Persona

Hellquist, Gens

1946-2013

Gens Douglas Hellquist was born in 1946 in North Battleford. He was a Canadian gay rights activist and publisher, most well-knownfor his prominent role in the formation of a cohesive LGBT community inSaskatoon, and Saskatchewan. Gens was a founding member of the Gay LiberationFront, which went on to become the Zodiac Friendship Society. These groups facilitated political lobbying for LGBT rights, as well as acted as an organizing body for social activities for the Saskatchewan LGBT community. The funds from these activities led to the creation of the Avenue C Community Centre in 1973 –the second gay community centerin Canada. Hellquist was also involved in a number of prominent human rights cases, fighting against the distribution of hate speech, and promoting equality of gayand lesbian health care in Canada. In terms of his publishing work, Hellquist established and operated Gaymates, a penpal club that facilitated communications between gay men across Saskatchewan, Canada, the United States, and the world. He also established Perceptions in 1983, Saskatoon’s first LGBT publication. Gens was also involved in LGBT health activism, being a founding member of Gay and Lesbian Health Services of Saskatoon, and the Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition, as well as serving on the boardsof the Canadian AIDS Society and the Saskatchewan AIDS Network. Gens was awarded the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal in June 2005, and was inducted into the Queer Hall of Fame in 2010. He was also the first recipient of the Peter Corren Award for Outstanding Achievement.