Presentation of the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec (CGLQ)

This version was designed to provide a comprehensive overview of what the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec is and what it accomplishes. It is, of course, impossible to provide a complete list of the achievements initiated by our organization. That said, we will be very pleased to provide you with further information by email. We hope that the pursuit of social and legal equality for all LGBT people will be among your interests and that collaboration between us will be possible, enabling us to join forces and help improve their daily lives.

Vision

The CGLQ works to foster harmonious coexistence and contributes to a society oriented toward greater social and legal equality for people of diverse sexual orientations, in accordance with the Conventions on human and children's rights. We deploy all our resources to eliminate any form of discrimination, violence, or inequality directly or indirectly related to sexual orientation and, in doing so, to combat and reduce homophobia.

The CGLQ welcomes you to its website. With a team of volunteers, it works to carry out training, information, and awareness programs about the realities experienced by lesbians and gay men in Quebec. It also works jointly with ILGA to mobilize and promote Quebec, Canadian, and international studies (research papers and theses) on LGBT realities and issues within the United Nations Economic and Social Council. As a UN observer for ECOSOC, the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec is the only LGBT NGO to hold this right at the UN (the right to serve as an observer and rapporteur at UN ECOSOC assemblies).

Mission and history

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 very pleased to provide an introduction to our organization here. First and foremost, the Coalition is a Quebec national 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 20^th anniversary in spring 2012.

History from 2006 to 2026

The Coalition gaie et lesbienne du Québec established a new board of directors, composed mainly 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 remained for several years the only Quebec observer of LGBT realities and issues in Quebec and Canada for UN ECOSOC.

The privilege of its UN accreditation allows it to report discrimination, violence, and inequality 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 tools for prevention, awareness, and the fight against homophobia and anti-LGBT prejudice.

Actions

The CGLQ takes concrete action on multiple fronts:

• Participating in events – conferences, consultations, debates, and interviews directly or indirectly related to the realities and issues experienced by LGBT people
• Engaging with political and social leaders on all matters directly or indirectly affecting LGBT people
• Defending the rights of LGBT people in general or in specific cases
• Raising public awareness of LGBT realities in order to reduce and end all forms of discrimination against LGBT people (including community bullying and homophobia)
• Making LGBT people aware of their rights
• Directing and guiding LGBT people through the steps they need to take in cases of discrimination
• Informing LGBT people of their legal rights
• Referring LGBT people to other organizations based on their needs

Defending equality

One of the main objectives of the Coalition gaie et lesbienne du 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 has 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 – Bill C-23
• Involvement in the matter of civil marriage between same-sex partners (Canada and the United States)
• Interventions in several cases involving discrimination and bullying
• Participation in the National Forum on Immigration and Citizenship, an initiative of the Ministère des Relations avec les citoyens et de l'immigration (presentation of discussion workshops and preparation of a brief by the CGLQ executive council)

In 2026, the CGLQ continues to monitor and act on equality issues, particularly systemic discrimination, the rights of trans and non-binary people, and the fight against homophobic cyberbullying.

Promoting rights

Although issues involving homophobia and homosexuality have regularly made headlines in recent years, and laws have been passed, this is not enough to guarantee social equality, despite greater legal equality. Given the nature of society, certain gaps and problems remain, and we must promote more comprehensive equity, including retroactively (for example, the Quebec Pension Plan with respect to the surviving spouse's pension).

Our work also involves updating information campaigns for LGBT people to inform them of the differences among the various forms of union compared with those of the majority population. The Coalition has given lectures, information sessions, and specialized training to a wide range of audiences directly or indirectly affected by the cause.

We also believe it is important to support and encourage LGBT culture and creation within the population, as well as to represent homosexuality through media outlets. These can prove to be powerful allies when the time comes to combat prejudice. Let us not forget that homophobia still often results from ignorance.

Promoting also means supporting our partners' actions, and motivating and equipping associations, groups, and organizations engaged in the collective fight against discrimination and taking concrete steps to achieve this goal.

Representation on the international stage

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 much as possible, Canada. Collaboration makes it possible to take a position on various current issues and move forward. Our entire mission is based on representing the interests and upholding the rights of LGBT people in Quebec.

