THEGAYUK

Tag: Toronto News

Get the latest LGBT+ Toronto news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Toronto, Canada.

  • Toronto’s gay serial killer pleads guilty to eight murders

    Bruce McArthur has pleaded guilty to the murder of eight men in the city of Toronto.

    Bruce McArthur pleaded guilty on Tuesday (January 29) to the first-degree murders of eight men between 2010 and 2017. McArthur appeared at the Superior Court of Justice, in Toronto where he entered guilty pleas for the killings of Kirushna Kumar Kanagaratnam, Majeed Kayhan, Skandaraj (Skanda) Navaratnam and Abdulbasir Faizi, Selim Esen, Soroush Mahmudi, Dean Lisowick and Andrew Kinsman.

    Despite pleading his crime he did not answer as to why he had killed the men.

    During their investigations, detectives found dismembered human remains in some 20 planters at a property which was used by McArthur. Detectives on the case made an extensive search of more than 30 other properties that are linked to McArthur.

    Seven of McArthur’s victims were known to Toronto’s gay community, and some of them were also immigrants from South Asia or the Middle East.

    During the trial, the court heard how many of his victims were dismembered and buried in planters. McArthur was a self-employed landscape gardener.

    Toronto Police detective David Dickinson said, “We are pleased that McArthur has pleaded guilty, sparing the communities and families a lengthy trial.

    “This is the best outcome… I hope we can start bringing some closure to the families and the communities.”

    The police have not yet finished investigating cold cases with Dickinson adding, “It’s not ending any time soon.”

    When asked why McArthur committed the murders, the Detective added, “I don’t know if we will ever know why.”

    Arthur will be sentenced in early February.

    YOUR SUPPORT MEANS EVERYTHING

    Help us deliver unique, usable and reliable journalism that supports the gay, bisexual and curious community of the United Kingdom. Can you help protect LGBT+ media? Publishers like us have come under severe threat by the likes of Google and Facebook. The problem is that advertisers are choosing to put their money with them, rather than with niche publishers like us. Our goal is to eliminate banner ads altogether on site and we can do that if you could pledge us a tiny amount each month.

    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

    Click to start the journey and support THEGAYUK!

  • Eighth charge in Canada serial killer probe, John Doe identified


    A Canadian landscaper accused of serial killings targeting Toronto’s gay community was charged Monday with an eighth murder after police identified the victim from a photograph seemingly taken after his death.

  • Accused serial killer in Canada charged with seventh murder

    Bruce McArthur has been charged with a seventh murder.

    Bruce McArthur has been charged with a seventh murder.
    Bruce McArthur has been charged with a seventh murder.

    The man accused of killing multiple men in Toronto, Bruce McArthur, 66 has been charged with a seventh murder after human remains were allegedly found inside large planters at an address in Canada.

    McArthur made an appearance, via a video link from a detention centre, at a court in Toronto, where the new charge was read to him.

    The charge relates to Abdulbasir Faizi, who went missing in 2010. His car was found in early 2011 close to a property used by McArthur to store gardening equipment, according to local reports.

    The gay community of Toronto have been shaken by the grim discovery of bodies, thought to be of gay men from the city.

    Investigators have found dismembered human remains in some 20 planters at the property’s garage. So far only four of the victims have been identified, one includes that of Mr Faizi, and another a former boyfriend of McArthur, Andrew Kinsman. All of whom went missing from Toronto’s gay village.

    So far, police have charged McArthur for the first-degree murders of Andrew Kinsman, 49; Selim Esen, 44; Dean Lisowick, 47; Soroush Mahmudi, 50; Majeed Kayhan, 59; Skandaraj Navaratnam, 40; and Abdulbasir Faizi, 42.

    Detectives on the case, have also searched more than 30 other properties that are linked to McArthur.

    Local media reports that police made the decision to arrest McArthur in January when, during surveillance of his property, saw a young man enter his property. Detectives found the man, unharmed, but tied up on a bed.

  • Toronto Pride parade goes ahead without police in the parade

    Toronto Pride went ahead this weekend with the exception of one long-running supporter in the parade, the police force.

    Gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans police officers in Toronto did not take part in this year’s event after Black Lives Matter protestors disrupted last year’s parade and demanded that they be excluded from the parade along with other requests, which the organisers signed on the spot – without consultation.

    Black Lives Matter said it had launched its objection to hold Pride answerable for its “anti-blackness”.

    Instead of taking part in a parade which was on their home turf, 100 TPA officers and civilians marched in the New York City parade.

    The Pride organisers were keen to clarify that the force was not “banned” saying that LGBT officers were welcome to take part with “select conditions”. They were asked not to include “uniforms, weapons, and vehicles”.

    They said,

    “We welcome and encourage their participation to add to Pride this year as members of our community. LGBTQ+ police officers and their allies can march in the parade with community groups, with the City of Toronto, or even create their own group.

    “We are simply requesting that their participation not include the following elements: uniform, weapons, and vehicles.

    “The Toronto Police Service has been involved and supportive to us throughout our festival planning. They will provide all the necessary services to ensure that the festival weekend and parade are secure and successful.

    What Were The Black Lives Matter demands?

    • Continued space, including stage and tents, funding and logistical support for Black Queer Youth.
    • Self-determination for all community spaces at Pride, allowing community groups full control over hiring, content and structure of their stages.
    • Full and adquate funding for community stages, including logistical, technical and personnel support.
    • Doubling of funding for Blockorama to $13,000.
    • Reinstatement of the South Asian stage.
    • Prioritising of the hiring of Black transwomen, Indigenous people and others from vulnerable communities at Pride Toronto.
    • More Black deaf and hearing sign language interpreters for the festival.
    • Removal of police floats in the Pride marches and parades.
    • A town hall organised in conjunction with groups from marginalised communities, including but not limited to Black Lives Matter – Toronto, Blackness Yes and Black Queer Youth, in six months, where Pride Toronto will present an update and action plan on BLM-TO’s demands

    Black Lives Matter did not take part in this year’s parade saying they wanted to ensure their “presence is felt through the parade” through other organisations.

  • The top gay travel destinations revealed

    The top gay travel destinations revealed

    So you’re owed some holiday time. It’s time to pack your shiz up and go on vacay.

    Are your work colleagues starting to give your work station a wide berth and “concerned” look because you’re giving off that all-work-no-play-makes-Jack-go-crazy look?

     

    But where to go? The world is your oyster.

    Well users over at Ranker.com have been voting on the best holiday destinations to go to if you’re LGBT…

    Here’s where they suggested:

    San Francisco

    Ah, possibly the gayest location on earth. Don’t forget to visit the Castro and breath in all that gay history.

    Paris

    I mean they say Gay Paris don’t they!

    Seattle

    The weather may not always be perfect, but its stance on equality has always been incredible having legalised same-sex marriage in 2012 and having provisions for gay state employees since 2001. Bravo.

    New York City

    How you doin’…

    Montreal

    First of the Canadian cities to get voted on… Best time to go would be early August when the city celebrates Pride.

    Vancouver

    gay vancouver
    CREDIT: Pixabay / gtriay

    Let the vibrant city invigorate. Check out Davie Village and Commercial Drive.

    Melbourne

    It’s where Please Like Me is filmed… and find out what our roving travel guy Nick Baker thought of it.

  • Controversial EX- Mayor Rob Ford Dies

    Ex-Mayor of Toronto Rob Ford has died at the age of 46.

    (more…)

  • World’s “Sexiest” Prime Minister Joins Canada Pride Event

    North America’s largest Pride festival unveils Canada’s first-ever Pride Month.

    Pride Toronto, the city’s most vibrant and inclusive arts and cultural festival and North America’s largest Pride celebration, has unveiled its 2016 Pride Month theme, announcing to the world that this June, “YOU CAN SIT WITH US.” The campaign for Canada’s first-ever Pride Month, features Canada’s top political leaders: noted “sexiest man alive” and “politician dreamboat” (Vogue) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, openly out Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and partner Jane Rounthewaite and Toronto Mayor John Tory who will all participate in this year’s festivities in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

    Pride Toronto’s 2016 Parade will make Canadian history, with Justin Trudeau participating as Canada’s first ever sitting Prime Minister to march, alongside leadership from both Toronto’s municipal and Ontario’s provincial governments.

