Quebec foundation urges allies to show up for LGBTQ+ people to counter intolerance

Faced with a rise in hate speech against sexual diversity, Fondation Émergence is launching a campaign to mobilize allies of LGBTQ+ communities in the run-up to the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Entitled “The Ally Effect,” the campaign seeks to create a movement “where allies become more visible” in the face of a backlash against the rights of LGBTQ+ people here and elsewhere, explains Fondation Émergence’s executive director, Laurent Breault.

The aim of the initiative is to remind people that “every gesture counts, every voice can make a difference” in an attempt to reverse the trend.

“It’s about realizing that there are no small, insignificant gestures when you’re an ally. It can be reacting to homophobic comments, getting informed, taking part in events, making a donation. There are all sorts of things an ally can do,” said Breault in an interview.

“In the struggle to recognize the rights of LGBTQ+ people, allies have played a crucial role”, said Breault.

According to surveys conducted by Léger on behalf of Fondation Émergence, 58 per cent of Canadians “say they are rather sympathetic, but discreet or indifferent” when it comes to defending LGBTQ+ communities, said Breault.

It is this latter segment of public opinion that the organization hopes to mobilize through its campaign, “because we know that the more we talk about LGBT realities and explain our situation, (the more) people develop empathy and ultimately understand our issues,” he said.

According to Fondation Émergence, those who have LGBTQ+ people in their entourage also adopt a more positive perception of their reality and are more ready to intervene when disrespectful comments or gestures are made.

“An ally can be a heterosexual, cisgender person, as well as people from LGBTQ+ communities. They can also be companies that provide training on LGBTQ+ realities or put in place policies that promote a healthy environment for their employees from these communities,” said Breault.

“Being an ally is not a given. You don’t get a certificate at the end of a long training course,” he explained. “It’s a daily process. It’s the accumulation of small gestures on a daily basis that makes you an ally.”

Fondation Émergence’s campaign is being rolled out via the allieffect.ca website, where people can contribute to the counter showing the number of people who have declared themselves allies. The site also explains the actions people can take to support LGBTQ+ communities.

Various items bearing the official campaign symbol will also be on sale.

An increase in intolerance

The organization points out that intolerance towards LGBTQ+ people is on the rise around the world, including in Canada.

Breault cites that the number of hate crimes related to sexual orientation in Canada quadrupled between 2018 and 2023. The foundation also cites the GRIS Montréal report, published in January, which revealed that the level of discomfort among young Quebecers about their best friend’s homosexuality has doubled in recent years.

Given this situation, might many people be reluctant to stand up for LGBTQ+ people for fear of being the target of derogatory comments?

“Allies may experience homophobia, transphobia and lesbophobia by association,” admits the organization’s CEO.

“On the other hand, I think that strength in numbers is important here, hence the idea of our message where every ally counts. The more people come forward, the more I think they’ll want to do it. There’s a ripple effect, a snowball effect,” he said.

Next week, the foundation plans to unveil a video to promote the campaign, in which various public figures have taken part.

“I very much hope it will have a ripple effect,” said Breault.

A citizens’ march on May 17

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, which has been held on May 17 since 2003, will have “a really special connotation this year because the setbacks are visible,” said Breault.

“I have the impression that this year’s event is going to be particularly important, atypical, because people are already seeing the setbacks, and I think the need to support the rights of LGBTQ+ people is quite obvious,” he said.

Fondation Émergence is inviting the public to take part in a citizens’ solidarity walk on Saturday May 17 in Montreal. The walk will start at 2 p.m. in the Quartier des spectacles. Participants will walk a distance of 2 km along Sainte-Catherine Street East to the Village.

Breault points out that this day is a “moment of convergence” to raise awareness and inform the general public about the realities of LGBTQ+ people.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews