Page 36 - 05_July-Aug 2024
P. 36
50 YEARS
LATER, WE CELEBRATE
A PLACE OF BELONGING
WORDS AND
PHOTOS BY
DARRIN
HAGEN
36 EDify. JULY/AUGUST.24
POSTERS AND CALENDARS MADE BY TWIGGY AND GLORIA HOLE
FLASH BA
FLASH CKTO BACK
IT WAS 1982 WHEN I WALKED INTO FLASHBACK
FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
I WAS 18, AND ABOUT TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH
SCHOOL. A FEW WEEKS EARLIER, I HAD MET A DRAG QUEEN WHO HAD — UNBELIEVABLY — MOVED TO MY HOME TOWN OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE WITH HER BOYFRIEND. MY TOWN WAS SMALL
enough that, as I drove up and
ed to the city and who I was with. down main street like all the other
What Kim did for me was reveal local teens, desperate to fit in some-
a world of possibilities that until where, I instantly spotted this
then I had only dreamed about. obviously Queer person.
Kim later became Kim Burly That person was a man named
(Mz. Flashback 12), and would Kim.
not only share many a Flashback In May of 1982 Kim whisked me
drag show stage with me and many away to Edmonton for a weekend
others,butalsobecameanoriginal and took me to Flashback. I lied to
member of Guys in Disguise at the my parents about why I was head-
1987 Fringe Festival.
