Twisted Element nightclub is a bit of an insider’s nod in Calgary’s gay community, a place where a passing mention of “the cage” is bound to illicit bright eyes, laughs and nostalgic memories.
That’s the role of Twisted Element in Calgary, Alta. Part-nightclub, part-community gathering space for all things queer and drag, Twisted also has a longstanding history of serving the needs of LGBTQ+ Calgarians.
Twisted Element officially opened in November 2004, and as Calgary’s only surviving gay nightclub, it’s a pretty important place. But although Twisted opened just before the federal Civil Marriage Act made same-sex marriage legal in 2005, it continues to be an important gathering space nearly two decades later.
The city of Calgary has a longstanding history of gay bars, nightclubs, and gathering spaces stretching back to the 1970s. These venues have always been spaces for the LGBTQ+ community to let loose with fun and entertainment. Whether you go there to drink, dance, sing, or hang out by the pool tables, there’s a little something for everyone at this iconic bar with a storied history.
Calgary’s “golden age of gay bars”
Twisted Element is one of two surviving gay bars in Calgary, alongside Texas Lounge, located on 17th Ave. SE.
But according to local historians, up to 12 gay venues in the past few decades called Calgary home.
Club Carousel was opened in the 1970s at 1207 1st St. SW, and was recently featured in a nationwide Canada Post stamp campaign. Founding member of Club Carousel Lois Szabo says it was “the only place” in Calgary for gay people during those years, and was even ordered to close on its first night by local police.
Post-2000s, Twisted Element now stands as a major pillar of the community, a place to experience both captivating drag and live performances and meet new friends. Other Calgary local venues like the Ship & Anchor Pub, Dickens and The Attic have filled the gaps created in the post-COVID era.
But the end of Calgary’s “golden age” and the closure of many gay clubs and bars doesn’t indicate a lessening of their clientele in Calgary. In fact, it’s the opposite, as local historians agree that in the 1970s, there happened to be more places than today because the community felt more marginalized.
With the legalization of gay marriage in Canada, the rise of LGBTQ+ visibility in film and media, and virtual spaces to find community online, there are more opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals to live “out” and be visible in common spaces. And with the city’s annual Calgary Pride Parade attracting thousands of Calgarians every year, the times sure are a-changin’.
20 years of community
Twisted Element celebrated its 20th anniversary in November of last year, and the venue doesn’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Twisted’s unique nightlife experience is punctuated by cozy, familiar touches that bring it all together in a community-like atmosphere.
The venue promotes itself as a “safer space for Calgary’s marginalized communities” and is dedicated to creating an environment where everyone enjoys the same universal rights.
Open from Thursday to Saturday each weekend, their current Fridays With Benefits and Spectacular Saturdays drag programming wraps up with dancing until 3 a.m.
Twisted is a great place to meet with friends and enjoy living your most authentic self.
After all, what happens at Twisted, stays at Twisted.
Where: 1006 11th Ave. SW
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