What a weekend! Overflowing with love, joy and gratitude in the wake of time spent together at the Coming Out Monologues. There’s plenty more to see, share and reminisce on yet to come. For now, please join us in shared celebration of the hundreds of y’all who came together to make this year a wild success 🎉

A special thank you to our presenting sponsor @rbc, without whom none of this would’ve been possible, and to the intrepid folks at @recklessdaughtercreative for their fearless leadership and support through these tumultuous waters of self-discovery.

📸 Shannon Johnston / @me_onlylouder & @sansfuccs

⁉️ SENDOFF SUNDAY! MC’d by Marshall Vielle, featuring Morgan, Maggi, Ivan, Charlotte, Andrea & Nakota, plus musical guest KP Smith ❤️‍🔥

Morgan is a trans masc. parent, & artist. Sharing the wheel of a blended family of 4 kids, it’s no wonder they are such a strong advocate for youth empowerment through performance. Their familial collective produces one of the only family drag shows here in Mohkinstsis. He has powerful convictions & stands for liberation & the many ways it’s advancing here in Treaty 7 & beyond. They were born & raised here in the city called many big dog town and is often happiest in the wilderness or practicing gender focused art.

Maggi is an advocate, inspiration, influencer, fur mom, lover of all things sustainable, writing her powerfully ever-after story. Maggi lives to advocate by giving voice to the voiceless and helping people find their voice, as for many years she found people taking her voice from her.

Iván is a queer Mexican artist studying drama at the University of Calgary. They are a storyteller who believes everyone’s stories are worth listening to because we can all learn from each other. Check out their next directing project with the Festival of Animated Objects 2025!

Charlotte is a Moh’kinstsis-based writer, actor and deviser. They’ve written for stage, film & their theatre collective, Nycto Theatre. Charlotte enjoys playing with new formats and techniques in their writing. They’re so excited to read for you the most self indulgent piece they’ve ever written!

Andrea is a passionate storyteller, diversity professional, unapologetic menopausal mom & epic car dancer. Her journey of self-discovery highlights resilience, community and the importance of joy. Through her experiences, she inspires others to embrace their authentic selves & reflects on what it truly means to be “queer enough” encouraging a broader understanding of identity.

Nakota is a Nakota Sioux/Anishinaabe Ojibwe Two-Spirit Storyteller, who acts, writes, aspires to direct, & aims to inspire & uplift the generations to come. They are here today because they know the importance of their voice, & want others to know they are not alone.

✌️ DAY TWO! Welcome to The Coming Out Monologues’ SOLD OUT Saturday show.

@statuesse brings her ever-evolving, life-of-the-party energy as the night’s emcee, alongside Monologues from @ksc_hatch, @orions_beck, @shonethistle, @inflatable_magic_and_more, @jaimezino & @blackprideyyc, & the musical stylings of ZENON.

Kait is a multi-genre writer, mixed-medium artist, and trained Buddhist Chaplain dedicated to anti-racism, disability justice, & collective liberation. Kait produces a collaborative community ‘zine called From the QILT2BAG+ & is working on a mixed-media embroidery series called Sacred Love/Sacred Lives.

Beck is a multidisciplinary theatre artist based in Mohkinstsis. They’re absolutely thrilled to be a part of this project! Beck’s favourite queer media ATM is The Magnus Archives, & her favourite way to spend ten minutes is poking fun at her hot wife Jack.

Shone, pinch hitting for the amazing Malik, is an author, poet & multidisciplinary artist. They have a children’s book coming out in 2025, and currently serve as Calgary’s 7th Poet Laureate.

Dustin is a poet & variety circus entertainer. He volunteers with the Fellowship of Alberta Bears (FAB) helping plan/host events for the Alberta Bear community. Their hobbies include Poetry, boardgames, reading, & running their entertainment business where he works as a magician, balloon artist, & variety entertainer.

Jaime is a lifelong lover of story, with a passion for reading, writing, and music. Through CMHA Calgary’s School of Peer Support, they gained a deeper appreciation for the power of personal stories to connect us. Jaime hopes their story will resonate with others.

Daphne is the Founder & Executive Director of Black Pride YYC, a trailblazing advocate for the Black 2SLGBTQ+ community in Canada. With extensive experience in healthcare & community advocacy, Daphne leads innovative initiatives that intersect tech, culture, & social change, creating spaces for inclusivity & empowerment.

🎇 IT’S SHOWTIME! Meet the star-studded, multitalented cast of The Coming Out Monologues’ Friday show.

With local legend @therealkyleeroman at the helm, the first of three epic nights of Monologues starts us off with a bang, joined by performances from @rileyybq, @rufi.oswaldo, @arettiea, @ruby.amelie.swan and @mister_0d.

Laugh, cry and cheer along as tales are told and narrative webs are weaved. Finally, let yourself be serenaded by the glittering angelic country sounds of @robertadammusic to close out the evening!

Doors for Friday’s SOLD OUT show open at 6:30pm. See you there!

Riley is a queer, disabled storyteller healing from a fundamentalist Christian upbringing. After years of processing, this monologue gives voice to the truths their body has always told. Riley also creates zines and collages, while their husband and two cats patiently navigate the piles of art supplies.

Rufi is what happens when you leave leftovers in the fridge too long and they gain sentience. And Rufi has put that sentience to good use! He is the Artistic Director of Dancers’ Studio West and a PhD Candidate in Performance Studies at York University.

Alex is a poet, prose writer, and editor. He is a long-time volunteer for CQAS and a regular book reviewer for Alberta Views magazine. The father of two adult sons, Alex lives in Kingsland with his elderly rabbit companion.

Ruby is a neurodivergent musical artist, producer, and multi-disciplinary artist; her music is the perfect soundtrack to the rebirth of your inner child. According to local rumours, Ruby Swan can be found in places where shooting stars have fallen (on YouTube and across all major streaming platforms).

My name is Odeh. My husband and I have two fur babies. My move to Alberta was to kickstart my career as a teacher, working with junior high students. The geopolitics in the last year compelled me to join TCOM. I have a responsibility to use my voice and share my story.