Over the years we’ve built a knowledge of many resources available in Toronto for LGBTQ2S+ youth and adults. Below is a list of both community and institutional resources that we’re aware of. Providing these resources is not an endorsement from Rainbow Circus, if you have any suggestions on resources to add/remove please reach out to us via email raibowcirque@gmail.com. Special thanks to ArtReach for inspiring this list with their ample resource library which is also where some of these resources were sourced.
Crisis lines:
LGBTQ+Youth Line: call 1-800-268-9688 text 647-694-4275
Trans Lifeline (Trans peer support): (877) 330-6366
Assaulted Women’s Health Line: 1-866-863-0511 (24/7)
Gerstein Centre Crisis Line: (416) 929-5200 (24/7)
Black Youth Helpline: 1-833-294-8650
Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 or text: 45645 (24/7)
COAST Crisis Outreach & Support Team (Neuro-inclusive crisis support): 905-972-8338 or 1-844-972-8338
Indigenous Hope for Wellness Hotline: 1-855-242-3310
Multilingual Distress Line: 1-877-298-5444
Naseeha Helpline (Muslim Support): 1-866-627-3342 text 1-866-627-3342
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape: 416-597-8808 (24/7)
Youth Supports:
LGBT Youthline: https://www.youthline.ca/
Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM.
Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/about/
Trans Lifeline is run by and for trans people. Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
Toby’s Place: https://tobysplace33.wixsite.com/website
A safe(r) space for queer, trans, and questioning youth in Scarborough. Toby’s Place is a weekly drop-in program for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, folks questioning their gender and/or sexuality, and friends and allies, 29 years old and under.
Supporting Our Youth (SOY) is an innovative community development program of Sherbourne Health. SOY works to support the health and well-being of all 2SLGBTQ youth 29 years old and under through our groups, programs and events and by providing one-on-one support.
Friends of Ruby https://www.friendsofruby.ca/
We support two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and all gender non-conforming youth (aged 16-29) by providing free counselling, housing and social services.
Black Youth Helpline https://blackyouth.ca/
Black Youth Helpline serves all youth and specifically responds to the need for a Black youth specific service, positioned and resourced to promote access to professional, culturally appropriate support for youth, families and schools.
Healthcare:
Sherbourne Health Centre https://sherbourne.on.ca/primary-and-family-health-care/2slgbtq-health/trans-health-care/
Sherbourne Health is a dynamic provider of integrated health services, community programs and capacity-building initiatives that enable people and diverse communities to achieve wellness. Our priority populations are: 2SLGBTQ people, newcomers to Canada, people experiencing homelessness, those living in the Downtown East Toronto neighbourhood.
Rainbow Health Ontario Service Provider Directory https://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/lgbt2sq-health/service-provider-directory/
This directory is designed to help you find health and social service providers who have expressed a commitment to providing competent and welcoming care to 2SLGBTQ people in Ontario.
Toronto’s Queer & Trans Therapists Community Created List https://rainbowcircus.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2200c-tqttaug2021final-2.pdf
A community resource list of Queer & Trans therapists and therapists who serve 2SLGBTQ+ clients. Compiled by Rahim Thawer, MSW, RSW. Most therapists listed are from the Greater Toronto Area. Fees range is listed (e.g. 100-130), a range might indicate a sliding scale option.
Hassle-Free Clinic: https://www.hasslefreeclinic.org/
Free medical and counselling services in many areas of sexual health.
Asian Community AIDS Services: https://acas.org/
Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) is a charitable, non-profit, community-based organization located in Toronto, Canada. We provide safer sex education and services to the East and Southeast Asian communities and support services to persons living with HIV/AIDS and members of the LGBTQ communities.
Native Youth Sexual Health Network: https://www.nativeyouthsexualhealth.com/
The Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN) is an organization by and for Indigenous youth that works across issues of sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice throughout the United States and Canada.
What’s Up Walk-In: https://www.whatsupwalkin.ca/
The What’s Up Walk-In (WUWI) network is Toronto’s only free, six-day-a-week mental health counselling walk-in service for infants, children, youth, young adults, and families. Therapists offer walk-in, single, solution focused sessions. The clinics help with issues such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal ideation, sexual identity matters, bullying, behavioural concerns, addictions, and anything else that might be on one’s mind.
