Twice Blessed

Twice Blessed reflects on the Toronto Jewish Queer Community and honours the archival work of Torontian Johnny Abush. The exhibition explores a selection of Abush’s photographs, articles and ephemera, giving an archival overview of the experience of the Jewish LGBT community in the 80s-90s, a tumultuous period with events such as the 1981 Bathhouse Raids, the establishment of Lesbian and Gay Pride Day in Toronto and the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Abush was the creator and curator of the first LGBTQ+ Jewish archive in Canada. He became a notable activist in gay causes throughout the 1980s and began his archival collection in 1989. In 1995, the Toronto Centre for Lesbian and Gay studies recognized Abush’s contributions with an Achievement Award. Abush died of AIDS on November 26, 2000. At the time of his death, his collection included over 10,000 artifacts. A collection of his donated materials is held in the Canadian Lesbian and Gay archives.

The exhibition consists of clippings from print and online sources, conference and event materials, newsletters, religious service texts, promotional materials, videotapes, photographs, drawings, memorabilia, reference materials and administrative files.

Who is it for?
all-ages

Tickets : R.S.V.P. Contact for Opening Reception
How to get tickets?

Email: deannad@mnjcc.org

Date & Time: July 4 to August 5, 2019

M-F 5:30am-10:00pm
S-S 7:00am-7:00pm
July 4 – August 5, 2019
Opening Reception:
July 4, 2019
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Venue: The Gallery at the J (Main Floor)
The Miles Nadal JCC
750 Spadina Ave
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2J2

Street Parking
Public transport accessible