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 queer business network across Canada. Queer entrepreneurs join now under The FAM Program’s free trial, available until March 31, 2026.

The Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce (CQCC) has announced the launch of The FAM Program (The FAM), dedicated exclusively to empowering 2SLGBTQI+ business owners and entrepreneurs nationwide. Available to any member of the 2SLGBTQI+ community who owns 1 to 100 percent of their business, The FAM Program is a national professional network that strengthens queer entrepreneurship with vibrant community support, opening doors to capital and fundraising. The FAM members enjoy access to resources and events across Canada, including networking opportunities, practical resources, workshops, and high-visibility spotlight opportunities.

Despite progress, the queer business community continues to face significant barriers, making it difficult to access capital and other support. The FAM Program eases the path to growing, starting, or scaling a business, no matter the size. The program welcomes queer-identifying entrepreneurs and business owners, from side-hustlers to consultants to established business leaders. The business does not need to be queer-focused to be a member.

“The goal of The FAM Program is to increase the visibility of 2SLGBTQI+ businesses and to create a strong community of professionals that may have faced challenges because of their identity,” says Sarah Evalina, CQCC’s Chief Operating Officer. “These businesses bring so much to the larger communities. By connecting these queer professionals through The FAM Program, we can strengthen these individual ventures that are driving economic growth in markets across Canada.”

Benefits of the FAM Program include:
● Exclusive invitations to CQCC networking events that help entrepreneurs build meaningful connections and expand their business community.
● Access to a national Community Hub, offering opportunities to meet, collaborate, and learn from other queer entrepreneurs and supportive organizations across Canada.
● Industry-focused workshops designed to boost sales, increase referrals, and strengthen essential business skills.
● High-visibility spotlight opportunities that elevate entrepreneurs on a national stage, introducing FAM members to new customers, fellow business owners, and corporate partners committed to supporting queer-owned businesses.

The FAM Program fills the gaps for queer entrepreneurs. Says Elaine Kwok, of Go Banana!, a Toronto marketing and design agency, “The FAM can help us be part of a thriving business community. That means helping us meet potential clients and partners, providing educational and practical resources, and even lobbying for government support for small businesses.”

There are over 100,000 queer-owned businesses in Canada, which employ over 435,000 Canadians. These businesses contribute significantly to Canada’s economy, generating $22 billion in economic activity. Queer business owners can engage with the program at queerchamber.ca/FAM. The FAM Program is free to join until March 31st, 2026.

The Canadian Queer Chamber of Commerce is Canada’s leading advocate for queer-owned businesses and 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurs. Through networking, education, suppliers’ certification, and advocacy, CQCC works to ensure queer businesses and allies thrive and continue contributing to a strong, inclusive national economy. Founded in 2003, CQCC represents more than 100,000 2SLGBTQI+-owned businesses, contributing over $22 billion in economic activity and employing more than 435,000 Canadians. In 2023, the Government of Canada selected CQCC to administer the world’s first $25 million 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program, further expanding support for queer entrepreneurs across the country.

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If you were to look at Suzy Patz, you wouldn’t initially be intimidated – small stature, a big smile on her face – but if you knew what she’s been through, what she’s overcome, and what she’s doing now, you might just call her iconic.

The Davis, California native took an unconventional road to starting her business, Love Out Loud.

Imagine for a moment the possibilities if you were able to reset your mind. The intrusive fear and powerful doubt that incessantly increases over time to protect ourselves from possible failure, would suddenly disappear. An immunity from hesitation to live your life. I have never known anyone that has experienced change or growth quite like this until I spoke with Suzy Patz.

The idea for Love Out Loud was born from this fearless mindset.

The spark that lit the flame came from an early morning interaction in 2019 with a sarcastic valet in Los Angeles who may have also been moonlighting on weekends as a comedian (The Comedy Union club IS just down the street).

