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Queer West Fest

Queer West Fest - Press Reviews June 2009

Wednesday June 17, 2009 - News Channel cp24.com - Toronto's other gaybourhood shows its stripes with Queer West Fest: Saira Peesker

Friday, May 29, 2009 Prides to watch out for PRIDE 2009 / Southern Ontario starts celebrating
Karen Ho Xtra / Toronto / - West Toronto

Toronto's west enders will start the Hogtown party with the Queer West Fest, running Mon, Jun 15 to 20. Among the combination of old favourites and new additions is the fifth-annual Pride Ride organized by the Gay West Bicycle Club and a pool tournament at Andy's Poolhall (489 College St), both on Jun 14.

Queer West interim president Michael Paré says this year's fest will feature more punk rock, goth and lesbian events thanks to new festival manager Forest Lightbody. Lightbody, the interim board secretary and longtime volunteer of the Inside Out film fest, will be DJing at least three official Queer West Fest events as DJ 4est.

Among the highlights planned is the Queer Women's Songfest at Mitzi's Sister on Jun 16 (1554 Queen St W). Paré says the program, which includes Anna Gutmanis, eMKeh, Dinah Thorpe and Shawnee Lynne Talbotis, one of the most appealing and hotly anticipated out of all the festival's activities this year. He added, "A lot of older lesbians are coming in from Kingston, St Catharine's, London, Ontario to see that."

This year also sees the return of the Queer West Film Festival on Jun 20 at 8pm. A showcase of local and international digital short films, the second-annual pay-what-you-can event has now been moved indoors to the Fixt Point Theatre (1550 Queen St W).

Queer West Fest - Press Reviews June 2008

Thursday, May 29, 2008 - Xtra Gay & Lesbian Newspaper / Early crop - 2008 / Pride celebrations bloom across the region - James Burrell /

West Toronto

The queer west crowd gets a head start on Pride with the Queer West Fest, running Fri, Jun 13 to 22. Events include a community fair and marketplace at the Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St W) on Jun 14 and the fourth-annual Pride Ride, a bicycle ride organized by the Gay West Bicycle Club. The 25-kilometre ride takes place Jun 15 at noon; riders will be meeting up on the north side of the Queensway, below Colborne Lodge Dr.

This year will also mark the first annual Queer West Film and Video Fest on Jun 18. Hosted by Gay West board members Michael F. Paré and Forest Lighbody, the one-night fest takes place at the Good Catch General Store (1556 Queen St W); doors open at 9pm with screenings beginning at 9:30pm.

For more on the Queer West Fest check out www.queerwest.org

June 25, 2008 Parkdale-liberty The Villager Newspaper Java Knights forum focuses on gay rights

Originally published in Parkdale-liberty The Villager Newspaper

BY JASON SAHLANI

Capping off this year's Queer West Fest, a 10-day international queer festival in Parkdale or the new 'Queer West Village', was a forum and educational workshop on the state of human rights for the lesbian, gay, transsexual, bisexual and queer (LGTBQ) communities around the world.

Hosted by local organization Queer West Arts and Culture Centre with the support of ACT Toronto (AIDS Committee Toronto), the event was to premiere the documentary Until the Violence Stops (V-Day) but because of the dialogue generated by the speakers the group opted to continue their discussion instead.

"In Mexico, many people are assaulted and beaten based on what people interpret to be a lesbian or gay look," said Carolina Gama, a member of Mujeres al Frente (Women in the Front Line), a support group for Latin American LBTIQ women and transgender persons from Mexico, Central and South America living in Toronto. "Just having short hair, loose clothes, not wearing makeup, anything not conforming to the female stereotype" would be a gay look.

Gama went on to detail the problems Latin American LGTBQ women face when claiming refugee status upon entering Canada.

"A common problem Mexican LGTBQ people face is being denied protection as a refugee because they can live in Mexico City without any aggression, so they are denied refugee status and told to go back even if they don't live anywhere near the city," said Gama. "Not every LGBTQ who is tortured, violated, beaten, raped is granted asylum in Canada."

The second speaker, Andrea Siemens, has worked extensively with Amnesty International's Refugee Network and Christian Peacemaker Teams overseas in Uganda and The West Bank and said the persecution some had to face could be found in almost all aspects of their society.

"A very widely read weekly tabloid in Uganda have at least three times published lists of 30 to 40 people that they identified to be gay or lesbian by name and at times dates of birth," Siemens said. "These people would lose their jobs, their homes and have to deal with people who can be very aggressive."

