LGBT History Month: Noreen Stevens

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Noreen Stevens was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada in 1962. She graduated in 1985 with a degree in interior design from the University of Manitoba and started a comic strip called Local Access Only, "as an outlet, she says, to express the exasperation she felt as a recently uncloseted bull dyke trying to get a straight job. As her life unfolded so did her strip, which morphed into The Chosen Family." (http://archives.xtra.ca/Story.aspx?s=15221859)

The comic was originally published in Winnipeg's LGBT magazine, Swerve, and was eventually syndicated to many other LGBT publications.  In 2004, Stevens retired the comic strip.

Stevens also used to own and manage Winona's Café, the first gay & lesbian café in Winnipeg.  She and her partner, Jill Town were the first same-sex couple in Manitoba to be allowed to legally adopt, and have two children.

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Also this month:

~ October is also National Bullying Prevention Month.

~ October 10th was Unity Day; wear orange to show your support and remind others about the importance of bullying prevention.

~ October 11th was National Coming Out Day when we celebrate coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or as an ally. See the Human Rights Campaign website for resources on coming out.

~ October 19th is Spirit Day; wear purple on this day to support LGBT youth & stand up against bullying.