“Smuggling a body?” the valet asked upon seeing the enormous size of Patz’s suitcase and hearing that she had only stayed for one night. “Bodies.” Patz returned, smiling. “I was so nervous about a speaking engagement that day and with that one unexpected, totally off-color comment, he completely lifted those nerves.” Patz tipped the valet $20. “He then ran up, knocking on the window of my car to let me know I’d tipped him $20. When I told him it was intentional, he was so surprised, he thanked me profusely, and offered to run to get me a coffee at Starbucks!”

Patz recognized the incredible power, in that moment, they both had to positively impact each other’s lives.

“We so often like the posts on social media of people doing good, our hearts swell as we watch the videos, but as we go about our regular days, get caught in the grind, we forget. We forget to connect with each other, create those little, simple moments that have such a big impact.” says Patz. “That interaction was my a-ha moment.”

The mission of Love Out Loud is to change the conversation people have with themselves. To help people see each other as opportunities for kindness, not obstacles to move around. It is an idea born without fear, without doubt, with endless possibilities, from a woman who believes we can change the world one small act at a time through gifts familiar to all of us – kindness, community, and love. “We will do this by providing a mobile application experience that includes one of the most current and effective forms of encouraging connection and interaction globally. We are here to positively and significantly impact how people see themselves, those around them, and empower a nonprofit’s ability to generate donations and visibility with ongoing engagement.”

Only from tragedy do true flames rise.

What the valet hadn’t known was the reason WHY Patz’s suitcase was so large. “A year and a half earlier I had suffered brain damage. I went out for a run and a young man, who was distracted driving, hit me with his car. Two brain hematomas and a cracked skull. It has been a difficult and long recovery. The huge suitcase was because of my challenge with sleep. I take a large fluffy blanket with me everywhere! But again, he didn’t know that, and it was actually nice to have someone make the giant suitcase situation funny…because it was!”

Brain injury was a life reset for Patz. She came out a different person. “I was still me on some levels, but with a drive I’ve never known before. With a purpose I had never realized before. I now understood how to get things done and keep going when things got tough. I went from hiding behind a desk, to speaking in front of groups of up to 500 people. Nothing stops me now. I was given the chance to be reborn at 41 years old. I took it and have been running with it ever since.”

This year, the goal of Love Out Loud is to partner with over 100 charities nationwide and create a community of 24,000 people. Patz has had conversations with festival organizers to bring her disruptive community of goodness and infuse upcoming outdoor events this summer. At such a perfect time, too, as things are opening and people need a little additional support in re-learning how to interact with each other again! Love Out Loud will also be engaging the local and favorite charities in the communities for these events. The ripple just continues.

Love Out Loud creates an open source for everyone to find causes they want to give back to all in one place, virtually, an App Store for nonprofits. “Often when people donate, they immediately go to charities they are familiar with, out of convenience or even habit. Love Out Loud will provide visibility to LGBTQ charities that may previously have been underserved or not on someone’s radar.”

“We are big believers that love is love. As a gamified goodness app, we are finding our main audience is Gen Z and Millennials. They are the most diverse generations in American history and are consistently pushing for inclusion and diversity in brands and companies. These generations will be the true heroes for LGBTQ inclusion and community, and we are happy we can give these changemakers a platform that allows them to further their message.”

Each time someone posts their good deed in the Love Out Loud app, the company gives money to charity. The company then tallies all the charity totals at the end of each month and sends a check to the respective organizations. “A question everyone seems to have is ‘where does the money come from’. Fortunately, we aren’t the only ones passionate about spreading the good.” Love Out Loud is funded by people who want to see good go global, both individual and corporate parties.

In fact, you can give on their website at any time, or reach out directly if you want to be a part of their mission. LGBTQ charities looking to be a part of Love Out Loud can email wewill@loveoutloud.app. Every charity represented will be confirmed through Benevity, a company that has vetted over 2 million nonprofits worldwide.

