Our story

Many recent studies confirm that at least one in four people are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Whether we are aware of it or not, many people in our lives are on the rainbow: Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, or one of the many other ways our loved ones identify. This diversity of identities and expressions is what unites us as an organization—it’s what we celebrate, day in, day out.

Toronto Pflag is an essential bridge between the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the parents, friends, and family who love and fight for them. As one of the first 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations in Toronto, we’ve been advocating as allies every step of the way, from the fight for civil rights and marriage equality through to the wave of transphobia we see today.

Our mission

Keeping families together through support, education, advocacy, and community building.

Our history

The roots of Toronto Pflag extend to the 1970s, when two Toronto mothers bonded over how to support their beloved gay sons.

Those informal meetings soon blossomed into advocacy for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights amid a period of intense police crackdowns and community activism. Raids on bathhouses and sting operations in parks frequented by gay men led to the first Pride Parade in June 1981. We were as proud to march with our loved ones then as we are today.

The 1980s also saw the rise of an AIDS crisis that killed hundreds of our community members and further stigmatized already-marginalized groups. Toronto Pflag played a pivotal role in connecting community members to resources and demystifying the epidemic for affected family and friends.

We were there for the fight for marriage equality and later led the Have Your Say campaign, when the province proposed changes to our schools’ sex education curriculum that would have erased our community from Ontario classrooms. Through it all, we have always been 100% powered by volunteer parents, community members, and allies.

Toronto Pflag today

Today, our team of volunteers and board members include workshop facilitators, phone support volunteers, administrators, and fundraisers, while our support meetings assist up to 100 community members every month. Through workshops and advocacy work, we connect to thousands of students, family members, and workplaces around Toronto, each and every year.

Our support groups are open to anyone looking for guidance and empathy as they or their loved ones navigate the journey of coming out and living as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

We host workshops for schools, communities, and workplaces, tackling subjects such as bullying, coming out, allyship, challenges in the workplace, and more.

We stay true to our activist roots through our annual presence during Pride Month, advocating and speaking out for 2SLGBTQIA+ issues, and supporting other local community resources.

Testimonials

“I didn’t realize how much help I needed. Or how long my child’s journey might take. I was ready for every step, thanks to the collective wisdom of the room.”

— Support meeting member

“Dads Night Out was, and remains, a wonderful opportunity to be surrounded by fellow dads dealing with so many similar issues—particularly at the beginning of this journey, when things can feel very overwhelming. A safe, kind, and inclusive atmosphere, the work done by Toronto Pflag is nothing short of exceptional.”

— Dads Night Out meeting member