The 519

“Whose streets? Our streets!” Over 3,000 people - refugee claimants, allies, policy makers, and community organizations - joined our march for LGBTQ+ refugees on May 16. Marching in community, we said it loud and made it clear, that LGBTQ+ refugees are welcome home. Thank you! Our hearts are warmed by the sheer number of folks who turned up to advocate for LGBTQ+ refugee rights. It reminds us why our work serving refugee claimants is so important, and renews our belief that together we can win with love, equity, and action. Thursday will go down as one of the largest marches organized (outside of Pride) in Toronto’s queer history since our communities’ historic fight for marriage equality. It reminds us of the importance of showing up in solidarity, because none of us are free until all of us are free. Thanks to our community co-organizers, staff, volunteers, allies, and communities for joining us. Stay connected with us as we continue to highlight the joys, struggles, resilience and calls to action from LGBTQ+ refugees. Visit The519.org/ArmyOfLovers. Link in bio

It’s here! We’re so thrilled to release our Annual Report 2023. Hundreds of thousands of people come through our doors every year. Some are looking for coming out or transition support, while others are looking to give back. Some are looking for an affirming space for their kids to learn, while others are looking for community as a remedy to social isolation. The 519 is a meeting place where people gather, celebrate, grieve, rise, learn, hold each other accountable, and grow. It doesn’t matter how far away people come from, it’s where we work to ensure that everyone is welcome. Our annual report is more than just numbers and statistics. It is a testament to the stories of each person that comes through our door. It represents the world at our doorstep. We are so proud of the work we do, and the impact we make with you. Thanks to our Board of Management, leadership and staff, volunteers, donors, funders, and our communities for making 2023 the year it was! Check out for yourselves! Link to our Annual Report in bio.

Join Weird Alice and Selena Vyle in revisiting the world of Pink Ladies and T-Birds in the 1981 cult-classic GREASE 2. @dragmetothemovies returns to Barbara Hall Park this summer! When: Tuesday, July 16 Time: 8 to 10:30pm Where: Barbara Hall Park [519 Church St.] A British student at a 1960s American high school must prove himself to the leader of a girls' gang whose members can only date greasers. Michelle Pfeiffer stars in this lesser-known sequel to one of Hollywood's most beloved live-action musicals. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. RSVP optional but strongly encouraged. Register in the link in bio.

We're thrilled to launch our Human Rights Law Clinic for 2SLGBTQ+ folks who have experienced differential or unequal treatment based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression while navigating housing, healthcare, employment, or other services. Obtain one-time legal advice on your options from a lawyer over the phone or via Zoom. First Thursday of every month 6 to 8 pm Over the phone of via Zoom Register in the link in bio. Need help filling the form? Email LegalClinic@The519.org or leave a voicemail at 416-392-6874 ext. 4039

“We’re placing everything in one dish. One dish is going to hold all what Mother Earth holds. Symbolically, he put cooked beavertail in a wooden one-dish, [and] said we all can take a piece off of that. And that’s representing all the things that sustain humans and sustain life. We all are entitled to a piece of that. Nobody owns the dish. But we all have equal responsibility… so that the next people coming can have access, and the coming faces can have what’s there in the dish.” – Jock Hill, Cayuga Sub-Chief and Faithkeeper The Dish with One Spoon Wampum is a pre-colonial treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe still honoured today. It symbolizes how land and resources can be shared for the mutual benefit of all inhabitants, fostering cooperation and sustainability. The dish represents shared land, and the spoon symbolizes the people using it sustainably and respectfully. There are no knives at the table, so no violence. Intricate wampum belts marked these and many other treaties, creating a lasting diplomatic record. These belts, decorated with beadwork, often depicted bowls, kettles, or spoons, symbolizing enduring relationships. Today, there are more than 70 historic treaties with Indigenous Nations recognized by the Government of Canada. Historically many treaties and agreements were broken and ignored by colonizers. Past and modern agreements set out rights and responsibilities to all those living on treaty land. When we say we are all treaty people, we mean that by living in this land we are responsible for upholding these agreements, as settlers, people descending from those who were involuntarily brought here, and Indigenous people, and they should guide our shared stewardship. The Dish with One Spoon represents our responsibility for resource depletion and it’s impact on the environment. The dish will be emptied if we do not respect the land. Today is Canada Day and we remind you all to continue embracing the spirit of "A Dish with One Spoon," ensuring a sustainable, respectful relationship with the land and towards each other. In this photo by Colin Boyd Shafer, Jock Hill holds up a glass replica of the Dish with One Spoon wampum belt.

It really takes a village to support our Green Space Festival! We have lots of amazing partners, but we are truly grateful for the support of Taslan Protective Services over the past three years for keeping staff, volunteers and community safe throughout our iconic fundraiser. Their dedication is incredible! THANK YOU @taslanprotectiveservicesinc !

