QUEER SPACE

Thinking about queer space, I am reminded of the overwhelming weight of queer history, so deeply entrenched in violence and oppression. As critical as it is to memorialize ‘never again’ moments in history, by solely creating awareness around events rooted in hate, violence and loss, the hard-won queer spaces that promote visibility and wins seem to be missed, and by missed, these wins are often too easily erased. Instead of focusing on loss, I wanted to uncover and celebrate Vancouver’s queer history and queer space with the hope of influencing a paradigm shift that might better facilitate connection and belonging through visibility and celebration. The Queer Heritage Vancouver signs were installed at various sites around the city, photo-documented, and shared on Instagram @queerheritagevan.