Given that, for the past few years, protests against and the threatening of the rights of LGBTQ2S+ people in Calgary have occurred, it has put a renewed emphasis on those same individuals being able to authentically tell their stories.

In the upcoming 2025 edition of the Coming Out Monologues, three evening performances of six storytellers each night will provide authentic accounts of identity, family, and belonging at Contemporary Calgary from Oct. 10 through 12.

Shone Thistle, Executive Director of the Calgary Queer Arts Society, said that a recent story from the society’s Fairy Tale Film Festival highlighted why the telling of queer experiences remains important.

“A community member who was sitting on one of our panels during the festival, she said to me something that I thought I will hold very dear to my heart, probably forever. She said, ‘do you remember there was a time when we only gathered in dark alleyways and in closed areas where we couldn’t be seen and where we could hide for our own safety?’ She said, ‘to be able to be in a space like this is such a powerful, powerful reminder that we deserve nice things too,'” said Thistle.

In a world where misinformation abounds and political polarization has been normalized, Thistle said that coming together to tell stories can be a powerful thing for the community.

“It really is a powerful invitation to others to share their own experiences, and it connects us as human beings,” said Thistle.

“This one opportunity to come together is really the drop that starts the ripple that goes out far beyond the walls of Contemporary Calgary, and invites people to share who they are with the people that they love.”

Sharing those experiences have become all the more important in the face of current political issues in the province, said Thistle.

“Every year, we find that the stories of queer Calgarians warm our hearts in ways that remind us that the world is perhaps not quite as scary as it seems to be. Then, in Alberta this year, we’ve faced a lot of backlash against particularly trans and non-binary community members,” she said.

“So, with the looming threat of the notwithstanding clause, specifically around imposing or taking away rights from our trans and non binary community members. I think that queer storytelling, in particular, is that much more important.”

Marketplace of ideas, marketplace for shopping

Thistle said new this year was the incorporation of performances from Drag Sings Live.

“It is super exciting because they’re a bit of a mash-up between cabaret and drag. There’s a performance of the same song Two Ways, once sung live with piano accompaniment in a totally jazzy cabaret style, and then to close out the show in the more—I hesitate to use the word conventional when I’m talking about drag—but in the in the more of the lip sync style of drag at the end of the show,” said Thistle.

“It’s just a little bit of a palette cleanser, prepping for the show and then stepping out into the world through a moment of joyful queer drag performance.”

Kenna Burima, co-founder and music director of Drag Sings Live and volunteer coordinator for the Calgary Queer Arts Society, said that it was only natural to have both cabaret and drag during this year’s Coming Out Monologues.

“Cabaret and drag have always thrived in times of unrest, offering both refuge and resistance in the face of rising hate. For us, stepping on stage to sing and share stories is equal parts joy, defiance, and community,” she said.

As part of the festival of queer storytelling, the free queer arts exhibition and maker market is set to return.

“We’re so excited about our art market. One of the things that we do as an organization is we don’t charge artists to participate in our art market. We curate a really beautiful sort of community of artists to share their work, and then we help offset the costs for them in order to participate, so they actually get a small honorarium for being there versus buying a table from us,” said Thistle.

“This is an opportunity for artists to be a little bit more experimental, to try new things because there’s less risk for them, and we’re super proud of that.”

Festival attendees will also be able to enjoy a collab beer with 88 Brewing, with Divine, a fruited hazy pale ale that celebrates International Coming Out Day and also features artwork from up-and-coming Calgary artist Contemporary Vice.

Thistle said that long-time supporter RBC was continuing to be the presenting sponsor in 2025, something that meant more to the Calgary Queer Arts Society than just a financial commitment—especially in an environment when corporations are reducing or ending their commitment to LGBTQ2S+ groups and pride.

“I think that as much as there are people pulling away, there are people who are doubling and tripling down, and RBC is a longtime partner of Calgary Queer Arts Society. They have been supporting pride and supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ human rights before they were even doing sponsorships,” she said.

“They’ve stuck with us through multiple iterations of this relationship, and do so in a way that is just inspired. It’s actually really inspired.”

She said that Contemporary Calgary opening the Heather Edwards Theatre for the Coming Out Monologues also meant a lot.

“Heather Edwards made a beautiful donation to Contemporary Calgary in order for that space to be available for community programming. That means that organizations like ours have the ability to be in a space that’s not only central and accessible, but it’s also beautiful,” said Thistle.

Tickets for the Coming Out Monologues are available via www.calgaryqueerartssociety.com.

Thistle said that LiveWire Calgary readers can use the promo code SHANTAY for $5 off tickets.