DIVERSIONS // THE ARCHIVES

This month are some great featured artists from queer disability arts activist for your enjoyment. Check them out soon!

It’s been a dream of ours to create an event that honours the perfection that can be a short film . We hope audiences, old and new, will take a chance on exploring the many talented and original filmmakers whose work we will be bringing to Canadian audiences for the holidays. Discover and share these little gems. This is our Xmas present to you! Charlie Boudreau, Festival Director

Prospect Theater Company’s Fall 2020 VISION Series Wraps with: DON’T STAY SAFE an original short musical on film Premieres online Wednesday, Dec. 30th @ 7pm - Free Online Streaming via Prospect’s Website and YouTube Channel

If you’re like me, you’re missing the excitement of holiday craft fairs and markets. The sounds of happy people exploring the amazing world of craft, the smells of soaps and oils and cloth. We can’t bring all that to you in this virtual reality, but we can feature some local vendors and help you find that perfect last-minute gift.

This virtual event from the folks at Vancouver Pride will give you a new surprise to look forward to every single day of December. There will be workshops, games, contests, performances and more.

Black Friday is upon us and we all know it's that time to hunt for your favourite items and deals. Why not support queer businesses at the same time? Here are some ways you can support queer businesses at this time.

The Chutzpah! Festival returns with an exciting lineup of performances this November 21-28, 2020, all available online, with special opportunities to attend intimate shows live streamed from the stage of the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.

The talent of Rupaul’s Drag Race alumnas is immense and widely known on television. But do you know your local drag queens in Vancouver? Who are they and where can you see them? Scroll down to brush up your knowledge about drag queens/kings and learn more about Vancouver’s local talents.

Vancouver’s SUM gallery will be hosting select, special events surrounding their new, Autumn exhibit, Time-Lapse: Posthumous Conversations — A Geoff McMurchy Retrospective.

The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art presents the new exhibition Resurgence: Indigequeer Identities, curated by Jordana Luggi - which celebrates the deeply personal and profound work of four emerging 2Spirit artists - and their unique identities and stories as queer Indigenous people

Join Elton John, Barenaked Ladies, k.d. lang, and Buffy Sainte-Marie for a starry Virtual Gala in support of The 519, Canada’s largest LGBTQ2S community centre

Welcome to the 27th Annual Women’s Winter Faire! Sadly, no Heritage Hall this year, but happily some of our creative artists/artisans are here to keep the Faire alive. Do drop by and shop at their “booth”. Ask about deliveries; some have pick up points or might be able to make other arrangements. Photo: Cocoa West Chocolatier

Online gaming is an excellent way to connect with your buddies in and out of your bubble or even meet new people. Whether you are new to gaming or a hardcore gamer, there is a huge variety of games that can suit every preference and style.

Intimacy plus - queer podcasts and radio shows to keep you company during difficult times.

Self-distancing is good for the herd but it doesn’t have to be lonely. Here are some ways to connect using your home technology.

Beloved Canadian pop artist, Joe Average, has teamed with Canada’s newest clothing brand, DEQQ Apparel, to create and release his first limited edition art piece since the 90’s.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, the Chief Medical Officer of BC is very clear “Every time you meet new people you are exposing yourself to their risk.” So how do we proceed with life and dating during a pandemic? Sophia shares some tips.

The upcoming AfterWords Literary Festival, September 30th - October 4th, 2020, offers a diverse range of writers, including many who explore themes of queerness, sexual politics, and gender identity in their work.

Weddings are tough in 2020 if your person-to-be is in the US!

It’s anyone’s guess as to when we will return to 2019 travel. The predictions for a full recovery is somewhere between the middle of 2021 to the middle of 2023. One good outcome from all of this is that the industry as a whole is stepping up their game.

Out On Screen is pleased to announce Brandon Yan as its new Executive Director. Plus virtual parties, programs and workshops at the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.

Get ready for #VanVirtualPride with this jam packed line-up of events...including one that will get out up and out of the house 🤩Grab your chosen fam and round up your isolation buddies, glam up (or pajama up) and host a physically distanced patio party or a living room dance off.

Pride Performance Empowers! (or PPE for short) takes place in the Firehall’s beautiful courtyard, PPE is a three day long event of theatre, drag, and music July 31 - Aug 2.

Vines Art Festival is a celebratory, provocative, intersectional festival of performing arts and land justice both online and limited gathering in outdoor parks. All-ages welcome. August 5th-15th online and in Vancouver Parks. All Events Are Free!

We hear phrases like “Be out and proud!” tossed around and it can be easy to think that coming out is a one-time event that everyone must go through. But outness is complicated - HIM’s new online resource unpacks the complexities of outness.

The Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) released today its complete lineup for the 11-day digital film festival, taking place August 13-23, which includes artists from India, Philippines, United States, and Canada. More than 60 films from 10 countries in addition to virtual parties and post-screening Q&As.

To ensure that this audience can continue to get their queer arts fix, the 12th annual Queer Arts Festival (QAF) has been re-imagined as a festival to be experienced online, from a safe-ish distance.

