NORTH OF QUEER
Three generations of Northern British Columbia’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community explore what it takes to be Queer in Northern BC
North of Queer is a journey through the lived experiences of queer folks in the North across generations. It dives into the unique joys, struggles, and milestones that have shaped queer life in Northern BC. Through intimate round table discussions, heartfelt interviews, rich archival footage, and a vibrant exploration of queer spaces (hidden and celebrated alike), it uncovers the connective threads that bind these stories together. What has changed? What has stayed the same? And what does the future hold for queer identity in the North? North of Queer a love letter, a reality check, and a celebration of resilience, all wrapped up in one unforgettable documentary.
Meet the Cast...
Theresa Healy (she/her)
Theresa Healy packed up her life in Vancouver and landed in Prince George in 1994 to teach at the University of Northern British Columbia. She never left.
Over the decades since, she's taught queer history, helped rewrite national legislation, and worked shoulder to shoulder with the northern queer community to build a 2SLGBTQIA+ identity that belongs to the North.
Jean Baptiste (they/them)
Jean Baptiste grew up in the foster care system, with roots in Wet'suwet'en Territory and a childhood spent in Prince George. Necessity made them a leader early.
They've racked up a long list of firsts in the Northern Queer Community, from high school through university and right into their career building trans healthcare, specifically building the medical options that rural communities need and too often go without.
Iris (she/her)
Iris started out as a bedroom Queen in Houston, BC, a small conservative town where she always knew she was different. When she moved to Prince George for university, things opened up. With the internet, good friends, and a growing set of queer initiatives behind her, she's found a new way to express herself at every stage of life.
Now she carries that energy onto the stage through drag, fully aware of the giants she's standing on. She sees it as her duty to show the pride, vibrancy, and joy within the Northern Queer Community.
the Director...
Daniel Stark
I have spent a lifetime exploring stories in Northern BC, each project learning more and more about the place I call home. When Laura and the Northern BC Queer Connection Society approached me about making a doc about queer history in Northern BC, I was excited but did not take the task lightly.
The Society had already started some incredibly interesting work, archiving history, testimonials, and collecting media but meeting Laura, Tess, Jean, and Iris, I knew we had the team to make something special. There was far more than could fit into this short doc. But, I hope it encourages the viewers to celebrate the fact that positive change starts from small actions even in small places, and cascades from generation to generation, community to community, and beyond.
