Queer, Far, Wherever You Are

A guide to Toronto's best LGBTQIA2S+ friendly hotspots, entertainment, resources and affirming spaces!

🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Awareness Week will be recognized on November 14-18, 2022, which aims to increase awareness, visibility and knowledge of trans people and the issues faced by members of trans communities. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the lives of trans and nonbinary people and the contributions they have made and continue to make! Check out what UofT's Sexual & Gender Diversity has lined up for Trans Awareness Week here: https://sgdo.utoronto.ca/events/trans-awareness-week/

Trans Day of Remembrance (TDoR) is observed annually and internationally on November 20 to honour the memory of the trans people who have lost their lives as a result of transphobic violence that year.

Entertainment!

GLAD Day Bookstore: 499 Church Street

Glad Day Bookshop is the first queer-focused Canadian bookstore, and the oldest queer bookstore worldwide. Serving the LGBTQ community since 1970, they offer the widest possible selection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, and queer literature.

• Enjoy a Sunday Drag Brunch: Every Sunday Erin Brockobić serves you more than you can handle and you eat it up! A different guest each week, delicious all-you-can-eat brunch brunch and a vibe you won't get anywhere else. Cost to attend: $38.93 (including HST + tip). Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/drag-brunch-at-glad-day-with-erin-brockobic-tickets-166524865355

The 519: 519 Church St

The 519 is committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ2S communities. A City of Toronto agency with an innovative model of Service, Space and Leadership, they strive to make a real difference in people’s lives, while working to promote inclusion, understanding and respect. They respond to the evolving needs of the LGBTQ2S communities, from counselling services and queer parenting resources to coming out groups, trans programming, and senior’s support.

Check out their event calendar, Instagram (@the519) and website for a BUNCH of events & workshops to attend: https://www.the519.org & https://www.the519.org/calendar.

Buddies in Bad Time Theatre: 12 Alexander St

Established in 1979, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is Toronto’s leading destination for artistically rigorous alternative theatre and a world leader in developing queer voices and stories for the stage. Buddies offers a year-round program that includes a full season of queer theatre, new works festivals, artist residencies, and intergenerational training and education initiatives. After the applause, Buddies turns into a nightclub on the weekend, with drag queens taking centre stage!

In its 40-year history Buddies has welcomed over one million people into its home in the heart of Toronto’s queer village and has premiered over 1,000 new works for the stage, making it the largest and longest-running queer theatre company in the world. Get tickets here: https://tickets.buddiesinbadtimes.com

O'Grady's on Church:

The perfect spot to hang out with friends, enjoy a great food with a Drag Performance, and have a fabulous time in the heart of Toronto’s bustling Gay Village. Serving homemade breakfast, lunch, and dinner using only the freshest ingredients made in-house. There is also a fun $5 Mimosas special Every Day from 11 am-2: 30 pm! Check their website for upcoming events like Drag Bingo, Trivia, Retro Dance and Ladies nights on Sunday: http://www.ogradyschurch.com

Crews & Tangos (19+): 508 Church St

For more than a decade, Crews and Tangos has been the #1 Drag Bar in Toronto. But don’t just read about it! Swing by the iconic Church and Wellesley Village location and see what the buzz is about. Experience cocktails and live entertainment hosted by the fabulous resident divas. The indoor drag shows are currently scheduled Wednesday - Sunday on the main stage. Dance spaces opened Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:30- close: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/crews-and-tangos-drag-show-tickets-160389688877

GirlPlay Toronto: http://www.girlplaytoronto.com/home.html

GirlPlay Toronto is an LGBTQ collective that throws events for women. All women. Lesbian Women, Gay Women, Queer Women, Trans Women and Non-Binary Folks. And, of course, allies are always welcome. But for real, these events are for “women who love women.” This includes dance parties, comedy shows and outdoor social gaggles. They have been all over the city paving the way for lesbian producers with events like Toastr, T-Dance, Juicebox, Play & Giggles Pride! They also throw their own Pride festival and a lot of the time take over bougie spaces queer women wouldn’t normally feel comfortable in!

HER: App - https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/her-lesbian-lgbtq-dating/id573328837

HER is an app created to connect womxn in a all kinds of ways, including events around the globe, once in a while in Toronto. According to the HER team, “with just over 3m users and live in over 55 countries, HER is the world’s largest dating / social networking app and the only events company creating safe space specifically for LGBTQ+ womxn and queer people globally.” They throw unique LGBTQ+, PoC, Trans and Allies community events at venues around the city with HER volunteers always on hand to help make folx feel safe.

Instagram pages you should follow:

• @the519

• @queerandconnected

• @uoftsgdo

• lgbtout

Events to check out!

