When stepping out on the dance floor, King doesn’t worry about being on beat. Beyond the rhythmic clatter of the jingle dress, King feels acceptance and support.
“I have a space in this community to shine, to be myself, to be a 2-Spirit person and I appreciate that,” they said. “I could be weird, quirky, I can sing, powwow, round dance and not feel judged and feel like it’s okay.”
A Dene and Cree jingle dress dancer, King is a regular at events at the Edmonton 2 Spirit Society. It offers social, health and cultural programs for Indigenous 2-Spirit and queer people.
The society is a recent recipient of the Beyond Belonging grant. Created in 2025, the grant program is funded by the City to help community organizations create a safer and more inclusive city for 2SLGBTQIA+ Edmontonians.
Beyond Belonging is the City’s action plan to build a city where everyone can live authentically and without fear. Before it was officially approved by Council in June 2026, the plan was built on feedback from more than 900 2SLGBTQIA+ community members who were asked how to make City of Edmonton services, programs, spaces and places safe and inclusive for everyone.
Instead of focusing on one-time initiatives, the plan’s seven action areas and 53 subactions outline how Edmonton will grow more welcoming to 2SLGBTQIA+ people as a municipality. The Beyond Belonging grant is one part of that process, partnering with non-profit organizations serving 2SLGBTQIA+ Edmontonians.
At the launch of Beyond Belonging, Michael Phair, a former City Councillor, said the plan takes another step forward in actively supporting and enhancing Edmonton’s vibrant 2SLGTBQIA+ community.
“The support of the City in these challenging times for the queer community is welcoming and assuring,” said Phair.
According to crime statistics and public engagement data, 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Edmonton are currently experiencing an increase in hate crimes and discrimination due to their identities.
Phair noted that the struggle for acceptance has come a long way. Before becoming one of Canada’s first openly gay politicians in 1992, Phair was arrested and charged in a high-profile bathhouse raid in 1981. While a conviction was later overturned, the experience led him to personally advocate for his community during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Shortly after Phair was elected to City Council, Mayor Jan Reimer offered the first official declaration honouring Pride.
“It was a huge victory, like winning a gold cup and it reinvigorated us to continue to advocate,” said Phair. “We became more resilient and the city changed as well.”
Beyond Belonging was created around three objectives identified by City Council: enhance support and services for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, address rising hate, and create safe and inclusive public spaces.
“Beyond Belonging is the first program of its kind in Edmonton,” said Chelsea Hawrelak, Director of Safe and Healthy Communities. “It aims to improve safety in shared public spaces because everyone in Edmonton deserves to feel safe and free to be themselves, just as they are.”
In the first year of Beyond Belonging grants, 12 organizations received funding, including the Edmonton 2 Spirit Society, the Newcomer Centre, Camp Fyrefly and RaricaNow.
Adebayo leads RaricaNow, which promotes human rights for 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees and newcomers in Canada.
Grant funding bridges the gap, allowing the organization to offer services like housing, mental health supports and culturally relevant services to 2SLGTBQIA+ refugees and newcomers.
“Black 2SLGBTQ refugees and newcomers do not receive the same level of support of safety when they’re engaging with our dominantly white queer organizations or spaces,” Adebayo said. “So having support from Beyond Belonging shows us that we are seen.”
For King, Beyond Belonging has meant having a place where they can take part in weekly pow wows, but also build meaningful connections with people who care. King reflects on the Indigenous principle of ‘seven generations’—that actions and choices today should be made with the future in mind.
“I feel like a safe space is somewhere we can go and not feel judged,” said King. “It needs to be done and I appreciate that. It gives opportunity to the younger generation because you always have to think about the next seven generations.”
Editor’s note: the pic at the top of the post shows King dancing at a Pow Wow class at the Edmonton 2 Spirit Society.