Curated by Sonya Jones and Lucas Cabral
In November 2019, the RMG invited members of the community to share photographs that represent LGBTQ2+ histories and stories for inclusion in the Thomas Bouckley Collection. This project, presented in partnership with the AIDS Committee of Durham Region and The Totally Outright Program, is part of an ongoing effort to address the lack of diverse representation in the collection, and in historical accounts of Oshawa and Durham Region as a whole. While the Thomas Bouckley Collection has over 3,500 photographs that visualize Oshawa’s history, the collection lacks the stories and perspectives of many marginalized communities. This exhibition, featuring a selection of the submissions, celebrates these underrepresented stories and addresses the omission of LGBTQ2+ representation from institutional archives by adding these contributions to the Thomas Bouckley Collection for future generations.
Currently, the Thomas Bouckley Collection contains images of everything from plane crashes and floods, to snowy backyards and family picnics, capturing a wide spectrum of life in Oshawa. Similarly, the photographs in Come Out, Come Out comprise a range of images from vernacular snapshots of loved ones, to more documentary-style images of community outreach and events, most of which were taken in the last ten years. When Thomas Bouckley gifted his collection of historical photographs, he did so with the intention that the collection continue to grow and document Oshawa’s ongoing evolution. Because history is being made every day, we hope these new additions to the collection will allow future viewers to look back on the Come Out, Come Out contributions and have a better understanding of Oshawa’s shared history.
The need to collect LGBTQ2+ histories and stories does not end with this online exhibition; there is more work to be done. We continue to encourage the public to share stories and photos with us by using the hashtag #ComeOutComeOutRMG. We hope to build upon the images we have already received to continue this important project.
Paul Bennett (RMG director, 1969 – 1972), outside the RMG, 1972
Paul Bennett was asked by the Board of Directors to resign because of his sexuality.
This is a part of the Gallery’s history we are not proud of. What we are proud of is how far we have come: we have exhibitions that boldly address LGBTQ2+ issues; we can work closely with the LGBTQ2+ community in developing important programming; we support LGBTQ2+ creatives.
Image source: The Robert McLaughlin Gallery Archives
Local artist John Lander, May 13th, 1980
John Lander (1951-1992) was a beloved Oshawa based artist. One of many of his generation lost to AIDS, his life was tragically cut short at age 41. Here, he stands with his work entitled Vermicelli, a serigraph on paper in The Robert McLaughlin Gallery’s collection. The RMG has 25 works by Lander in its Permanent Collection.
Image source: The Robert McLaughlin Gallery Archives
AIDS Committee of Durham Region AIDS Walk, 1991-1992
Middle in yellow: the late Nancy Diamond (Oshawa Mayor, 1991 to 2003), with AIDS Committee of Durham Region AIDS Walk participants.
Image source: AIDS Committee Durham Region
Marc Hall and Jean-Paul Dumond attend prom at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School in Oshawa, 2002
Marc Hall successfully sued the Durham Catholic District School Board for the right to bring his boyfriend to his high school prom. The case made international headlines and Hall’s story has been featured in documentaries, television movies and his story adapted to stage. His efforts were supported by various community organizations, and as a result, he became an icon for LGBTQ2+ rights in Canada.
Steven Bland and Walter Vandergronde’s wedding at Kendron Dells Golf Course in Oshawa, July 15, 2005
Image source: Steven Bland
Violet Seductions and Lucy Purr at the Oshawa Public Library for Drag Queen Story Time, summer 2019
Image source: Violet Seductions
Steven Bland and Walter Vandergronde dressed up for Halloween, 2018
Image source: Steven Bland
Snow sculpture, Ajax, 2007
Image source: Sarah Larock
Violet Seductions and Miss Jen route to Durham Pride in the Park, Ajax, summer 2019
Image source: Violet Seductions
Steven Bland and Water Vandergronde with Momentum Flag at Whitby Pride, 2004
Momentum was a short-lived organization whose goal was to raise money by throwing events such as drag shows. The funds raised would be used to support struggling LGBTQ2+ youth in Durham Region.
Image source: Steven Bland
Sarah Lepage at Lynde Shores, Ajax, 2016
Image source: Sarah Larock
Writing Rainbow display at RMG Fridays, at The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, 2018
Durham Region Writing Rainbow (DRWR) brings LGBTQ2+ youth together to build community through a shared love of writing.
Image source: Sarah Larock
PRIDE Club painting a rainbow crosswalk at Trent University Durham GTA Campus, September 2019
Image source: Nathan Barnett
Rainbow crosswalk at Trent University Durham GTA Campus painted by PRIDE Club, September 2019
Image source: Nathan Barnett
Mansfields Cabaret was the location for Haus of Accounting: An Evening of Drag Extravaganza, organized by Totally Outright participants, April 7, 2019
Totally Outright is a sexual health leadership program for LGBTQ2+ youth organized by the AIDS Committee of Durham Region.
