Toronto Although Ralph Lesser and […]

When

1977

Description

Toronto Although Ralph Lesser and Mark Whitehead had revived Gay Youth Toronto (GYT) beginning in 1975, the group had nowhere stable to meet. In 1977 Whitehead approached the board of the 519 Community Centre and asked permission for GYT to hold meetings there (519 Church Street). The board was reluctant at first, due to the youth of some of GYT's members (sixteen to twenty-five). Whitehead marshalled support for the idea and the 519's board agreed to the request, but by a margin of only one vote. This was a significant development for the Toronto LGBT community, as more groups soon began to meet there; the 519 Community Centre and the adjacent Cawthra Park eventually became a hub of LGBT activity in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood.

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