    To celebrate the power and beauty of its diverse community, Pride Toronto held an open photo shoot for community members, artists and city leaders to show their Pride. The event was met with an overwhelming response, enabling the campaign to showcase over 300 community members of all ages, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and ethnicities.

    “If a picture is worth 1,000 words, maybe 1,000 pictures has the potential to give a true face to our community. And what a truly diverse and beautiful community we have,’” said Mathieu Chantelois, Pride Toronto Executive Director. “By striking a pose for our camera crew, hundreds took a stand for Pride Toronto, they are telling the world that it’s ok to sit with us, but also to rally, march, celebrate, love and change the world with us.”

    Noted personalities in the campaign also include: Ministers of Canadian parliament, Toronto City Councillors, Trans activists, the Toronto Police Service Chief of Police, the Guinness World Record Holder for Oldest Performing Drag Queen, DJs, artists and performers, along with Pride Toronto’s recently announced 2016 Honoured Group, Black Lives Matter – Toronto.

    This year’s theme is a play on, and response to, the infamous line from the 2004 cult-classic film Mean Girls. ‘YOU CAN SIT WITH US’ conveys a strong message of belonging and inclusion – a sentiment that was heard in consultations with community members.

    Canada’s first-ever Pride Month will launch on 1 June, featuring extended programming and provocative events throughout the city, culminating the much-anticipated Pride Parade on 3 July.

  • Hot Cop Goes Hot Pink For Anti-Bullying Campaign

    Toronto police officer Luke Watson’s desire to see an end to anti-LGBTQ bullying burns with a hot pink intensity.

    To mark ‘Day of Pink’ on April 8th an international day against “bullying, discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, and transmisogyny across the world,” Watson dyed his hair pink and pledged to keep it that way for an entire week if the Twitter photo of his new ‘do was retweeted 1,000 times. It reached 3000 within the day and is now going viral viral.

    Please pass on to any members of HM’s Constabulary who are also looking for ideas on how to show their support too. Especially the hot ones!

    by Roger Walker-Dack

  • The Gayest Object In The World

    Today, the world’s first and only ‘gay’ object – a sweater knit from the donated hair of more than 100 LGBT people – makes its debut during Toronto Fashion Week.

    • Sweater made out the hair of 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people
    • Thought to be the only product in the world that is 100% “gay”
    • Made to highlight the correct use of the word “gay” and end the misuse of the word.

    Appearing ahead of this summer’s upcoming Pride Week celebrations in Toronto, New York, San Francisco and London, The Gay Sweater was created to make people everywhere understand that it is incorrect and offensive to use language like ‘that’s so gay’ to negatively describe something. #TheGaySweater also aims to raise awareness of the detrimental effects that such misuse of the word ‘gay’ has on LGBT youth. The project is an initiative of The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD).

    “The idea for the sweater was born from a desire to educate and encourage everyone to use ‘gay’ the correct way,” said Jeremy Dias, director of the CCGSD. “We want the conversation that surrounds the gay sweater to inspire those who are using ‘gay’ in a detrimental way to both realise the negative impact their words and actions are having and change their behaviour.”

    Along with the sweater, a short film at thegaysweater.ccgsd-ccdgs.org gives voice to youth who have been impacted by the derogatory use of the word ‘gay’ and showcases the process that went into creating the one-of-a-kind sweater. Using the sweater and the film, the CCGSD is hoping to start a much-needed conversation that encourages everyone to think before they use hurtful words like ‘gay’ in a negative way. Readers can follow that conversation and all sweater-related content on the website and by searching the hashtag #TheGaySweater.

    Stylist Jennifer McConville of CBC News Now will be styling models wearing the sweater at David Pecaut Square on Tuesday, March 24th between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. (EDT).

  • Twin 10-Year-Old Twins Abby And Sarah Sing Amazing Sam Smith Medley

    You have to check out these two twins from Toronto have taken on a Sam Smith medley and killed it.

    (more…)

  • Gay Community Sit In To Rid Toronto Of Mayor Rob Ford

    Members of the LGBT community and its supporers in Toronto, Canada, have embarked on a peaceful sit in protest to rid Toronto of its Mayor, Rob Ford.

    (more…)