Toronto gay bars and clubs
DISCO/Vering The Seventies &#; Mapping the Village
By Joseph Abernethy
In the upcoming Issues of CommuniQue The ArQuives is going to explore the shifting locations and histories of Toronto&#;s altering LGBTQ2+ bar scene. Starting with the 70’s and running into the ’s each article will examine a decade of change. The focus will be primarily on spaces that catered to the city’s vibrant queer community and what’s become of those spaces. The research for this series has been conducted using sources available in our collections and includes articles written for The Body Politic, Ryerson business surveys, clippings from The Toronto Star and complaint letters written to city counselors.
The 70’s:
Working with what is available at The ArQuives a lot of the material on this decade is limited to the finish of the decade. This is in part because by the end of the 70’s the gay liberation movement was gaining steam leading to more documentation. As The ArQuives uncovers more history we’re actively seeking the untold stories of Toronto&#;s diverse queer communities.
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(L to R) Michael Griffiths with Albert, Michael, David and Tony Assoon. Photo by Charmaine Gooden.
The original Then & Now: Twilight Zone article was published October 5, and was second in the web series originally developed for The As the Then & Now series expanded in reach, so too did the length of each story and number of participants who contributed to each. This expanded history of the Zone was written in Protest , and was exclusively available in the Then & Now book until this time.
Trailblazing s nightclub Twilight Zone brought diverse crowds and sounds to Toronto&#;s Fun District long before such a designation even existed. Those who were there lovingly explore its permanent legacy.
By: DENISE BENSON
Club: Twilight Zone, Richmond Street W.
Years in operation: &#;
History: Long before the Entertainment District was awash in condos, clubs, and restaurants—back when the area was still largely non-residential and known as the garment district—four brothers opened a venue that ultimately influenced the neighbourhood’s de
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Looking to visit the best same-sex attracted bars in Toronto?
Our comprehensive instruction to Toronto gay bars is an excellent resource for LGBT nightlife lovers. Our list of Toronto gay bars features a diversity of entertaining venues: from drag clubs to queer theatre, LGBT stand up comedy to gay sports bar, hipster hideaway to flashy nightclubs.
You&#;ll find everything you need to know about gay bars in Toronto, whether you&#;re a visiting Drag Queen fan or local gaggle of gays keen to dance to pop diva&#;s under glittering disco balls.
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A History of Homosexual Bars in Toronto
Gay bars in Toronto as we know them didn’t really exist until the s. Prior to that people were limited to public parks, washrooms, and “low-key” bars and clubs in which there was always the danger of creature found out. Places like The Continental, Letros Nile Room, and the St. Charles Tavern (with the slogan “meet me under the clock” – the clock which can still be seen during renovations on Yonge St.) offered spaces where gays and lesbians would me
There are barely any lgbtq+ bars left in Toronto. Let alone queer bars or queer spaces. Since we launched this article in , a limited spots on the list have since closed?! (That’s Cherry Cola’s, Lavendar Menace and a couple others) Just because a prevent or club hosts gender non-conforming nights or events doesn’t always mean they're a queer space, there are nuances and so many more things to believe about than putting a drag queen on stage and queer person behind the decks. This is why a list appreciate this is more vital than ever - these are spaces that although not all are gay bars, they are doing to the work to ensure we are safe.
The city is in desperate need of new 2SLGBTQ+ spots to gather, sway, party, talk, work, dangle, chill and rage. While we navigate our community’s comeback (‘cause queers affection a comeback story!), we’ve put together a list (in no particular order) of spots on our radar that are either queer-owned, queer-run, queer bars or queer-friendly.
If we missed any that you love, let us realize and we’ll check them out and hopefully attach them to this list!
EAST END
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