iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

It has often been said that the Body Politic, the Canadian gay newspaper of record for over a decade, was birthed when the leftist newspaper Guerilla censored the coverage of the We Demand protest in August 1971. It turns out, there's a bit more. Here's that story.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Here's an interesting trans history in Toronto find! A Toronto Telegram article from August 1970 with trans sex worker Lily St. Clair! Previously a female impersonator, she is described as having bottom surgery 8 months prior to the article. She performed at the Westover Hotel at 212 Dundas St E.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

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The Biking Lawyer LLP @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The time is nigh. All out to save our bike lanes! We anticipate removals staring this coming Tuesday. Stay tuned here for details on community responses. Location is of course Bloor West between Islington and Royal York. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.

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Jamie Bradburn @jbcurio.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Did you know that election night - municipal, provincial, or federal - used to be party night for the entire family in Toronto? Join me on October 22 at Mackenzie House Museum, where we'll look at how Torontonians celebrated casting their ballots! #TOpoli www.toronto.ca/explore-enjo...

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Is there anyone that follows me from Halifax, NS that could do me a huge help and take a look at a book in the Halifax Public Library? There's an obscure autobiography that might have something relevant to a story I'm working on.

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OutHistory @outhistory.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

To mark the U.S. 250th anniversary, OutHistory publishes Jonathan Ned Katz's LGBTQ+ American history before 1830 — including never-before-seen manuscript pages from the 1970s: outhistory.org/exhibits/sho...

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Francesca Bouaoun @francescabouaoun.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Happy to see this doc get a screening at The Revue, the Minnow team are lovely folks #Toronto Understanding Myself as an Amphibian - A Queer Ecology documentary by May Matchim, presented by Minnow Magazine www.eventbrite.ca/e/screening-...

youtu.be

Understanding Myself as an Amphibian Official Trailer

YouTube video by May Matchim

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Meg Elison @megelison.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Please remember that for every VE Schwab and Stephen King, there are a lot of banned Black, queer, and POC writers you've never heard of, to whom it is maybe not a badge of honor but a denial of their voice. Being banned is not a marketing opportunity, unless one is already rich.

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Xtra @xtramagazine.com · 05/10/2026

Introducing “Comics Against Censorship,” a new series of five original comic works diving into how queer and trans people grapple with censorship, guest edited by “Gender Queer” author Maia Kobabe xtramagazine.com/series/comic...

xtramagazine.com

Comics Against Censorship | Xtra Magazine

"Comics Against Censorship" is a five-part series of original comics focusing on themes of LGBTQ2S+ censorship, from the actions of Danielle Smith’s Alberta government to the experiences of affirming ...

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I love how someone clearly spent a lot of money on this plaque only for it to say absolutely nothing.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

After chatting online for a while, it was a delight to meet up in person!

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Daniel Munro @dkmunro.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Canadians of a certain age will understand.

Barnett Newman
Voice of Fire, 1967
As displayed in the National Gallery of Canada

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

I saw Duchamp's Fountain as a necklace today and if I had $110 to burn, I might have actually gotten it.

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Margaret (she/her)🇨🇦🦇 @margrock.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Important thread on queer Canadian history. Horrifying to think that this happened in my lifetime.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

One hang up I have about queer Canadian history is how the 1969 partial decriminalization is discussed. It is often discussed how 1969 didn't really decriminalize homosexuality but my issue is how the bravery of Everett George Klippert is so often erased from the story.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I bought a new book yesterday! Clara Ford was a black woman charged with murder in 1894 and her cross dressing played a prominent role. There was another book that came out a couple years ago that I read last year, so I'm looking forward to digging into how this one from twenty years ago handles it!

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Tara-Michelle Ziniuk @tmziniuk.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Hello, it is Monday now so perhaps people are thinking about work. Please consider sharing this job posting with smart Canadians who know about queer and trans issues and culture. Social video experience a must; journalism experience a huge asset. www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44...

linkedin.com

Xtra Magazine hiring Social Video Producer in Canada | LinkedIn

Posted 11:32:14 PM. Do you want to help make the world better for queer and trans folks through social media?Xtra…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.

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Ted McCormick @tedmccormick.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

today in Stop Romanticizing Canada: Quebec’s Bill 9 has just taken effect, barring women in veils from receiving public services. Public employees include university faculty, so professors have been instructed to require veiled women to uncover their faces or be removed from the classroom.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

One day I will collect all of these and make my own professional bio out of them. A Christine Jorgensen type historian that is dear to Wilde's author heart.

