Linda Wayne 

Great article. I worked at the Chez for quite a while, and later Felines and The Rose. I had to defend the Chez frequently because of its working class roots but I personally loved the open acceptance practiced at the place. My own club experience went back to the after hours club Davids which wasnt far from the Chez and equally accepting of men, women and those who dont fit comfortably into either label. It was this last group that was of most concern to me since we were being punted from other bars where gender crossing was seen as “too gay!” The Chez had not gone through the butch/femme era of the Cameo and Bluejay, but it also did not stigmatize folks who identified across the sex/gender spectrum. At the time I was doing an undergrad at UofT in Women’s Studies and Semiotics and had come to the conclusion that people needed to embody the identity that was most true for them. The Chez opened a space for that to happen and I am happy that I was a part of this brief history. Thanks again for a great article and for your whole series. 

3:40 pm on October 16, 2013 







Jane

Thank you so much for this invaluable record of an important part of our history. I am currently researching lesbian and gay history in 70′s-90′s for a book and this is so helpful. Thanks also for all your excellent gigs over the years. 

2:16 pm on August 13, 2013 







Ben Genereaux

Thank you so much for the great memories. I used to go to the Chez from 87 – 89, with my friends Josie, Victor, John, Rushmee and Ronald. Being new to the gay scene and a small town boy the Chez was the perfect place for me to grow my wings and discover who I was. Whenever I hear songs from Eria Fachen, New Order or Company B I’m always taken back to those days…and I had a huge crush on Sergio. Thanks again, you’ve made my day. Ben Genereaux 

2:45 pm on July 1, 2013 






Johnny B Goode 

The Chez was a student and postie hangout long before it became a lesbian lounge in the 80′s. It was a gathering spot for students from U of T and Ryerson in the early 70′s up to its conversion to a gay bar. 
There was a piano player, Peter Hall, who originally hailed from New Zealand, who played through most of the 70′s and always ended the night with his rendition of Peter Sarstedt’s “Where Do You Go to, My Lovely?” The amazing or terrifying thing is that Hall also was an elementary school teacher by day.
Rusty K. only came out after his father died. He had a heart of gold, but was a pretty tortured soul. He died of HIV in January of 1993 and was buried from Kane’s Funeral Home in North York. 

9:51 pm on February 22, 2013 







ruby hamilton

This story is great! I’m reading the other side. During the ’80′s I had the Toronto PFLAG phone line 24/7 and often got phone calls asking, “where are the clubs for lesbians?” My son is gay so of course I was at a loss….didn’t know of any until Pope Joan. Usually I would tell the caller to go to the coffee place at Church and Wellesley and ask the people there. And here it was all the time! ! LOL 

1:42 pm on January 15, 2013 







Elinor Mahoney

Loved the article! Although I wasn’t a regular, it was very much a feature of my life in the 80s. Great to hear the memories and see the photos. I got energized just reading this! Thanks, Denise. 

9:47 pm on January 14, 2013 







Deb Purdon 

What a wonderful and tasteful article. During the days of the Chez I was away from the scene but know alot of the women who either worked or frequented the bar. I would frequently get updated about what and who was going on. I did go down to the bar a few times when it was open and it was always hopping, and was so different from the bars I had been used to (Blue Jay, Cameo, Togethers and The Studio.). The Chez Mio was so BIG, but it was always a good time when I did go. Great memories have been shared in this article and is definately a good read! Thanks to all involved for sharing a big part of our history and the pictures included are fabulous! 

9:00 pm on January 14, 2013 






Quinn 

Great article! Well written  

6:57 pm on January 14, 2013 






avas 

i am glad good clubs have a dress code now. what used to pass for club wear back then was a bad joke 

1:17 pm on January 14, 2013 







Matt

And if by good dress code you mean girls with skirts short enough to bare-all their pieces and douche-bags in ill-fitting blazers with Armani Exchange T-shirts and True Religion Jeans all wrapped up in spray tans, then gee golly I think you’re right! 

2:57 pm on January 14, 2013