LGBTQ+ Workshops and Conferences: CGLQ Training Programs in Quebec

The Importance of Training and Awareness

Homophobia, transphobia, and prejudice against LGBTQ+ people are fueled above all by ignorance. This is why training and awareness have been fundamental pillars of the CGLQ's work since its founding. As stated in its mandate, the CGLQ is committed to organizing public conference series, information sessions, and training sessions for groups and professionals.

The CGLQ's workshops and conferences address a real need: despite Quebec's legislative advances regarding LGBT rights, a lack of understanding of LGBTQ+ realities persists in many settings. Stereotypes, microaggressions, and subtle forms of discrimination continue to affect the daily lives of LGBTQ+ people, particularly in settings where sexual and gender diversity has little visibility.

Training helps demystify LGBTQ+ realities, dismantle prejudices, and equip professionals with practical tools to create inclusive environments. It is also an essential means of preventing bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Anti-Homophobia Training in Schools

Schools are a priority area for the CGLQ's work. Attitudes and behaviours toward diversity are formed at school and college. These are also settings where homophobia and transphobia cause the greatest harm, with documented consequences for LGBTQ+ young people's mental health, academic success, and dropout rates.

College and University Initiatives

The CGLQ works in Quebec CEGEPs and universities to offer awareness workshops to students. These workshops address the realities of LGBTQ+ people, the history of the rights movement, terminology, and contemporary issues. They allow young adults to develop a nuanced understanding of sexual and gender diversity.

Post-secondary training is also intended for teaching staff and other professionals, providing them with tools to recognize and respond to homophobic or transphobic situations in their institutions.

Secondary School Initiatives

Adapted for teenage audiences, secondary school initiatives focus on dismantling stereotypes, learning respectful vocabulary, and raising awareness of the consequences of homophobic bullying. The CGLQ works alongside other Quebec LGBT organizations such as GRIS (Groupe de recherche et d'intervention sociale) to maximize the impact of school initiatives.

School Staff Training

An essential component of school training targets staff: teachers, school administrators, school psychologists, supervisors, and support staff. The goal is to equip them to create a safe and inclusive school environment where LGBTQ+ students can thrive without fear of discrimination.

“A young person who identifies as LGBTQ+ and attends a welcoming institution has a significantly reduced risk of psychological distress. Training school staff literally saves lives.”

Police Training

One of the CGLQ's most notable training programs is designed for police services. The relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and police services has historically been marked by distrust, a legacy of an era when police raids on establishments frequented by gay people were commonplace.

The Quebec City Training Program (2005-2006)

Between 2005 and 2006, the CGLQ conducted an extensive training program for the Service de police de la Ville de Québec (SPVQ). This program trained more than 800 police officers on the realities experienced by LGBTQ+ people. Unprecedented in scope in Quebec, this initiative aimed to:

• Raise awareness among officers about the specific realities of LGBTQ+ people – Intimate partner violence in same-sex couples, hate crimes, systemic discrimination
• Improve how LGBTQ+ people are received when they file a complaint – By avoiding intrusive questions, implicit judgments, and discouraging attitudes
• Provide training on recognizing homophobic or transphobic hate crimes – By distinguishing an isolated incident from a hate crime
• Build trust between police services and the LGBTQ+ community – By demonstrating an institutional commitment to inclusion

This program was praised by police authorities and the LGBTQ+ community. It helped significantly improve the relationship between the SPVQ and the local community and served as a model for other similar initiatives across Quebec.

Ongoing Police Training

Building on this success, the CGLQ continued providing training to other police services in Quebec. These sessions address recent developments, including the realities of trans and non-binary people, homophobic cyberbullying, and issues affecting Indigenous and racialized LGBTQ+ people.

Workplace and Community Training

Beyond schools and police services, the CGLQ offers training tailored to a variety of workplace and community settings.

Health and Social Services

Health and social services professionals play a crucial role in the well-being of LGBTQ+ people. The CGLQ's training in this sector addresses the inclusive reception of LGBTQ+ patients, specific health issues (mental health, sexual health, care for trans people), and the creation of prejudice-free care environments.

Corporate Settings

More and more Quebec companies are turning to organizations such as the CGLQ to train their employees in diversity and inclusion. These training programs cover workplace inclusion policies, diversity management within teams, prevention of harassment and discrimination, and support for workplace gender transition processes.

Community Organizations

The CGLQ also trains professionals from community organizations that do not specifically serve LGBTQ+ people – shelters, youth centres, women's centres, immigrant support organizations – so that they can provide an appropriate welcome to LGBTQ+ people who use their services.

Legal Sector

Specific workshops are offered to legal professionals – lawyers, notaries, mediators – on the legal aspects of sexual and gender diversity: family law for same-sex couples, changing sex designation in the civil status register, employment discrimination, and the rights of trans people.

Summary Table of Training Offered by Setting

Workshop Methodology

Over the years, the CGLQ has developed a proven methodology for its training programs, based on the following principles:

Small Groups, Big Impact

The CGLQ's workshops favour small groups of 8 to 10 people. This intimate format creates an atmosphere of trust where participants feel free to ask questions, even those they may find embarrassing or naive. Experience shows that it is often in these candid moments that the deepest prejudices are addressed and dismantled.

