February 5 is an important anniversary in local LGBTQ history - it has been exactly 40 years since the Toronto Bathhouse Riots.
"On 5 February 1981, patrons of four bathhouses in downtown Toronto (The Barracks, The Club, Richmond Street Health Emporium, and Roman II Health and Recreation Spa) were surprised by 200 police officers in a series of coordinated raids, called “Operation Soap.” Law enforcement officials claimed the raids resulted from six months of undercover work into alleged sex work and other “indecent acts” at each establishment. Bathhouse patrons were subjected to excessive behaviour by police, including verbal taunts about their sexuality. When the night was over, 286 men were charged for being found in a common bawdy house (a brothel), while 20 were charged for operating a bawdy house. It was, up to that time, the largest single arrest in Toronto’s history. Most of those arrested were found innocent of the charges. The raids marked a turning point for Toronto’s gay community, as the protests that followed indicated they would no longer endure derogatory treatment from the police, media and the public."
Article: Toronto Bathhouse Raids
Video: Operation Soap
Winter Pride 2025
Winter Pride is running from February 5th - 14th at various locations in Guelph. Keep an eye on our Winter Pride page and our Instagram profile for upcoming information about events.
Summer Pride 2025
If you would like to help support Guelph Pride and all that we do and are, please consider helping us with a fundraiser of your own. E-mail chair@guelphpride.com for collaboration opportunities. Also, check out our sponsorship section for more information on sponsorship levels.
If you or someone you know is interested in creating events, fundraising, gathering volunteers, or sharing your vision for a powerful pride festival, please fill out the form here or e-mail our chair with any questions about joining!
If you or someone you know is interested in creating events, fundraising, gathering volunteers, or sharing your vision for a powerful pride festival, please fill out the form here or e-mail our chair with any questions about joining!
A Statement from Guelph Pride:
Guelph Pride acknowledges that our committee and our bi-annual events reside on the ancestral territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Anishinaabewaki, Haudenosaunee, and Attiwonderonk peoples. We live on stolen land, benefit from the broken treaties, and still maintain privilege over the resources of the land. The colonial forces that have stolen this land continue to negatively impact BIPOC and LGBTQ2IA+ individuals in the form of municipal, provincial, and federal police. We stand in solidarity with Land Back and Black Lives Matter and their calls to defund the police.
PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY
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Contact UsIf you are looking to get involved you can email
chair@guelphpride.com or reach out to us on Facebook & Instagram. |
Guelph Pride Masking Policy Statement
This statement is in agreement with our parent organization, Out On The Shelf, and their active masking policy.
Policy Statement
Out on the Shelf (OOTS) aims to be an accessible space for all members of the community, while prioritizing marginalized communities in our work. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and inclusive and equitable masking policy is critical to our operations.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline what is expected of volunteers, members, and patrons when accessing Out on the Shelf services and events in person, in regard to COVID-19 safety protocols, masking, and social distancing.
Out on the Shelf (OOTS) aims to be an accessible space for all members of the community, while prioritizing marginalized communities in our work. In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and inclusive and equitable masking policy is critical to our operations.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline what is expected of volunteers, members, and patrons when accessing Out on the Shelf services and events in person, in regard to COVID-19 safety protocols, masking, and social distancing.
Policy
- When attending or facilitating in-person events or staffing library hours, volunteers will be expected to wear a mask when patrons are accessing services.
- Volunteers will be expected to remain masked when around other volunteers unless all volunteers present are comfortable with them unmasking. When appropriate volunteers may be unmasked to consume food or beverages but will be expected to distance from other volunteers or move to another space to do so if other volunteers present are not comfortable with unmasking.
- Volunteers will be expected to ask patrons to mask when accessing Out on the Shelf services but will not be expected to enforce this as it may present a threat to the volunteer’s safety. Patrons who refuse to mask may be restricted from accessing services, as determined by Board review. Any patrons who pose a threat to the safety of volunteers or other patrons will be restricted from accessing OOTS services.
- Out on the Shelf will be responsible for providing disposable masks to all volunteers and patrons at in-person services.
- Volunteers, members, and patrons experiencing symptoms of contagious illnesses, regardless of if they are caused by COVID-19, another illness, or are unexplained, in particular but not limited to coughing or sneezing, are expected to abstain from attending any in-person services. Volunteers will be expected to notify a Board member of their absence as soon as possible if they will need to miss a scheduled shift.
- Volunteers will not be reprimanded or considered to not be fulfilling their duties if they are unable to be present in-person due to illness.
- This policy will be subject to review and will include and be based primarily on community feedback.