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The fight against homophobia
In 2008, the Minister of Justice was given responsibility by the Québec government for the fight against homophobia.
The aim of the government, working with many different partners, is to ensure full recognition of the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and transsexuals in Québec society.
Although Québec has passed legislation to recognize the legal equality of sexual minority members, they have yet to achieve full social acceptance.
The Premier announces the creation of a Research Chair on Homophobia
On November 21, 2011, the Premier of Québec, Jean Charest, accompanied by the Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Québec and Minister responsible for the fight against homophobia, Jean-Marc Fournier, announced the creation of a university Research Chair on Homophobia.
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| From left to right: Claude Corbo, rector of UQAM - Steve Foster, president and chief executive officer of the Conseil québécois des gais et lesbiennes - Line Chamberland, holder of the research chair on homophobia and professor at the department of sexology, UQAM - Jean Charest, Premier of Québec - Jean-Marc Fournier, Minister of Justice, Attorney General and Minister responsible for the fight against homophobia |
Around $475,000 will be invested over the next five years on the initiative, which is the first of its type in Canada and the French-speaking world, and the second in North America. The creation of the research chair is one of the measures set out in the 2011-2016 government action plan against homophobia.
The Research Chair on Homophobia will be part of the Department of Sexology at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).
The announcement was made at the Écomusée du fier monde de Montréal at a gathering of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgender (LGBT) community, joined by researchers, academics and government representatives involved in the fight against homophobia.
Press Release 
Fight against Homophobia Program
 The Fight against Homophobia Program is now in effect.
Organizations involved in the fight against homophobia and in defending the rights and interests of sexual minority members are invited to file an application for financial assistance by December 1, 2011 with the Bureau de lutte contre l'homophobie.
For more details, or to complete the financial assistance application form, see the following documents:
Press Release (in French)
Form (in French) ( 49 Ko)
Information guide (in French) ( 2,57 Mo)
For more information, contact:
Bureau de lutte contre l'homophobie
Ministère de la Justice
410, rue De Bellechasse Est, 2e étage
Montréal (Québec) H2S 1X3
Coordinator :
Roger Noël
roger.noel@justice.gouv.qc.ca
514 490-2383
Government action plan against homophobia 2011-2016
The Government action plan against homophobia 2011-2016 was released on May 20, 2011, as a joint undertaking by 11 government departments.
The plan presents 60 measures designed to provide active social, community and professional support for individuals in the LGBT community, and to increase knowledge about sexual diversity.
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| The Minister of Justice, Jean-Marc Fournier. |
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The four key measures are
- to set up a university research chair on homophobia;
- to organize Québec-wide information-raising campaigns about homophobia;
- to increase financial support for community organizations promoting and defending the rights of sexual minorities;
- to establish an office to combat homophobia.
Press release (in French)
Overview ( 369 Kb)
Government action plan against homophobia 2011-2016 ( 868 Kb)
Background
In March 2007, the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (CDPDJ) released a report drafted jointly with community organizations, entitled De l’égalité juridique à l’égalité sociale : vers une stratégie nationale de lutte contre l’homophobie, which made several recommendations on ways to take into account the realities and rights of sexual minority members.
The Québec Policy Against Homophobia, along with the Government action plan against homophobia 2011-2016, constituted the government’s response to the concerns expressed.
Québec Policy Against Homophobia
The Québec Policy Against Homophobia was launched in December 2009. Its four main guidelines, each of which includes strategic choices targeting specific objectives, are as follows:
- recognize the realities faced by sexual minority members;
- promote respect for the rights of sexual minority members;
- promote wellbeing;
- ensure a concerted approach.
Press release (in French)
Québec policy against homophobia - overview ( 565 Kb)
Québec policy against homophobia ( 2,5 Mb)
For more information
De l'égalité juridique à l'égalité sociale -Vers une stratégie nationale de lutte contre l'homophobie  ( 1,55 Mb)
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