Research Creation

We blend art and scholarship to bring the Pussy Palace oral histories to life—connecting wider publics with this powerful archive of queer testimony.

Research Creation

We blend art and scholarship to bring the Pussy Palace oral histories to life.

Instagram Stories

Originally released on Instagram, this illustrated series depicts the most memorable Palace activities shared across our oral history interviews. Over 18 episodes, the series blends digital sketches with narrative text to reimagine our impression of an “average night” at the Palace, if there ever was such a thing.

ep. 01

welcome to the palace

You’re standing at the southwest corner of Mutual and Carlton—just a few blocks from Toronto’s queer village. A red-brick, four-story Victorian mansion looms before you. Most nights, it’s home to Club Toronto, a low-end gay men’s bathhouse. But tonight, the Pussy Palace takes over, and cis men are kindly uninvited. Get ready to investigate the limits of personal pleasure and shared desire without hesitation or apology.

ep. 02

Discovering the palace

It’s September 2000… Pre-social media: no Facebook events, no group chats. Palace organizers have promoted the event through flyer campaigns, email listservs, and ads in the local, queer news media. But most patrons, like you, have discovered the Palace through good, old-fashioned word of mouth. Given the scarcity of bathhouse spaces designed specifically for queer women and trans folks, word travels fast within the community. This is a sell-out event, attracting upwards of 350 patrons.

ep. 03

journey to the palace

It’s nearing 7:00 p.m. As you cross the street, gaggles of fellow patrons flock toward the entrance from all directions. Some stroll in, like you. Others arrive by streetcar, bike, taxi, or motorcycle. Commuters travel by car or GoTransit. Most show up in their street clothes, with bathhouse attire in tow, ready to don a whole new persona once inside the club.

ep. 04

the line up

Doors open at dusk and close at dawn. By 9:00 p.m., there’s quite a line outside the club, full of people buzzing with excitement and nervous energy. Scanning the crowd, you see couples, peer groups, and a few fellow newbies flying solo. Volunteers distribute handouts informing patrons of proper bathhouse etiquette and clarifying patron rights in the event of a police raid.

ep. 05

the threshold

You enter through the triangle archway, turn left and head promptly downstairs. At the end of the hall, an entrance booth where you exchange a ticket for a towel and locker key. A volunteer informs you of the newbie tour of the space — rendezvous at the first-floor staircase, if you’re interested. To the right of the booth, a locked door, and behind it, the Palace proper. You wait to be buzzed in. The threshold, neither public nor private, is your passageway to another world.

ep. 06

the crowd

As a first timer, the Palace feels a bit clique-y. A difficult place to mingle. You look around. The crowd is predominantly white, ciswomen. Factions of dykes seem to form in different quadrants — softball in one corner, leather in another, or so it seems. You almost wish you had a few friends to explore with — much easier to have fun that way.

ep. 07

the pool

SPLASH! Welcome to the pool, a Pussy Palace highlight. Twilight lighting, warm silky water, and erotic scenes in every corner. You consider getting naked and diving in. You don’t want to miss your chance to let it all hang out right in downtown Toronto. A good place to spark a new connection, find your next hookup, or take a respite from the crowded dance floor.

ep. 08

the cupid board

What was cruising before the advent of swiping right on someone? As a Palace newbie, you welcome all the help you can get. A volunteer paints a number on your belly, so that prospective “cupids” can identify you. You check the message board every so often, hoping someone has left you a love note. It’s fun, flirty, and straightforward — the ultimate anonymous icebreaker.

ep. 09

the staircases

With four stories to explore and no elevator in sight, get ready to climb lots of stairs. An unfortunate feature of Club Toronto, and of most bathhouse spaces in the city, is its lack of ramps and automated lifts — an undeniable barrier for those patrons who were differently-abled. As you ascend from floor to floor, you uncover the building’s numerous nooks and crannies. It’s dark, humid, and disorienting. Curiosity is your only guide.

ep. 10

the cat walk

You arrive on the second floor and things seem to open up. You’re standing at the base of the main staircase, grasping the big wooden banister. Patrons hug the railing in an endless line, posing, watching, cruising. Everyone’s looking fine. Palace fashion is diverse: leather, lace, latex, and more. It’s about feeling seen, confident, sexy; communicating a certain vibe to potential partners; and making a statement… At least until the clothes come off.

