higgins

28 May, 2018 Visitors from France

On May 11, the AGQ welcomed Isabelle Sentis and Lydie Doléans who visited us from France to discuss our experience as a community archives and the project to open an LGBTQ+ archives in Paris. In addition, they are behind the Queer code and Fabric’ Art initiatives. Queer Code is a feminist project that traces the lives of women who loved women during the Second World War. Fabric’ Art uses art-therapy to allow for an individual and collection exploration. Follow Queer Code on Facebook and Twitter and Fabric’ Art on Facebook and Instagram.

28 May, 2018 Jonathan Dorey, archivist at the Archives gaies du Québec

Since May 22^nd, Jonathan Dorey has been working as an archivist at the Archives gaies du Québec. During this summer contract he will process documents donated by David Cassidy. These contain the organizational records of associations set up in the 1970s and 1980s, in the early days of the AIDS crisis in Montréal. Among others are the records of ACCM, MARC-ARMS, Integrity Montréal, in addition to his personal records. David Cassidy worked as a social worker and sessional lecturer at McGill University. This is not Jonathan’s first contract with the AGQ. In the summer of 2015, he processed the records of Ken Morrison. Then, in the summer of 2016, he produced a Research and collections guide on the history of AIDS in Montréal, a project in partnership with Carleton University and the AIDS Activist History Project.

Crédit photo. : E.G.

28 May, 2018 The AGQ at McGill University

On May 10^th, one of our volunteers, Jonathan Dorey, had the opportunity to talk about the AGQ and its collections during the course Introduction to Sexual Diversity Studies taught by Alexandra Ketchum and offered by the McGill Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminism. This group of first and second year undergraduate students were introduced to the mission of the Archives and its collections. The students handled some of the documents and used them as part of their assignment. A web page was put online for the course and shows students’ contributions. Have a look here: https://mcgillandthequebecgayarchives.blogspot.ca.

28 May, 2018 Emmanuel Galland, assistant to AGQ coordinator Pierre Pilotte

From May until December 2018, Emmanuel Galland will be working with the Quebec Gay Archives. Emmanuel will be assisting Pierre Pilotte with communications and requests for financing. He will also answer general inquiries and undertake research activities in various archival fonds. With a background in fine arts and art history from the Université de Montréal, Emmanuel has worked as an artist and curator and as a consultant in culture and communications. As a counsellor, trainer and mentor, he accompanies artists and organizations in their creative and professional development. This year, he is curator of the collective exhibit “STATUER. Les figures du socle – Partie III” at the Stewart Hall Art Gallery.

Crédit photo. : F.L.

27 Feb, 2018 Contribute online

You can now make a online donation on the website of the Quebec Gay Archives

The process is very easy. First click on the tab “Donate”, and then click on “Make an online donation with CanadaHelps”. You can then enter the amount you would like to donate. Setting up monthly contributions is also possible.

CanadaHelps will send to you a tax receipt when the donation is finalized.

The Board of Directors and volunteers of the Quebec Gay Archives thank in advance all of our generous donors.

Each year, the collections of the Quebec Gay Archives grow in importance due to the documents, photos, artworks and other objects given to us by members of the LGBTQ+ communities. We would like to enhance our collections of materials relations to places that were an important part of LGBTQ+ life, and so are especially interested in photos of bars, discotheques, restaurants, saunas, parks, rooming houses etc where LGBTQ+ people gathered. Promotional objects, such as matchbooks, ashtrays, lapel pins, Tshirts etc, are also valuable, and any materials concerning lesbian are particularly welcomed. If you have such materials, please do not throw them away. Give them to the Quebec Gay Archives so we can keep our history alive for future generations. Too many treasures are discarded when a community member passes away, or when people are not aware of the mission of the Quebec Gay Archives. In this, our 35th year, we make a special request that you help us preserve these materials for posterity.

12 Feb, 2018 Video : Extrait de “Centre-ville : L’âge des lumières” avec Ross Higgins et John Banks de l’AGQ

Les membres du Conseil d’administration et les bénévoles des Archives gaies du Québec remercient le réalisateur du documentaire Montréal, mon amour, mon histoire, Paul Carvalho, d’avoir généreusement accepté que nous mettions en ligne la séquence avec John Banks et Ross Higgins.

Centre-ville : L’âge des lumières souligne les batailles menées à Montréal : la lutte contre la prostitution et les maisons de jeu et la communauté gaie face à la répression.

Centre-ville : L’âge des lumières, du coffret Montréal, mon amour, mon histoire
Réalisé par : Paul Carvalho
Produit par : Les Films Perception Inc. ©2015

http://www.paulcarvalhofilms.com/centre-ville.html
http://www.paulcarvalhofilms.com/filmographie-centre-ville.html

31 Jan, 2018 Pierre Pilotte, Coordinator at the Quebec Gay Archives

Pierre Pilotte has been working as coordinator at the Quebec Gay Archives since the summer of 2017. After having worked for three decades in cultural industries as director of communications, he reoriented his career several years ago towards the community sector. He has been on the boards of RÉZO and of the Portail VIH sida du Québec while also working for both organizations. As coordinator of the Gay Archives, Pierre researches funding opportunities and develops promotional activities and communications strategies in consultation with the organization’s Board of Directors. (Photo: Oz Yilmaz)

12 Jan, 2018 Thank you!

Board members and volunteers of the Quebec Gay Archives would like to thank all donors who participated so generously in our 2017 financing drive. The Quebec Gay Archives exceeded its objectives in this campaign and the amount received will allow us to complete several projects which have already been initiated. Visitors to the Archive’s website will already have noticed what has been accomplished thanks to incoming donations. The Quebec Gay Archives thanks all of its donors and wishes them a very Happy New Year.

20 Dec, 2017 Joyous holiday season and a happy New Year

The members of board and the volunteers of the Quebec Gay Archives wish you a joyous holiday season and a New Year full of peace, love and justice for you and your loved ones.

17 Dec, 2017 Death of Raoul Fortin, Jacques Prince’s partner

Board members and volunteers of the Quebec Gay Archives offer their condolences to Jacques Princes, who just lost his partner Raoul Fortin to cancer. Jacques Prince is president and one of two founders of the Quebec Gay Archives. Raoul leaves behind many family members and friends. May he rest in peace.