Canada 1981, 28 min, Dir: CBC Edmonton
THE GAY STRAIGHT JACKET is a 1981 CBC Edmonton television special that provides an unprecedented look at the city’s gay and lesbian communities at a time of heightened visibility and vulnerability following the Pisces Health Spa bathhouse raid. Through candid interviews with gay and lesbian Edmontonians, religious leaders, and community members, the documentary offers a multifaceted view of the social and political climate of the early 1980s. It features rare footage from iconic spaces such as The Roost (1977-2007) and Flashback II (1977-1989) and includes a striking segment on cruising culture near Bellamy Hill. The film captures a pivotal era in Edmonton’s gay and lesbian history, preserving voices and spaces that shaped a generation of local activism and community life.
This is a special Pride Month screening of THE GAY STRAIGHT JACKET, featuring a curated introduction, a panel discussion with local historians and activists, and a public Q&A. This one-night-only event is more than a film screening—it is a community gathering aimed at fostering intergenerational dialogue about the past and future of queer life in Edmonton. Presented in partnership with Rainbow Story Hub, the evening will also serve as a fundraiser for the organization’s work preserving and sharing 2SLGBTQ+ histories through digital storytelling and public education.
