Qu'est-ce que l'ILGA ?

L'ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association) est une fédération mondiale fondée en 1978 qui regroupe plus de 400 organisations dans environ 90 pays, dédiée à la lutte contre les discriminations fondées sur l'orientation sexuelle et l'identité de genre.

Quel était le lien entre la CGLQ et l'ILGA ?

La CGLQ était membre de l'ILGA et son directeur général siégeait au conseil d'administration en tant que représentant de l'Amérique du Nord.

Pourquoi la conférence de Québec était-elle importante ?

La tenue de la 24e Conférence mondiale à Québec en mai 2008 aurait représenté une reconnaissance internationale majeure pour la communauté LGBT québécoise, coïncidant avec la Journée internationale de lutte contre l'homophobie.

February 27, 2026 Reading time: 5 min

ILGA and the 24^th World Conference in Quebec City

In brief: The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) is a global federation founded in 1978, bringing together more than 400 organizations in approximately 90 countries. CGLQ, whose Executive Director served on ILGA's board of directors, had been selected to host the 24^th World Conference in Quebec City in May 2008.

About ILGA

ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association) is a global federation of national associations and regional groups working to achieve equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide.

Founded in 1978, ILGA now brings together more than four hundred organizations. Every continent and approximately ninety countries are represented within this federation.

To date, ILGA is the only international, nongovernmental, nonprofit federation specifically addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity worldwide.

Structure and Governance

ILGA's board of directors consists of:

Two Secretaries General – one man and one woman, ensuring gender parity in the organization's leadership
A Women's Secretariat – ensuring representation of issues specific to lesbian and bisexual women
Two representatives per region – one man and one woman for each of the six geographical regions

This gender-balanced structure reflects ILGA's commitment to gender equality within its own internal operations.

Regional Representation

ILGA is organized into six geographical regions, each represented on the board of directors:

Africa – representing LGBT organizations on the African continent
Asia (ILGA Asia) – covering Asian countries
Oceania – including Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands
Europe (ILGA Europe) – one of the most active regional branches
Latin America and the Caribbean (ILGALAC) – covering Central and South America and the islands
North America – representing Canada and the United States

CGLQ within ILGA

CGLQ's Executive Director, Me Yvan Lapointe, was serving his second term as the North American representative on ILGA's board of directors. This strategic position enabled CGLQ to bring the voices of Quebec and Canadian LGBT people to the international stage.

CGLQ's presence on ILGA's board of directors also helped it secure the mandate to organize the 24^th World Conference in Quebec City, demonstrating recognition of the work accomplished by the Quebec organization.

The 24^th World Conference in Quebec City

CGLQ had been working for some time to bring the ILGA World Conference to Quebec City. The event was scheduled for May 14 to 20, 2008, coinciding with the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17. This coincidence would have given the event exceptional symbolic significance.

The conference would have brought together delegates from around the world at the Quebec City Convention Centre to discuss human rights issues, discrimination, and public policies affecting LGBT people. Unfortunately, the conference was postponed following a decision by ILGA.

Global Context

At the time the conference was being planned, homosexuality was still criminalized in nearly 80 countries worldwide, including approximately ten countries where it was punishable by death. This context underscored the crucial importance of the work carried out by ILGA and its member organizations, such as CGLQ, to advance the rights of LGBT people worldwide.

In this regard, Canada, and Quebec in particular, represented a model of progress in LGBT rights, with same-sex marriage legalized since 2005 and a Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms providing protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Frequently Asked Questions about ILGA

What is ILGA?

ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association) is a global federation founded in 1978 that brings together more than 400 national and regional organizations in approximately 90 countries. It is the only international nonprofit federation specifically dedicated to combating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

What was the relationship between CGLQ and ILGA?

CGLQ was a member of ILGA, and its Executive Director, Me Yvan Lapointe, served on ILGA's board of directors as the North American representative. CGLQ had also been selected to organize ILGA's 24^th World Conference in Quebec City in 2008.

Why was the Quebec City conference important?

Hosting ILGA's 24^th World Conference in Quebec City in May 2008 would have represented major international recognition for Quebec's LGBT community. The event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day Against Homophobia (May 17), adding a particularly strong symbolic dimension.

ILGA and the 24th World Conference in Quebec City