Non-binary Belongings in Toronto: Problematizing the Gay-friendly City

This thesis examines the experiences of non-binary transgender people in the city of Toronto through the use of photovoice and semi-structured interviews. It is concerned with the ways such individuals articulate their sense of belonging towards Toronto itself as well as the LGBTQ+ spaces of the city. This thesis argues that the ongoing gentrification of Toronto, the persistence of transphobic discrimination, and the prevalence of right-wing politics in the region marginalize non-binary individuals and challenge their ability to belong in spaces throughout the city. While participants particularly identified LGBTQ+ spaces in Toronto as important sites of belonging, networking, and ontological security, these positive experiences stand in contrast with the number of homo- and transnormativities at play within these sites, further cementing the exclusion of non-binary individuals. Therefore, I argue that the envisioning of non-binary inclusive, transgender-friendly urban spaces is a utopian endeavour as it requires a radical rethinking of social, political, and economic structures and hierarchies.M.A