As part of Edmonton's Summer of Pride, the beacon that adorned the famous Flashback nightclub will be added to the Neon Sign Museum downtown.
The Relight The Neon event at 2pm on June 17 will see the iconic piece of Edmonton's queer history unveiled at the outdoor museum at 104 Street and 104 Avenue, not too far from where the club stood before it closed in 1992.
"So much of our history just gets erased," said Matthew Hays, a journalist, advocate, author, and university instructor who is working with his brother Peter Hays of Tangerine Productions on a documentary about Flashback. "I think now that people are more accepting, I think it's beautiful to commemorate those historical moments in those places."
The film is meant to touch on what made Flashback more than just a piece of the nightlife, said Hays, a former Edmontonian now based in Montreal.
"You want to be with people who you don't have to think about anything with, you just want to let your hair down and be yourself," he said. "That's what Flashback often was."
John Reid, who is expected to be at the sign installation, established the popular nightclub in 1975 in opposition to strict entrance requirements at other gay clubs in the area, aiming to create a space "for gay people and their friends," as a sign in the foyer read.
"It's one of those instances where the underground culture had an influence on the mainstream," Hays said.
The neon sign from Flashback will be added to Edmonton's Neon Sign Museum on June 17, 2023. (Matt Hays and Mack Male/Flickr)
The documentary will centre on the stories and voices of those who attended Flashback over its nearly 20-year run. It was a period during which 2SLGBTQ+ Edmontonians faced physical violence, criminalization, and alienation, withstanding events such as the 1981 Pisces bathhouse raid and the HIV epidemic.
Hays both covered Edmonton's queer history and was part of it. He interviewed Delwin Vriend, whose Supreme Court case enshrined gay rights in Alberta's human rights law, and he did a Q&A with famous drag queen Divine during a visit to Edmonton that included a stop at Flashback. Hays also worked on Michael Phair's successful city council campaign in 1992.
Summer of Pride extends the rainbow
Though June is officially Pride Month, Edmonton will see Pride activities all summer long.
The Edmonton Queer History Project is hosting a number of walking tours over the summer. Topics include the history of politics and protest on June 15, Edmonton's lesbian history on July 1, and an exploration of nightlife on Aug. 9.
In addition to Relight The Neon, June 17 will see the first Edmonton Drag Festival at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. Proceed will benefit the Queer and Trans Health Collective, the Edmonton 2 Spirit Society, and the Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose.
The Edmonton Riverhawks are also holding their Pride Night, dubbed Strike Out Hate, on June 17 at RE/MAX Field.
On July 28, K-Days will hold its annual Pride Day, featuring multiple drag showcases and a community resource fair featuring local 2SLGBTQ+ non-profits.
Finishing off the summer, Edmonton Pride Fest, runs Aug. 24 to 26 in Churchill Square. The festival will include a variety of drag and music performances as well as Alberta's first 2-Spirit Powwow, in partnership with Indigi-Hauz of Beaver Hills.
Find many more events on Pride Edmonton's calendar.