The Dinah queer women’s music festival changes ownership, with Toronto born Bella Barkow now co-owner

posted Monday, March 30, 2026

by: Bryen Dunn in Community

Toronto-born and raised event producer Bella Barkow, who studied at the University of Toronto before relocating to the U.S. in 2012, has just become the co-owner of one of the world’s most iconic Music Festivals for queer women, The Dinah. After 35 groundbreaking years, the longest-running and most influential queer women’s music festival in the world, has entered a historic new […]

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Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce Launches The FAM Program to Support 2SLGBTQI+ Businesses and Entrepreneurs Nationwide

posted Sunday, March 15, 2026

by: Bryen Dunn in Community, Leadership & Business

The FAM Program is a newly-launched network dedicated to building a community of queer entrepreneurs. The FAM targets individuals who might not consider themselves business people—side-hustlers, part-owners, artists—in creative or non-traditional fields. It’s tailored to 2SLGBTQI+ individuals who might experience barriers due to their identity, easing opportunities to access training, seek funding, and expand the […]

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“Queer Elders Project” documents personal stories of struggles and joys from within the aging LGBTQ+ community

posted Tuesday, March 10, 2026

by: Bryen Dunn in Activism, Community, Politics

Queer Elders Project is a deeply personal and visually rich exploration of aging within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. This groundbreaking documentary has recently completed a year-long production across Canada and the United States and is now in post-production. “Our queer elders have lived through generations of change, from societal rejection to hard-won rights, yet their stories […]

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Ontario Pink Paper on Health data shows access doesn’t equal equity within the LGBTQ+ community

posted Friday, February 20, 2026

by: Bryen Dunn in Activism, Community

Ontario-specific findings from the Pink Paper on Health reveal that while Ontario benefits from a higher concentration of 2SLGBTQIA+-specific health services in Toronto and Ottawa, significant gaps persist – particularly in mental health care and rural access. Ontario findings highlight: Greater access to specialist and gender-affirming providers compared to other provinces Continued dissatisfaction with mental health services […]

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Global LGBTQ+ Happiness Survey across 153 countries links the effects of homophobia and economic insecurity

posted Wednesday, January 7, 2026

by: Bryen Dunn in Community

The LGBT Happiness Study, is the Global Survey on Happiness, Sex and Quality of Life among LGBTI people is  a major global research study for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people aims to give a voice to this community around the world. LGBTQ+ people face unequal treatment across different human societies. Several concomitant […]

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A Comfortable Corner – out of print 1982 queer novel of love, and recovery from alcoholism, is available once again

posted Monday, June 16, 2025

by: Bryen Dunn in Community

A Comfortable Corner is a novel like no other, alive with hope and struggle, desperation and compassion, loneliness and community. Terence Strange and Christopher More had been lovers for many years, but at last Terence could take no more of the mess alcoholism was making of their lives. Where could he find counsel? Surely not […]

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Canada’s First Rainbow Registered Residential Rental Building, Story of Midtown Toronto, Now Open

posted Saturday, June 7, 2025

by: Bryen Dunn in Activism, Community, Real Estate

Hazelview Properties has announced the opening of Canada’s first Rainbow Registered residential rental building. The Rainbow Registered accreditation is given to businesses and organizations that meet stringent standards to ensure that 2SLGBTQI+ customers feel welcome. While numerous businesses across the country hold the accreditation, the Story of Midtown Toronto rental property at 73/75 Broadway Ave is the first residential […]

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City of Toronto launches the Access Plan for Two-Spirit, Trans and Non-Binary Youth

posted Friday, October 18, 2024

by: Bryen Dunn in Activism, Community, Sex & Sexuality

The City of Toronto presented its first coordinated initiative to improve health and social outcomes for gender-diverse youth in Toronto to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee. The Access Plan for Two-Spirit, Trans and Non-Binary Youth aims to reduce barriers to City services and programs for gender-diverse youth aged 12 to […]

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Canada’s first-ever 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program gets Federal Funding

posted Thursday, October 10, 2024

by: Bryen Dunn in Activism, Community

2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs are a core part of Canada’s economy, with over 100,000 2SLGBTQI+-owned and -operated businesses in Canada employing over 435,000 Canadians and generating over $22 billion in economic activity. Yet, these entrepreneurs continue to face systemic barriers in starting and growing their businesses. To address these challenges and build a more inclusive economy, the federal government created […]

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Experience “Gallery of Memories” at Nuit Blanche 2024, showcasing stories of LGBTQ+ individuals with, or at risk of developing dementia

posted Thursday, October 3, 2024

by: Bryen Dunn in Activism, Community, Sex & Sexuality

Pride Toronto, in partnership with Egale Canada, is proud to present “Gallery of Memories” at Nuit Blanche 2024. This moving exhibition showcases the stories of 10 diverse 2SLGBTQI+ individuals with, or at risk of developing, dementia. Through poignant photographs, personal memories, and powerful audio stories, visitors will explore the resilience, activism, and love that have […]

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