Toronto Queer Aunties accused of copying L.A. Black creators

A Toronto community member is accusing a local queer events company of copying a Los Angeles Black Queer brand without credit, raising questions about originality, recognition, and who shapes queer nightlife in the city.

Toronto creator Anaïsol Opoku, known as @livingwithsol_ on TikTok, shared her experience attending @queer.aunties events in Toronto and accused the company of copying the American Queer brand @queerauntiesla. She called it "creative theft."

Opoku pointed out that Queer Aunties LA was established first and explicitly celebrates Black and brown Queer culture. "Aunties is a cultural word, specifically for the African Black communities, I know with South Asians as well," she said. "If you look up Queer Aunties LA, the only difference is that they have LA in their name."

During her visit to the Toronto event, Opoku said she didn't see as many people of colour as she expected, given the event's stated demographic. She believes both events can exist, but credit must be given where it's due. "The conversation is not about whether both can exist, it's about ripping off Black creators. Both can exist, and they should. It's a beautiful concept. It's something that I think is needed in Toronto, but to not ask for that permission, to not acknowledge the contributions they've made, that's not right," she said.

Opoku added that there's a pattern in Toronto where "Black people are cool enough to enjoy the concepts, enjoy the culture, but they're not accepted in movements that are supposed to be inclusive. Their contributions are minimized, they're not acknowledged, and when they're pointed out, they're dismissed."

Queer Aunties LA responded to Opoku's video by thanking the creator for raising awareness. "We created this space for Queer Black folks to feel seen, heard and safe," they said, reposting the video on TikTok.