Awarded 3rd place in the Pictorial Category by the Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada
A fascinating and wide-ranging documentation of queer history, activism, and community that examines the vast collection of The ArQuives, the largest independent LGBTQ2+ archives in the world.
Buy Book“They were loud and proud. They risked it all and they changed the world. Every right and privilege we enjoy as members of the LGBTQ2+ community we owe entirely to those who fought before us. We stand on the shoulders of giants. This book is their story.”
— —Rick Mercer, political satirist and comedian
The ArQuives, the largest independent LGBTQ2+ archive in the world, is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and celebrating the stories and histories of LGBTQ2+ people in Canada. Since 1973, volunteers have amassed a vast collection of important artifacts that speak to personal experiences and significant historical moments for Canadian queer communities. Out North: An Archive of Queer Activism and Kinship in Canada is a fascinating exploration and examination of one nation’s queer history and activism, and Canada’s definitive visual guide to LGBTQ2+ movements, struggles, and achievements.
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“Dr. Jennex has been volunteering at The ArQuives (formerly the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives) in Toronto for about a decade and is still in awe of the materials there — so much so that he wanted to share the collection with people across the country who aren’t able to visit the archives in person.”
“The book is a perfect intersection of the archives’ rich holdings, Jennex’s research in queer culture and Eswaran’s work on the notions of friendship and kinship.”
“This book will captivate you from cover to cover and will leave you with more knowledge than you could have imagined.”
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“They were loud and proud. They risked it all and they changed the world. Every right and privilege we enjoy as members of the LGBTQ2+ community we owe entirely to those who fought before us. We stand on the shoulders of giants. This book is their story.”
—Rick Mercer, political satirist and comedian
“Out North is a reminder of how long and how many voices it took for queer people to be heard in Canada, this beautiful, vast country that prides itself on welcoming minorities. I am always shocked at how fragile the success is. We must remain vigilant, must keep telling our stories. This book does not mark the end of a movement. It defines a starting point, a plinth on which to build more acceptance of minorities and the wealth that comes with them.”
—Rufus Wainwright, singer-songwriter and composer
“You’ll be captivated and keep returning to this stunning and impressively researched chronicle of the pathos, passion, and pleasure of LGBTQ2+ life and politics in Canada.”
—Richard Fung, award-winning video artist, professor, and theorist
“Out North is an essential resource to anyone looking for a comprehensive, stunningly detailed view of queer history in Canada and an eminently readable and visually dazzling tour-de-force.”
—Kai Cheng Thom, performer and author of I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl’s Notes from the End of the World
“With love, respect, and infectious energy, this invaluable book shares a sense of wonder and excitement at remarkable stories of community building and righteous outrage over the last eighty years.”
—Liz Millward, professor and author of Making a Scene: Lesbians and Community Across Canada, 1964-84
“Thought-provoking, engaging, and subtly subversive, Out North vividly illustrates the tremendous volume of activist, cultural, social, political, and educational work that precedes us, and reminds us of the many, many battles still remaining.”
—Valerie J. Korinek, professor and author of Prairie Fairies: A History of Queer Communities and People in Western Canada, 1930-1985