Pride | Virtual reality to experience microaggressions

As part of Pride Montreal, the Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais Foundation offers to slip into the shoes of a lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans person to better understand what a microaggression is… and equip yourself to avoid comments often harmless in appearance, but which can be hurtful.

Simon Chabot
The Press

Until Friday, August 5, the public is invited to watch four free immersive capsules of a workshop called “In the shoes of an LGBT person” at Place du Village, corner Sainte-Catherine and Wolfe. In each of them, a character experiences or recounts a difficult situation experienced with friends, in a gym or at work. Thanks to a virtual reality helmet, the spectator attends the scene as if it were unfolding in front of him.

“In the capsules, we put forward relational misconduct, often done without bad intentions”, explains Jasmin Roy, president of the foundation. This misconduct can take the form of inappropriate questions (“Are you sure you’re really gay?”) or remarks that are meant to be inclusive but turn out to be humiliating (“I accept you, even if you’re trans, I have nothing against that”).

“We have to stop saying that, that we accept people, says Jasmin Roy. Basically, we should all accept each other. Languages ​​need to evolve and work on better communication. »

With this project, the Foundation does not seek to generate conflicts, specifies its president, but rather to create learning opportunities. Each presentation is followed by a lively discussion.

An example of good practice? “One of the best things is often to ask yourself: Could you ask that question or make that comment to a heterosexual? For example, would a straight man be asked if he is sure of his orientation? If he’s ever slept with a man to find out? »

The workshops use virtual reality because this technology promotes cognitive empathy, continues Jasmin Roy. “With VR, people can experience microaggressions. For their brains, research shows that it is as if they had really lived the experience, he illustrates. If they find themselves in a similar situation afterwards, they are more likely to react quickly, and not confrontationally. »

After their presentation at Montreal Pride, the Foundation wishes to distribute its virtual reality capsules in high school sexuality classes, in workplaces and among newcomers.