Siemens added she encountered a number of people overseas who hold the perception that the system in place to accommodate refugees or asylum seekers in Canada is easily accessible, but said in reality it can be difficult to secure status.

"Even with all the documented problems it's still very difficult for someone from Uganda identified as queer to come to Canada and say 'I'm facing persecution' and be granted asylum," Siemens said. "It's hard to believe and it works on a case-to-case basis, but one of the issues that comes up is proving it."

Moderating the event was Parkdale resident Michel F. Paré, a longtime queer rights activist and founder of Gay West, who allowed the dialogue to remain open but focusing on the issues.

Eventually the discussion turned to steps the LGBTQ communities in Toronto could take to help build a stronger support network for victims of human rights abuses.

"As more queer people come here and get active, then that will help bring more attention to problems and build stronger networks," Siemens said.

Gama agreed.

"I have a lot of faith in people, I think we have to speak up, we must fight for our rights on a daily basis," Gama said. visit queerwest.org.

Link: www.insidetoronto.ca/parkdale/article/50858

Thursday June 19, 2008 NOW entertainment Weekly - Go West

You can’t just do Pride by installing yourself at the corner of Church and Wellesley any more. West Queen West is so gay, some people are calling it West Queer West, and there’s now a full-fledged Queer West Fest (queerwest.org) that’s heading to the finish line this weekend.

Look for the Frydaze Musical Madness event Friday (June 20, 7 to 10 pm) in the Gladstone Hotel’s Melody Bar (1214 Queen West), featuring People You Know, the Torrent and Boylesque.Link: www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=163636

Friday June 13 Nehked (Chicago IL)- - www.nehked.com [Nehked.com's posts have been featured on numerous celebrity gossip websites and main-stream news sources, such as Reuters, Chicago Sun-Times, and USA Today. About the Authors Biff and Twila are two cynical Canadians who have a penchant for procrastination. Not surprisingly they spend most of their office time commenting on the interesting and juicy lives of others.

Excerpt - This weekend in Toronto - "Queer Fest West – jumping ahead of the big pride bash later this month, the Drake and Gladstone crowd celebrate being gay AND hipsters. Events include an arts and crafts fair in Trinity Bellwoods, a Bear Fair and a kickoff party Friday at the Beaver (which I hear has amazing cupcakes from a line called ‘Frostitution’). Various times, locations and prices (many events free). "

June 2008 Outlooks Magazine: Calgary - Outlooks Magazine-

By Doug Ross

The Third Annual Queer West Fest is a ten-day, non-profit, alternative festival, June 13- 22, for everybody with a queer perspective—regardless of gender or and vibrant is to provide a safe, nurturing environment for individuals, groups and organizations.Their goal is to foster individual empowerment, to sponsor relevant activities and to give everyone a better sense of the queer community spirit that’s thriving within Toronto’s west village neighbourhoods.YAHOO!

Some of their upcoming fest events include: Fur Real: Bears without Boundaries Art Show (exploring themes related to the bear community), Queer West Film Fest (only sixty seats available), Java Knights—Amnesty International Panel Discussion (the many controversies surrounding the Beijing Summer Olympics will definitely get airtime), the Dirty Bingo Fundraiser (proceeds are donated to the Gay West Community Network), Knotty Nights Dance Party, Toronto Pride Ride—as well as the promise of a big opening night “surprise” that directly correlates with the infamous Stonewall uprising that took place in 1969 in New York. And no it won’t be one of that riot’s drag queens or arresting officers! Another of the fest’s events that’s sure to please will be the performances of, Forte, the Men’s Chamber Choir that consists of two dozen incredibly talented members drawn from within the city.Although Forte isn’t exclusively gay in its membership, its repertoire or its outlook, you won’t be disappointed while listening to these amazingly gifted voices.

Originally published Fab Magazine Thursday June 12 - 2008 - Issue 348

The queer and near the delights to be found in a more downhome Pride event in Queer West.

The west end of the city, primarily the Queen St. W. strip from Ossington to Dufferin, has gone through a massive facelift in recent years. This rapid rejuvenation has often been attributed to the opening of the Drake Hotel some five years back, but before the Drake put Queen W. on the map, there was a burgeoning arts community flourishing. Dozens of galleries scattered amongst deteriorating storefronts, sandwiched between appliance retailers and pawnshops, created a new bohemia. Weekly queer parties were a regular occurrence in the warehouses and lofts within this once affordable neighbourhood.

Out of this scene sprung a vibrant queer culture with a younger mixed crowd seeking something different, a group not hung up on their, or anyone else’s, sexuality. The area has adapted to the rising queer presence and Queen West is now affectionately known as Queer West.

