Toronto, Canada, is believed to be the oldest gay bookstore in the world.Its history dates back to 1970 before there was much of an established gay scene in Toronto.
It began life with activist Jearld Moldenhauer becoming a mobile library and hauling LGBTQ books around in a backpack to community meetings.In 1981, Glad Day took over a small, cramped second-floor space on Yonge Street.
Despite the lack of space, it gained a loyal following who returned, again and again, to browse the books, magazines and comics, listen to readings, hold activism meetings or check the community bulletin board.However, like other booksellers, the turn of the century brought fresh challenges.