Glenbow celebrates Calgary Pride Week! In honour of the occasion, we’re looking back to a piece of Calgary queer history that was equal parts joyful expression and social justice movement.
These t-shirts were donated to Glenbow by Luke Shwart, a founder of the Rocky Mountain Singers: a gay and lesbian chorus formed in Calgary in 1989. Originally conceived as a gay men’s choir, the Rocky Mountain Singers, or “Rockies” as they were known, became part of a large network of queer choirs around the world. They also participated in and performed at some of Calgary’s earliest Pride events, during a time in which homophobia was pervasive.
Gay and lesbian choruses were first formed in the United States in the late 1970s. In 1981, the Gay and Lesbian Association of Performing Art Groups (GALA Performing Arts) was formed, and in 1983 it was officially incorporated as the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses). Rocky Mountain Singers joined GALA and represented Calgary and Canada at GALA Festivals.[1] To this day, GALA Festivals are held every four years and are among the largest queer cultural events in the world.
In the summer of 1990, the Rocky Mountain Singers members traveled to Vancouver to attend in the Gay Games: an international event celebrating queer athletes and artists. They took part in the Festival Chorus: a choir open to all Games attendees, with participation in the hundreds.[2] The medal seen here is both a memento of the Rocky Mountain Singers’ participation and a testament to the event’s impact on the chorus in its early days.
Rocky Mountain Singers were active until the early 2000s, and their work built and strengthened the queer community in Calgary.[3] While the group disbanded in 2002, queer choral groups continue to be popular community fixtures in Calgary, with several choirs operational today.
The legacy of groups like the Rocky Mountain Singers reminds us of the power of coming together in celebration and solidarity. As we honour Calgary Pride Week, we also remember the trailblazers who paved the way for today’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
To learn more about the history of the Rocky Mountain Singers, and about Calgary queer history in general, we recommend exploring the Calgary Gay History Project’s website.
References
[1] Kevin Allen, “Rocky Mountain Singers—Beginnings,” Calgary Gay History Project, May 13, 2021, https://calgarygayhistory.ca/2021/05/13/rocky-mountain-singers-beginnings/
[2] Kevin Allen, “Rocky Mountain Singers—Week 2,” Calgary Gay History Project, May 20, 2021, https://calgarygayhistory.ca/2021/05/20/rocky-mountain-singers-week-2/
[3] Kevin Allen, “Rocky Mountain Singers—Beginnings,” Calgary Gay History Project, May 13, 2021, https://calgarygayhistory.ca/2021/05/13/rocky-mountain-singers-beginnings/
