Pride on the Prairies: Lacombe’s first Pride Society reflects on a tumultuous year

'When I was younger, people shouted the F-slur down the street. You were kicked out of businesses for the way you dressed or looked at with disgust for holding someone's hand.'

It’s easy to spot Candice Kickstra’s house in Lacombe, Alta. In a row of cozy bungalows in the little city north of Red Deer, it’s the only one surrounded by rainbows and flags.

“We’ve had vandalism five times since June 1,” said Kickstra. “The first time they stole the big inflatable rainbow but we have very wonderful neighbours who replaced it for us and we’ve had community members show up and drop off extra things.”

The show of support means a lot to Kickstra, who isn’t a member of the LGBTQ2 community herself.

“All of this is for them,” she explains referring to 14-year-old Yaya and 15-year-old Katie. Kickstra’s two teenage children have both come out as queer.

“I came out in Grade 7,” Katie Kickstra said. “I’m out at school kind of … I’m not very loud at school because it’s not fantastic all the time.”

Candice Kickstra says there was a time when the family considered leaving Lacombe. “My husband and I definitely had those conversations. Our second oldest is in Toronto,” she said. “But we also decided that we needed to make it safer here. We want to make Lacombe safe for everyone.”

Jonathan Luscombe feels the same way. On a sunny morning, the executive director of Lacombe’s new Pride Society sits at a public park table applying sparkly eye shadow. Afterward, he walks proudly through the city’s downtown. These are remarkable acts considering where he was just two years ago.

“I only came out in 2021 just because of the place I live,” said Luscombe. “When I was younger, people shouted the F-slur down the street. You were kicked out of businesses for the way you dressed or looked at with disgust for holding someone’s hand. That was this town.”