Dying, Singled Out — new book by Alain Labonté

The Book

In this deeply personal book, the author looks back on his arrival in Montréal in 1989, at a time when HIV/AIDS was spreading at lightning speed and leaving a lasting mark on an entire generation. He recounts the experiences of several people close to him who contracted the virus, some of whom were rejected by their families and those around them—an isolation that echoes the issues of mental health and support in dealing with minority stress still experienced by the LGBTQ+ community today. Many died alone, often in poverty. Then in his early twenties, the author stayed by their side until the end, as best he could.

The 2020 pandemic rekindled his memories of the 1980s, giving rise to an urgent need to bear witness. This book was born from a desire to give a voice to these men who are gone, to bring back to life existences marked by loneliness, fear, and abandonment, but also by the strength of human bonds and friendship.

Dying, Singled Out is intended as an act of remembrance, so that their names and lives are not erased. This testimony directly reflects the CGLQ's mission to preserve the memory and uphold the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Québec, and echoes the remembrance work carried out by the entire LGBT community network in Québec.

The Author

Alain Labonté is a lyricist and runs his own communications firm. In 2015, he published A Soul and Its Hardware (reissued in 2023, Édito), a bestselling book that challenges preconceived notions about electroshock treatment. In collaboration with Simon Boulerice, he published I Like Men Too (Stanké, 2017), and then began a correspondence with Pénélope McQuade that would give rise to I Like Women Too (Stanké, 2019). He is also the author of Three Seasons and a Skylight (Édito, 2023).

Practical Information

Book Launch Tour

The author will present his book at several launches across Québec, many featuring public interviews:

• Tuesday, September 22 (L'Avenir): Maison de la Culture, from 15 h to 20 h
• Wednesday, September 23 (Montréal): Librairie Gallimard, from 15 h to 21 h, with a public interview hosted by Erwan Leseul (18 h)
• Thursday, September 24 (Drummondville): Renaud-Bray, from 15 h to 21 h
• Friday, September 25 (Sherbrooke): Librairie Appalaches, from 16 h to 20 h, with an interview hosted by Gérald Gaudet
• Sunday, September 27 (Saint-Jérôme): Prana Café, from 14 h to 17 h, presentation and reading
• Tuesday, September 29 (Québec City): Pub Le Bivouac, from 16 h to 20 h, in partnership with the Association des aînés gais de la capitale
• Thursday, October 1^st (Trois-Rivières): Librairie Poirier, from 17 h to 20 h, with an interview hosted by Patricia Powers
• Tuesday, October 6 (Saint-Hyacinthe): BilPub Bilboquet, from 16 h to 20 h
• Thursday, October 8 (Rimouski): Librairie Vénus, from 16 h to 20 h, with an interview hosted by Geneviève Gagnon
• Tuesday, December 1^st (Trois-Rivières): Librairie L'Exèdre, from 17 h 30 to 19 h 30, as part of World AIDS Day, in partnership with GRIS-Mauricie/Centre-du-Québec, Tandem, and les OuRRRs de Trois-Rivières

The Montréal launch on September 23 at Librairie Gallimard (3700, boulevard Saint-Laurent) includes a book signing and a talk open to the public.

Contact

For interview or information requests: Alain Labonté — alain@alainlabonte.ca — 514 815 2128. Press contact (Édito): Laurène Guillemin — lguillemin@madrigallcanada.ca — 514 581 7979.