As Patz reflects on the past few years of her life, she recognizes the gifts she’s been given. Four years prior to brain damage, she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, resistant to chemo, that only 3% of the population will get – triple negative breast cancer. “It was a great challenge and it set me up for the strength I would need to get through the months/years after brain damage. I am grateful for both. In fact, it’s because of brain damage, getting hit by a car, that I’m able to do what I’m doing now.”

Iconic, indeed.

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I was excited to really dive into a conversation today with someone whom I have known from working with on a number of things in the LGBTQ community whom I have known to always be passionate about the topic, and get to know all about his new business ArtsFitness. Come with me as I chat with Lorenzo Pagnotta.

What got you into being a fitness coach to begin with? I know you have been doing that for a long time.

Looking back I think I always knew I would end up in a career where I help people improve their health. Everyone in my family has a genetic and/or chronic health condition so I grew up asking what can I do? It just happened I was also a very artistic kid. I was coaching drama classes after university. Seniors in particular. And I thought it would be helpful to understand anatomy so I could help them move safely. I have been going to gyms since I was a teenager but I did not understand why I was doing what I was doing. Most amateurs copy what they see others doing or what they find online. Practical me decided rather than simply work with a coach myself I would learn the material to become the coach. So I started taking many certifications and fell in love, empowered by the material. Initially, it was supposed to be a means of supplementing my income but it turned into a career!

And now you launched your own business?

I worked in a commercial gym for almost 5 years. It was time to use my theatre background to start creating the type of space that I wanted to see more of as a queer person. While I have always found personal motivation to go to the gym, it has often been hard listening to stories of fear and exclusion, and not feeling like my own body was appreciated in the midst of an often unhealthy unrealistic status quo that only features brawns for guys and thinness for women.

Tell us about ArtsFitness approach, and especially tell us about the queer and trans affirming fitness movement, I am curious to hear more that.

At ArtsFitness we guide people towards their physical and mental potential through a fresh approach combining stretching, strengthening and mindfulness to improve posture and gain confidence. We coach you to live in the moment while taking great consideration of your past in order to create a safe comfortable space. We realize there are many instances of trauma and triggers that can affect how people perceive or experience fitness. We want to debunk some of the myths and move past the stigma. Movement is supposed to be fun and empowering!

On a broader level, the queer and trans movement is inherently body positive and takes into consideration the intersection between fitness and race, class, age, gender, gender expression, and sexuality. All too often, important issues have not been addressed when it comes to accessing services. For instance, gym ads most often feature young, white, thin bodies. Have you ever seen diverse older adults, individuals with different levels of ability in a fitness ad?

I am inspired by what I have jokingly identified as the trifecta of the queer and body positive movement. @decolonizing_fitness to the south of us in the U.S. and @mskingyaa to the east in South Africa specialize in coaching transgender people, people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions, as well as, education, advocacy and healing (from an industry which has traditionally not been inclusive, focused on shaming people for their size and policing how they feel / move / eat). Our very own Canadian @queerflex to the west in Edmonton marches to the same beat, as Canada’s first non-profit queer-centred gym. Their course on creating accessible spaces for queer and trans clients will be coming to Toronto soon. Stay tuned health and fitness professionals! Locally, check out @queerpowerfitness. They are only a few of the wonderful people and practices popping up around the globe cutting through the bs when it comes to body positivity and actually creating a space where fat bodies exist not just to be changed. I can’t even begin to describe how informative they have been.

I heard you speak of “entertainment” or industry “fluff”, what is that?

A lot of classes or equipment out there claim to solve every one of your problems. This is problematic in my opinion. We have to stop thinking of our health and wellness as something to be approached with quick fixes. In reality, it’s a journey. Our bodies are complex and constantly changing. If we embrace that, then we will feel less dumb, less shame, and less guilty when we don’t understand everything right away; when we don’t succeed the first time around.

Instead, ArtsFitness take pride in being holistic and viewing the greater picture: we take all aspects of health and fitness into consideration: sleep management, stress management, nutrition, and exercise. When we look at exercise specifically, we believe each component should be addressed: flexibility, cardiovascular, strength, and body composition.

