Gay toronto area
"Gay Toronto," Where Are They Now? by Madeline Albert
by Madeline Albert
While perusing the ArQuives’ collection of The Body Politic newspapers, I establish a map depicting the places to go in Toronto if you were gay. Locations included helpful organizations, clubs & restaurants, and places to “cruise” for a dine or one-night remain. While John Scythes' first map published in the 7th issue in the Winter of 1973 was criticized by readers for favouring Toronto’s male-gay scene, the second version that was showcased in the 14th issue in July-August 1974 decidedly included more lesbian-centric locations.
This project was borne from the scrutinize of how these locations looked today and if any of them retained the same function as back in the 1970s. The creation involved visiting the locations (or approximate locations) of all of the proposed gay spots in Toronto and taking a photo of either the building or my best guess at where the building would be based on the age of the facade and the relational location on the rudimentary map. It came as somewhat of a shock that the only buildings that retained their initial function were those whose primary functions were not ti
At the intersection of Church Street and Wellesly Street, you’ll find the heart of Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Photo source: https://www.churchwellesleyvillage.ca/
A Brief History of the Village
Considered the founder of Toronto’s Gay Village, Alexander Wood first purchased the area as part of a 25-acre parcel advocate in the mid-1800s. As a fallout of Alexander’s favor for men, he was mocked by the community and, at one indicate, even accused of a scandal due to his openness. Though he passed away in 1844, the area would quickly be developed and go on to be Toronto’s first safe room for queer and gay people – so much so that by the 1950s, some underground bars and bathhouses had already emerged to serve the community. A statue of Alexander Wood was erected in 2005 but removed in 2022 due to his discovered involvement in the residential school system.
Unfortunately, by the 1970s, tensions had grown between this area and a growing homophobic sentiment. In an effort deemed ‘Operation Soap’, police raided the area and arrested over 250 individuals, charging them with running underground brothels and inciting further homophobic
Toronto Gay City Guide: Discovery Your Place in the Gay Village City
Located on the northwestern shore of beautiful Lake Ontario, Toronto is the capital urban area of Ontario and a diverse, multicultural city with a thriving and vibrant LGBTQ community. Toronto is in fact home to Canada’s only “Gay Village”, which is one of the largest, most one-of-a-kind, and welcoming LGBTQ communities in the world. Truly, it would be a wonderful city to summon home!
A Brief History of Toronto
The history of native peoples living in the area that is now Toronto dates back to almost ten thousand years. Modern-day history, however, began in 1615, when a Frenchman named Etienne Brule discovered the area. Eventually, trading posts were established in the area, and the population began to grow. In the 1830s, Toronto was officially incorporated as a city, and by 1867 had grown so much that it was named the capital of Ontario. Over the years, the city suffered from several large fires, but always rebuilt and came back stronger than ever with a continually growing population, thriving industry, innovation, and strength from its diverse, multicultural population. Today, Toronto remains a th
Toronto's Gay Village is an iconic LGBTQ+-friendly neighbourhood in the heart of the city, nestled at the intersection of Church Highway and Wellesley Street. Queer folks from all over have approach to The Village as an exciting and welcoming destination for them to explore their culture and sexuality and to boldly transition without fear of decision. But that wasn't always the case.
In this blog, we delve deeper into the history of Toronto's Gay Village and how it came to be what it is today. Continue reading to learn more!
Alexander Wood, the Forefather of the Toronto Queer Village
Alexander Wood, a magistrate in Upper Canada, acquired 25 acres of land at Yonge and Carlton streets, which spanned north to Wellesley and east of Church in the 1800s. Wood, who was also a merchant born of Scottish descent, was embroiled in a scandal where he allegedly made untoward sexual advances to other men while investigating a controversial rape case. Because of the incident, his estate was mockingly called "Molly Wood's Bush." At the day, "molly" was an offensive designation, meaning homosexual. He died in 1844, and his land was developed in the 1850s, opening