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Matt Baume 🏳️‍🌈 @mattbaume.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The movie ROPE came out on this day in 1948, and newspapers really struggled with how to explain that the main characters were, you know,

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Jack Shoulder @jackshoulder.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

#TodayInQueerHistory Sept 24 (1951) Trans pioneer Christine Jorgensen underwent her first gender affirming surgery #OTD at the Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen. She soon made headlines as "ex GI becomes blonde bombshell", and she used her platform to advocate for trans rights and visibility.

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Jamie Bradburn @jbcurio.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

One of my periodic friendly reminders of just some of the research, fact-checking, and writing services I offer for those of you with historical needs...

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

In the 1970s, the Canadian Gay Archives was approached by the Ontario Archives to take over some of the CGA's material. It was a moment of deep reflection. In the end, they chose to reject the offer out of fear that a homophobic government would decide to eliminate it, a la Nazi Germany.

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TransLash Media @translash.org · 22/09/2026

Black trans history is often overlooked and forgotten, but it is a story worth saving. Community historians Andrea Horne and Sultana Isham understand this, and have been working tirelessly to create an archive of this history from the past 200 years. 🔗 Read the full story: bit.ly/4rnSQqs

A series of 4 images. The first is an image of 2 women, and the title of the featured article: "What it takes to create a living black trans archive". Next is a series of 3 white images with faded orange stipple gradients and blocks of text. The text describes how Andrea Horne, a Black trans archivist and historian, began their journey into researching and preserving the history of Black trans women and transfeminine people.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Doing some work at the ArQuives today and realized that even the recycling bin is an artifact itself!

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OutHistory @outhistory.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

On this day in 1928, the Chicago Defender ran a full-page ad for Ma Rainey's "Prove It On Me Blues,” a song openly proclaiming women's love for women. Learn more here: outhistory.org/exhibits/sho...

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

One of my articles just came out! This book chapter began as an extension of one of my blog posts, exploring the dime museum's transgender displays through the lens of museum theory, specifically Tony Bennett's Exhibitionary Complex. So glad it is finally out in the world!

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I *love* it when I buy a used book and it has a hand written note. Latest addition to my library thanks to the Toronto Public Library's book sale.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The Toronto sect of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence act as cheerleaders for the 1981 Gay Softball World Series, hosted in Toronto. Games were held at McCleary Park, just east of the new Biidaasige Park, and Riverdale Park.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Loving the idea of a Canadian Doctor Who. Imagine the Rosa Parks episode but the Bathhouse Raids.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This is still one of the coolest things about my trip. I love queer history so much!

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spooky boner @starrdiver.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

trans history is so cool magnus hirschfeld knew ball

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Thomas Peace @tpcanoe.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Yesterday marked 141 years since #Jumbo the Elephant was struck & killed by a passing freight train in St. Thomas. We talked about the elephant’s tragic & exploited life for this week’s #CBC #HiddenHistory of #swont: www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

cbc.ca

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Tabatha Southey🇨🇦 @tabathasouthey.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

“When we were being stolen from our parents and experienced genocide in Indian Residential Schools, we wondered, ‘Who are the people that will help us?’ Today, we are those people. Today we offer our help, support, and jurisdiction to override these dehumanizing laws.”

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Got into Vancouver yesterday and my very first stop had to be Little Sisters! The iconic queer store that challenged Canada Customs on their homophobic importing practices. I got talking to the manager and he showed me some of the things he's found since taking over!

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I think I have an idea for this. I'm sharing it in part so I can remember after my West Coast trip.

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OutHistory @outhistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Learn more about OutHistory’s 2027 Fellowship Program by visiting: outhistory.org/exhibits/sho...

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Marie Le Conte @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 14/09/2026

thinking about this tweet again, and the fact that it's got such a hold on me that I genuinely think about it whenever I write a feature because I don't want to do "the hot dog thing"

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Frances Marie Jefferson was a Canadian trans woman that was arrested in Buffalo for a hit and run in May 1954 and was awaiting a deportation trial. She was housed in a women's prison.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The Telegram fonds are probably one of the best kept secrets for the visual history of Toronto. Love these so much!

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Sitting in a pub in Victoria BC, drinking a local cider and eating early grey cookies, after attending a friend's wedding, plotting a potential Canadian queer history digital exhibit. Truly could not have dreamed that this year could have gone better. Much still to come, but so incredibly happy.

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Amelia Smith @nturavrgcistory.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Found Frances Loring and Florence Wyle at the Art Gallery go Greater Victoria today! Love this subtly queer display. I adore finding the Toronto art lesbians! And an artwork featuring a mermaid and a seahorse? Very gay.

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