Tell us about your coaching habits and other motivational concerns/psychological aspects, and also about what do you do beyond fitness?

A lot of people in our community are involved with activism or ambitious projects to keep us moving forward on the human rights front, alive and present. If you feel great on the inside, this radiates on the outside too. With that boost of self-esteem you will not only achieve your goals, but become the champion your community needs!

ArtsFitness is queer and trans affirming, and my background lends itself naturally to working with creatives of all types, whether you sit at a desk or perform on stage.

As an entertainment reviewer, I am interested in covering more productions that address health and wellness in some way, I did something like that for My Entertainment World at the Rendezvous with Madness Festival. I welcome collaboration on future productions when there is synergy between the work of the artist and fitness professional.

What does a session with ArtFitness look like?

What makes our approach particularly unique is how we bridge knowledge and creativity, information and play. Visuals are important and often shared in sessions. We may open up a textbook or provide you with a worksheet. We often play games to warm-up. Sometimes we incorporate mindfulness exercises into the session. That doesn’t mean we don’t work hard. I’m obsessed with circuits. I love feeling each part of a muscle work. And I educate on periodization – a scientifically based series of micro and macro cycles developed in the sports world – which allows people to keep progressing on the way towards their individual goals without plateauing or getting bored. Simply put, we prefer balance; empowerment and excitement for the gift of movement your body has provided. Stories are often shared before and after our sessions, sometimes over a cup of tea. I remember going to the dentist as a young kid. At the end you got to pick a toy from this pirate chest. I don’t have a chest like that, but I usually have a treat for you in my glass jar!

What is not good about the fitness industry, I want to avoid calling it toxic, but sometime there are examples of toxicity?

A great coach, like a great artist is both passionate and dedicated. Nowhere in this equation is it implied that one must instill fear in their client. Yet, the toxicity of the fitness industry has insisted for decades on using social comparison to guilt and shame people into buying into health and fitness, with little consideration of the barriers to accessibility and affordability. Most people I talk to who fear gyms express that a) they don’t know what to do there, b) they have been victims of pushy salespeople. If we want to move forward, we need to recognize these issues first. Further, most people I speak with still identify one body type as being super fit. In reality the human species comes in an array of shapes and sizes. Being thin does not equate to being exclusively healthy just like being (self-identified) fat does not mean you are universally unhealthy. Until we begin to move past these simplistic groupings, the pervasiveness of body shaming and diet guilt will continue to divide people and break hearts.

You prefer coach to trainer. Why?

Coaches are responsible for impacting a greater awareness of self far beyond the gym, growing from the inside-out and outside-in. The word trainer implies consultant or teacher. They impart information. This creates a sort of dependency. A coach, on the other hand, will help you unravel your authentic self, true dreams, and internal motivators.

What is unique about the space you do your training (or coaching)?

Since movement happens where life happens, we often come to your space or invite you to visit ours. Let’s be real though. Our studio is actually my apartment. Therefore, the sessions happen alongside where life happens: cooking, sleeping, working, and relaxing too. I think this provides a great advantage, because it makes fitness less of this thing that “those people do” at the “gym.”

Future plans?

In the future ArtsFitness will offer comprehensive in-home packages that guide you and your family in reflecting upon all aspects of health and fitness. Ultimately, we want to help you hone in on that “third space” away from work and family, where you focus on gaining clarity and simply feeling awesome. We hope to offer retreats too, giving people the opportunity to move, unwind, and breath in beautiful, quiet and mindful spaces.

And lastly to mention Lorenzo is a certified and insured Personal Trainer and Fascial Stretch Therapist located in downtown Toronto, you can find out more at artsfitness.ca

The post That’s Community looks at staying healthy and fit with ArtsFitness! appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

Stacey, tell us more about the history of “The House of Sass & Magic” and what do you all do there?

