GLAD: Gays Lesbians of African Descent in Toronto
by Patricia Koine, April 19, 2007

Seven years ago, with no road map or role models, just the burning desire to reach out to my own kind and know that I was not alone, I founded GLAD – Gays Lesbians of African Descent in Toronto, Canada (www.gladtoronto.com). It was very hard to find any willing individuals to come and join me in creating a safe place for Africans who were lesbian and gay living in Toronto. We maybe living away from our homes in Africa, but that does not mean that we stop being African. Over and over, I heard fearful comments of how nobody wanted their families to know about them or have news traveling back home. There was this deep seated fear of being ostracized from the community that served as a barrier for folks to consider living openly and freely in Toronto as lesbians and gays. I do not know if these fears have changed as our communities continue to fervently spew out homophobic attitudes and behaviors towards us. So, the fears were valid and justified. Nonetheless, an unseen force urged me forward with courage and vision never for a moment stopping to think that I was going on a road not traveled on this part of the world.

Surprisingly, GLAD made an explosive impact on the LGBTTIIQ community in Toronto and has continued to do groundbreaking activism locally. GLAD was the first continent identified African group to march at Pride Toronto waving African fabrics and singing African songs. Marching with a truck blasting African songs in 2005 was mind blowing for us as we marched, a group of 50 alongside friends, families and allies. Our commitment to education, advocacy and outreach in our African communities has been our propelling mission. The greatest test came last year in 2006 when instead of marching at Pride Toronto, we decided to have an information table at Afrofest – North America’s largest Diaspora African festival. Guided by our values of Integrity and Spirit of Freedom, we participated at the two day event and to our disbelief we were not attacked or harassed. Our strategy requesting to have our information table next to the organizers as indirect security appeared to have worked. By the end of the festival, we had a large gathering of friends, and allies sitting in our area, at ease and enjoying the festivities under our GLAD banner. This was our greatest accomplishment and we will continue to be a part of Afrofest.

Right after Afrofest, while basking in our euphoria, and unbeknown to us, a group of women activists in Berlin – ADEFRA, found out about GLAD online and extended an invitation to join them at their 20th anniversary celebrations. It was at this conference that we met Zanele Muholi of FEW. At ADEFRA conference we got to meet and interact with phenomenal women activists whose works are making a difference in their localities and around the world. Our invitation to attend this international conference allowed us to witness first hand that no initiative is too small to make a difference in the struggle for equality.
As International Day Against Homophobia – IDAHO (May 17th) approaches, we look forward to yet another courageous attempt at engaging our community on the topic, and our desire to engage in a dialogue to challenge homophobia within our communities remain strong and intact.

© 2007

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