Arco-Iris, The Organization that broke barriers

In May of 1996, Ontario witnessed a historic moment when the first association representative of the LGBTQ membersof the Portuguese-speaking community was formed.  This organization was founded to raise homophobia awareness, inform, and instill an accepting mentality within the Luso-Canadian community.  During its heyday, Arco-Iris’ membership hailed from various Portuguese-speaking destinations such as Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. 

The group of founders laid an important foundation for what was to become one of the most prominent organizations within the Portuguese community during the initial decade of the new millennium. They created brochures and posters to address homophobia in the community, organized socials events to which everyone was invited, acquired office space that served as its headquarters, and drafted a very inclusive constitution. Its efforts were further recognized when the organization held a famous press conference at City Hall that was well attended by prominent figures and much of the local media.

Jorge Costa, although not a founding member, was a major proponent of the organization. In the early 2000s, along with others, he became responsible for a lot of the work that Arco-Iris promoted within the community…and it was life-changing work.

 “There were many  problems regarding the acceptance of homosexuals in the Portuguese community”, Jorge Costa, long time president, told us in 2008 during an interview with Luso-Ontario Magazine.  “We saw that Arco-Iris needed to have an active voice in the Portuguese community and we felt that we had to educate them to understand and respect the Charter of Rights”, he added.

According to Costa, one of the most significant milestones of Arco-Iris was its integration into the Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of Ontario (ACAPO).  “The Alliance would be a force for us, to participate in the Parade, to educate the community.  That was a big step Arco-Iris took”, Costa reminisces and credits Jose Eustaquio, then president of ACAPO, for part of this accomplishment.  “Joe Eustaquio approved  it right away, but we had to attend the (ACAPO) meeting and give a presentation.  We were well accepted.  There were many associations that supported us a lot”, he revealed. 

As a consequence of this achievement, members of Arco-Iris began to receive invitations to attend events at various associations within the community.  Many members of the organization were heterosexual. It was a time of positive change in the community. 

At Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade, according to Costa, the Arco-Iris float won a prize for its cultural component and its members’ attire, in 2003.  During that interview to Luso-Ontario Magazine, in 2008, Jorge Costa considered this as one of the most important milestones in the history of the organization.

Thrilled with the success, the Portuguese-speaking LGBTQ community began to celebrate Portugal Day at Woody’s, a bar on Church Street.  Several entities were present during these celebrations, as was the case of João Perestrelo, Consul General of Portugal in Toronto at the time, among others.

“Some of our goals have been achieved, but there is still a lot of work to do.  There are many more barriers to break”, shot Jorge Costa. 

Costa was the recipient of the ACAPO Merit Award in 2004 and also received an award from the television program Gente da Nossa in recognition of his work on behalf of gays and lesbians of the Portuguese-speaking community.

Jorge Costa moved temporarily to Portugal, which resulted in an interruption of the association’s activities. In 2016, he returned to Toronto and revived the organization. A year later, Arco-Iris participated in Toronto’s Gay Pride Parade for the first time in many years. In 2018, it participated in the Portugal Day Parade, organized by ACAPO, repeating the feat the following year, accompanied by the group Brasileiros LGBT Toronto.

Jorge Costa continues to hold the title of President but he’s looking for the younger generation to take over. “I’m getting older and I have some health issues. I’d like for the younger generation to take over”, he told Luso Canada.

Arco-Iris is finding it increasingly more difficult to attract volunteers to carry-out the work started nearly three decades ago. Even though much has been accomplished by the organization, many in the community still find it difficult to ‘come out’, which makes the role of the organization that much more important in these current times.