The Past in the Present: Toronto's Bi+ Communities

Bisexual community groups in Toronto were established from the 1980s to the 1990s with goals for augmenting the well-being of bisexual people in the city: creating safe spaces for discussion and support, engaging in educational endeavours to promote visibility and acceptance of bisexuality as a queer experience, increasing bisexual presence at Pride, enaging in community action for social acceptance of all queer people, and celebrating bisexual joy through social events.

The Toronto Bisexual+ Network, Bisexual+ Women of Toronto, and Bisexual+ Men of Toronto continue to serve the city's bisexual population today through discussion meetings, regular brunch get-togethers, and Pride contingents. As it can be seen, these groups have all added a "+" sign to the word bisexual in order to account for expanding identities of multigender-attracted folks who come to the bisexual community for support and involvement, such as those who identify as pansexual, omnisexual, polysexual, fluid, and queer, to name only a few. These updated group names certainly reflect the spirit of inclusivity and adaptability that the bi+ community has often strived fot. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, these groups have moved their meetings online to prioritize safety and accessibility for their members. In the last few years, the bi+ community has also founded another outlet for itself in the city, namely the Bi+ Arts Festival, which has been occuring annually since September 2016. The existence of this festival demonstrates a need for another form of bisexual+ community in Toronto that emphasizes creative expression.

Bisexual history IS queer history. As this exhibit has demonstrated, history extends into the present and impacts the environment in which our communities gather. If you were involved in any of the groups highlighted here, please consider getting in contact with The ArQuives to share your story or donate items that can more fully showcase the legacy of bisexual+ community building in Toronto.