Image source: Empty Cup Media
Dixie Q performs at Haus of Accounting: An Evening of Drag Extravaganza, April 7, 2019
Haus of Accounting: An Evening of Drag Extravaganza was a drag show organized by Totally Outright participants at Mansfield Cabaret in downtown Oshawa. Totally Outright is a sexual health leadership program for LGBTQ2+ youth organized by the AIDS Committee of Durham Region.
Image source: Empty Cup Media
Janis performs at Haus of Accounting: An Evening of Drag Extravaganza, April 7, 2019
Haus of Accounting: An Evening of Drag Extravaganza was a drag show organized by Totally Outright participants at Mansfield Cabaret in downtown Oshawa. Totally Outright is a sexual health leadership program for LGBTQ2+ youth organized by the AIDS Committee of Durham Region.
Image source: Empty Cup Media
A pride flag in the window of Coffee Culture coffee shop, 22 King St., Oshawa, 2012
AIDS Committee Durham Region used to be located above this location from 1991-2018.
Image source: AIDS Committee Durham Region
Violet Seductions getting ready for a show at her home in Oshawa. March 1, 2020
Image source: Violet Seductions
AIDS Walk for Life, 2011
BACCO (Black, African and Caribbean Community Outreach) committee members walk south down Centre Street during the AIDS Walk for Life, with the Michael Starr building in the background. Founded over 30 years ago, the AIDS Walk is a fundraiser that benefits community-based organizations such as AIDS Committee Durham Region.
Image source: AIDS Committee Durham Region
Sarah with partner Brendan, Ajax, 2010
Image source: Sarah Larock
Celia, from AIDS Committee Durham Region, is surrounded by sleeping bags as she works on the winter survival project at 22 King St., 2015
Image source: AIDS Committee Durham Region
Rally at Calvary Baptist Church in Oshawa after the removal of an LGBTQ2+ member for her sexual orientation, November 11, 2018
Image source: Jaclyn Hruby
A Pan Am-Bassador volunteer, Trudy Foster, poses in the Ajax Pride House in the Welcome Centre. In 2015 the Welcome Centre in Ajax hosted the Ajax Pride House during the Pan-American Games.
Image source: AIDS Committee Durham Region
Birthday celebration, Ajax, 2006
Image source: Sarah Larock
Dane Record, AIDS Committee Durham Region’s BACCO (Black, African and Caribbean Community Outreach) Coordinator, proudly displays the new BACCO campaign poster in the side window of the ACDR building in downtown Oshawa, 2017.
It reads: “Why aren’t we talking about HIV? Is it the part about the AIDS?
Image source: AIDS committee Durham Region
Oshawa Pride Parade, July 2015
A large rainbow flag weaved its way through the heart of Oshawa as revellers celebrated the fifth annual Durham Pride Parade. Thirty-one community groups and organizations including RBC Royal Bank, TD Canada Trust, the Durham Regional Police Service and Oshawa Fire Services took part – making it the largest Pride parade in Oshawa’s history. The parade was the culmination of Pride Durham, which included five days of fun and celebration throughout the region. Pride Durham, which started as a community picnic in 2004, has expanded to become a week-long festival and parade, highlighting diversity in our community. View of the parade at the intersection of King Street and Centre Street.
Image source: snapd Oshawa
Photographer: Ryan Cleary
A volunteer, Sarah-Bella, distributes red scarves throughout downtown Oshawa for the Red Scarf Project, 2017
To kick-off AIDS Awareness Week, this interactive public awareness art installation consists of hundreds of red scarves lining the streets free for the taking. The scarves represent the red ribbon which is the international symbol of HIV/AIDS awareness. Not only do the scarves help raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, but also they give back to the community. The Red Scarf Project Scarves are knitted or crocheted by community members and donated to Regional HIV/AIDS Connection for this key awareness raising event and outreach.
Image source: AIDS Committee Durham Region
Milo Nixon at Pickering Mall, 2017
Image source: Sarah Larock
Staff at AIDS Committee Durham Region pose for a group photo on Pink Shirt Day, 2019
Pink Shirt Day, otherwise known as Anti-Bullying Day, is recognized annually through the act of wearing pink to show solidarity against bullying.
Image source: AIDS Committee Durham Region
Durham Pride Prom at the Ajax Community Centre, 2014
This event is held annually for LGBTQ2+ youth ages 16-21.
Durham Pride Prom is collaboratively organized by participating community organizations such as The Youth Centre, AIDS Committee of Durham Region, Boys and Girls Club of Durham, Community Development Council Durham, Durham College & UIOT LGBTQ Centre, Pinewood Centre of Lakeridge Health, Durham Regional Police Services, PFLAG Canada – Durham Region, and the YMCA. Modelled after a high school prom, the event is a safe space for self-expression.
Image source: AIDS Committee Durham Region
Presented in partnership with the AIDS Committee of Durham Region and The Totally Outright Program
Related Public Programming: Keeping Our Stories Alive: Webinar with Raegan Swanson, Executive Director, The ArQuives
Thursday, May 28, 2:00PM (EST)