Consists of materials collected by Ron Welker relating to 2SLGBTQ+ history and issues. The collection is primarily focused on LGBTQ issues, but does feature some information regarding intersex, asexual, and two-spirit identities.
This collection contains coverage of homophobia, transphobia, racism,…
Ron Welker was born in Waterloo County in the 1952. He was educated at University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, and Western University. He achieved a Bachelor of Arts in history and French, and later went on to get his Master’s of Library and Information Science degree as well as certificates in Archives and Records Management.
Ron came out of the closet while attending the University of Waterloo in 1973. Afterward, he became involved with the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Toronto and Gays & Lesbians of Waterloo (GLOW). Ron helped organize and promote local events such as the Rainbow Reels Queer Film Festival and Waterloo-Wellington Regional Pride (WWRP), later renamed as tri-Pride. He assisted in creating the WWRP annual Rainbow Directory for 2001/2002, and served as their Director at Large in the year 2002. He continued to reside in Waterloo Region until he moved in 2020.
Scope and Content
Consists of materials collected by Ron Welker relating to 2SLGBTQ+ history and issues. The collection is primarily focused on LGBTQ issues, but does feature some information regarding intersex, asexual, and two-spirit identities.
This collection contains coverage of homophobia, transphobia, racism, and hate crimes, and can at times use language that is considered by some to be offensive. Researchers are asked to bear this in mind when proceeding.
Series contains: Local and non-local newspaper clippings, publications, pamphlets, flyers, posters, photographs, artifacts, and personal correspondence.
Note: The inclusion of any person in this collection is not necessarily indicative of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Note: As documents in this collection were published many years ago, please do not use them as a source for phone numbers, email, or street addresses. Where organizations still exist, current contact information can be found using the internet.
Note: This collection contains coverage of homophobia, transphobia, racism, and hate crimes, and can at times use language that is considered by some to be offensive. Researchers are asked to bear this in mind when proceeding.
This project is supported by the Edna Staelber Legacy Fund at Waterloo Region Community Foundation (https://www.wrcf.ca/)
A booklet featuring a rainbow flag and the Affirm2! logo on the cover. The covers are printed in colour and the inner pages are black and white. 8 pages including covers. There is a letter from Rev. Peter Bush, moderator of the 2017 PCC General Assembly slipped into the middle.
This program is from a conference entitled Affirm2!: Empowering Inclusive Congregations held at Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo. The conference included music, worship services, and workshops on inclusion and LGBTQ+ issues, with keynote speaker Sean Jackson. The conference also served as an opportunity to teach others about the re:animate movement.
Scope and Content
A booklet featuring a rainbow flag and the Affirm2! logo on the cover. The covers are printed in colour and the inner pages are black and white. 8 pages including covers. There is a letter from Rev. Peter Bush, moderator of the 2017 PCC General Assembly slipped into the middle.
Copyrighted: Protected by copyright. Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user
Copyrighted: Protected by copyright. Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user
Queer Night Out is a collaboration between various local organizations created in 2013 after the closure of KW's only LGBTQ+ dance club. Their purpose is to create community spaces by organizing social events for the region's rainbow community. This flyer is for the 4th annual Pride Party which was held in partnership with the tri-Pride Community Association at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Kitchener.
Scope and Content
A colour postcard featuring the event's logo along with the image of a boom box and a five-colour rainbow.
Copyrighted: Protected by copyright. Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user
The Rainbow Reels Queer & Trans Film Festival was founded in 2000 as a project of the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG) at the University of Waterloo. By 2017, it had transitioned to becoming an independent arts collective after WPIRG lost funding in 2016. The festival has the vision of showcasing a diverse array of queer voices and experiences through the medium of film. At the 2017 festival they screened a total of nine films. This year the festival also featured youth filmmaking workshops, a queer prom, and a free family day breakfast with cartoons.
Scope and Content
A rectangular booklet printed in full colour. The front cover features a stylized film camera.
Copyrighted: Protected by copyright. Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user
A letter to the newly-appointed Special Advisor on LGBTQ2 Issues, Randy Boussonnault, from the Rainbow Community Council (RCC). The RCC is an initiative of the WRRC designed to bring together existing community organizations to develop a sustainable framework for supporting the Rainbow community as a whole. The letter mentions the Outlook Study done in the region and invites Mr. Boissonnault to visit in order to learn about the needs of our LGBTQ2 community.
Copyrighted: Protected by copyright. Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user
Rev. Brent Hawkes was appointed senior pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Toronto in 1978 where he worked until retirement in the fall of 2017. Ron Welker attended a lecture he gave and took extensive notes on this copy of the outline.
Scope and Content
A 7 page printed lecture outline with handwritten notes.
A video recording of the lecture can be found on MCC Toronto's YouTube channel.
Copyright Status
Copyrighted: Protected by copyright. Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user
A postcard featuring a black background and a rainbow coloured planet. The front reads "Rainbow Reels Queer and Trans Film Festival, Coming Out to a theatre near you May 5-8".
The Rainbow Reels Queer & Trans Film Festival was founded in 2000 as a project of the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG) at the University of Waterloo. This is a postcard advertising the 2016 festival.
Scope and Content
A postcard featuring a black background and a rainbow coloured planet. The front reads "Rainbow Reels Queer and Trans Film Festival, Coming Out to a theatre near you May 5-8".
Two postcards printed in colour. Each card features an illustraton of a pair of people, one of which is saying "Did you hear?". The reverse side contains information about the study.
The OutLook Study was a comprehensive needs assessment study of the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Waterloo Region, performed by Wilfrid Laurier University in partnership with various other organizations. The study ran in 2016, during which time these postcards were distributed to spread awareness. Overall, 526 individuals participated in the study.
Scope and Content
Two postcards printed in colour. Each card features an illustraton of a pair of people, one of which is saying "Did you hear?". The reverse side contains information about the study.
Copyrighted: Protected by copyright. Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user
A pink and white flyer featuring the tri-Pride logo, the Open Sesame logo, and the Queen Street Yoga logo on the front. The back shows the logo for Friendzone Collective and Toronto Queer West Arts Centre.
In 2016 tri-Pride nearly disbanded due to lack of volunteers. More volunteers were found at the last minute, and so in lieu of a large festival, a series of events were held that was dubbed the "Unfestival". One of these events was an art symposium which included live music, a youth art show, and short films.
Scope and Content
A pink and white flyer featuring the tri-Pride logo, the Open Sesame logo, and the Queen Street Yoga logo on the front. The back shows the logo for Friendzone Collective and Toronto Queer West Arts Centre.
Copyrighted: Protected by copyright. Uses other than research or private study require the permission of the rightsholder(s). Responsibility for obtaining permissions and for any use rests exclusively with the user