The initial inspiration for the House of Sass & Magic was a combination of my love for electronic dance music festivals & the fashion that encompasses the culture of festival goers. There is a freedom & acceptance of individuality at the festivals I attend both personally & professionally. That vibe is inspirational, rejuvenating & wonderful to see in the world. I’ve married my experience as a professional dancer, the craftsmanship I learned whilst currently operating one of the sibling brands to HouseSM; Flash Design Company, which specializes in custom costuming for dancers, with my love for music, art and expressionism. I feel very strongly about the need to allow people to express themselves in a way that displays their true self, without rules, judgment or ridicule.
The House of Sass & Magic is a manifestation of my belief that everyone deserves the ability to express themselves freely. We don’t all fit into, nor do we all want to fit into the “norms” of society. I really want to provide an outlet for those of us that live outside “the box” to express themselves via their wardrobe. Since not everyone possesses the skill to create their own clothing, myself and The House of Sass & Magic will do that.

We create both custom clothing and short run/limited edition items. We design and build everything on-site in Leslieville, ON Canada where I reside in my live/work studio. We are a small team that loves collaborating with clients to help conceptualize initial design ideas. This coupled with our artistic expertise which creates a look and feel that produces some truly amazing and unique results. Our creations range from leggings to tank tops, from corsets to full on performance wear.

Big team?

The team is small. We are 3-6 people depending on the time of year and what projects we have on the go.

It all starts with the customer. Who’s your ideal clientele? And what experience they get at The House?

Our ideal client is someone who isn’t afraid of the sass and also has the desire to look and feel like magic while wearing their outfit. Our clients/regular customers are individuals who can’t find their desired look, size or aesthetic in a commercial setting. We cater to people of all genders, demographics and sizes.
The experience is one of inclusivity and comfort. We will be sure to create an environment that provides a safe space for the person. We’ve had individuals that came to the studio to shop without the pressure of their friends with the at a pop up. Their preferred clothing was not known to their peers. It is very important to us that the customer is getting what assists them in creating an environment for their self expression.

Tell us your story with fashion, what made you fall in love?

I grew up in rural Ontario on a farm. I was notorious for changing my wardrobe multiple times a day. Completely unnecessary on the farm! To be completely honest I don’t have a defining moment for falling in love with fashion. I remember loving the outfits my Gramma wore and seeing that the details mattered. I grew up dancing and went on to have a dance career. Being surrounded by and wearing costumes definitely shaped my love for dressing up. There’s a special something that happens when you have a certain outfit or pair of shoes on. That’s what I love creating. The experience for the wearer is what it’s about for me. The relationship between the person and the garments.

What makes a fashion choice different and more unique than another fashion choice?

In my opinion, not following the commercial structure of what we are told is fashionable makes the choice more unique. I personally love taking trends and/or norms and turning them into something else. I’m constantly using the words “wish”, “esque” and inspired by. We’re conditioned to think that if we don’t do and/or wear things that we’re “told to” then we’re doing it wrong. That’s ridiculous in my opinion. Live your best life, live out loud and wear whatever the heck you want!

Why is community important to you?

Without community we have a world of solitary people trying to coexist. We as humans are not genetically programmed to be alone. We need community and companionship to succeed and be fulfilled. The support and camaraderie that is required to propel humans forward to a constructive way is failing in some ways. The more we can come together and understand each others differences instead of fearing them, the stronger a community can become. I believe that the free-er we can be to express ourselves, the more the opportunity to discuss our similarities & understand the differences will arise.

Thank you very much for your time, you do haver a fantastic business. And readers make sure to check them out at www.HouseSMtdot.com or https://www.facebook.com/HouseSM/

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Great music stores are a rarity in this digital age, so when my friend DJ Relentless mentioned this really awesome and cool new record store “Pop Music”, I asked him to introduce me to owner Derek Antonio so I can hear from him more about his store.

There store is relatively new, when did you open your doors?

The store opened in November 2017.

You have a fantastic story for why you took the leap to open Pop Music. Tell us more?

