All posts filed under: Lesbian History

NOW OPEN! The Pussy Palace: An Instagram Story

June 12, 2023
by Alisha Stranges
Collaboratory News / Lesbian History / Oral History / Pussy Palace Project / Queer History / Trans History

If you find yourself in Toronto’s East end this Pride season, drop by Gallery 1265 at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) to experience The Pussy Palace: An Instagram Story. Commissioned by UTSC’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office and the Positive Space Committee, this interactive, self-led exhibit blends digital art, narrative text, and interview soundbites from the Collaboratory’s Pussy Palace Oral History Project, immersing patrons in an “average night” at the Palace. The Pussy Palace […]

Pussy Palace Digital Exhibit: Coming Soon!

March 17, 2023
by Alisha Stranges
Collaboratory News / Lesbian History / Public Humanities / Pussy Palace Project / Queer History / Trans History

In 2021, the Collaboratory conducted the Pussy Palace Oral History Project (PPOHP), preserving 36 interviews with patrons, organizers, and allies of the Pussy Palace — an exclusive sex party and bathhouse event for queer women and trans people in Toronto. Interviews address not only the infamous, September 2000 police raid, but also radical sex/gender cultures in turn of the 21st century Toronto.  A desire to connect broader publics with this rich archive of oral testimony […]

PPOHP: Phase 2

July 7, 2021
by Andy Huynh
Collaboratory News / Lesbian History / Oral History / Pussy Palace Project / Trans History

The Pussy Palace Oral History Project is wrapping up interviews and moving to phase 2! Our interviews have asked narrators to speak to a variety of themes including aesthetics, sense memory, inclusivity, policing, and queer sex culture. You can look forward to new video shorts using the interview footage. Make sure you follow us on all our other social media platforms to stay up to date.   What kind of videos would you like to see?  Pussy Palace logo […]

PPOHP: The Settlement

June 23, 2021
by Andy Huynh
Collaboratory News / Lesbian History / Oral History / Pussy Palace Project / Trans History

Did you know that members of the Toronto Women’s Bathhouse Settlement Committee prioritized the establishment of a transgender search policy in their settlement talks with the Toronto Police Services? This led to the first attempt to draft a trans-friendly search policy in 2005, which was donated to us by Chanelle Gallant. Check out the first draft of this policy, including Chanelle’s first edits: More of The Pussy Palace Project can be found hereMore of The […]

PPOHP: The 20th Anniversary Panel

June 9, 2021
by Andy Huynh
Collaboratory News / Lesbian History / Oral History / Pussy Palace Project / Trans History

Did you know that the Toronto Women’s Bathhouse Committee, the organizing group behind the Pussy Palace events, formed in 1998 to create sex-positive spaces for queer women? Organizer Chanelle Gallant positioned the events as a natural outgrowth of sex-positive queer feminist culture, while Carlyle Jansen highlighted the need for “outreach to queer women’s communities about safer sex.” Check out what some of the organizers had to say at the 20th anniversary panel event hosted by […]

PPOHP: The Fundraiser

June 5, 2021
by Andy Huynh
Collaboratory News / Lesbian History / Oral History / Pussy Palace Project / Trans History

Did you know that the TWBC hosted a fundraiser to help raise legal fees for the 2 folks charged at the Pussy Palace? Check out this event flyer, donated by Chanelle Gallant. Attendees watched live performances & danced the night away! Check out the event flyer and buttons, donated by TWBC member Chanelle Gallant. More of The Pussy Palace Oral History Project here