Ides 61: Glad Day
Glad Day Bookshop, Toronto’s longest-running bookstore, was Canada’s first queer-focused bookseller and is the oldest LGBTQ bookshop in the world.
Glad Day has persisted through widespread bigotry, repeatedly battled censorship and, for more than half a century, has served as a haven for an entire community.
In 1970, Jearld Moldenhauer launched the fledgling bookshop — which doubled as the office of what is now DailyXtra.com — from his home in The Annex. The store pulled up roots two or three times during the ensuing decade, before settling in at its Yonge St location in 1981.
On Church St since 2016, Glad Day has expanded its role as a community hub, with an accessible coffee shop, bookstore & bar that hosts readings, performances and community meetings, as well as offering a wide online LGBTQ lit at: gladdaybookshop.com.
This Belgian blonde was developed with the Pride Flag as an inspiration. Red raspberries, orange peel, yellow pale barley malt, green hops, blue water and purple heather flowers. While we call it a Belgian ‘blonde’, Glad Day pours a hazy pink colour with notes of tart raspberries, fruity esters and a hint of herbal, floral hops. Light bodied and only 4%, this fruity ale is perfect for the warm weather that we hope is coming in the near future!
Profits from the sale of this beer will go directly to Halco, a charitable not-for-profit community-based legal clinic that provides free legal services for people living with HIV/AIDS.
