BUILDING A LESBIAN COMMUNITY IN EDMONTON, ALBERTA ...

oflesbian networks.
This study ofthe phenomenon ofbuilding a lesbian community argues that historians
neglect the significance ofsocial space upon gay and lesbian organizing. Much historical
attentiveness towards the more outstanding issues and outcomes ofpolitical reform, activism, and
the struggle for gay rights, exceeds the issue ofbuilding a viable, visible gay/lesbian community
through the appropriation ofsocial space. In addition, historical inquiry into gay history tends to
examines gay community history from the male perspective. In Canada, lesbian history lags far
behind gay male history.
The work ofsuch predominant and influential Canadian historians as Gary Kinsman and
Steven Maynard has substantially increased understanding ofthe politics ofsame-sex gender
relations particularly gay male history. A thorough historical inquiry oflesbian culture in Canada
is lacking, even more so in terms ofWestem Canada. By investigating Alberta's largest and most
successful autonomous lesbian organization, this thesis will encourage other scholars to do similar
studies.
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