BEYOND THE DANCEFLOOR (TORONTO, CANADA)
Queer clubs and bars have played an important role in the community as they have served as a safe space for queer people to freely express themselves without fear. Historically, they gave queer people the freedom to feel comfortable about their sexuality during a time where it was illegal to be gay and not safe to be openly queer in public. Queer clubs helped build community and an unspoken but communal bond with one another as everyone there has a deep understanding of each other to a certain extent. It's important to be aware of the cultural and historical significance of queer clubs and respect them as they are more than just a club, but a safe space for queer people to exist without fear.
Toronto has always had a lively queer scene with clubs like Club Manatee, St. Charles Tavern, Quest, and more being a substantial aspect of Toronto's queer history from the 1950s to 1980s.. Unfortunately, queer clubs in Toronto, just like other big cities across the world, have seen a lot of important spaces close with the majority of them being closed due to raised rent prices and condos. Fly 2.0 was a large and beloved dance club in the village that was sold to build a condo as the owner faced rent increases. Club 120 closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and uncertain lease changes as there was a clause in their lease stating that they could be evicted for condo development. COVID-19 forced multiple queer spaces to close as well as Crews and Tangos almost being shut down in September 2025. It was planned to be replaced with a condo before the village teamed up to keep the doors open. Crews and Tangos has been open since 1994 and would be a devastating loss. Queer spaces will always be needed and important which is why it is necessary to appreciate and support the current spaces we have. Crews and Tangos, Woodys, Tammy's Wine Bar, and Sweaty Bettys have contributed to supporting us the community by providing a safe environment for queer people to express their sexuality and gender.
For my photos, I wanted the colours to be vibrant to represent the joy and self-love queer clubs provide. I shot digitally but created a film like look through editing as film creates a sense of collective memory that we can relate to our own experiences. It was important to me to focus on the people in the spaces and the safety felt not only in the space but between me and them as a queer person. Everyone I photographed was a stranger but there was this immediate sense of comfortability with me photographing them. There are a couple of revealing poses that I did not request anyone to do, but with the past foundation built in queer spaces and the community formed between each other, shows the safety queer spaces have created.
Toronto has always had a lively queer scene with clubs like Club Manatee, St. Charles Tavern, Quest, and more being a substantial aspect of Toronto's queer history from the 1950s to 1980s.. Unfortunately, queer clubs in Toronto, just like other big cities across the world, have seen a lot of important spaces close with the majority of them being closed due to raised rent prices and condos. Fly 2.0 was a large and beloved dance club in the village that was sold to build a condo as the owner faced rent increases. Club 120 closed in 2020 due to the pandemic and uncertain lease changes as there was a clause in their lease stating that they could be evicted for condo development. COVID-19 forced multiple queer spaces to close as well as Crews and Tangos almost being shut down in September 2025. It was planned to be replaced with a condo before the village teamed up to keep the doors open. Crews and Tangos has been open since 1994 and would be a devastating loss. Queer spaces will always be needed and important which is why it is necessary to appreciate and support the current spaces we have. Crews and Tangos, Woodys, Tammy's Wine Bar, and Sweaty Bettys have contributed to supporting us the community by providing a safe environment for queer people to express their sexuality and gender.
For my photos, I wanted the colours to be vibrant to represent the joy and self-love queer clubs provide. I shot digitally but created a film like look through editing as film creates a sense of collective memory that we can relate to our own experiences. It was important to me to focus on the people in the spaces and the safety felt not only in the space but between me and them as a queer person. Everyone I photographed was a stranger but there was this immediate sense of comfortability with me photographing them. There are a couple of revealing poses that I did not request anyone to do, but with the past foundation built in queer spaces and the community formed between each other, shows the safety queer spaces have created.