Toronto

Toronto has the most established LGBTQI+ scene in Canada and one of the most complete in North America. Church-Wellesley (also called 'The Village') concentrates 40+ LGBT venues in a few blocks around Church Street: classic bars (Woody's, Crews & Tangos, Sailor), restaurants, gyms, the Glad Day bookshop.

The scene runs 7 days a week — at the weekend the Village is a must, and midweek there are always options. Secondary poles with their own identity: Queen West (alternative, arty queer), Parkdale (DIY, a strong trans presence), Cabbagetown (residential LGBT), Leslieville (LGBT families). Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (1978) is the largest and longest-running queer theatre in the world still active, according to Wikipedia.

Pride Toronto is held in the last week of June and is the second-biggest Pride in the world according to Wikipedia, with close to 3 million attendees a year. The first march was in June 1981, after the bathhouse raids of February 1981. The city hosted WorldPride 2014 — the 4th international edition of WorldPride, the only travelling global LGBT event.

The Pride programme stretches across the whole of June (Pride Month) with daily events: the Trans March, the Dyke March, the Pride Parade (on the final Sunday). The epicentre is Church Street, closed to traffic during the festival. A strong supporting calendar: the Inside Out Film Festival (May, LGBT cinema) and Buddies in Bad Times' queer programming all year round.

Church and Wellesley is Toronto's historic LGBT enclave downtown. The axis is Church Street between Carlton and Bloor. Wikipedia puts it plainly: 'the centre of gay life in Toronto shifted to Church Street following the 1981 Toronto bathhouse raids' — Canada's equivalent of Stonewall, the event that galvanised the community.

Established landmarks: The 519 Church Street Community Centre (home to LGBT organisations), the AIDS Memorial and Trans Memorial in Barbara Hall Park, and the rainbow crossing installed in 2014. Classic venues: Woody's (the iconic bar), Crews & Tangos (drag), Glad Day Bookshop (1970, the world's oldest LGBTQI+ bookshop still open), Sailor, Boutique Bar. TTC: Wellesley station (Line 1 Yonge-University), a 5-minute walk to Bloor-Yonge.

Toronto has the densest LGBT infrastructure in Canada. The 519 Church Street Community Centre has been the reference LGBT community centre since the 70s, home to social, legal and health programmes. Egale Canada (national advocacy) and Rainbow Health Ontario have offices in the city.

LGBT health: Hassle Free Clinic (Church Street, free STI testing), Sherbourne Health Centre (specialised trans and queer services, sliding scale). The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) offers counselling, testing and PrEP navigation. Casey House (Isabella Street) has been a specialised HIV hospital since 1988. Canada's public health system (OHIP) covers residents; visitors need private insurance.