Church and Wellesley - Uncertain Future

Uncertain Future

As times have changed and Canadian society has become more open to homosexuality, Church Street may no longer serve as a sanctuary. Many bars and clubs throughout Toronto are now gay-friendly; establishments such as the Drake Hotel and the Gladstone Hotel, although outside of Toronto's traditional gay village and not technically gay bars per se, are popular destinations for young gay and lesbian club-goers.

As well, rental rates for both commercial and residential property have risen significantly. Many privately owned businesses have been forced to close down or move to other areas due to these rate increases, and much larger corporations — such as Starbucks, Subway and the Bank of Montreal — have settled on the street.

The residents of the area are now largely middle-aged men with established careers. The high rents mean that the majority of gay youth cannot afford to live in the neighbourhood. Some choose to settle in nearby neighbourhoods such as St. James Town and Cabbagetown, while others no longer feel it necessary to live near the village as they can be open about their sexuality without as much fear of backlash. Many in the gay community have expressed concern about the decline of the neighbourhood's appeal with youth and its loss of small businesses.

Some feel that in the near future, Church Street may no longer be the "heart" of the gay community, yet others feel this has no validity at all, judging by the large crowds of gay men that are still prevalent on Church Street especially during the summer months, giving rise to debate over whether Toronto really needs an enclave for sexual minorities. Some have noted that many small gay-owned businesses have moved to cheaper areas such as Parliament Street and Sherbourne Street, located east of Church and Wellesley. Parkdale and the Queen Street West areas have also become popular residential communities for local gays and lesbians, even earning the nickname of "Queer West Village" in recent years.