Trans Toronto: Bars, Community & Resources

Running since 2007, Cherry Bomb is Toronto's longest-running party for queer women, trans and non-binary people and their friends, and it's been voted Xtra Magazine's Best Club Event for Women multiple years running. It's not a fixed venue but a recurring event, run by longtime DJs Cozmic Cat and Denise Benson, that pops up around the city at different clubs throughout the year, with its biggest night, Cherry Bomb Pride, held every June and drawing a stacked lineup of DJs, burlesque and drag performers.

It's 19-plus, in line with Ontario's drinking age, and tickets for bigger nights like Cherry Bomb Pride typically run in advance through Eventbrite, with a higher price at the door. Since it moves venue to venue, check Instagram or the website for the current location and date before planning around it.

House of Bottoms is a recurring queer and trans-inclusive stripper rave held at The House of Lancaster on Bloor Street West, a collaboration between House of Lambda, known for its sapphic strip nights, and Bottoms ONLY!, which centers QTBIPOC parties. Expect pole performances, DJs and a late finish, typically 9:30pm to 2am. It's an explicit adult party rather than a conventional club night, with VIP areas and private rooms usually available.

It's 19-plus, in line with Ontario's drinking age, with tickets normally around $15 in advance and $25 to $30 at the door. Dates vary through the year rather than following a fixed monthly schedule, so check Yohomo or Eventbrite for the next one before planning around it.

Sherbourne Health runs a dedicated 2SLGBTQ+ primary healthcare program in Toronto, with clinicians experienced specifically in trans health care alongside general primary care, mental health services, and HIV treatment and monitoring. It's one of the more substantial healthcare resources in the city for trans visitors or new arrivals who need a provider who already understands the basics rather than starting from zero.

Services include trans-specific health care, mental health support, HIV care, and connections to Rainbow Health Ontario, the province-wide LGBTQ+ health promotion body. Sherbourne also runs Supporting Our Youth, a mentoring and health program for LGBTQ+ young people.

The 519 is a City of Toronto community centre in the heart of Church-Wellesley Village, open since 1976 and marking its 50th anniversary this year. It runs a dedicated Trans-Specific program alongside its wider services, including health, housing, legal and financial support, drop-ins and community-led groups. It's also home to the Toronto AIDS Memorial, in Barbara Hall Park behind the building.

For trans visitors, it's a genuinely useful first point of contact rather than just a landmark, worth knowing about for local support, events and community connections during a stay in Toronto, not only for locals.