by Meredith J. Batt
Atlantic Canadian port cities have some of the most colourful and vibrant queer spaces and stories. Saint John, New Brunswick is no exception. In 2020, the first summer of the pandemic, I celebrated my 25th birthday in Saint John by attending a drag show hosted by Justin TooDeep (portrayed by Alex Saunders) and Saint John’s jewel of the sea, Dia Monde (portrayed by Shawn Craft). It was a distanced drag show, but after months of only participating in queer life through Zoom calls, I felt weepy being in a space of so much excitement, queer community, and joy. Five years later, I am now lucky to call Saint John my second home as I split my time between Fredericton and the great port city where my partner lives.
Saint John has a vibrant contemporary queer scene. Saint John Pride has hosted many of the city’s 2sLGBTQ+ summer pride events for over twenty years. Chroma NB, which formed in 2020, offers everything from youth lunch clubs to hiking trips for queer and trans people of all ages. But the city has long remained overlooked by historians interested in queer life and culture. Particularly unknown, and at risk of being forgotten by younger generations, is the work of the activists who formed the Lesbian and Gay Organization – Saint John (LAGO-SJ). Active from 1983 to 1985, their monthly publication The Lighthouse offers valuable insight to early LGB activism.
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