Meet Shauna Balzer | LGBTQ+ Creative & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shauna Balzer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shauna, how does your business help the community?
I created That Queer Card Co due to a lack of LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream greeting card companies. Queer lived experience is worth celebrating and the heteronormativity of major greeting card companies fails to recognize this.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Creating has been a big part of my world for as long as I can remember, but it would be a lie if I said it was easy.

My creative professional life started with a wedding photography business. I shot Nikon while the majority of the local industry was shooting Canon. I shot prime while most photographers were shooting with zoom lenses. I edited my images true to life colours while warm and moody tones were popular.

For awhile, the comparison game was hard. I questioned if I should follow the crowd rather than go my own way. Eventually I realized that the only way to create authentic work is to be entirely yourself in the process.

I was grateful for this knowledge when I launched That Queer Card Co because I didn’t fall into the comparison trap. I didn’t look to see what everyone else was doing. I just created designs that I loved and felt confident that others would connect with my work as well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I haven’t ever been to Phoenix myself, but if you’re visiting Vancouver, I’ve got you covered!

You really can’t go wrong in East Van. Make sure you hit up at least a couple of local breweries – Brassneck, Strange Fellows, and Parallel 49 are some of my personal favourites. As far as eats go, vegetarians need to check out Chau Veggie Express, Nuba, The Arbour, and Chickpea. For the meat eating folks, The Eatery, Sula, and Banana Leaf are all next level. Watch a classic movie at The Rio, attempt an escape room at Find and Seek, catch some local entertainment at Cafe Deux Soleils, and don’t forget to check out a local drag show.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Celebrating queerness would not be possible without the trans women of colour who lead the Stonewall Riots in 1969. I am forever grateful to the LGBTQ+ trailblazers who paved the way for the rights and freedoms we have today.

Website: www.thatqueercard.co

Instagram: @thatqueercardco