Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee
The full agenda, as filed
All 7 items in the clerk’s order. Each carries the city’s own words: the staff recommendation, what the body decided, and its status. Nothing below is written by us.
QS9.1amended
In accordance with Section B.3. of the Terms of Reference of the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee, the Committee will elect a member of the public as Vice-Chair.
The Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee: 1. Elected Susan Gapka as Vice-Chair of the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee for a term of office starting on October 14, 2025 and ending on November 14, 2026, and until a successor is appointed.
QS9.2amended
Expanding Health Benefits for City of Toronto Staff
The presentation provides information on the status of the inclusion of gender affirming benefits not covered by OHIP into the City employee benefit plans.
The Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee: 1. Requested the Manager, Gender Equity, Social Development to request the Director, Total Rewards, People and Equity provide an update to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee before the end of the term on the progress, evaluation, and potential expansion of transgender heath benefits to all City employees.
QS9.3received
Changes Impacting Access to Social Infrastructure
Presentation by the Deputy Chief of Staff, City Manager's Office on changes regarding access to social infrastructure, including seeking input from the 2SLGBTQ+ Advisory Committee on the City's community-focused communication and education plan.
The Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee received the item for information.
QS9.4received
The Parkland Strategy and the Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan
The Parkland Strategy and The Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan team to receive feedback that will inform the new Parkland Strategy and Parks and Recreation Facilities Plan. The presentation will outline community engagement to date and the feedback collected as well as the proposed emerging directions for how each document will be updated followed by a question and answer period.
The Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee received the item for information.
QS9.5deferred
Supporting the Capacity of QTBIPOC Non-Profit Founders
Founders often experience, food, financial and housing insecurity while founding the grassroots initiatives that serve their community. It is challenging to find and win grants that cover for the operational and founding teams of non-profits: therefore, community members are forced to operate the organization on a volunteer basis for years. Most grants that are categorized as operational, cover the expenses of consultants, co-creators and other experts in the field, but not the founders or the operational team. Few grants support founders with legal advice, or grant-writing support, or other capacity building for the team members themselves. There is an overreliance on non-profit system were these basic expenses are not even covered Most organizations that already have a high capacity are the ones receiving the funding. For many grassroots initiatives, it is challenging to be part of the ongoing grant cycles. There might be even less funding for the non-profit sector in the future, especially in the nuanced issues that lack representation. It tends to be indigenous folks that create community grassroots projects for indigenous communities: Black folks that create it for their own community and this rationale applies for many other QTBIPOC founders. These individuals are forced to create these initiatives for desperate gaps that their communities are asking for. Less and less folks can create these systems with our current economy. By way of this letter, I am requesting a report that includes: Asking for a review of current funding for 2SLGBTQIA+ Non-profits through the city? What kinds of projects are getting funded? Who are the operational teams running these projects? How are they getting paid? Who are the founders? What other org's have created similar types of research (on the allocation for funding) and how can we benefit from these reports? What types of organizations is the city funding? Is there a centralized place for 2SLGBTQIA+ concerns/ questions regarding funding streams and funding allocation? Creating a GAP analysis to determine where capacity building efforts are needed for QTBIPOC founders? How can we ensure that are dedicated funds for QTBIPOC founders and Non-profit/ grassroots initiatives creators?
The Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee: 1. Deferred consideration of the item until the January 28, 2026 meeting of the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee.
Staff recommendation as filed
Jad Jaber recommends that the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee recommends that the Economic and Community Development Committee: 1. Request the Manager, Community Funding Unit, report back to the Committee on the City's current funding for 2SLGBTQIA+ collectives/organizations with the goals of determining how the City can better fund and build the capacities of grassroots QTBIPOC founders and creators.
QS9.6received
The Terms of Reference for the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee state that the Committee will hold up to four meetings per year at the call of the Chair or Vice-Chair on the delegation of the Chair. On July 23 and 24, 2025, City Council considered Item CC32.3 and adopted the meeting schedule for 2026 for City Council and its Committees. The schedule of meetings for the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee has been developed to avoid dates, whenever possible, that conflict with the approved City Council schedule and to avoid days of cultural or religious significance. The Chair has scheduled the following meetings for 2026: Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Time: 9:30 a.m. Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026 Time: 9:30 a.m. Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 Time: 9:30 a.m. Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2026 Time: 9:30 a.m.
The Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee received the item for information.
QS9.7received
At its meeting held July 23 and 24, 2025, City Council appointed the following members to the Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (2SLGBTQ+) Advisory Committee for a term of office ending on November 14, 2026, or until their mandate is completed, whichever comes first: Felipe Del Campo Donoso Susan Gapka leZlie lee kam Leyla Shahid These new appointments fill the positions previously held by Apt'sqi'gnn ᐊᑉᑦ ᔅᑭ ᒃᓐᓐ, whose term of office came to an end on February 4, 2025; Mark Toffoli, whose term ended on April 10, 2025; and Kay Mehriz and Bamboo Ren, whose terms ended on April 30, 2025.
The Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Advisory Committee received the item for information.