10/16/2026
What does meaningful inclusion look like for Toronto's 2SLGBTQIA+ communities? 🌈🏳️⚧️
Thank you to Mayor Olivia Chow and mayoral candidate Brad Bradford for participating in Tuesday's forum on 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion, hosted by MCC Toronto's Paul Austin Human Rights Centre and moderated by Doug Kerr, Executive Director of Dignity Network Canada.
Meaningful inclusion requires more than good intentions. It means recognizing the diverse experiences of the communities we serve and addressing the barriers that affect people's safety, access to housing, and ability to receive the support they need.
Toronto's 2024 Street Needs Assessment found that 30% of youth surveyed in City-administered sites who were experiencing homelessness identified as 2SLGBTQ+. For Black, Indigenous, racialized, q***r and trans communities, including refugees and newcomers, intersecting forms of discrimination can create additional barriers.
These challenges are interconnected, and addressing them requires thoughtful policies, meaningful engagement, and continued accountability.
Through the Paul Austin Human Rights Centre, MCC Toronto is committed to creating space for these important conversations, amplifying community voices, and advancing human rights.
Our sanctuary has a long history of challenging injustice and advocating for equality. We're proud to continue that legacy by bringing these conversations into our space.
🔗 Missed the forum? Watch Mayor Chow and Brad Bradford share their perspectives here: https://www.youtube.com/live/p5cf2LZOeO4?si=b3LRbW-g0NQgTaUI
The forum may be over, but the work continues. So must the conversations, commitments, and collective efforts to build a more inclusive Toronto.
ELECTION DAY IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 26. YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE!
What would meaningful inclusion look like to you? What actions do you want to see from Toronto’s leaders? 👇