Participatory Approach

The CGLQ's training sessions are not lectures. They are based on a participatory approach that includes case studies, role-playing scenarios, group discussions, and testimonials from LGBTQ+ people. This methodology fosters empathy and grounds learning in concrete situations that participants can apply in their daily professional lives.

Tailored content

Each training session is tailored to its target audience. A workshop intended for police officers will not address the same aspects as a workshop in a school or workplace setting. The CGLQ conducts a preliminary assessment of each group's needs to design a relevant and effective program.

Experienced trainers

The training sessions are led by trainers with expertise in education, social work, or psychology, combined with in-depth knowledge of LGBTQ+ realities. Several trainers are themselves members of the community, which enriches the workshops with authentic personal accounts.

Conferences and events

Alongside its workshops, the CGLQ organizes and participates in numerous conferences and events in Quebec and internationally. Its status as an organization accredited by the United Nations ECOSOC gives it unique credibility and reach among Quebec organizations.

Public conference series

The CGLQ regularly produces conference series open to the general public, covering a variety of topics: the history of LGBT rights in Quebec, the international situation of LGBTQ+ people, contemporary issues such as cyberbullying or transgender rights, and the experiences of same-sex-parent families. These conferences attract a diverse audience, ranging from LGBTQ+ people and professionals to families and allies.

Montreal OutGames (2006)

The 1st World OutGames, held in Montreal from July 26 to August 5, 2006, marked a historic moment for the international LGBTQ+ community. The CGLQ actively participated both in organizing the international conference on the human rights of LGBT people that accompanied the sporting events and in facilitating specific workshops. The OutGames brought together more than 10 000 participants from 111 countries and showcased Quebec expertise in LGBTQ+ rights.

Peoples' Social Forum in Ottawa (2014)

The CGLQ participated in the Peoples' Social Forum, held in Ottawa in August 2014. This event, which brings together social movements from across Canada, enabled the CGLQ to present its work on LGBTQ+ realities in Quebec and build ties of solidarity with other human rights organizations. The CGLQ's participation reflects its commitment to placing the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights within the broader social justice movement.

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (May 17)

Every year, on May 17, the CGLQ takes part in activities for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. This date commemorates the removal of homosexuality from the World Health Organization's list of mental illnesses in 1990. On this occasion, the CGLQ organizes or participates in conferences, awareness-raising activities, and public speaking engagements.

Fierté Montréal and regional events

The CGLQ is present at Fierté Montréal, the largest LGBT event in Canada, as well as at regional Pride events throughout Quebec. Its presence at these events helps raise awareness among a broad audience, recruit new members, and strengthen ties with the community. The CGLQ operates information booths, hosts conferences, and participates in Pride marches.

International activities

Through its accreditation with UN ECOSOC, the CGLQ participates in international forums where it gives presentations on LGBTQ+ realities in Quebec. The CGLQ's board of directors oversees these international activities, which contribute to the organization's visibility and to sharing expertise with countries seeking progress in human rights.

Impact and tangible training outcomes

The CGLQ's training programs have produced tangible results over more than thirty years of activity. Several indicators demonstrate their effectiveness:

• More than 800 police officers trained in Quebec City in 2005-2006, helping improve relations between the SPVQ and the LGBTQ+ community
• Activities in dozens of schools in Quebec, reaching thousands of students and hundreds of staff members
• Participation in major international events such as the Montreal OutGames, bringing Quebec expertise to the international stage
• Production of training materials reused by other organizations and adapted to different settings
• Contribution to public policies aimed at combating homophobia and transphobia, informing the debate with field data

Beyond the numbers, the impact of the training is measured by changes in attitudes, the inclusion policies adopted by trained organizations, and testimonials from participants who say they changed their behaviours and perceptions following the workshops.

The CGLQ's training programs also contribute to the broader awareness-raising ecosystem in Quebec. By training “multiplier agents” – people who become drivers of change in their respective settings – the CGLQ considerably amplifies the impact of each workshop. A trained police officer shares what they have learned with colleagues; an informed teacher transforms their classroom into a safe space for everyone.

How to invite the CGLQ to provide training

The CGLQ's workshops and conferences are available to any organization, school, company, or institution seeking to train its staff or members on sexual and gender diversity.

Here are the steps for receiving training from the CGLQ:

1. Initial contact – Contact the CGLQ through the contact page, describing your organization and training needs
2. Needs assessment – A member of the training team assesses your specific needs and proposes a tailored program
3. Training proposal – The CGLQ presents you with a detailed program, including objectives, content, duration, and logistics
4. Planning – Dates, location, and practical arrangements are agreed upon with your organization
5. Training delivery – The workshop is facilitated by qualified CGLQ trainers
6. Follow-up – Post-training follow-up makes it possible to assess the impact and answer any questions that may arise later

Training can take place on your premises or at a neutral location, depending on your preferences. The CGLQ also offers conference formats for larger groups, in addition to small-group workshops.

By becoming a member of the CGLQ, your organization helps fund these training programs and strengthens the CGLQ's capacity to continue its awareness-raising work throughout Quebec.