Inside Out Film Festival

Inside Out is a not-for-profit registered charity that exists to challenge attitudes and change lives through the promotion, production and exhibition of film made by and about 2SLGBTQ+ people of all ages, races and abilities.

For more than three decades, Inside Out has brought Toronto's 2SLGBTQ+ community together in celebration of the best queer film from Canada and around the world. Through the annual Festivals in Toronto and Ottawa, filmmaker initiatives, youth engagement and year-round events and screenings, Inside Out is engaged every day in challenging attitudes and changing lives.

• Happening Now (November 10 - 13, In-Person in Ottawa & Online!) https://insideout.ca/ottawafestival/

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival:

Join them in-person and online Nov 9 – 20

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema and work from the Asian diaspora. Works include films and videos by Asian-identifying artists in Canada, the U.S., Asia and all over the world. As Canada’s largest Asian film festival, Reel Asian provides a public forum for Asian media artists and their work, and fuels the growing appreciation for Asian cinema in Canada.

I recommend checking out SOME WOMEN Dir. Quen Wong, playing Saturday, November 12 at 2PM. In this reflective documentary, director Quen Wong turns the lens toward the intimate and vulnerable in her own life as a trans woman in Singapore, making time and space to honour acts of looking and being seen, moments of being fearful and working to communicate, and reflecting on past decisions in order to make new ones.

IF FROM EVERY TONGUE IT DRIPS Dir. Sharlene Bamboat

If From Every Tongue It Drips is a documentary constructed between three locations that follows Ponni, who writes a form of 19th-century queer Urdu poetry called Rekhti, and her lover Sarala, a camera operator. As their personal lives unfold on camera, the lines between rehearsal and reality, location and distance, and self and other seem to dissipate. The couple’s conversations are interwoven with the director’s own reflections, connecting dots from each of their specific experiences and reference points.

By choosing to look at the personal and political through the framework of quantum physics, director Sharlene Bamboat draws connections between British colonialism and Indian nationalism, tracing the impact these distinct histories and realities have on queer art, politics, poetry, dance, and music. From landmark pieces of music and poetry composed by revolutionary figures to more contemporary works, the film shows us the politicization of South Asian pop culture and the possibilities of its reclamation.

Green Space Festival: June 2023 (takes place every year during Pride Month)

The best alfresco parties with enticing music, queery performances, delicious food and drinks, and a whole lot of love – Toronto presents to you the Green Space Festival! With an exceptional lineup of world-class DJs, legendary performers, international and local drag queen royalty and more, this festival is a prominent and dominant feature of pride month festivities in Toronto. What makes it even more special is that all funds raised through the festival support the year-round programs at The 519, the largest LGBTQ2S community centre in Canada serving underserved LGBTQ2S communities.

LGBTQIA2S+ Support Resources:

Queer and Connected is a unique health promotion program that aims to improve health outcomes and support resiliency of LGBTQI2S+ youth (age 16 to 29) from diverse backgrounds and communities. They offer a range of free workshops, peer groups and facilitated social events.

Queer and Connected Workshops

Online educational workshop for 2SLGBTQ+ -identified youth, ages 16 -29

When: One Thursday a month, 6 – 8 pm Dates: November 24, December 29 Location: virtually on Zoom (a link will be provided to all participants in advance of workshops) Cost: Free

Queer and Connected Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual (2SLGBQ) Peer Support Group

Online peer-facilitated support group for 2SLGBQ-identified youth, ages 16 – 29..

When: Every other Wednesday, 6 – 8 p.m. Dates: Nov 16, Nov 30, Dec 14, Dec 28 For registration connect with Navid at Navidou@familyservicetoronto.org Location: virtually on Zoom (a link will be provided to all participants in advance of meetings) Cost: Free Download flyer

Queer and Connected Two Spirit, Trans & Non-binary (2STNB) Peer Support Group

Online peer-facilitated support group for Trans & non-binary-identified youth, ages 16 – 29

When: Every other Wednesday, 7 – 9 p.m. Dates: Nov 9, Nov 23, Dec 7, Dec 21 Location: virtually on Zoom (a link will be provided to all participants in advance of meetings) Cost: Free

**2SLGBTQ+ youth with multiple, intersecting identities will be able to self-select the group they want to participate in based on which group best fits their needs

