TOMQ started when a guy who does sex work from Montreal moved to Ottawa and started looking for connections to other guys who do sex work in the city. He wanted to get the inside scoop on how things worked in Ottawa and to share resources like bad date lists. After struggling to make connections, MAX Ottawa stepped in to hire a peer-to-peer outreach worker from within the community who could dedicate time and resources to fostering community connections between guys who do sex work.

Taking into account that guys regularly travel between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City for work, a community needs assessment was done across these cities in 2019-2020 to figure out what guys need to stay safe and feel good on the job. A report titled On The Move summarizes the key findings from the needs assessment. The creation of TOMQ.ca is a direct response to the community needs assessment.  The site is made possible by the generous support of community-based health and harm reduction organizations across Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City. The site is managed by a paid peer-to-peer support worker who has worked in both Ontario and Quebec and has a decade's worth of experience in various aspects of the commercial sex industry.

An advisory board made up of guys who do sex work across TOMQ and allies from ACT, MAX, REZO, and MIELS was created in 2020 to help with the work and provide further community accountability.  If you are interested in getting involved with the advisory board, contact us. There are always ways to plug in!