Toronto is already one of the queerest cities in the universe. And, while long known for having one of the biggest and most successful Pride celebrations in the world, a new smaller grassroots community festival aims to showcase an alternative side to queer culture in the city. Queer West Fest takes place June 13 to 22, the week prior to the massive outdoor street party around the Church and Wellesley ghetto, with 10 days of eclectic programming.

Queer West Fest showcases the best of west end queer culture by taking over various establishments, some queer operated and the others queer positive.

Festival Guide 2008

Fri. June 13 - Opening night, on a normally unlucky but in this case celebratory day, Will Munro’s post-punk NOT T.O. explodes from the Beaver Cafe. DJ 4-Est The following day is an afternoon Community Fair at the www.thedrakehotel.ca with dozens of artists, vendors and organizations represented. “We may love club hopping around the city, but we come home to Queen West,” notes curator Mia Nielsen.

The night then ramps up with a naughty evening of Dirty Bingo at the Friendly Bar. Dirty Bingo was a regular staple at the Living Well Café before it met its demise a few years back. “It actually ended up being a positive thing for me,” says bingo-ball buster Shirley. She now gigs weekly at various bars throughout the city. Prizes range from bongs and dildos to bar tabs. Everyone hoping to win goes wild when she calls out her favourite number, O-69. www.shirleysdirtybingo.com

Sun. June 15 - The popular annual Pride bike ride from Sunnyside to the Beaches takes place at noon. Last year 25 cyclists rode the route decked out in boas and biker shorts. The summer weather is just starting to heat up and most riders take this as an opportunity to get a tan base, happily exposing lots of luscious skin. The ride is as much about cruising each other as it is cruising along the lakefront. If you fall into either of these categories, get ready to pedal your ass. http://www.queerwest.org/bikeclub.php

Tues. June 17 The gay-operated establishment the Gladstone Hotel plays host to a significant number of queer events throughout the year with its expansive mix of homo happenings. It would only seem fitting that Queer West Fest has three of its major events there starting with the monthly event Java Knights. Java Knights has been taking place the last Tuesday of every month for the past four years but the June edition (featuring a human rights panel discussion) actually falls one week earlier to align itself within the Queer West Fest schedule. Confirmed panelists include Carolina Gama (Mujeres a Frente) and William Payne who will be discussing homophobic and transphobic violence in the Colombian civil conflict. It’s another event that draws a very diverse mix of ages and genders, with the topics typically prompting freewheeling debates and discussions.

Wed. June 18 - Queer Ears and Eyes is a night of musical madness and visionary views. This midweek event spotlights live performances by GiraGira.gif and Vivek Shayra, in the Gladstone’s Melody Bar. A concurrent queer arts exhibition, in the more intimate Art Bar, features works by Chantelle Gobeil, Mick Fin, Philip Cairns and Michael F. Paré. An artist reception from 7-9pm with music by sexy sounds dispenser Fait Dormi will erupt into an all out dance party ’til 2am.Only Queer Ears and Eyes” was supported by Pride Access & Diversity Grant (Pride Week Grass Roots Project Grant) through Community One Foundation Following the art show was a night of musical madness with live performances by Vivek Shraya and GiraGira.Gif Band, followed by a closing queer dance party with DJ 4-Est | Gladstone Hotel 1214 Queen St. W, 9pm. www.gladstonehotel.com

The Queer West Film Fest, a truly independent film festival with both local and international filmmakers on the roster. The event takes place in the outdoor parking lot at the Good Catch General Store starting at dusk. Long time Inside-Out volunteer Forest Lightbody is in charge of programming and promises, “there will be some films not previously shown publicly in Toronto.”www.queerwest.org/queerwestfilmfest.php

Thurs. June 19 - Wilde Chats, a Socrates-style conversation held at Tinto’s Coffee House and lead by Gay West Community Network Inc founder, Michel F. Paré. “At my age I will continue to be the bridge builder, the one who can enable good things to occur as I have in past years. The one who uses life lessons to be compassionate in regards to others and to actually see ways in which I can bring about warmth and agreement,” he proclaims.http://www.queerwest.org/wildechats.php

Fri. June 20 - Frydaze is an after-work every evening showcase taking place at the Gladstone Melody Bar with queer bands Plus Toronto’s first all-male burlesque troupe, Boylesque, guaranteeing sweaty fun. People You Know Trio www.myspace.com/peopleyouknowmusic – The trio fuses jazz, blues and rock vocals with funk and hip hop percussion to create a cocktail of strong lyrics with delicately powerful melodies and funky beats Torrent Trio www.myspace.com/thetorrentrocks - post-punk trio combining 80’s new wave, synth and guitar melodies - Gladstone Hotel 1214 Queen St. W, 7pm, www.gladstonehotel.com

Sat. June 21 - The closing weekend goes out banging with Knotty Knights, an ’80s dance party held at Lot 16. This was one of the more popular parties last year with the tiny bar filled with a frenzy of grinding bodies.