Stella’s Place: https://stellasplace.ca/
Stella’s Place provides free mental health services for young adults aged 16 to 29. We empower them to learn new skills and manage their own mental health, accessing support on their own terms. Here, young adults can access a caring community and a holistic menu of programs, including peer support, clinical services, wellness, art, and recovery programs.
Hong Fook Mental Health Association https://hongfook.ca/association/
Hong Fook means “Health and Felicity” in Chinese. Established in 1982, Hong Fook Mental Health Association is the leading ethno-cultural community mental health agency with a consolidated culturally competent team serving Asian and other communities in the Greater Toronto Area. Hong Fook provides a continuum of mental health services covering the spectrum from “promoting wellness” to “managing illness” in Cambodian, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Korean, Vietnamese and English.
Community:
Glad Day Bookshop: https://www.gladdaybookshop.com/
Glad Day Bookshop is the oldest queer bookstore in the world. Serving the LGBTQ community since 1970, we offer the widest possible selection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, and queer literature.
The 519: https://www.the519.org/
We respond to the evolving needs of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities, from counselling services and queer parenting resources to coming out groups, trans programming, and senior’s support.
Queer South Asian Women’s (QSAW) Network: https://www.qsawnetwork.com/
The Queer South Asian Women’s (QSAW) Network is a grassroots organization based in Canada. Our mission is to empower, visibilize, connect, and enhance a sense of belongingness amongst gender marginalized LGBTQ+ South Asian diaspora.
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre: https://buddiesinbadtimes.com/
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre creates vital Canadian theatre by developing and presenting voices that question sexual and cultural norms. Built on the political and social principles of queer liberation, Buddies supports artists and works that reflect and advance these values. As the world’s longest-running and largest queer theatre, Buddies is uniquely positioned to develop, promote, and preserve stories and perspectives that are challenging and alternative. Buddies achieves artistic excellence through its mainstage season programming, artist-residency program, and community initiatives. Buddies serves a broad segment of the population who share a passion for theatre that celebrates difference.
Toronto Pflag: https://www.torontopflag.org/
VISION: Every LGBTQ2S+ person in Toronto finds love and acceptance in their families and communities. MISSION: Toronto Pflag promotes the health and well-being of LGBTQ2S+ people by helping to keep families together through Support and Education.
Inside Out: https://insideout.ca/about-us/
Inside Out is a not-for-profit registered charity that exists to challenge attitudes and change lives through the promotion, production and exhibition of film made by and about 2SLGBTQ+ people of all ages, races and abilities.
Other resources:
Egale https://egale.ca/
Egale is Canada’s leading organization for 2SLGBTQI people and issues. We improve and save lives through research, education, awareness, and by advocating for human rights and equality in Canada and around the world. Our work helps create societies and systems that reflect the universal truth that all persons are equal and none is other.
Learning resources:
2SLGBTQI Terms and Definitions https://egale.ca/awareness/terms-and-definitions/
Teen Health Source: GENDER IDENTITY & SEXUAL ORIENTATION https://teenhealthsource.com/topics/giso/
Privilege 101: http://sendtherightmessage.ca/privilege-101
Low Cost Therapy:
Many Hands Doing Good ($ for children >9 for arts therapies): https://manyhandsdoinggood.ca/funding/
Affordable Therapy Network:
https://affordabletherapynetwork.com/
Hard Feelings Mental Health (low-cost therapy & resources):
https://www.hardfeelings.org/
The CREATE Institute Student Clinic:
http://www.thecreateinstitute.org/create-clinic.html
Toronto Art Therapy Institute Student Clinic:
https://tati.on.ca/tati-online-art-therapy/
Toronto Institute for Relational Psychotherapy Student Clinic:
https://tirp-lowcost-therapy.ca/
Gestalt Institute Student Clinic:
https://gestalt.on.ca/low-cost-therapy-clinic/
OISE Psychology Clinic:
https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/home/psychology-clinic/adult-services
Rainbow Circus 