The CBC online team also turned three of the stories and raw interviews into online features, including “This Olympian was outed in the 1980s. The 1990 Gay Games helped her reconnect to sports”, Alex Migdal’s piece “This cherry tree site is the first-known AIDS memorial in Vancouver”, and Maryse Zeidler’s feature“Before Pride in Vancouver, there was GATE”.

CBC Vancouver: 50 Years Out

The Story

2019 marked 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalized in Canada. I produced a week-long series for CBC Vancouver’s afternoon radio show, On the Coast, called 50 Years Out. Each day told a different story from one of the last five decades of Vancouver’s queer history.

The series, which included three short mixed pieces, an interview, and a round-table discussion aired from July 29 to August 2, 2019.

Listen:

Monday: the 1970s

Long time activist and queer achivist Don Hann describes 1970s Vancouver as “a big closet”. He was part of GATE, the Gay Alliance Toward Equality, an organization that helped open the closet doors by taking the Vancouver Sun all the way to the Supreme Court. Hosted by Jason D’Souza.

Tuesday: the 1980s

One of the oldest AIDS memorials in North America is a small grove of cherry trees, planted across from Stanley Park in 1985. Featuring Michael Welsh, hosted by Gloria Macarenko.

wednesday: the 1990s

Olymipic volleyball coach Betty Baxter was fired after moths of rumors about her sexual orientation. Bringing the Gay Games to Vancouver in 1990 let her reconnect to her joy of sport — and welcome 8,500 queer athletes to the city for a week-long celebration of sport and gay culture.

Thursday: the 2000s

Robert Hughes was central to a major 2002 reform in Canadian immigration law that allowed same-sex couples to be granted family status. Hosted by Gloria Macarenko.

Friday: the 2010s

Panel conversation with three folks living outside of conventional the gender binary. Hosted by Gloria Macarenko, featuring Cicely Belle Blain, Raven John and Romeo Reyes. Scripting by Sonya Hart.