Being Black as well as 2S/LGBTQIA+ in Edmonton means navigating exclusion from multiple directions, often alienated from predominantly white queer spaces, disconnected from Black cultural communities, and underserved by institutions that claim to support them. The reality is stark: Black 2S/LGBTQIA+ individuals frequently find themselves searching for spaces where they are fully seen and valued, but those spaces remain scarce.
This 2026 report from the Zetna Collective for Black Advancement captures the experiences and hopes of Black 2S/LGBTQIA+ individuals in Edmonton. It is based on the lived realities of people who have spent years, some over a decade, building lives in Canada, yet still face systemic racism and queerphobia in a city that prides itself on diversity. Above all, this report amplifies a critical truth: Black 2S/LGBTQIA+ people in Edmonton are here. They deserve more than tolerance. They deserve belonging, safety, and joy.
Data collection and report written by Syriah Bailey and Dawn Carter
Zetna Collective for Black Advancement
Report design in partnership with Community-Based Research Centre
url="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/cbrc/pages/8162/attachments/original/1775069802/QueeringBlackPrairieFutures-EN.pdf?1775069802
