"Church St. ( old gay village) does not represent people of colour, trans-gendered people, fat people or any people who don't fit into the mould of the hairless, muscled twink with a lot of money to spend on himself." — Syrus Ware, artist.
Excerpt Toronto Star June 15 - Pride Edition
He has never felt at home on Church St. A person of colour himself, Syrus Ware, 29, is also an artist, activist and member of the trans-gendered community and a big supporter of the Queen Street. W. community.
"One of the important things for people about parties and events in the west end is that they do not have the stigma of the village. If someone is not out, they can tell their families or whoever that they are going to a party at Queen and Dovercourt and it won't immediately out them.
"I have lived in the Queen and John area since before it was cool... I was attracted to the area at the time because of all the amazing things going on. There were poetry readings that were very queer-positive; there was a big queer women's population.''
As Dan Lavoie, assistant publicist for North By Northeast music festival, puts it: "People go to The Village because it's safe and they know there will be other gay people there."
But gay, according to 26-year-old Lavoie, is "wherever you are, and outside The Village you don't have to fit a stereotype." Many queers, especially those in their 20s and 30s, are looking to the west end of the downtown core to meet their social, entertainment, cultural and fashion needs.
Will Munro is a 31-year-old DJ and artist who was at the forefront of the westerly migration seven years ago, when he launched his monthly west-end party event, Vazaleen. By booking popular musical acts that had both a gay and straight following, Munro created parties that were identified as queer, but were also open to anyone.
"Queer refers to fabulous weirdos, anyone, gay or straight, who does not fit into a particular mould," says 35-year-old artist Luis Jacob. Many of these "fabulous weirdos" have found a home and made their mark in the west end.
Christina Zeidler, general and development manager of the re-invented Gladstone Hotel on Queen St. W., has worked hard to create one of Toronto's most queer-positive spaces. "All marginal communities can come together here and feel comfortable," says Zeidler, 37. "I wanted to create a sort of utopian idea of oneness, but to do it through diversity." Zeidler proudly points out that her hotel boasts one of the first gender-neutral washrooms on the Queen West strip.
"I have had ties to this area (Queen West and the Parkdale neighbourhood) for over 18 years," says Scott Kerr, a 43-year-old DJ and member of the queer indie band Kids On TV. "It has always had a strong artistic and queer presence."
The past decade has seen the Queen St. W./Parkdale neighbourhood establish itself as a vital and viable arts community, referred to by many people simply as Queer West. [everyone except Toronto's Xtra gay and lesbian newspaper, see story below "Xtra Slips Up"...comment by Don_Q, editor]
"TAAFI (Toronto Alternative Arts Fair International) is not just a queer art fest," says co-ordinator Andrew Harwood, 42. He runs the event, which involves the Gladstone and Drake hotels, as well as many small galleries in the area. "The idea is to bring in small galleries, edgier and more experimental work; it's about drawing in a younger market."
One of the most prominent galleries in the area is SPIN Gallery, housed in a 100-year-old former Coca Cola factory that 36-year-old creative director Juno Youn refinished himself. Youn opened SPIN at Queen West and Dovercourt Rd. 2 1/2 years ago with a mandate to support and promote Canadian and queer art. As a community venue, SPIN has hosted such events as Inside Out Festival parties and gay weddings. In the same building is 69 Vintage, one of Queen West's many cutting-edge fashion boutiques.
"Queer people have always made up a large portion of our clientele," says owner Kealan Sullivan, 31. "It's something I'm proud of; it's something I pursue. Gay men's sense of style has always been inspirational to me." With mixed-crowd nightlife and queer-positive bars, clubs, galleries, cafés and shops on Queen St. W., College St. and in the nearby Annex and Kensington Market areas, a super-sized, super-hip nightclub was the only thing missing.
With queer life and gay culture expanding beyond the borders of The Village, people in Toronto have a lot more options and safe places to go.
Learn More about Toronto's Queer West Village
Excerpt Toronto Star June 15 - Pride Edition
He has never felt at home on Church St. A person of colour himself, Syrus Ware, 29, is also an artist, activist and member of the trans-gendered community and a big supporter of the Queen Street. W. community.
"One of the important things for people about parties and events in the west end is that they do not have the stigma of the village. If someone is not out, they can tell their families or whoever that they are going to a party at Queen and Dovercourt and it won't immediately out them.
"I have lived in the Queen and John area since before it was cool... I was attracted to the area at the time because of all the amazing things going on. There were poetry readings that were very queer-positive; there was a big queer women's population.''
As Dan Lavoie, assistant publicist for North By Northeast music festival, puts it: "People go to The Village because it's safe and they know there will be other gay people there."
But gay, according to 26-year-old Lavoie, is "wherever you are, and outside The Village you don't have to fit a stereotype." Many queers, especially those in their 20s and 30s, are looking to the west end of the downtown core to meet their social, entertainment, cultural and fashion needs.
Will Munro is a 31-year-old DJ and artist who was at the forefront of the westerly migration seven years ago, when he launched his monthly west-end party event, Vazaleen. By booking popular musical acts that had both a gay and straight following, Munro created parties that were identified as queer, but were also open to anyone.
"Queer refers to fabulous weirdos, anyone, gay or straight, who does not fit into a particular mould," says 35-year-old artist Luis Jacob. Many of these "fabulous weirdos" have found a home and made their mark in the west end.
Christina Zeidler, general and development manager of the re-invented Gladstone Hotel on Queen St. W., has worked hard to create one of Toronto's most queer-positive spaces. "All marginal communities can come together here and feel comfortable," says Zeidler, 37. "I wanted to create a sort of utopian idea of oneness, but to do it through diversity." Zeidler proudly points out that her hotel boasts one of the first gender-neutral washrooms on the Queen West strip.
"I have had ties to this area (Queen West and the Parkdale neighbourhood) for over 18 years," says Scott Kerr, a 43-year-old DJ and member of the queer indie band Kids On TV. "It has always had a strong artistic and queer presence."
The past decade has seen the Queen St. W./Parkdale neighbourhood establish itself as a vital and viable arts community, referred to by many people simply as Queer West. [everyone except Toronto's Xtra gay and lesbian newspaper, see story below "Xtra Slips Up"...comment by Don_Q, editor]
"TAAFI (Toronto Alternative Arts Fair International) is not just a queer art fest," says co-ordinator Andrew Harwood, 42. He runs the event, which involves the Gladstone and Drake hotels, as well as many small galleries in the area. "The idea is to bring in small galleries, edgier and more experimental work; it's about drawing in a younger market."
One of the most prominent galleries in the area is SPIN Gallery, housed in a 100-year-old former Coca Cola factory that 36-year-old creative director Juno Youn refinished himself. Youn opened SPIN at Queen West and Dovercourt Rd. 2 1/2 years ago with a mandate to support and promote Canadian and queer art. As a community venue, SPIN has hosted such events as Inside Out Festival parties and gay weddings. In the same building is 69 Vintage, one of Queen West's many cutting-edge fashion boutiques.
"Queer people have always made up a large portion of our clientele," says owner Kealan Sullivan, 31. "It's something I'm proud of; it's something I pursue. Gay men's sense of style has always been inspirational to me." With mixed-crowd nightlife and queer-positive bars, clubs, galleries, cafés and shops on Queen St. W., College St. and in the nearby Annex and Kensington Market areas, a super-sized, super-hip nightclub was the only thing missing.
With queer life and gay culture expanding beyond the borders of The Village, people in Toronto have a lot more options and safe places to go.
Learn More about Toronto's Queer West Village
Comments
Post a Comment