After Pride month, 2SLGBTQ+ peopel continue to glitter all year round - as do their needs, dreams, and aspirations. Every year at Pride, we see a surge in corporate interest in our work, calls for inclusive education, and allies joining us for fabulous parties, and for that we are endlessly grateful! We love that allies want to contribute to and celebrate Pride with us. We also want to press folks to remember to keep the spirit of Pride going all year long. Allyship is a verb, one you have the opportunity to act on every day. We look forward to all the ways we can work, play, and grow together in every season. Just the way you show up to party with us in June, we want you to also show up for us the rest of the year when you witness hate or misinformation. Through your work and in your own personal ways, remember to advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ communities the other 11 months of the year as well. It’s not just a month. It’s a lifetime of Pride. Support The 519's work today. Donate at The519.org/donate. Link in bio!

@greenspaceto has been incredible so far this year. Closing things off, we have two more events — Lipstick Jungle today, and Treehouse tomorrow! Lipstick Jungle will continue it’s reign as one of the weekend’s greatest Sapphic celebrations, with amazing names like @Ladymonixx , @KikiLeFreak , @Morabito.nyc , and more! Then tomorrow we’ll close things of with LEGENDS @DjDavidMorales and @HarryRomeroOfficial ! All our parties at Green Space Festival are fundraisers for The 519's year-round programs and services for community members. We’re grateful for you for partying for a cause. See you in the foliage!

Fifty-five years ago today, our communities united against discrimination at New York City’s Stonewall Inn, in response to a police raid. Raids like this were common at the time, but June 28, 1969 was significant; it was when attendees at The Stonewall Inn said, “enough is enough”. The event became a symbol of community resistance. There’s often talk about the first brick at Stonewall. Historians, purists, and others argue about who threw the first one. Was it racialized trans women? Was it a drag queen? Was it a group of lesbians? Truthfully, in the bigger picture, we think what matters more is that Stonewall wasn’t the first or, sadly, the last time our communities had to defend our safety and rights. So much focus on that question takes away from the tireless activism by community even before Stonewall happened. Toronto’s 2SLGTBQ+ communities have witnessed their fair share of struggles with incidents like the Pussy Palace Raids and Operation Soap. Through the AIDS crisis, we saw firsthand the apathy of the government and health care. More recently, it took a 1,200-page report by Judge Gloria Epstein to highlight the racist and homophobic biases of the Toronto Police Services while handling their search for racialized queer men missing from the Village. Fifty-five years later, we continue to fight hate that targets us in schools, at work, in health care, and within institutions. We will continue resisting systems that seek to erase our identities, safety, and rights. We continue to honour trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, Toronto Gay Action, the Community Homophile Association of Toronto, and so many others who taught us that we must advocate for ourselves and each other until all of us are free.

We’re so excited for two of our signature events of @greenspaceto — Disco Disco happening today, and One World happening tomorrow! This afternoon and evening, let’s boogie woogie till you just can’t boogie no more with UK legends @Horse_Meat_Disco , @ThePatchouliBrothers , and @BurnBabyBurnDisco with an appearance by motha herself @SashaColby Then tomorrow, we’ll journey into house music with New York’s @JoeClaussellsPlayground and Toronto legend @KarimOlenAsh One World, one love, one epic party! Enjoy some of these pics from past years while you get ready to kiki for a cause. See you in the park!

In 2008, a Facebook invite for the first Starry Night promised a night to ‘mingle, flirt, and rub shoulders with some of the most fascinating people in our community.’ Celebrity bartenders like @adamoaruggiero from Degrassi and @tracimelchor now on Canada’s Drag Race staffed the bars.    In 2012, the event used the term ‘Green Space’ for the first time. Over the years, the entertainment began to ramp up, starting with musical performances, and shows by local legend Sofonda Cox. It wasn’t until 2013 that Green Space Festival booked Rupaul’s Drag Race Star Jinkx Monsoon. Since then entertainment at Starry Night and at the Green Space Festival has hit the stratosphere, bringing some of the world’s top drag and DJ stars.    Join us tonight 5pm onwards in Barbara Hall Park for another fabulous Starry Night! Drag shows start at 8pm. There’s no cover, and proceeds from food and drink help The 519 run our year-round programs.    Tonight we have Drag Race winners @66wind99 , @sashavelour , and @legallyvenus , and a whole cast of international and local talent. What’s @tynomibanks gonna serve tonight? Come find out! Party for a cause and support 2SLGBTQ+ futures. And remember: stay hydrated, stay safe, and keep each other safe.

An Army of Lovers Shall Not Fail. Show your support for your 2SLGBTQ+ community centre and keep your Pride essentials handy with this cute belt bag featuring our motto - available on site @greenspaceto and online (link in bio). Sales directly fund the essential year-round programs at @the519