This version was designed to provide a brief overview of what the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec is and what it does. It is, of course, impossible to provide a complete list of the initiatives undertaken by our organization. That said, we would be delighted to provide you with further information by email. We hope that the pursuit of social and legal equality for all LGBT people is among your interests and that collaboration between us will be possible, allowing us to join forces and help improve their daily lives.
Overview
VISION
The CGLQ works to foster harmonious coexistence and contributes to a society moving toward greater social and legal equality for sexually diverse people, in accordance with the Conventions on human and children's rights. We devote all our resources to eradicating every form of discrimination, violence, or inequality directly or indirectly related to sexual orientation and, in doing so, to combating and reducing homophobia.
The CGLQ welcomes you to its new website. With a team of volunteers, it continues to provide training, information, and awareness programs about the realities experienced by lesbians and gay men in Quebec. It also works in cooperation with ILGA to mobilize and promote Quebec, Canadian, and international studies (research papers and theses) on LGBT realities/issues within the United Nations Economic and Social sector. As a UN observer with ECOSOC, the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec is the only LGBT NGO to hold this right at the UN (the right to act as an observer and rapporteur at ECOSOC-UN assemblies).
MISSION
Two historical phases
History from 1992 to 2006
For those who may not be familiar with the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec, we are pleased to offer this brief introduction to our organization. First and foremost, the Coalition is a Quebec-wide rights advocacy organization incorporated under Part III of the Quebec Companies Act (non-profit organization). Founded in 1992, our organization's mandate is to defend, promote, and represent the rights of Quebec's LGBT communities and individuals. It celebrated its 20th anniversary in the spring of 2012.
History from 2006 to 2014
The Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec established a new Board, made up primarily of LGBT organizations from Canada. The CGLQ has been revitalized by this new Board and its representatives.
Thanks to the work of persistent and hardworking people, the CGLQ has for several years remained the only Quebec observer of LGBT realities and issues in Quebec and Canada for ECOSOC-UN.
The privilege of its UN accreditation enables it to report discrimination, violence, and inequalities affecting LGBT people to other major international institutions. The expertise of researchers and practitioners associated with the CGLQ is recognized in Quebec, Canada, and internationally. It is used to provide specialized training for existing community programs serving LGBT people. It contributes to the development of new prevention/awareness tools and tools for combating homophobia (and LGBT-phobias). The CGLQ works with several LGBT organizations, including CReACC-DiversitéS, Centre de recherches et d'activités culturelles et communautaires sur les diversités (http://creacc-diversites.org/). It promotes connections between universities in Montreal and elsewhere. It has the support of IRQR, Iranian Railtoad Queer Refugees. Finally, the various forms of knowledge mobilized to combat homophobia (the knowledge of intervention and research professionals) appear to us to constitute a promising exchange and a most encouraging prospect for a better future, toward more harmonious coexistence!
ACTION
• Participate in events—conferences, consultations, debates, interviews—that directly or indirectly concern the realities and issues experienced by LGBT people;
• Engage with political and social leaders on all matters directly or indirectly affecting LGBT people;
• Defend the rights of LGBT people in general or in specific cases;
• Raise public awareness of LGBT realities in order to reduce and put an end to all forms of discrimination against LGBT people (including community-based bullying and homophobia);
• Raise LGBT people's awareness of their rights;
• Direct and guide LGBT people through the steps they should take in cases of discrimination;
• Inform LGBT people of their legal rights;
• Refer LGBT people to other organizations according to their needs.
David Risse,
President of the CGLQ
Defend…
One of the primary objectives of the Coalition gaie et lesbienne de Québec was to turn the word “equality” from a utopian ideal into reality. In this regard, a major milestone has been reached in recent years, and the CGLQ played a major role in all of the following achievements:
- Preparatory work for Bill 32;
- Collaboration with various government stakeholders on the recognition of same-sex partners (Ministère de la solidarité sociale and Régie des rentes du Québec);
- Attendance at Canadian Senate hearings on Bill C-23;
- Involvement in the matter of civil marriage between same-sex partners (Canada and United States);
- Interventions in several cases concerning discrimination and bullying;
- Participation in the National Forum on Immigration and Citizenship, initiated by the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l’immigration (presentation of discussion workshops and preparation of a brief by the CGLQ executive board);
- Etc.
Promote…
Although cases dealing with homophobia and homosexuality have regularly made headlines in recent years and laws have been enacted, this is not enough to guarantee social equality, despite greater legal equality. Society being what it is, certain shortcomings and problems remain, and we must promote more comprehensive fairness, including retroactively (for example, the Régime des rentes du Québec with respect to the pension of a surviving spouse). Our work also consists of updating information campaigns for LGBT people to inform them of the differences between the various forms of union, compared with the social majority. The Coalition has given lectures, information sessions, and specialized training to a wide variety of audiences directly or indirectly affected by the cause.
