Flamingo Fling

Saturday, September 7, 1985
The Concert Hall

Formed in 1984, Zami was one of the first organizations in Canada founded by and for gay and lesbian people of colour. Originally housed in the home of writer and activist Makeda Silvera at 101 Dewson Street, Zami was founded by Courtney McFarlane, Debbie Douglas, and Douglas Stewart. Zami became a GCDC member in March 1985 and participated in 13 dances between 1985-1988. 

“Part of our political work was celebrating each other and finding joy … Having Zami meant that the young people who lived in places like Scarborough and Mississauga, could come down to the 519, which was a known community queer space, and find themselves there. And find Blackness there.”

- Debbie Douglas, co-founder of Zami

Members of Zami used funds from dances to develop activism that fought racism in lesbian and gay communities as well as homophobia in Black communities. McFarlane tells Heritage Toronto that Zami served as a support group for members as well as an activist group that worked to transform the lived experiences of Toronto-area LGBTQ2+ people of colour. The 2019 film Our Dance of Revolution documents the activist and social work of Zami within the broader context of Black queer organizing in Toronto.