22 APRIL 4 APRIL – 17, 2013 XTRA! XTRA! A HISTORY OF GROWTH From the first steps of gay liberation to With WorldPride 2014 approaching and recent fears of gentrification, ’s the growing concern the health of gay village has evolved along two key the neighbourhood, JP Larocque traced streams — commercial interests and some of the key moments in the Church- community infrastructure. Wellesley Village’s development. COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE INTERESTS

2013 Rumours begin to circulate of plans to introduce “cruising columns” at the corner of Alexander and 2013 Fly nightclub, one of the few remaining Church to replace the removed seating (see page 17). queer dance clubs in the city, is rumoured to be closing because of a planned condo 2013 Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam’s plan to development. decorate the neighbourhood with historical murals meets with mixed response (see page 16).

TORONTO’SGAY NEWS & 2012 Although resurrected in 2007 after a three-year closure 2013 Te Village rainbow markers are unveiled amid following the death of Naglic, controversy over costs, placement and design. Te Barn closes a final time.

2012 Te BIA cancels the Church Street Fetish Fair 2012 Facing closure, over rising costs and community disagreements about toning down the fair’s sexual content. is saved by a group of community investors.

2011 Loblaws opens in the renovated Maple Leaf 2011 After becoming a replacement for the infamous Gardens complex. It immediately begins to drive Second Cup “Steps,” benches at the corner of Church business out of smaller stores on the strip, like and Alexander are removed to dissuade loitering Pusateri and Super Freshmart. and unseemly business. Some business owners are concerned the move will discourage customers. 2010 Zelda’s leaves Church Street because 2005 Te Alexander Wood statue is unveiled at Church of rising rent and moves to Yonge. In 2012, and Alexander. Te monument celebrates the life of the restaurant closes permanently. the merchant, magistrate and perpetrator of unseemly business. 2006 Te Beaver opens in Parkdale, further cementing the 2004 Te BIA’s Sunday street- reputation of “Queer West.” closure project is unsuccessful amid complaints from local business owners and an overall lack of funds. 2001 Churwell It ends three weeks early. Centre managers eliminate Te Steps to dissuade loitering, 2003 courts recognize soon leading to same-sex marriage, and on July the closure of the 20, 2005, the Second Cup. legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide. With growing acceptance, more queer couples 2000s Gay businesses move out of the Village. make way for gay-friendly chains such as Churchmouse & Firkin, Hero Burger, Pizzaiolo, Acme Burger and a new Second Cup. PHOTOS FROM CLGA AND XTRA FILES XTRA AND CLGA FROM PHOTOS rst gay bar bar gay rst y. sketch) is born. sketch) edgling edgling Kids in the Hall e Barn/Stables. e T e Steps” Steps” e e , Zelda’s and fl and Zelda’s Eagle, Black e T A number of gay bars A number of gay

T e Churwell Centre Centre Churwell e T

During a key a key During Gay culture centralizes around Yonge Yonge around centralizes culture Gay 1984 of is built at the corner and Wellesley. Church opens at Cup A Second and a cruising level, street outside the shop area as “ known immortalized in a (later e success of Woody’s leads to a spate of queer business business queer of spate a to leads Woody’s of success e 1999 period of commercial period of commercial Munro Will development, (later launches Vaseline Vazaleen), a popular push party that helps to the ghetto. beyond the boundaries of queer culture T

Janko Naglic opens what many consider to be the fi to consider opens what many Naglic Janko and Carlton, with such bars as the infamous with such bars as the infamous and Carlton, and Letros the Parkside St Charles Tavern, gays. local attracting 1970s Glad Day Bookshop opens out of a house in Bookshop Glad Day Woody’s opens and immediately becomes a becomes opens and immediately Woody’s 1980s–early ’90s the fl open in or close to and restaurants Village, including Together, Tanks, Bulldog, Joan. Café/Pope the Rose Chezand (later) Moi on Church Street, Jo-Jo’s, over Les Cavaliers restaurant. In the 1980s, restaurant. Cavaliers Les Jo-Jo’s, over Street, on Church become would the space 1975 Aside from discreet public cruising, many many public cruising, discreet from Aside development in the area, including the opening of Out on the Street, of Out on the Street, the opening including in the area, development Ma Zone, Flatiron’s, 1990s 1970 , in 1981. Street eventually on Yonge location moving to its current 1989 popular neighbourhood destination.

gays and frequent establishments Bar and Maison de Lys. Chef, Continental White like the 1950s ILLUSTRATION BY PAUL DOTEY PAUL BY ILLUSTRATION ce. ffi o e Church Wellesley Wellesley Church e ce.

Buddies in Bad Times ffi T

rst rst eatre is founded. is eatre T 1979 Village BIA is founded. 2002 e AIDS Committee Committee AIDS e T e Body Politic Body e

T rst openly gay gay openly rst rst issue issue rst e federal federal e T

e Body Politic Body e is released. of Toronto is formed. of Toronto 1983 e fi e T T of 1969 government decriminalizes homosexuality. e Canadian Lesbian and Gay Gay and Lesbian Canadian e T 1971

ling cabinet in in cabinet ling Archives is founded, starting its life as a fi 1973 e 519 is established as a community centre centre community a as established is 519 e Kyle Rae is the fi Rae Kyle T

A permanent AIDS Memorial, replacing a Memorial, replacing A permanent AIDS e creation of the Yonge subway line leads to line leads to subway of the Yonge e creation city councillor to be elected to o to be elected to city councillor 1991 T

1975

serving the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood. the Church-Wellesley serving 1993 temporary memorial that had beenyears, there is forunveiled in Cawthra Square Park. Toronto police raid four bathhouses as part of four raid police Toronto an increase in building development in the Church and in the Church development in building an increase Wellesley area, including the City Park apartments. 1954 1981 “.” More than 300 men are arrested arrested than 300 men are Soap.” More “Operation in Canadian mass arrest then the largest in what was Crisis). the 1970 October (after history Although there had been various gay-liberation gay-liberation had been various Although there 1981 demonstrations throughout the previous decade decade the previous throughout demonstrations the fi picnics at Hanlan’s Point), gay (including this year. place takes annual Pride celebration

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