ep. 11

the group sex room

One thing’s certain: the Pussy Palace is a kink-positive space. Toys, tops, and tantalizing fun, oh my! You look to your left and peer into the Group Sex Room where the temperature is rapidly rising. You take in the scene, the mix of bodies, all shapes and sizes. People are peeling off clothes and joining in. You wonder: where should I start?

ep. 12

the fuck line

You hear a flurry of excited whispers as a line of people begins to form all around you. One patron eagerly blindfolds another, and you wonder what all the fuss is about. Something wild is about to transpire, but what? Decision made, you take your place at the end of the line, tingling with anticipation of the unknown.

ep. 13

the ‘private’ rooms

Get a room! Here at the Pussy Palace, you can… If you arrived early enough. Reservations are first come first served. On the third floor, rows and rows of little closets form a labyrinth of semi-private space. Yes, there were doors, but sound travels. With nothing but a metal frame, rubber mattress, and single bed sheet, this ain’t the Four Seasons, but no one seems to mind. If you’re feeling generous, leave the door ajar. Someone’s sure to sneak a peek or join in — with consent, of course.

ep. 14

the photo booth

In the attic of the Pussy Palace, you find a small room off the back staircase. A resident photographer invites you to pose for a souvenir Polaroid, documenting your night at the bathhouse. Why Polaroids? They’re relatively private mementos, and, keep in mind, digital photography wasn’t yet widely accessible. Consensual voyeurism is more than welcome. You watch as some stage silly poses with friends while others opt for more serious, boudoir photos.

ep. 15

the temple priestess

Shift change! As the photographer goes on break, the Priestess comes on duty. She’s here to hold sacred sexual space for patrons looking to ground themselves, ease anxieties, and make the most of their Palace experience. Using a multi-modal, trauma-informed practice that blends feminist and queer theology, somatic arts, ritual, mindfulness, and craft or elemental work, the Priestess invites you to ask her for anything you feel you need. Think: ‘radical hospitality meets BDSM.’

ep. 16

raid on the palace

Here’s where the night gets less average. On September 15, 2000, at 12:45 a.m. five plainclothes police officers invade the Palace, under the guise of a routine liquor license inspection. Organizers jump into action, notifying security volunteers of the unfolding situation. Word travels quickly that cismen are in the space. The music stops, the energy shifts, and a hush falls over the crowd as police move throughout the club, “investigating” every floor. Patrons rush for their towels or hide out in their private rooms. Many flee en masse. Some carry on in defiance. Others seek out confrontation.

ep. 17

care at the palace

Aftercare: the necessary act of checking in with friends and partners after a traumatic event. Post-raid, patrons console each other, offering words and gestures of comfort. Folks are angry, scared, exhausted, as they take turns trading stories about what just transpired.

ep. 18

the journey home

Around 2:00 a.m., the police depart. Only a few hours left before doors close, and the mood has totally shifted. A crew of volunteers begin a soft clean up, as the remaining patrons slowly make their way out the door. Some walk home. Some take taxis. Some catch the TTC. Some doze off in private rooms to avoid a long commute home. Back at street level, you breathe in the dawn air, clasp the straps of your backpack, and look north. “To Golden Griddle, or not to Golden Griddle?” That is the question.

ep. 01

welcome to the palace

You’re standing at the southwest corner of Mutual and Carlton—just a few blocks from Toronto’s queer village. A red-brick, four-story Victorian mansion looms before you. Most nights, it’s home to Club Toronto, a low-end gay men’s bathhouse. But tonight, the Pussy Palace takes over, and cis men are kindly uninvited. Get ready to investigate the limits of personal pleasure and shared desire without hesitation or apology.

ep. 02

Discovering the palace

It’s September 2000… Pre-social media: no Facebook events, no group chats. Palace organizers have promoted the event through flyer campaigns, email listservs, and ads in the local, queer news media. But most patrons, like you, have discovered the Palace through good, old-fashioned word of mouth. Given the scarcity of bathhouse spaces designed specifically for queer women and trans folks, word travels fast within the community. This is a sell-out event, attracting upwards of 350 patrons.

