Conclusion
The work that GAT did was ambitious, wide-ranging, and far-reaching. GAT's activism was based on shared ideals of community- and solidarity-building, on both local and transnational levels. The best examples of this can be seen through its initial collaborations with activists and groups in North American cities such as Vancouver and Boston. After organizing the 1985 International Gay Association Conference in Toronto, GAT's activism extended into collaborations with organizations beyond North America. GAT's influence was most apparent in Japan and Hong Kong, with its role in the organization of the 1986 Gay Asian Conference in Japan and the formation of the 10% Club in Hong Kong in 1986 serving as the primary examples. While still somewhat limited in scope, GAT's activism had a far-reaching range, within and beyond Toronto.
Twenty-first century queer political organizing in Toronto did not form in a vacuum. Today, Toronto's primary pride festival (Pride Toronto) prides itself on its diversity, multiculturalism, and commitment to “anti-racism.” As of August 2025, Pride Toronto boasts that it is the largest pride festival within Canada and the second largest pride festival in the world.[1] Pride Toronto proudly states on its website that the festival’s organizing body values intersectionality and accessibility. The organization also intends to “create an Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Framework for all aspects of work” and “build trusting relationships with community groups to enhance engagement with and supports for the most underserved and underrepresented within the 2SLGBTQI+ community.”[2] Only through the recognition of the roots of this work, work that GAT directly contributed to, can the realities of today’s activism be truly celebrated. The Gay Asians of Toronto was a driving force in Toronto's, Canada's, and the world's queer activism. By grappling with the legacies of this group, new generations that benefit directly from GAT’s initial work will be able to build toward the future that the Gay Asians of Toronto imagined.
[1] “Toronto Pride Home Page,” Pride Toronto, 2025, https://www.pridetoronto.com/.
[2] “About Us”, Pride Toronto, accessed August 14, 2025, https://www.pridetoronto.com/.