Pride on the Water - Hanlan’s Point Beach and the History of 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride in Toronto
A Historic Day at the Beach
Who would have thought that a beach picnic could change the world? However, that's exactly what happened on a warm Sunday afternoon, August 1st, 1971. Hundreds of people gathered on the sandy shores of Hanlan's Point Beach on the Toronto Islands, splashing in the cool waters and soaking up the summer sun. It may have looked like an ordinary day at the beach, but Hanlan’s was about to become the birthplace of Canada’s Pride movement, hosting the country’s first official Gay Picnic and launching a revolution of love and acceptance that continues to ripple out into the world today.
Poster of first Gay Picnic on Hanlan’s Point Beach - 1971. Image courtesy of The ArQuives: Canada’s LGBTQ2+ Archives.
The Island That Changed Everything
For over a century, Hanlan's Point has been so much more than just a beautiful place for a swim. Before queer dating apps, bars, and most certainly before holiday queer romcoms, this peaceful haven tucked away on the western edge of the Toronto Islands quietly became a sanctuary for those who felt unsafe and unwelcome on the mainland.
While those in power dismissed Hanlan's Point as a hangout for society's so-called undesirables, the people who found refuge there knew it by a much more loving name: "the pink beach." In a time when being openly queer could cost someone their job, their family, or even their freedom, Hanlan's provided something precious — hope, freedom and community. The journey across the water to reach this special place felt like crossing into a world of possibility, a place where the water itself seemed to welcome all people, no matter who they were or who they loved.
A Picnic That Sparked a Revolution
The 1971 Gay Picnic wasn't just any social gathering — it was a beautifully orchestrated act of courage and hope. Organized by Toronto Gay Action, the Community Homophile Association of Toronto, and the University of Toronto Homophile Association, this joyful celebration brought together folks from as far away as New York City and Detroit, and turned the beach into a vibrant, bold and unapologetic declaration of pride and community.
The Gay Picnic happened at a pivotal moment, as activists were putting the finishing touches on something called the "We Demand" letter — a document intended for the Parliament of Canada. The picnic became the perfect place to finalize their vision for a more just and inclusive country.
Just weeks later, on August 28th, those change-makers travelled to Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Roughly 200 activists gathered for Canada's first large-scale gay rights demonstration, presenting the 13-page letter with ten demands for equality. The solidarity and strength that bloomed on Hanlan's shores had grown into a national movement that would change Canada forever.
One of the only photos of the Gay Picnic at Hanlan's Point Beach in 1971. Image courtesy of Guerilla Magazine.
As Beautiful As Nature Herself
What made Hanlan's Point so magical wasn't just its distance from the mainland — it was how water itself helped nurture a community that would go on to transform the world. On this beach more than fifty years ago, people gathered to create something beautiful: a space where their community felt safe, welcome, and celebrated. Now, the revolution that originated at Hanlan’s ripples out to other communities around the world, joining a global movement to demand equal rights. It’s a movement that celebrates queerness as something as natural and beautiful as the water itself, reminding us that love and acceptance are as essential to human flourishing as clean air and fresh water.
Community and Conservation: A Natural Partnership
The story of Hanlan's Point shows us something powerful: how community love and environmental protection go hand-in-hand. Throughout the decades, the Hanlan’s community has consistently stood up to protect this special place from various development threats — from 1980s plans to cover portions of the beach with concrete for a wave pool, to the 2022 proposal for a large concert venue.
Each time, the community rallied not just to protect their gathering place, but to preserve the natural beauty and ecological health that makes it so special. They understood something important: when we protect the environment, we protect the spaces where community can thrive.
Photo of Hanlan’s Point Beach. Image courtesy of Swim Drink Fish.
Celebrating Heritage and Protecting Tomorrow
Hanlan's Point Beach is also home to one of Lake Ontario's rare freshwater coastal dune ecosystems, uncommon along the Lake Ontario shoreline and supporting several rare species adapted to this dynamic environment. The fragile native marram grass that stabilizes these dunes can be killed by just ten footsteps, making careful stewardship essential to preserve this ecological treasure.
Today, Hanlan's proudly holds Blue Flag status — an international recognition for exceptional water quality, environmental management and safety. This isn't just a certificate on the wall, it's proof of a community's ongoing commitment to making sure everyone can enjoy this special place.
In Canada, the Blue Flag program is operated by Swim Drink Fish, as part of our commitment to bring clean swimmable, drinkable and fishable waters to everyone.
Your Invitation to Make Waves
This Pride season, we invite you to visit Hanlan's Point Beach and feel the history beneath your feet. Stand on the same sand where 300 brave souls first gathered to demand equality.
Can't make it to Hanlan's Point? Swim Guide's free website and smartphone app can help you discover clean, safe swimming spots in more than 10,000 beaches, lakes, rivers and swimming holes in 16 countries. Every body of water has the potential to become a place where community grows when we commit to protecting and sharing these precious spaces.
Drag Artist Pam, The Big Gay Out at Hanlan's Point, August 5, 2024. Image courtesy of Hammad Khalil.
The Ripple Effect Continues
The Gay Picnic at Hanlan's Point reminds us that when we protect our waters, we're doing more than preserving ecosystems. We're safeguarding the spaces where communities form, where acceptance grows, and where the next generation of change-makers might gather to dream of an even better world.
Please Note: Hanlan’s is an official clothing-optional beach, please be respectful of this and the historic queer space when visiting.
Thank You
A big thank you to Friends of Hanlan’s for their help in creating this blog. We encourage readers to visit their site for more information regarding this historic moment, and follow them on social media for updates about the beach and events.
Sources
Historical Sources:
"A Brief History Of Toronto's First Pride." IN Magazine, 22 June 2023, inmagazine.ca/2020/06/a-brief-history-of-torontos-first-pride/.
"For Pride Toronto in 2022, I'll be at Hanlan's Point Beach." The Narwhal, 17 June 2022, thenarwhal.ca/pride-2022-hanlans-point/.
"New Places of Pride stamp remembers the pivotal Gay Day Picnic at Hanlan's Point in Toronto." Canada Post Magazine, 2 weeks ago, www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/blogs/personal/perspectives/places-of-pride-hanlans-point/.
"Pride Before Pride." The ArQuives, 25 June 2018, arquives.ca/latest-news/pride-before-pride.
"Pride in the City: A Look at the History of Pride in Toronto." Works Design, 13 June 2023, www.worksdesign.com/pride-in-the-city-a-look-at-the-history-of-pride-in-toronto/.
"Pride Month 2025." City of Toronto, 2 weeks ago, www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/festivals-events/pride-month/.
"Queer History of Hanlan's Point." Hanlan's Point Beach, www.hanlans.ca/queer-history-of-hanlan-s-point. Accessed 16 June 2025.
"We Demand." The Canadian Encyclopedia, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/we-demand. Accessed 16 June 2025.
Water Quality & Environmental Sources:
"About Swim Guide: A Swim Drink Fish Initiative." Swim Guide, www.theswimguide.org/about. Accessed 16 June 2025.
"Blue Flag beaches." Destination Ontario, 25 July 2022, www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/articles/blue-flag-beaches-ontario.
"Hanlan's Point." Swim Guide, www.theswimguide.org/beach/79. Accessed 16 June 2025.
Swim Drink Fish, www.swimdrinkfish.ca. Accessed 16 June 2025.