We also believe it is important to support and encourage LGBT culture and creativity among the public, as well as to represent homosexuality through broadcasters. They can prove to be powerful allies when it comes to combating prejudice. Let us not forget that homophobia still often results from ignorance.
Promoting also means supporting the actions of our partners, and motivating and equipping associations, groups, and organizations committed to the collective fight against discrimination and that use concrete means to achieve it.
Represent...
To ensure the successful fulfilment of its mandates, the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec works closely with various groups emerging from LGBT communities throughout Quebec and, as far as possible, Canada. This coordination allows us to take positions on various current issues and move forward. Of course, our entire mission is based on representing the interests and respecting the rights of LGBT people in Quebec.
The Coalition is often approached by various regional, national, and international media regarding subjects related to homosexuality and homophobia. We use our skills to advance human rights in Quebec and Canada, attract media attention beyond our borders, and provide them with accurate information to better capture their interest in similar persistent issues abroad.
The pioneering work in question here has propelled us onto the international stage for several years. The Coalition gaie et lesbienne has participated in international conferences and has repeatedly been recognized as a leader in LGBT rights.
As a former member of the board of directors of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), we were able to share our experience with other countries seeking equality for LGBT people. It is important to mention that this regular international exchange not only helps participating countries secure fundamental rights, but also properly equips our organization so that we can continue to offer services that meet the expectations of local applicants/partners.
For years, the Coalition has participated in the following international events:
- Participation (summer 1999) in an international conference at King's College London, bringing together lawyers from Commonwealth member countries, supreme court judges from Australia, South Africa, Canada, Great Britain, the United Nations international tribunal, Norway, and the Netherlands. Objective: To present the Quebec model for human rights and recognition of minority rights (Bill 32);
- In collaboration with Tourisme Montréal, the Coalition meets with the North American gay press to inform them about the metropolis's “gay friendly” status and about Bill 32
- Participation in various ILGA world conferences in South Africa, the United States, Italy, Switzerland, etc.;
- Assistance to Ecuador, Uganda, Fiji, and the State of Vermont, among others, in their pursuit of equality for LGBT people
- Participation in the United Nations Millennium Forum in May 2000 (Inclusion of discrimination based on sexual orientation in the declaration of NGOs participating in the forum). This declaration was presented to the heads of state and government gathered in New York for the Millennium Summit.
- Creation of ILGA's French-speaking network with French-speaking and Francophile gay groups at the ILGA World Conference in Rome
- Participation in the “Creating Change” conference in Atlanta 2000 and the International Network of Gay and Lesbian Officials conference in Pheonix (Arizona);
- Presentation of the Golden Tupilak Award (an award presented annually in Sweden) to Me Claudine Ouellet (former Executive Director of the CGLQ) for her very active participation in New York before and during the NGO Millennium Forum in drafting a Joint Declaration by all participants on the political, social, and cultural rights of homosexuals;
- Participation in various American conferences bringing together hundreds of LGBT activists. (National Task Force);
- We will present training workshops as part of the Montreal OutGames Conference (2006);
- The former Executive Director of the CGLQ, Me Lapointe, was part of the International Scientific Committee for the Montreal Out Games LGBT Rights Conference (2006);
- Securing the 24th ILGA World Conference in Quebec City for 2008 (also celebrating Quebec City's 400th anniversary);
- Work toward obtaining NGO status with ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Sector); OBTAINED
- Participation in the People's Social Forum in Ottawa (August 2014) and facilitation of workshops on aging and diversity, as well as anti-sexist and anti-racist education;
- Etc.
Training for groups and professionals
Training workshops
We all know that homophobia results from ignorance. That is why we developed various specialized training workshops offered to target groups in order to demystify homosexuality and highlight the issues LGBT people experience daily in our society. From this perspective, workshop participants find it easier to see reality from another angle. The atmosphere and format encourage questions that probably could not have been asked in another setting.
We offer training to any groups that request it. So far, we have gained considerable experience with college and university groups, professional associations, police forces, and community groups.
Police force training
The years 2005 and 2006 were particularly marked by a major training program delivered to all members of Quebec City's police forces. In total, approximately 800 people received this training in small groups of 8 to 10 people. These sessions were so successful that our Executive Director was invited to the annual police forces convention to present the training model to other Quebec municipal services. Since then, many of them have expressed strong interest in this training program.
