Intolerance towards 2SLGBTQ+ people is increasing in Quebec schools: study

A rise in hatred towards 2SLGBTQ+ people in schools is worrying the GRIS-Montréal organization and the Fédération des comités de parents du Québec (FCPQ).

Spokespersons for both organizations expressed their concerns during a press briefing on Thursday morning at the Longueuil campus of the Université de Sherbrooke.

As part of the annual conference of the Table nationale de lutte contre l’homophobie et la transphobie des réseaux de l’éducation, they presented data showing that the level of discomfort among young people when their best friend is homosexual has doubled.

Between 2017 and 2024, it increased from 15.2 per cent to 33.8 per cent for a lesbian friend and from 24.7 per cent to 40.4 per cent for a gay friend, explained Gabrielle Richard, director of research at GRIS-Montréal.

Intolerance is observable in all age groups, regardless of their gender, religion or the region where the school is located.

The results of the study conducted by GRIS-Montréal are based on more than 35,000 questionnaires completed by high school students in several regions of Quebec.

This increase would have been particularly pronounced during the 2021-2022 school year. According to GRIS-Montréal and the FCPQ, there has been a parallel increase in hate speech and violence in schools with comments such as “I am homophobic and it is my right” or ”stop normalizing a shame.”

Richard says these behaviours among young people are exacerbated by “social networks, polarized attitudes and the rise of masculinist discourse.”

Both organizations advocate for raising awareness of 2SLGBTQ+ realities among staff, parents and students to counter the rise of intolerance.

In her 20-year career with GRIS-Montréal, Executive Director Marie Houzeau said she was “dismayed to see that we must once again fight so that our young people can flourish without fear of rejection or violence.”

She calls on parents and public authorities to act together.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews

Health content from The Canadian Press receives funding through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. Editorial choices are the sole responsibility of The Canadian Press.