ep. 03

journey to the palace

It’s nearing 7:00 p.m. As you cross the street, gaggles of fellow patrons flock toward the entrance from all directions. Some stroll in, like you. Others arrive by streetcar, bike, taxi, or motorcycle. Commuters travel by car or GoTransit. Most show up in their street clothes, with bathhouse attire in tow, ready to don a whole new persona once inside the club.

ep. 04

the line up

Doors open at dusk and close at dawn. By 9:00 p.m., there’s quite a line outside the club, full of people buzzing with excitement and nervous energy. Scanning the crowd, you see couples, peer groups, and a few fellow newbies flying solo. Volunteers distribute handouts informing patrons of proper bathhouse etiquette and clarifying patron rights in the event of a police raid.

ep. 05

the threshold

You enter through the triangle archway, turn left and head promptly downstairs. At the end of the hall, an entrance booth where you exchange a ticket for a towel and locker key. A volunteer informs you of the newbie tour of the space — rendezvous at the first-floor staircase, if you’re interested. To the right of the booth, a locked door, and behind it, the Palace proper. You wait to be buzzed in. The threshold, neither public nor private, is your passageway to another world.

ep. 06

the crowd

As a first timer, the Palace feels a bit clique-y. A difficult place to mingle. You look around. The crowd is predominantly white, ciswomen. Factions of dykes seem to form in different quadrants — softball in one corner, leather in another, or so it seems. You almost wish you had a few friends to explore with — much easier to have fun that way.

ep. 07

the pool

SPLASH! Welcome to the pool, a Pussy Palace highlight. Twilight lighting, warm silky water, and erotic scenes in every corner. You consider getting naked and diving in. You don’t want to miss your chance to let it all hang out right in downtown Toronto. A good place to spark a new connection, find your next hookup, or take a respite from the crowded dance floor.

ep. 08

the cupid board

What was cruising before the advent of swiping right on someone? As a Palace newbie, you welcome all the help you can get. A volunteer paints a number on your belly, so that prospective “cupids” can identify you. You check the message board every so often, hoping someone has left you a love note. It’s fun, flirty, and straightforward — the ultimate anonymous icebreaker.

ep. 09

the staircases

With four stories to explore and no elevator in sight, get ready to climb lots of stairs. An unfortunate feature of Club Toronto, and of most bathhouse spaces in the city, is its lack of ramps and automated lifts — an undeniable barrier for those patrons who were differently-abled. As you ascend from floor to floor, you uncover the building’s numerous nooks and crannies. It’s dark, humid, and disorienting. Curiosity is your only guide.

ep. 10

the cat walk

You arrive on the second floor and things seem to open up. You’re standing at the base of the main staircase, grasping the big wooden banister. Patrons hug the railing in an endless line, posing, watching, cruising. Everyone’s looking fine. Palace fashion is diverse: leather, lace, latex, and more. It’s about feeling seen, confident, sexy; communicating a certain vibe to potential partners; and making a statement… At least until the clothes come off.

ep. 11

the group sex room

One thing’s certain: the Pussy Palace is a kink-positive space. Toys, tops, and tantalizing fun, oh my! You look to your left and peer into the Group Sex Room where the temperature is rapidly rising. You take in the scene, the mix of bodies, all shapes and sizes. People are peeling off clothes and joining in. You wonder: where should I start?

ep. 12

the Fuck line

You hear a flurry of excited whispers as a line of people begins to form all around you. One patron eagerly blindfolds another, and you wonder what all the fuss is about. Something wild is about to transpire, but what? Decision made, you take your place at the end of the line, tingling with anticipation of the unknown.

ep. 13

the ‘private’ rooms​

Get a room! Here at the Pussy Palace, you can… If you arrived early enough. Reservations are first come first served. On the third floor, rows and rows of little closets form a labyrinth of semi-private space. Yes, there were doors, but sound travels. With nothing but a metal frame, rubber mattress, and single bed sheet, this ain’t the Four Seasons, but no one seems to mind. If you’re feeling generous, leave the door ajar. Someone’s sure to sneak a peek or join in — with consent, of course.

ep. 14

the photo booth

In the attic of the Pussy Palace, you find a small room off the back staircase. A resident photographer invites you to pose for a souvenir Polaroid, documenting your night at the bathhouse. Why Polaroids? They’re relatively private mementos, and, keep in mind, digital photography wasn’t yet widely accessible. Consensual voyeurism is more than welcome. You watch as some stage silly poses with friends while others opt for more serious, boudoir photos.

