By Stephen Kamlasaran
On Friday, June 27th, 2025, I took my first walk through Toronto’s Church Street during Pride, freshly inspired by TNO’s Rainbow Connections wellness group. Just the day before, I had participated in one of their events – a tote bag painting workshop where vibrant acrylics became conversation starters about queer identity and self-expression. This is just one of many programs offered through TNO. This program is the first drop in program for LGBTQ + youth living in Thorncliffe at the TNO youth Hub and has become an important space for queer and trans youth living in Thorncliffe.
The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO) Youth Hub provides an array of specialized support for the LGBTQ+ community through its Rainbow Connections program. The idea of the group was to provide a safe third space for queer youth to come together and support each other.
The group offers create Beyond the popular creative workshops and social events. It also connects youth to services they offer:
– Mental health counseling with queer-competent therapists;
Peer support groups for coming out, navigating relationships, and building confidence;
– The youth can also access Resource navigation through the care navigator at the Youth Hub helping access LGBTQ+-friendly healthcare, housing, and legal services;
– More importantly the drop in strives to provide Youth-specific programming with a focus on creating safe spaces for questioning teens and Cultural bridging workshops addressing unique challenges faced by immigrant LGBTQ+ individuals.
These monthly movie nights double as informal group therapy sessions, where films about queer experiences spark meaningful discussions about mental health. Game nights become opportunities to practice social skills in a judgment-free zone – particularly valuable for neurodivergent LGBTQ+ folks or those new to the community.
During my visit to Rainbow Connections, I was struck by the careful thought put into accessibility. Meetings are held in discrete locations to protect privacy. Materials are available in multiple languages. There are always halal food options – small details that make big differences for participants. It became one of the few places where I can be fully myself without explaining or apologizing.
That evening on Church Street, as I passed The 519’s bustling community center, I reflected on how non-profit organizations extended Pride’s spirit to neighborhoods beyond the Village. There were Toronto EMS paramedics handing out drinks to keep hydrated, community health clinics offering free screenings for Cancer, AIDS/HIV, Melanoma, and Diabetes. From Gerrard Street East to Dundas Street East, the entirety of Church Street was quartered off by fencing, security vehicles, and city workers – a walkable city is possible, it is lively, and… very fun! A runway event for participants with a DJ and dance parties were on the street. There was even a free temporary rainbow tattoo station at Sankofa Square.
As LED lights lit up the Toronto skyline, I thought about the tote bag I’d painted at Rainbow Connections – my design featured a small island, representing both my Caribbean heritage and the isolation so many queer people feel before finding community. TNO’s programs don’t just create momentary connections; they build sustainable support networks. From their annual prom events for isolated youth to their crisis intervention training for front-line staff, every initiative is designed with long-term wellbeing in mind.
As LED lights lit up the Toronto skyline, I thought about the tote bag I’d painted at Rainbow Connections – my design featured a small island, representing both my Caribbean heritage and the isolation so many queer people feel before finding community.
In a city where LGBTQ+ services are increasingly centralized downtown, TNO’s neighborhood-based approach is revolutionary. They’re proving that queer community isn’t something you have to travel to Church Street to find – it can grow anywhere there’s commitment, compassion, and the courage to make space for difference.
The painted tote bags drying at their office are more than crafts; they’re symbols of the colorful, messy, beautiful work of building solidarity – not just during Pride month, but every day.
In a city where LGBTQ+ services among other services are increasingly centralized downtown, TNO’s neighborhood-based approach is unique.
More than a village, building a queer community takes an entire city.