519 Church Street Community Centre 416-392-6874 519 Church Street, Toronto ON, M4Y 2C9 A community centre that addresses a wide range of issues, specifically those relating to the LGBT community. More information at http://www.the519.org/ Central Toronto Youth Services 416-924-2100 65 Wellesley Street East, Suite 300, Toronto ON, M4Y 1G7 Free counselling for youth 25 and under, with a division focused on LGBT youth. More information at http://www.ctys.org/ Family Service Toronto: David Kelley Services (DKS) 416-595-9618 355 Church Street, Toronto ON, M5B 1Z8 Provides professional individual, couple and family counselling to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, or are questioning their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. More information at https://familyservicetoronto.org/our-services/programs-and-services/david-kelley-services/ Hassle-Free Clinic Men’s/Trans Clinic: 416-922-0603 Women’s/Trans Clinic: 416-922-0566 66 Gerrard Street East, 2nd floor, Toronto ON, M5B 1G3 Sexual health clinic offering free services including check-ups and anonymous STI testing, with a focus on female health, including birth control. Separate clinics for men and women. More information at http://hasslefreeclinic.org/ Lesbian/Gay/Bi Youth Line 416-962-9688 Toll-free: 1-800-268-9688 Text: 647-694-2475 Call-in and live chat available. Provides support and information, as well as hate crime reporting, for members of the queer community. More information at http://www.youthline.ca/ LGBTout Office: 21 Sussex Ave, Room 510, Toronto ON, M5S 1J6 Drop-in Centre: 73 St. George Street, Toronto ON M5S 2E5 The main lesbian/gay/bisexual/transsexual/transgender student group on the University of Toronto St George campus, offering informational resources and support. Volunteer-run, with a drop-in centre located in the archway of Sir Daniel Wilson Residence. More information at http://lgbtout.sa.utoronto.ca/ PFLAG 416-406-6378 Inquiries/Office: 416-406-1727 200 Wolverleigh Boulevard, Toronto ON, M4C 1S2 Main line online 24 hours. A support network for parents and families of gay/lesbian/bisexual/transsexual/transgender persons. More information at http://torontopflag.org/ Rainbow Health Ontario 416-324-4100 333 Sherbourne Street, Toronto ON, M5A 2S5 Full-service health care centre providing general health care, LGBT-specific primary health care, complementary/alternative health services, and a variety counselling services, including LGBT mental health counselling, family services, and others. More information at https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/ Two-Spirited People of the First Nations 416-944-9300 145 Front Street East, Suite 105, Toronto ON, M5A 1E3 Counselling, information, and support for Aboriginal gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in Toronto. More information at http://2spirits.com/ University of Toronto Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (SGDO) 416-946-5624 21 Sussex Ave, Suites 416-417, Toronto ON, M5S 1J6 Dedicated to and works towards addressing discrimination based on sexual and gender diversity, the LGBTQ Resources and Programs office offers a wide range of supports and services to students, staff, and faculty on all three UofT campuses. More information http://sgdo.utoronto.ca/ Supporting Our Youth (SOY) 416-324-5077 333 Sherbourne Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto ON, M5A 2S5 A program designed to improve the lives of lesbian, gay bisexual, transsexual, and transgender youth in Toronto through the active involvement of youth and adult communities run out of the Sherbourne Health Centre. More information at http://soytoronto.org/ Sherbourne Health Center Appointments: 416-324-4180 Reception: 416-324-5062 333 Sherbourne Street, Toronto ON M5A 2S5 Full-service health centre providing general health care, LGBT-specific primary health care, complementary/alternative health services, and a variety of counselling services. Hours and more information at http://sherbourne.on.ca/

Trans-Specific Support Resources:

519 Church Street Community Centre: Trans Services 416-392-6874 519 Church Street, Toronto ON, M4Y 2C9 Offers several programs for trans individuals, including a food drop, support groups for FTM and trans men, and trans sex workers. More information at http://www.the519.org/programs/category/trans-specific The Gay/Bi/Queer Transmen Working Group 416-964-3555 Group comprised of trans and non-trans community embers and service providers in Toronto and Ottawa working to educate and raise awareness around HIV prevention and sexual health issues facing gay/bi/queer trans men. More information at http://www.queertransmen.org/ Trans_Fusion Crew 416-324-5078 333 Sherbourne Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto ON, M5A 2S5 A weekly support group for trans and Two-Spirit youth aged 26 and under and their allies, sponsored by Supporting our Youth (SOY). More information at http://www.soytoronto.org/programs/trans-fusion-crew Two-Spirited People of the First Nations 416-944-9300 145 Front Street East, Suite 105, Toronto ON, M5A 1E3 Counselling, information, and support for Aboriginal gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in Toronto. More information at http://2spirits.com/ THRIVE! 416-394-8986 248 Queen Street East, Toronto ON, M5A 1S3 A group based out of Fred Victor Employment Centre focusing on employability skills and housing issues for trans folk to build skills.