ep. 15

the temple priestess

Shift change! As the photographer goes on break, the Priestess comes on duty. She’s here to hold sacred sexual space for patrons looking to ground themselves, ease anxieties, and make the most of their Palace experience. Using a multi-modal, trauma-informed practice that blends feminist and queer theology, somatic arts, ritual, mindfulness, and craft or elemental work, the Priestess invites you to ask her for anything you feel you need. Think: ‘radical hospitality meets BDSM.’

ep. 16

raid on the palace

Here’s where the night gets less average. On September 15, 2000, at 12:45 a.m. five plainclothes police officers invade the Palace, under the guise of a routine liquor license inspection. Organizers jump into action, notifying security volunteers of the unfolding situation. Word travels quickly that cismen are in the space. The music stops, the energy shifts, and a hush falls over the crowd as police move throughout the club, “investigating” every floor. Patrons rush for their towels or hide out in their private rooms. Many flee en masse. Some carry on in defiance. Others seek out confrontation.

ep. 17

care at the palace

Aftercare: the necessary act of checking in with friends and partners after a traumatic event. Post-raid, patrons console each other, offering words and gestures of comfort. Folks are angry, scared, exhausted, as they take turns trading stories about what just transpired.

ep. 18

the journey home

Around 2:00 a.m., the police depart. Only a few hours left before doors close, and the mood has totally shifted. A crew of volunteers begin a soft clean up, as the remaining patrons slowly make their way out the door. Some walk home. Some take taxis. Some catch the TTC. Some doze off in private rooms to avoid a long commute home. Back at street level, you breathe in the dawn air, clasp the straps of your backpack, and look north. “To Golden Griddle, or not to Golden Griddle?” That is the question.

Published to Instagram between Oct 2021 and Aug 2022.

Produced by Elspeth Brown; conceived by Elio Colavito; original illustrations by Ayo Tsalithaba; descriptive captions by Alisha Stranges, Elio Colavito, and Aisling Murphy.

Animated Shorts

Our animated shorts weave audio soundbites with original, digital illustrations to showcase thematic interview highlights.

Raid on the Palace: Narrators Reflect

Multiple patrons recount the September 15, 2000, police raid on the Palace and the transformative impact of this collective wound.

Published to YouTube on Sep 14, 2022. 

Produced by Elspeth Brown; illustrated, animated, and edited by Ayo Tsalithaba; concept, storyboard, and artistic direction by Alisha Stranges.

Care at the Palace: Narrators Reflect

Multiple patrons and organizers reflect on experiences of care before, during, and in the immediate aftermath of the police invasion.

Published to YouTube on Jun 17, 2022. 

Conceived and produced by Elspeth Brown; illustrated, animated, and edited by Ayo Tsalithaba; storyboard and artistic direction by Alisha Stranges.

Sensory Portrait: Robin Woodward

Patron Robin Woodward remembers how the Palace felt: the colours, the textures, the sounds. These are the memories that have endured — sediments of youth in “a really, really deep dark pink.” 

Published to YouTube on Nov 25, 2021.

Produced by Elspeth Brown; illustrated, animated, and edited by Ayo Tsalithaba; concept, storyboard, and artistic direction by Alisha Stranges.

Sensory Portrait: Karen B. K. Chan

Toronto Women’s Bathhouse Committee member Karen B. K. Chan remembers ice in their glass, people in differing states of undress, and “the pool, lit from below…a deep turquoise.” 

Published to YouTube on Apr 19, 2022. 

Produced by Elspeth Brown; illustrated, animated, and edited by Ayo Tsalithaba; concept, storyboard, and artistic direction by Alisha Stranges.

Remembering in Colour

Multiple narrators express their sense memory of the Palace through a single colour, unveiling a chromatic spectrum that no single hue could contain. 

Published to YouTube on Jun 8, 2023. 

Produced by Elspeth Brown; conceived and edited by Alisha Stranges; illustration of the Palace by Ayo Tsalithaba.

