coming outs, many people ostracized by their sexual orientation “,” text “:” There is still a lot of work to do; there are a lot of people who are afraid of coming out, a lot of people ostracized by their sexual orientation “}}” lang = “en”>There is still a lot of work to do. There are a lot of people who are afraid to make coming outs, many people ostracized by their sexual orientation
, observes Jean-Sébastien Boudreault, in an interview with ICI RDI.
The lawyer and former vice-president of Fierté Montréal nevertheless notes a positive development which is reflected in the legislation. All legal advances are important, he says, but mentalities have to change.
I come from Saguenay, I am not sure that in 2020 I would walk in downtown Saguenay hand in hand with my boyfriend without facing glances, whispers.
In his view, inclusion is mainly a matter of education. You can learn racism, you are not born homophobic, racist or transphobic. We need to change the behavior of adults to [favoriser] better education.
Double discrimination
Equality between individuals will also require an overhaul of institutions, defends Stephan Hardy, president of the LGBTQ + Collective in Manitoba.
Interview on the show Culture and jam, He denounces the barrier
experienced by the LGBTQ + community in a linguistic minority situation when it comes in particular to access to health care, social services, but also in education, in the reception of newcomers, homes for the elderly, schools and universities
.
LGBTQ + communities live a double constraint in a linguistic minority situation
, he analyzes.
Emmett Lamache, executive director of the Enchanted Network in Edmonton makes the same observation: It is very difficult for Francophone minority organizations to simply take resources from Quebec or even Ontario and use them. Our situation is not the same, our access to resources is much more reduced.
Fear of disunity
It also evokes a reality which is too often overlooked and which can characterize certain regions in a linguistic minority situation: the demand for differences wrongly perceived as a threat to the fragile unity of the community.
Our communities have long tried to fight assimilation and this fight has created a very specific culture
, he says in an interview on the show Culture and jam.
There is a certain fear […] to accept and admit difference within Francophone communities, [parce que] it will seem like we are not united.
Beyond verbal aggression and shock rejection manifestations, homophobic prejudices have been transposed in a systemic, hidden and subtle
, one level deeper
, he remarks.
Elsewhere in Canada, Borderland Pride, an activist for the rights of LGBTQ + people in the northwest of the province, has filed a complaint of discrimination against the township of Emo with the Human Rights Tribunal. Last month, three of five elected municipal officials refused to officially recognize June as Pride Month.
“There is still a lot to do”
Pandemic forces, a large part of Pride Month events were organized online this year, with the exception of one demonstration in Toronto, gathering hundreds of people who came to support marginalized communities.