It was a gut feeling telling me that I could take all that HMV experience and put it into my own vision. Like any leap, there are risks but if you do your homework and keep your motivations pure, the universe has a unique way of supporting your ambition. The moment I decided to do it once and for all, elements of my vision began to manifest either through my own hard work or through the help of others.

Please share with our readers what inspired the look of Pop Music’s?

Vinyl is very visually inspiring, so I wanted to be able to show off as many albums as I could. Specifically, albums that customers would recognize as record stores can be intimidating. Customers can’t help but feel more welcome when they see products they can relate to. Prior to HMV, I was with Banana Republic for nearly a decade and brand standards were everything. I continue to run with that discipline. So many record stores end up looking like people’s basements with product everywhere. I’m more interested in clarity of offer, ensuring that customers don’t feel overwhelmed by what they see.

What other products do you carry at the store?

The business model needed to be more diverse than just vinyl. Not only for my own sanity but also because I knew there is a big demand for licensed merchandise of popular artists. Much like our vinyl offer, the apparel and collectibles tend to focus on legacy artists (for example Bowie, Stones, Madonna, Beatles, etc.) Tapping into my HMV relationships with vendors, I was able to build an assortment of official merch that would compliment the records. It’s constantly updated with new styles every week. Pop Music would also need to provide tools to help customers explore their curiosity about vinyl. Audio-Technica have been producing quality turntables since 1962 and many HMV customers loved their products, so I feature 3 of their most popular turntables. Later this fall I’ll be testing out Audio-Technica headphones for the holiday season as a natural extension of the brand.

Who is your key clientele?

We knew that by calling ourselves “Pop Music” would raise a few eyebrows, especially because the genre is always put down. Aside from pop, our focus is to feature the most popular albums from all genres from punk and hip-hop to jazz and electronic. With over 1300 albums in stock, I try have the best of everything and whatever I don’t have can be here in just a matter of days. Customer orders are big part of my business. Our customer base trusts me to filter out all the noise and showcase albums that are buzz-worthy or essential. Our walls are sprinkled with all the latest releases from the indie artists to the superstars. It was important to appeal to the queer community by bringing in unique releases that I know are valuable to our people. You can see a trend in our social media posts that differentiates Pop Music from all the other records stores in Toronto. Our inclusiveness is a core value, not just a sales pitch. I hand pick everything that is in the shop with the intention that people will feel like Pop Music has something for them.

What do you hope to see of Pop Music?

The first year can be challenging as a new business, but I’m humbled by the support that has come from the local communities. A year ago, this brand was just notes scribbled on a page and now here we are 9 months later generating all this revenue. I’ve been approached a few times now about expanding our reach but it’s all about sustainability and timing. I’m in the process of seeking a web developer who can make our online store match the vision that’s in my head. There’s also more opportunity to partner with other queer businesses and organizations in our community. Pop Music has sponsored several events already and it’s been inspiring to hear the enthusiasm that people have about what we’re doing.

Pop Music is located at 581 Gerrard East in Toronto or you can visit them online at www.popmusiccanada.ca

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They are Toronto’s first health food store specializing in organically grown, non-GMO and environmentally safe products since 1983. Lately The Big Carrot embarked on a new move. Join please as we chat with Sarah Dobec about what’s new and exciting.

photo by Terry Asma

What is happening at The Big Carrot, I hear you are undergoing some changes?

We sure are. It’s been a very exciting time for us. In 2016, we collectively decided to begin an expansion of The Big Carrot. I chuckle when people say, “Why now?” But after 34 years, why not? This was an excellent opportunity to revisit our commitments, dream up new goals and design a fresh new look. It was a ton of work but I think our communities will love the rebranding and messaging. Our second location will open in spring 2018 at Kingston Road and Main Street in Toronto’s beach community.

How did the store get its start, give us a little big of history here?

The Big Carrot was the creation of nine ambitious individuals back in 1983. These folks saw a need for a natural food store that offered everything – organic produce, healthy meals, natural meats and health foods. The industry was just getting started back then and they were ahead of the curve.