Audiograms

Refined over multiple iterations, these short, resonant soundbites combine digital sketches of project narrators with present-day photographs of the Palace. Different versions were created and shared across platforms like YouTube and TikTok—sometimes as standalone social media content, other times as components of an interactive public exhibit. The version featured here was adapted specifically for this final showcase of the series.

ep. 01: Diane Hamilton

Toronto Women’s Bathhouse Committee member Diane shares how the Palace expanded her definition of ‘dyke.’

ep. 02: Lukas Blakk

Security volunteer Lukas remembers how the Palace challenged assumptions about queer women’s sexual culture.

ep. 03: Lyla Miklos

Commuter patron Lyla recounts her journey to the Palace from Hamilton, a covert operation that began hours ahead of doors open.

ep. 04: Tera Mallette

Security volunteer Tera worked the front door, navigating layers of trepidation as a trans non-binary Palace patron.

ep. 05: Chanelle Gallant

Bathhouse organizer Chanelle remembers being stationed at the threshold: her clipboard, the carpet, the buzz.

ep. 06: Renee Racine

Security Volunteer Renee remembers trying to carve out a place for herself as a bisexual woman at the Palace.

ep. 07: Ange Beever

Patron Ange vividly recalls the tactile memories of the Palace hot tub.

ep. 08: The Cupid Board

Josey and friends recall the Cupid Board staged on the pool deck — one of many icebreakers encouraging connection between strangers.

ep. 09: Andrea Ridgley

Patron Andrea playfully recalls not getting any action at the Palace — a clique-y atmosphere for some.

ep. 10: JP Hornick

Security Volunteer JP describes the shifting vertical soundscape: from music and chatter, to clanking chains, to flesh on flesh.

ep. 11: Stephanie Dutrizac

Patron Stephanie on cruising the Palace staircases, taking in the “meaty” atmosphere against the shine of the mansion’s wooden banisters.

ep. 12: The Fuck Line

Sabrina and friends recount the infamous, ad hoc “fuck line”: 2 minutes of consensual, anonymous pleasure on repeat.

ep. 13: Chloë Brushwood Rose

The Polaroid’s intimacy and immediacy allows photographer Chloë to make queer relational art with Palace patrons.

ep. 14: Karen B. K. Chan

Organizer B. K. reflects on the “unscripted” nature of the Palace events and the need to relinquish expectations.

Created Aug 13, 2023.

Produced by Elspeth Brown; illustrations and still photography by Ayo Tsalithaba; soundbites selected by Alisha Stranges and Elio Colavito; designed and edited by Alisha Stranges and Katherine Zheng.

Live Action Shorts

Explore this collection of early experiments in media creation, featuring interview highlights emerging from the collection phase and a Pussy Palace-themed Heritage Minute.

Nancy's Outfit

Did you know that latex dresses were perfect for a night at the Pussy Palace? Listen to project narrator Nancy Irwin (aka “Naughty Nancy”) describe her ideal bathhouse attire. 

Published to YouTube on May 21, 2021. 

Produced by Elspeth Brown; co-conceived & edited by Alisha Stranges and Elio Colavito.

The Carpet

Did you know that the Club Toronto bathhouse, former site of the Pussy Palace events, had carpeted floors? Listen as multiple patrons gag over the now infamous carpet! 

Published to YouTube on May 27, 2021. 

Produced by Elspeth Brown; co-conceived & edited by Alisha Stranges and Elio Colavito.

Heritage Pussy

Inspired by the iconic Heritage Minutes series, Heritage Pussy offers a sharp, oral history-informed glimpse into the legacy of the Pussy Palace—one of Canadian queer history’s most storied moments.

Published to YouTube on Feb 23, 2022. 

Produced by Elspeth Brown; written, filmed, and performed by Elio Colavito; edited by Alisha Stranges; dramaturgy by Aisling Murphy.

Created for the Victoria Pride Society Youth Leadership Council (VPS YLC), a collective of LGBTQ2+ youth working to build community, amplify queer youth voices, and create learning opportunities.

Heritage Pussy: The Blooper Reel

Go behind the scenes of Heritage Pussy. This outtakes reel offers a playful look at the making of the video, highlighting the queer chaos that brought this mini history to life.

Published to YouTube on Feb 23, 2022. 

Produced by Elspeth Brown; performed by Elio Colavito; edited by Alisha Stranges.