Toronto’s skate parks may be packed, but finding a space where everyone feels welcome? That’s where Queer Skate Toronto comes in—breaking barriers, dodging mansplainers, and teaching kickflips to anyone brave enough to try.
I recently caught up with two faithful members of the collective, Yumi Lee and Ju Stein, to see what they’ve been up to.
As someone who has never skated, yet always finding myself in the company of friends with skateboards, I had heard very little about the collective prior to our meeting. It wasn’t until a friend pulled me aside and showed me their Instagram that I was fully invested.
For Stein, skateboarding started in Windsor with a timeless tale about having that one “cool neighbour.”
“I saw my neighbour skateboarding, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s so cool. I want to do that.’ So, he kind of taught me how,” Stein shares, and a whole decade later, they’re still rolling strong.
Lee, on the other hand, took inspiration from a one fateful haircut in Toronto.
“I was getting a short haircut for the first time by a queer hairdresser, and they were talking about all the activities they did, like playing softball and skateboarding. I’d never heard of a skateboarder who wasn’t a man, so it inspired me to try.”
Hailing from Richmond Hill, Lee describes the environment as a bit “conservative,” which meant escape was imperative.
By the time Lee and Stein hit the big city, both were hyped for the big-city skate scene but found… not much.
“The city doesn’t really fund skate parks like they do in the suburbs,” Stein said. What does Toronto have? A thriving DIY scene with plenty of nontraditional skaters.
An attendee shreds the ramp at their summer event.
Enter Queer Skate Toronto, founded in 2020 thanks to skate enthusiast Chantal Garcia’s mission to make parks less intimidating for queer folks.
“It’s still very intimidating, especially for queer people, to enter a skatepark,” Stein told blogTO. “Chantal’s whole mission was just to create safe spaces for people to try skateboarding.”
Flash forward to 2023, and Stein and Lee are now steering the ship. They’ve upped the ante with lessons, jams, and gear giveaways. “We try to make everything barrier-free,” Lee explained. “At the start of every jam, we give free lessons with a couple of volunteers. Plus, we add prizes, food, and drinks.”
My coordination screams please don’t let me near ramps, but it’s nice to know that is anticipated for the newcomers.
It’s not all smooth sailing. Money is tight, even with a grant from Nike, balancing Queer Skate with day jobs is no small feat.
Then there are the occasional park interruptions. “Sometimes individuals don’t always respect the space,” Stein admitted. “We have to remind people, ‘Hey, there’s a queer skate event going on. Be aware of the space you take up.'”
Still, the wins keep them going. Their Halloween jam with Brockton Haunt definitely stands as a highlight for its members. A spooky, skate-filled hit. “Costumes, lessons, and a video premiere—so many people came out to support. It was amazing,” Lee said.
Another standout? Hosting their first solo jam. “It was super validating to know we’re capable and good leaders,” Lee said.
Stein and Lee lead the group a top a ramp.
What’s next? More community, more opportunities, and maybe fewer falls.
This month, a weekly meetup on Thursdays at Brockton Haunt was initiated for people like me, the newbies. “We’ve found some people are intimidated to come to skate events,” Stein said. “So we create chill shopping events where people can meet without the pressure to skate.”
At the end of the day, it’s all about the love of skating. As Stein put it, “We just love it so much.”
