LGBT community in Thunder Bay
This site is a partial and personal listing of information about the development of community (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc.) in Thunder Bay in the last half century, with reference to developments elsewhere that seem relevant. Go to The Fifties and Sixties, The Seventies, The Eighties, The Nineties, Twenty-first Century.
An important source for historical information is to be found at the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives. The CLGA site has a good listing of other related sites. There are many sites that provide details of the development of LGBT community from a wider perspective. You can find a lengthy article in Wikipedia at LGBT history, keeping in mind that some of this information lacks citations.
Throughout this website LGBT is used as an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, queer, questioning, and others who identify themselves as part of a sexual minority. For a more complete glossary of terms, you can click here.
The rainbow flag, sometimes called 'the freedom flag', was created as a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pride and diversity by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. The different colors symbolize diversity in the gay community, and the flag is used predominantly at gay pride events and in gay villages worldwide.
It consists of six colored stripes, which should always be displayed with red on top or to left. It is most commonly flown with the red stripe on top, as the colors appear in a natural rainbow. Aside from the obvious symbolism of a mixed LGBT community, the colors were designed to symbolize: red (life), orange (healing), yellow (sunlight), green (nature), blue (harmony), and purple/violet (spirit). [ - Wikipedia]
This website is a work in progress. To the best of my knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate. If you have information that you would like to contribute, or if you encounter any inconsistencies, inaccuracies or problems with accessing this website, please contact me so that I may ensure that both the history and the site are comprehensive and accurate. - David Belrose
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead