Arts - Culture - Films - Music - Theatre - Community
Events
Located in West Central Toronto, Ontario Canada
Building a Community
Strengthening the City
We allow our ignorance to prevail upon us and make us
think we can survive alone, alone in patches, alone in groups, alone in races, even alone in genders.
- Maya Angelou
Frequently Asked Question "I want to meet other lesbian, gay,
bisexual and/or trans people and I’m tired of the bar scene. Where can I meet
people like myself?" A. There are numerous Social Clubs, in
the city. Many of them meet though Queer West Arts and Cultural Centre.
We produceBent
Expressions performing arts festivals for the purposes of educating and
advancing the public's understanding and appreciation of performing arts and
to educate artists through participation in such festivals and related workshops.
Organized by Queer West's Arts Collective
We produceshOUT!
. a monthly Open Space technology series of "Unconferences" A Participant-Facilitated
Discussion. It offers a safe, secure, positive space for Queer Young Adults,
their Friends and Allies.
We produce annual Queer
West Arts Festival that arrives for a week of music, dance, drama, laughs,
film, books, and, of course, cabaret!
We produce The annual Queer
West Film Festival This year dedicated to Queer Young Adults in keeping
with the over all theme of annual Queer West Arts Festival in 2010 .
We produceWilde
Chats Queer men creating community.
We produceBent
Expressions Newspaper One of gay Toronto's leading media publication, with
the hottest happenings in the coolest places. Free subscription and membership
in our Arts Collective. The
Bent eBlast
We hostGay
West Bicycle Club The largest Gay and Lesbian cycling club in Eastern Canada.
Now in it's seventh year. Seasonal April to Oct. Join in the fun on 6th Annual
54K QWF Toronto Pride Ride Sunday June 27, 2010.
We team-upDirectory
By supporting and collaborating independent west end LGBT community groups,
businesses, organizations and their events, as an umbrella organization.
TESTIMONIALS:Bqueer.com:
" One of the most extensive and interesting website guides to the
Toronto Gay and Lesbian sceneI've come across." Girlsport.com
Montreal Lesbian travel site: "In recent years tons
of hip bars/restos/shops that cater to or favor a homo clientele have opened
up shop, Toronto's second gay village. Queer West listings and entertainment
section is excellent!
"Humourous guff in NOW magazine story March 11, 2010 Queer vs Queer.
West Central Toronto doesn't depend on NOW for publicity. Are they only discovering
us, after being here, more than ten years? It's great to have other queer neighbourhoods
in the city. It’s nice we are no longer dependent on the so called traditional
gay village. Erroneous to call Church, Parliament and Sherbourne St. the eastside.
The Eastside is Carlaw and Queen, not much there at the moment. You can be queer
eat, drink and dance anywhere in the city. It's a shame, that fact isn't promoted
by tourist bureau, instead we have Church St. gay business owners continually
trying to divide the new
queer districts" Michel F. Paré, Toronto gay archivist,
activist.
"I feel far more welcome and visible on the Queer West scene. I find
that Queer West Organization holds an attitude that’s quite the opposite to
Church St’s — it encourages queers to come as they are, without fear of having
to fit in with the crowd. Probably as a result the west-end scene is a lot more
racially mixed and there’s more room to express yourself both as ethnic and
lesbian."Parul Pandya, Toronto Writer raised within a Hindu
tradition,
“West Queen West is an unpretentious neighbourhood,” says renowned Toronto
artist Kris Knight. “It’s another option for gays who want something different
than the Village.” The queer small community is pretty tight, but very
accepting and open, according to Kris, “Here, people have a strong tie with
a creative field of work.”
"I am so happy to be a part of the Queer West Organization, I love
the events, the bars, art galleries, restaurants, shopping and the general attitude
of the residents here (or just sitting on my front steps, people watching, and
realizing that not even TV can create such entertainment). The people are vibrant,
intense, scary, funny, friendly and diverse."Nick Watson Toronto
Parkdale 26, ASL English interpreter, May 2009.
"Thank You, Michel for putting a lot time, energy and love into the
Queer West Organization" John Colautti Former board member,
Toronto Parkdale May 2009.
"I think this (new Queer West shOUT Youth Unconferences) is so brilliant
I am so proud of you Michel, and you should be proud too of the fantastic work
you do in the community. You do it with passion and zeal, and not for your own
glory, and i really, REALLY admire that!!!!!" Thomas Gonder,
38 Marketing exec. Toronto Dovercourt. February, 2010.
It's important to have a group ShOUT in the west end. Paul Pighin,
Toronto gay activist and Consituency Assistant Cheri DiNovo, MPP Parkdale-High
Park. Pighin first openly HIV-positive person ever, to run for public office
in Ontario. February 2010
"The area's relaxed attitude of acceptance is exactly what appeals
to me it's a mixed crowd. The younger generation that doesn't seem to have qualms
about mixing with straight people." Monica Mitchell 30, Toronto
Parkdale, June 2009.
Queer West Arts and Culture Centre is the hub of
community life in Toronto's new edgy Queer West Village
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, two-spirit
and queer (LGBTT2sQ) communities and our allies and friends have always found
a welcoming place at QueerWest.orgPH: 416-879-7954. Mail:
Box 204 Stn C. Toronto ON M6J 3M9 queerwestinfo@gmail.comQueer West Arts Festival and Film Festival:
Jaclyn Isen: qwshout@gmail.com