What is unique about your store, what sets you apart?

There are so many things that set us apart but my favourite comment from many customers is that they like “the vibe” at our store. It’s not a tangible thing but people feel it. I personally believe it is a combination of the healthy food we offer, our groovy staff and the energy our communities bring to our space. Beyond that, The Big Carrot has been committed to supporting sustainable food systems for 34 years. All processing and handling departments operate in accordance to the Canada Organic Standard and fall under The Big Carrot’s organic certificate. We have over 50 direct relationships with local, organic farmers. We are founding members of the Non-GMO Project and work diligently to keep GMOs off our shelves. Recently we partnered with Oceanwise to ensure all our fish and seafood is sustainably caught. We also offer free nutrition tours of the store, we run a weekly speakers’ series on a variety of health topics, we have an outreach coordinator who speaks in schools and the local community on healthy eating and we have a robust community giving program to support the people and projects in our neighbourhoods.

You have always been supportive of the LGBTQ community, why is that important to The Big Carrot?

It’s important because we genuinely care about everyone in our community. Toronto is a vibrant and diverse city full of all kinds of unique and wonderful people. The LGBTQ community is represented in our customer base, our staff and our neighbourhoods so yes, we support them.

And any future plans for the store you would like to share?

The goal is to expand and open more stores in Toronto neighbourhoods. We look forward to sharing the goodness we offer to more and more people.

The NEW The Big Carrot will open in June 2018

The post That’s Community with The Big Carrot appeared first on PinkPlayMags.

I have the utmost respect for her work and for her as a person. She is kind and really gets it, and knows what is important to fight for. Recently, I had the pleasure of taking a little time to visit with Rev. DiNovo and chat about community, work, and what’s next.

You are Minister at Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church? When were you ordained, and tell us about your work there, and its importance to you?

I was ordained in 1996 and love being at Trinity – St. Paul’s, where we’ve been LGBTQ positive since the 1970s and have many LGBTQ members. Come worship with us!

So, have you retired from politics completely, or is it just part of you and you will dabble with things?

I haven’t retired from politics at all. I intend to be a presence at Queens Park and on Parliament Hill fighting for more LGBTQ folk elected. I am in conversation with Randy Boissonault, advisor on LGBTQ issues. I was also present at QP on the opening day and received a very lovely standing ovation. QP is part of my parish as our Church is on Floor right by Spadina.

Back at Queen’s Park. what would you say was your most impactful work there, both in relation to LGBTQ issues, and in general?

In government I passed more LGBTQ legislation than anyone in Canada’s history, Toby’s Law, adding Trans rights to human rights in 2012 after 5 attempts. Banning Conversion Therapy for queer kids, Parental Equality for LGBTQ folk and Trans Day of Remembrance.

What challenged you at Queen’s Park?

Working across partisan lines was the challenge, but one I think I managed.

You were the only woman in Canada to sign the ‘We Demand’ statement in 1971—the first demand for gay rights on Parliament Hill. Why did you decide to do that at a time where likely many people wouldn’t have?

True I was the only woman to sign ‘We Demand”, and I was at the first Pride celebration in 1971 on the Island, and I performed the first legalized same sex marriage before the law changed (the Registrar thought Paula was a man’s name and vetted it and the Ontario Government threatened to take away my license.)

You also host a radio show, is that correct? And what is it about?

I host The Radical Reverend Show every Mon 4-5pm on CIUT 89.5fm. We broadcast from Buffalo to Barrie Kitchener to Cobourg. I feature all faiths and deal a lot with queer issues in those faiths.

What does community mean to you?

Community means the place where we can be truly ourselves and where we’re loved for being ourselves.

On a lighter note any big plans for the summer?

I’m visiting Amsterdam and then on to Norway and Iceland with my daughter this summer (we’ll catch some Amsterdam Pride) and of course its wedding season.

Thank you for you time and we will be cheering along with all the great stuff you will still be doing.

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