Shades of Colour was started in Amiskwaciy (Edmonton, AB) five and a half years ago and was created by a group of queer and trans racialized people. Shades of colour initially emerged because many communities felt as though there weren't accessible QTBIPOC closed supportive spaces in the city that didn’t center whiteness.

 

This has changed over the years, as more and more young QTBIPOC are moving into organizing roles. In the last two years since Pride Fest 2018 and 2019, our relationships in our own communities have shifted.  Pride was started by Queer + trans Black, brown, and 2 spirit houseless/sex workers who protested against police violence; we are committed to continuing this collective liberation work by centering these communities  -- BIPOC LGTBQ2S houseless folks & sex workers impacted by institutionalized and systemic racism with whom we have existing and ongoing relationships with. 

 

As a result of these relationships shifting, we have learned that the needs of the community have shifted as well. Poor, low income, and houseless racialized queer and trans Black and Indigenous people are not being centred in advocacy work. Shades of Colour has grown a lot, and because of that, our work has shifted in directions that better advocate for and with our communities.