Gay cruising parks toronto

Marcus McCann on Writing the Ethics and History of Park Cruising (Plus Some Helpful Advice from Dionne Brand)

News and Interviews

Black and green banner with photo of writer Marcus McCann and text reading "Interview with Marcus McCann" and "Part of the pleasurable was allowing [the essays] to wander a bit". Open Book logo bottom left

Many Torontonians will understand lawyer and writer Marcus McCann from his defence of several people charged in Project Marie, an undercover sting operation where Toronto police targeted people—mostly gay men—engaging in consensual sex acts in Marie Curtis Park. Many objectors pointed to problematic classist and homophobic aspects of the project, which was largely influenced by the area's burgeoning gentrification. In an ironic twist, Project Marie took place the identical year that the Noun finally issued an apology for its bathhouse raids and its shameful treatment of the gay community at that time.  

In the following years, McCann became a sought-after speaker and essayist on subjects around public sex, consent, inclusivity, and community building. Thi

"Gay Toronto," Where Are They Now? by Madeline Albert

by Madeline Albert

While perusing the ArQuives’ collection of The Body Politic newspapers, I found a map depicting the places to travel in Toronto if you were gay. Locations included helpful organizations, clubs & restaurants, and places to “cruise” for a date or one-night stand. While John Scythes' first map published in the 7th issue in the Winter of was criticized by readers for favouring Toronto’s male-gay scene, the second version that was showcased in the 14th issue in July-August decidedly included more lesbian-centric locations.

This project was borne from the question of how these locations looked today and if any of them retained the same function as back in the s. The creation emotionally attached visiting the locations (or approximate locations) of all of the proposed gay spots in Toronto and taking a photo of either the building or my best guess at where the building would be based on the age of the facade and the relational location on the rudimentary map. It came as somewhat of a shock that the only buildin

Top Gay Cruising Area in Toronto

  • Toronto is a city that embraces diversity and inclusivity with a lively lgbtq+Q+ community. In the city there are popular spots where individuals can connect with like minded people in a friendly and secure environment.

    Here are some notable locations to consider;

    Hanlans Point Beach; Situated on the Toronto Islands Hanlans Point Beach offers shores and stunning views of Lake Ontario. Accessible via a ferry ride from the mainland this beach attracts both locals and tourists looking to adore recreational activities.

    One distinctive feature of Hanlans Point Beach is its clothing area, which has become a favorite gathering spot for the lgbtq+Q+ community. Positioned at the edge and clearly marked with signs this section attracts a diverse crowd fostering an inclusive atmosphere.

    Although not formally recognized as a cruising zone Hanlans Point Beach is known for its welcoming vibe, towards lgbtq+Q+ individuals.
    Some folks choose to gather and socialize at the beach in a relaxed manner compared to traditional gay bars or clubs. The b

    Reviewed by Brett Josef Grubisic

    Marcus McCann, Park Cruising: What Happens When We Wander Off the Path (House of Anansi, ), pp., $

    For the literal and figurative connotations alone, Marcus McCann chose a subtitle with broad appeal for Park Cruising, his book of eleven essays (and “In Lieu of an Afterword, a Valentine”). The subtitle, What Happens When We Wander Off the Path, invites eager questions. “Who’s ‘we’?” for instance, and “What does happen?”

    Thoroughly researched but not drily academic, journalistic yet substantial, and clearly an activist’s passion project, McCann’s essays answer those concerns, and more, as they unfold. McCann touches on the “legal regulation of sexuality today,” theorizes the motivations (and social ends) of queer male park sex, and criticizes policing in its various guises. Along the way, McCann, something of an intellectual magpie, stops to consider Angels in America, the arrest of four women for publicly singing a Rodgers and Hammerstein song (one lyric altered: “dyke” for “girl”), and intergenerational homophobia. McCann forges li