People’s Gala highlights grassroots activism, doesn’t cost $350 a plate

"Fake Tracey" gets stares, laughter, applause

On June 30, about 100 queer activists and Church St passersby gathered in the Church-Wellesley village for one of the week’s stranger spectacles. Outrageous outfits, a tiny red carpet and CUPE-loaned truck with sound equipment was tucked on residential Maitland St for three hours, while gays partied and talked politics.

They even took over the intersection for a 5-minute synchronized dance.

A woman dressed as Tracey Sandilands did a striptease to Come To My Window, which left some on the O’Grady’s patio literally slack-jawed.


Marcus McCann

Marcus McCann is an employment and human rights lawyer, member of Queers Crash the Beat, and a part owner of Glad Day Bookshop. Before becoming a lawyer, he was the managing editor of Xtra in Toronto and Ottawa.

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Culture, Power, Activism, News, Arts, Toronto

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