York Region is one of Canada's most vibrant, diverse and tolerant regions, located immediately to the north of the City of Toronto.

The region includes the nine mumcipalities of Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan and Whitchurch-Stoufville.

With more than one million residents, York Region's population is just under half that of Toronto.

The region covers 1,776 square kilometres from Lake Simcoe in the north to the City of Toronto in the south. It borders Simcoe County and Peel Region in the west and Durham Region in the east. But despite its size and the diversity of its population, York Region enjoys the lowest crime rate in the Greater Toronto Area.

Based on information presently available, it's impossible to calculate the exact size of the region's LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) community. LGBT residents of the region are however estimated to number between 32,000 and 70,000. In this article, we explain how these figures have been calculated.

Close proximity to Toronto offers clear advantages to residents of York Region. But, when it comes to the quality of life on offer to the region's gays and lesbians, having such easy access to Canada's largest city can be a double-edged sword.