Mission Statement

The mission of the Gay Toronto Tourism Guild is to promote and preserve gay and lesbian owned and gay and lesbian marketed businesses in Toronto, while making Toronto the pre-eminent gay and lesbian tourist and business travel destination of Canada.
Membership Information and Application at bottom of page.

Toronto , dubbed "New York as run by the Swiss" has also been dubbed "the gay travellers best kept secret". With everything the sophisticated g/l/b/t urban traveller could ask for in one spot, Toronto, "the world within a city", is one destination that delivers! With much to see and do, or if you prefer, there is nothing to do - just relax where you are safe and respected just being yourself.

Ever since the infamous "bath-house raids" in the 1979, Toronto's village has also provided a home for gay, lesbian, trans-gendered, and drag queen communities. International business travellers and leisure travellers alike come to Toronto...and many come back to make Toronto / Canada, their home just like our founders did! Today, Toronto boasts one of the most diverse multi-cultural populations anywhere in the world, a City where closets are for clothes.

Why is Toronto so special?
First, the city is nuclear in design, with an excellent transit system. No need for a car here, our city is laid out on a grid, with safe, clean subway lines that transport most folks efficiently to and from the core of the city, where the "village" co-exists within a thriving city of communities! Our truly multi-cultural communities provide shopping and restaurants with fare to satisfy the most discerning international palate. The "village" is right in the centre of everything, with entertainment, shopping and dining all within walking distance. A clean, casual City... cars and dress clothing are totally unnecessary! Accommodations are as plentiful and varied as our business community. Not just "gay-friendly", we offer gay and lesbian owned and operated business's which are "straight-friendly" including: B&B's, and small intimate Inn's as well as gay friendly properties; restaurants; bars, florists; and even wedding planners. That's because this is a city where gay and lesbian couples can celebrate their relationships openly and legally. Spend your days on the water - take the ferry to Toronto's Islands to the official nude beach, miles of parks, cycling trails, and entertainment. Take a romantic sunset cruise or join your new and old friends to see one of the most eclectic City's of the world by night as you safely promenade Toronto's streets. Toronto is arguably the world's most cosmopolitan year-round safe destinations for gay and lesbian people!
Come, fall in love, stay a while, and get married just like we do!

Toronto is the Gay "Mecca" of Canada with:

- the third largest theatre community in the world
- shops by virtually every high-end retailer
- lake front access
- 4 distint seasons with associated activities
- bars, clubs, spas
- the third largest MCC community
- historical architecture
- Canada's largest G.L.B.T. community (estimated at 350,000)

Why a Guild?
Attracting in excess of one million gay and lesbian visitors each year during our Pride week, this world class city of 5 million enjoys a well-deserved reputation (for those who "find" Toronto) as one of the most dynamic, livable, and truly gay and gay-friendly destinations in the world. In the vibrant village area, we are straight-friendly too! Recognizing a need for the community to bring that reputation to the market, the City of Toronto, Tourism Toronto, and the Ontario Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce combine their efforts through the Gay Toronto Tourism Guild.
The Guild is a not for profit organization devoted to promoting the gay/lesbian community of Toronto to g/l/b/t travellers. The Guild includes both "for profit" and "not for profit" business's and organizations. We provide comprehensive and unbiased information about gay Toronto and promote gay Toronto to the local, national & international markets.

Upon arrival, gay and lesbian visitors are encouraged to stop by the Gay Toronto Tourism Guild office, located within Gloucester Square, at 514 Jarvis Street, for a friendly greeting and inside information about attractions & accommodations.

Membership: Membership in the Guild is open to all businesses who espouse the ideals as outlined in our mission statement, and wish to share involvement in our international marketing program. Interested businesses may email for more information and an application form. If you have "Adobe Acrobat" you may download these via the following links:

>> Membership information package
>> Application form

For more information...
Contact the Gay Toronto Tourism Guild

Mailing Address:
514 Jarvis Street, Toronto, On, Canada, M4Y 2H6
(416) 966-0051 Ext 169 ~ Site Designed by Graphic Byte Design
Email: Info@GayTorontoTourism.com