CALGARY—Members of Calgary’s LGBTQ community are creating a queer-straight alliance to share their stories with youth in an effort to bridge the gap between generations.

Nathan Fawaz is one of the organizers of Stronghold, which is holding its first meeting May 14 at Western Canada High School.

Fawaz, who uses they/them pronouns, said the seed for the QSA was planted when their friend Caitlin Gallichan-Lowe, a teacher at the school, told them she was receiving panicked messages from her students. Many expressed worry about being inadvertently outed if the United Conservative Party repeals legislation which currently prevents schools from notifying parents when a child joins a gay-straight alliance or similar club, Gallichan-Lowe said.

Fawaz, who grew up while Ralph Klein was premier of Alberta in the 1990s and 2000s, said they realized sharing their experience with these students could help them deal with feelings of hopelessness.

“Young generations don’t necessarily recognize the shoulders they’re standing on. And previous generations don’t necessarily recognize the vitality and importance of the work that today’s youth are doing in terms of advancing liberation,” said Fawaz. “So I think that there’s a conversation to be had across generations in order to remind ourselves that ... we’re all kind of working toward a similar goal.”

Fawaz said they think hearing stories from older members of the LGBTQ community who lived through the AIDS crisis or fought for marriage equality could help empower youth to recognize their part in the community’s journey forward. They hope the model for Stronghold will be transplantable, and that the monthly group could serve as a space for youth who no longer feel safe in their schools’ alliances.

Tiffany Sostar is a co-organizer of Stronghold and a narrative therapist and community organizer. Sostar, who uses they/them pronouns, said while the message of hope is important, they also want Stronghold to be a space where youth can express feelings of anger, dread and despair.

“We have felt this before, but for younger people … there had been a period of hope,” they said. “It can be really powerful to hear stories of responding to hardship, because it can feel like there’s nothing we can do.”

Organizer Lee Allard, who uses they/them pronouns, said they think the intergenerational aspect of Stronghold is something the LGBTQ community has been missing.

“I think that there’s a lot of wisdom and knowledge and skills that are out there that I couldn’t even imagine,” said Allard.

The first event will start with storytelling, followed by discussion and an opportunity to engage in activist work, Fawaz said. Their friend is also organizing a “space-holding choir” formed by allies who will sing the group in and out of the session.

“It’s really important to me to treat this group and our gathering with a real sense of honour and reverence,” said Fawaz. “You know, just take in what we’ve accomplished, and take in the possibilities of where we may go.”

Stronghold is meeting at 6 p.m. on May 14 at Western Canada High School.

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