Sun. June 22 - Recover at the afternoon Family Brunch at queer owned Mitzi’s Sister and then catch a stunning evening performance of Queerly Beloved by Forte, the 24-voice gay men’s chamber choir, at Emmanuel Howard Park United Church. www.mitzissister.com

Ongoing The bear-influenced Fur Real Art Collective at Gallery 1313 Presents: "Fur Real: Bears Without Boundaries Art Show'.' Gallery 1313. It included the works of Scottt McEwan, Freshdiscoporkergass, Mark Ciale, Alan Charlesworth, Bill Pusztai, madame Hair, John Roberts, Jesse Inkol, Charlie Hunter, Andrew Harwood, Geo Romolo and J.P. Kane held at 1313A Queen St. West www.g1313.org and local artist, and rampant nudist, Leif Harmsen’s HOMODIGITAL Art Show at the Fountain Contemporary Gallery are other notable highlights of the week.www.harmsen.net

All events are, in true D.I.Y. spirit, free or PWYC. More info at www.queerwest.org/queerwestfest_official_events.php

Thursday, June 05, 2008 Xtra - Queer festivities bloom across the region - James Burrell / Toronto Xtra

WEST TORONTO

This year will also mark the first-annual Queer West Film and Video Fest on Jun 18. Hosted by Gay West board members Michel Paré and Nate Fuks, the one-night fest takes place at the Good Catch General Store (1556 Queen St W); doors open at 9pm with screenings beginning at 9:30pm.

For more on the Queer West Fest check out www.queerwest.org

Queer West Fest - Press Reviews 2007

June 2007 - Torontos fab Magazine review of Queer West Fest 2007 (fab is a Toronto gay scene magazine that is published every two weeks)

"The west end of Toronto has been home to many a queer hipster event but this year marks the first coordinated series of pre-Pride events. Queer West Fest kicks off with a party at the Rhino on Fri. Jun. 15, featuring a mix of DJs and bands, including trans electrolounge singer Mackenzie MacBride.

Queer West Fest kicks off with a party at the Rhino on Fri. Jun. 15, featuring a mix of DJs and bands, including trans electrolounge singer Mackenzie MacBride. “

The fest includes a community fair at the Drake Hotel, a coffee klatch with former fab editor Steven Bereznai at the Gladstone, a Pride bike tour and a closing retro ‘80s party at Lot 16 on Fri. Jun. 22

More Info: fab Magazine Toronto - Roundup issue # 321

Thursday, June 07, 2007 Xtra - Gay and Lesbian Newspaper review of Queer West Fest - Jun 15 - 22. by Fred Kuhr / Xtra /

Pick of the Crop - PRIDE 2007 / Toronto isn't the only Pride on offer.

Not that Pride is a new phenomenon on this side of town. Last year, it was called Parkdale Pride, a name that made it sound like it was limited to that neighbourhood,Unlike Pride Toronto, "Ours is not a city festival, it's a community festival," said Bryen Dunn, one of the festival organizers

There's no parade down Queen St. Rather, there are events at a handful of the many queer and queer-friendly businesses in the neighbourhood. These include the official launch party at Rhino Bar And Grill (1249 Queen St W) and the Mix And Mingle Community Fair at the Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St W).

Bryen Dunn says the use of the word "queer" in the festival's name is not just a play on the word "Queen." It's also a more apt way of describing the neighbourhood, its businesses and its Pride.

"While the Church-Wellesley Village is more male dominated, Queen West is much more mixed," said B. Dunn. "Not just that we have more lesbians here. We also mean queer in the sense that things are much more odd here."

Queer West Fest is also a way to get more people to realize that there is indeed a second gay village to be explored all year long.

"We really want to bring attention to Queen West," said Dunn. "We want people to come out to our part of town and see that there are other options."

Info: Fred Kuhr / Xtra /

June 2007 Calgary's Outlooks magazine reviews Queer West Fest - TORONTO GETS ITS PRIDE ON By Doug Ross. Outlooks is Published in Calgary, Alberta

"Queer activity for the near future, our local numbers are steadily growing, which is causing a little stress at its seams. But actually that kind of expansion is a good thing, so out-of-towners are encouraged to check out the radically diverse and very tolerant neighbourhood located along Queen Street West with its thriving underground gay scene that has recently been recognized as a viable “ghetto” alternative.

