On April 13, 2011, to commemorate the International Day of Pink, Queer Ontario is hosting an educational public forum to discuss how we can ‘make it better’ for students in schools across Ontario. At this forum speakers will be discussing how an updated Sex Ed Curriculum as well as support organizations like Gay Straight Alliances are necessary for the betterment of the lives of LGBTQ students as well as the student body on the …whole.

Speakers List TBA soon!

On the International Day of Pink, you are encouraged to wear pink to show that you are against bullying, discrimination and homophobia in our schools and communities. Come on out and join us at Jarvis Collegiate Institute (located at 495 Jarvis Street) from 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM for what is sure to be an exciting and interesting dialogue. Post-speakers, there will be an open Q & A/discussion period.

See you there!

Facebook Event Page: Sex Ed, GSAs and Religion in Publicly Funded Schools – an Educational Forum

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Community Media Sponsor: Xtra Canada

Sponsors: Canadian Auto Workers’ (CAW/TCA),Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation (OSSTF), Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Toronto District School Board – Gender Based Violence Prevention (GBVP), Supporting Our Youth (SOY)

Supporters: LGBTQ Parenting Network, People For Education, York University Sexuality Studies Department, Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies

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EDITOR’S NOTE (APRIL 4, 2011): NOW UPDATED WITH A FEW PHOTOS BELOW!
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This Sunday, April 3rd, Queer Ontario will be marching with SlutWalk Toronto in response to the Toronto Police’s scathingly judgmental and sexist views on the sexual harassment of body-proud and sexually expressive women/womyn.We invite all of you to join us in support.

Queer Ontario will be meeting on the south / College Street side of Queen’s Park at 1:00 PM (just look for the pink Queer Ontario banner) and will provide a few materials to make picket signs. Of course, you are free to bring your own. Examples of sign messaging / designs can be found on the SlutWalk Facebook page.

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at info@queerontario.org. Otherwise…

We hope to see you there!

The Queer Ontario Steering Committee
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Queer Ontario is an official ally of SlutWalk Toronto.
For a full list of allied groups, click here.

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Queer Ontario, in partnership with Xtra, are proud to announce the joint screening of Track Two, documenting the 1981 bathhouse raids and riots.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of Operation Soap — the infamous bathhouse raids of 1981 that saw the pillaging of four Toronto bathhouses and the charging of 309 men as keepers and found-ins of a common bawdy house. Track Two, follows the raids themselves and the subsequent uprising from the community.

On Tuesday, March 29, Queer Ontario and Xtra will be screening Track Two at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (located at 12 Alexander St.). Doors open at 6:30 PM with the event commencing at 7:00 PM. We’re pleased to have some of those involved with the film present to speak to their experiences as well as some speaker’s who make the linkage between the ’81 raids and modern day discussions of sex spaces and policing.

As well, at the screening, we will be accepting donations that will be given to seniors programs to support those in our communities who fought for our rights and now make use of programs such as these at the 519.

We also would like to take this opportunity to re-invite everyone to continue to share their stories of the raids and the subsequent riots as part of The NO MORE SHIT! Remembrance Project.

See you there!