The Coalition is often contacted by various regional, national, and international media outlets regarding a range of topics related to homosexuality and homophobia. We use our expertise to foster progress in Quebec and Canada in the area of human rights, attract media attention beyond our borders, and provide accurate information to better capture their interest in similar persistent issues abroad.

The Coalition 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. This regular international exchange not only helps participating countries secure fundamental rights, but also serves to properly equip our organization.

International Events

For years, the Coalition has participated in the following international events:

• 1999 – International conference at King's College London, bringing together lawyers from Commonwealth member countries, supreme court judges and judges from the United Nations International Tribunal. Objective: to present the Quebec model for human rights and the recognition of minority rights (Bill 32)
• 2000 – Participation in the United Nations Millennium Forum in New York (inclusion of discrimination based on sexual orientation in the NGO declaration). This declaration was presented to the heads of state and government gathered for the Millennium Summit
• 2000 – Participation in the “Creating Change” conference in Atlanta and the International Network of Gay and Lesbian Officials conference in Phoenix (Arizona)
• 2006 – Training workshops as part of the Montreal OutGames Conference. Former CGLQ Executive Director M^e Lapointe served on the International Scientific Committee of the OutGames LGBT Rights Conference
• 2008 – Securing the 24^th ILGA World Conference for Quebec City (celebrating the 400^th anniversary of Quebec City)
• 2014 – Peoples' Social Forum in Ottawa (workshops on aging and diversity, anti-sexist and anti-racist education)
• Obtaining NGO status with the United Nations ECOSOC
• Creation of ILGA's Francophone space with French-speaking and Francophile gay groups at the ILGA World Conference in Rome
• Regular participation in ILGA World Conferences (South Africa, United States, Italy, Switzerland)
• Assistance to Ecuador, Uganda, Fiji, the State of Vermont, among others, in their pursuit of equality for LGBT people
• Meetings with the North American gay press, in collaboration with Tourisme Montréal, to provide information about the city's “gay-friendly” status and Bill 32
• Presentations at various American conferences bringing together hundreds of LGBT activists (National Task Force)
• Presentation of the Golden Tupilak Award (an award presented annually in Sweden) to M^e Claudine Ouellet (former Executive Director of the CGLQ) for her participation in the NGO Millennium Forum in New York

Training and Awareness

Specialized Training Workshops

We all know that homophobia stems from ignorance. That is why we have developed various specialized training workshops for targeted groups to demystify homosexuality and highlight the issues LGBT people face every day in our society. With this approach, workshop participants can more easily see the situation from a different perspective. The atmosphere and format encourage questions that probably could not have been asked in another setting.

We provide training to any group that requests it. To date, we have acquired considerable experience with college and university groups, professional associations, police forces and community groups.

Police Force Training

The years 2005 and 2006 were particularly notable for a major training program delivered to all Quebec City police forces. In total, approximately 800 people received this training in small groups of 8 to 10 people.

These sessions were highly successful, and the CGLQ Executive Director was invited to the Annual Police Congress to present the training model to the police services of other Quebec municipalities. Since then, many of them have expressed great interest in this training program.

Partners and Supporters

CReACC-DiversitéS

The CGLQ works with several LGBT organizations, including CReACC-DiversitéS, the Centre de recherches et d'activités culturelles et communautaires sur les diversités (creacc-diversites.org). It fosters connections between universities in Montreal and elsewhere.

IRQR

The CGLQ is supported by IRQR (Iranian Railroad Queer Refugees).

Finally, this range of knowledge mobilized to combat homophobia (the expertise of intervention and research professionals) appears to us to represent a promising exchange and a highly encouraging outlook for a better future and a more harmonious society.

Our Publications and Articles

The CGLQ regularly publishes articles, analyses and thematic reports on issues affecting LGBT communities in Quebec, Canada and internationally. These publications support the organization's mission: to inform, raise awareness and equip individuals and institutions to address the realities faced by LGBT people. Whether you are a researcher, professional, activist or simply a citizen committed to equality, you will find factual and documented information in these resources. The CGLQ draws on its more than 30 years of rights advocacy experience and its international network to produce rigorous and relevant content.

Recent Articles

International Reports