That funky area’s edgy attitude and discreet, but still significant, gay presence exploded a few years back when The Drake became the hotel/hotspotdu- jour for visiting Hollywood royalty and other “see and be seen” hipsters sporting a metrosexual vibe.

Then not to be outdone, the city’s oldest hotel,The Gladstone—also located along that same gritty, but cool west end strip—underwent renovations wherein a local artist individually designed each room. How chic is that?

Also nestled amongst that area’s fluid mixture of ethnicity's and sexualities can be found some very tasty eateries and bars—Lot 16, the Beaconsfield, Beaver Café—that provide plenty of music, martinis, munchies and madness.

On June 16, the Gay West Community Network Inc., a not-for-profit organization presents its annual Queer West Fest event that boasts a big attitude with an alternative bent that celebrates all things queer positive. And then that same organization teams up with the Aids Committee of Toronto to present its special Pride Edition of Java Knights on June 19. JK is a monthly forum that features discussions on topics from sex to politics and everything in between.

The non-profit Gay West Village Bike Club presents its Pride Ride 2007 on June 17 that takes place along the waterfront from Sunnyside to the Beaches located at the eastern end of the city. So grab your water bottle and your vitamins and enjoy some good old-fashioned fun and exercise within a positive social atmosphere. Wow, so many great events—yet June only has thirty days!

About Magazine (June 2007) reviews Queer West Fest ( About Magazine is published in Toronto and Buffalo)

In the June issue 2007 P13, under the title: A Proud Challenge, By Heather O'Connor writes about Pride celebrations in Buffalo N.Y., Toronto, Hamilton, Ontario and surprisingly the Queer West Fest, which isn't a Pride event, it just happens to be taking place during Pride week in Toronto.

O'Connor says "Buffalo, the Hamilton Pride Festival and the Queer West Fest have spent the greater part of this past year planning and organizing their 2007 events. The difference is they have to work primarily without the funding and sponsorship from huge corporate donors. Whether this be by choice or by scale, it means they must face the challenge of finding their own means to pull off their events, looking to local business owners and relying mainly on volunteers. That makes them truly community affairs. Throughout the year the gay and lesbian communities in Buffalo, Hamilton and Queer West support the gay friendly businesses and establishments in each of their Respective neighbourhoods or cities. Pride allows the businesses a chance to repay the community by offering their space, services, donations and sponsorship. It is this giveand- take relationship that helps bring together the entire community as a whole."

O'Conner closes her story with a kudo to the Toronto's new west end queer community.

"Toronto has joined the list of international cities that boast more than one “gay village.” The Queen Street West area of Toronto extending between Bathurst and Roncesvalles has had a growing gay presence over the past years and it has now been dubbed Queer West Village. This year, the community is set to launch its first week-long Queer West Fest, June 15-22 - overlapping with a significant chunk of the week-long Toronto Pride event. For Queer West and Toronto, 2007 marks the debut of what will hopefully be an annual week of pride celebrations for the west end of the city."

More Info: About magazine June 2007 Page 13 in PDF Format

Thursday June 21, 2007 NOW Magazine reviews Queer West Fest ( (NOW is Toronto's weekly news and entertainment voice, published every Thursday)

Queerest of them all - Queer Westers push boundaries while neon mall vibe and high-priced martinis swamp Church

By ZOE WHITTALL

"I like that all these things are happening organically in an area that's not designated expressively as queer anything it's just part of the way things have grown. At same time, as the queer presence grows, what started as a joke calling Queen West Queer West is becoming part of our vernacular."

"There is currently a movement to officially designate a Queer West Village. There's a website and even our own Pride festival." Whittall wrote.

More Info: www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2007-06-21/news_story6.php

Thursday June 21, 2007 NOW Magazine reviews Queer West Fest ( (NOW is Toronto's weekly news and entertainment newspaper)

West's Pride divide

By Jenny Yuen

"A week before the official pride parade, with its big rainbow flags and expensive floats, another queer festival in the west end is showing its true colours."

"Queer West Fest, a volunteer-driven alt-event in the Parkdale area, shifts the focus from Church/Wellesley to a more grassroots approach. Last week it featured a community fair, bike ride and events bringing artists and queer-friendly businesses together." Yuen wrote.

More Info: www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2007-06-21/news_story8.php

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Queer West Fest - Press Reviews June 2009

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