Out On Screen is proud to present a virtual Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF) this summer from Thursday, August 13 to Sunday, August 23, 2020. Curated by Artistic Director, Anoushka Ratnarajah, the theme of this year’s Festival is “Still Here”.

The City of Surrey is actively involved in embracing it's true diversity and the Surrey Pride Society provides a safe place for all genders, norms and sexual orientation but with specific emphasis on the LGBTQ+ community. This year's Pride will be hosted virtually due to COVID-19. 

Saturday morning cartoons, a Virtual Family Pride, and an amazing list of Virtual Summer Camps will help queer families enjoy their summer.

HER, a major dating and social platform for queer women and sapphic users, has been acquired by Match Group, the largest online dating company in the world.

Some people fear trans women in public bathrooms—but is that fear supported by evidence? We look at what the data says, who’s really at risk, and what better solutions look like.

The word 'woke' has shifted from meaning social awareness to becoming a political weapon. I wanted to know why. We start wtih its history, changing meanings, and how it is used to create division — and end with what individuals can do about it.

Crossdressing is wearing clothes typically associated with a different gender. It can be enjoyed for self-expression, comfort, identity exploration, or sexual pleasure.

Let’s look at Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, its history, and its impact on marginalized communities, including recent policy changes in Canada and the U.S.

Volunteers can do anything from taking tickets and stamping hands, to moving objects, to sitting on committees to help with planning. Small things. Big things. Every little bit helps and while you're contributing to your community, guess what? You'll be meeting new and interesting people.

When I asked Google for the most common question people asked about the queer community, many asked about the acronym we often use. What is it, why do we use it, and what do the initials represent?

North America’s Labor Movement was founded on the principle that collective action is the ultimate tool to deliver justice. Guided by this fundamental truth since chartering in 2013, it has been the singular focus at UFCW OUTreach to uplift and unite ALL working people, regardless of who they love, how they identify, or where they were born.

Handfasting is a promise ritual where a couple's hands are joined with a ribbon or cord, symbolizing their unity and love. Learn how it might be perfect for your ceremony.

Bluesky is a decentralized, community-driven social media platform that offers a safer alternative to Twitter, especially for the 2SLGBTQiA+ community.

A new grassroots organization in Surrey, BC, dedicated to supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and promoting inclusion through advocacy, resource sharing, and community engagement.

Do you have stories in your pocket? Have you promised yourself you’ll send them into a publisher in 2025? Here’s a grand list calls for submission and contests for the lgbtq2si+ community. Updatd monthly.

Whether you’re planning a romantic date with your partner, a fun outing with friends, or a solo self-care day, there are plenty of budget-friendly options that embrace the city’s diverse and welcoming atmosphere.

In an unexpected but honest announcement last week, Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry of EXOK Games revealed that their highly anticipated project, Earthblade, has been canceled.

Tipping in Vancouver, BC, has become a multifaceted topic, where cultural expectations, financial pressures, and regional norms collide.

The LOUD Business Association of BC announces an exciting update in its ongoing mission to support 2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs and professionals across British Columbia. Building on its history of community engagement, LOUD is moving forward with a dynamic new board of directors and project manager.

Cooking is an essential life skill, and for single men, it can be more than just a way to prepare meals—it's an opportunity to express creativity, enjoy new experiences, and foster a sense of independence.

The annual list compiled by TIFF celebrates the best in Canadian cinema and includes Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story

Seattle-based plastic surgeon Dr. Javad Sajan regularly sees and treats patients from BC providing high-quality care without the worry of traveling across the country or waiting for years.

Narcissistic abuse is a manipulative and harmful dynamic that can leave lasting impacts on mental health and self-esteem. By recognizing the signs and understanding the strategies narcissists use to maintain control, survivors can take the first steps toward recovery and reclaiming their sense of self.

By focusing on being greener, treating people fairly, and including everyone, businesses can succeed while doing the right thing in 2025. Here are some easy, practical ideas to help you set better goals for your business.

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped our world in ways we never imagined, and for British Columbia’s queer community, the impact on LGBTQ2S+ spaces has been both profound and complex.

The top prize, the Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature, was presented to Really Happy Someday, directed by J Steven.

Family visits over the holiday can be stressful enough for our community, but top that with family members coming at you with all sorts of conspiracy theories can be upsetting.

This #GivingTuesday QMUNITY is working to raise $20,000 to expand its Food Security Program. The program provides grocery store gift cards, offering 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals a simple and dignified way to access food. Dec 3.

Telling it Bent is an interdisciplinary writing workshop for queer, trans, Two Spirit and questioning BC youth ages 14 to 25. Throughout the program, participants will explore poetry, playwriting, and interdisciplinary creation through a queer, decolonial, future building lens. Application deadline Nov 28.

There will be times in everyone's life when they need their community, and if you need your community this year, here's a list of Christmas Bureaus and Christmas Hampsters, I mean Hampers. Do connect with them soon, though, as their lists fill up quickly.

Health Initiative for Men (HIM) is calling on British Columbia community members to join us in a crucial project.

Gaming habits have shifted dramatically over the past few decades and what we might take for granted today is actually quite new. I have loved gaming since the 1970s and wanted to take a little trip back in time.