Relief for the LGBTQ+ community: Interligne’s nighttime help line will be able to maintain its services thanks to new funding, at a time when LGBTQ+ people are experiencing more violence and distress, learned The Press.
Funding for the organization will nearly double over the next three years. In fact, a new additional sum of $930,000 over three years has been allocated thanks to money taken from an agreement between Quebec and Ottawa.
This was announced by Martine Biron, minister responsible for the fight against homophobia and transphobia, at the offices of Interligne in Montreal on Tuesday. The Press met her there with the team from the community organization.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
The director of Interligne, Pascal Vaillancourt, discussing with the minister responsible for the fight against homophobia and transphobia, Martine Biron
Since last September, the Interligne helpline – formerly Gai Listening – has been facing significant difficulties. Due to lack of funding, the night service threatened to close. Yet up to 10,000 calls for help were made at night to this line each year.
At the end of March, a fundraiser enabled the organization to raise $98,000 and avoid the immediate closure of the service. But it was only a “respite”, then underlined the director, Pascal Vaillancourt.
The organization absolutely had to improve its base funding, which is approximately $360,000 per year. Its director then estimated that he needed an additional $300,000 annually.
With Tuesday’s announcement, Mr. Vaillancourt’s wish has come true. At least, for the next three years.
We are happy to see that our efforts have borne fruit and have opened discussions with Mr.me Bern, among others. It really helps us get our air back.
Pascal Vaillancourt, director of Interligne
“It will allow us to calm down and continue our conversations also with the cabinet of the [ministre responsable des Services sociaux, Lionel Carmant]to perhaps secure our situation in the longer term,” says Mr. Vaillancourt.
“I will fight tooth and nail for these rights”
By making this announcement, Martine Biron wants to send a clear message: the fight against homophobia and transphobia is a priority for her firm. “When I found out that Interligne didn’t have its funding, that worried me to the highest degree,” she says in an interview. I think this is an important signal of what we intend to do within the LGBTQ community. We are delighted with this news. »
Last February, the government of François Legault had refused the tabling of a motion proposed by the Liberals which aimed to ensure the funding necessary for the survival of the night line of Interligne.
But behind the scenes, discussions continued between the Interligne team and that of Mme Biron, in particular through political adviser Catherine Pouliot.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Interligne’s Director of Services, Florence Yvon, Political Advisor Catherine Pouliot, Minister Martine Biron, Interligne’s Director, Pascal Vaillancourt, and Interligne’s Director of Philanthropic Development, Marie-Claude Gendron
The funding that was finally granted to the organization comes from an envelope of $5.5 million over four years under a Canada-Quebec agreement aimed at mitigating the consequences of COVID-19 and ensuring post-pandemic services.
“People have the right to choose who they are, people have the right to walk freely in the streets and be who they are,” Ms.me Biron in interview. And that, I will fight, I tell you, tooth and nail for these rights. We’ve got work to do, we’re doing it, and we’re going [continuer] to do. »
More distress and violence
This announcement comes at a time when violence against LGBTQ+ people is on the rise, notes Mr. Vaillancourt.
There is clearly a heaviness that has set in [dans les appels qu’on reçoit]. We hear a lot of people talking about it, and there are acts of violence that we had never seen. We really feel like we are seeing a step backwards at the moment.
Pascal Vaillancourt, director of Interligne
“I think there are hate speeches that have started to be comfortable in society,” adds Mr. Vaillancourt.
Mme Biron observes the same trend, particularly with the anti-drag movement which led to a petition by the Conservative Party of Quebec. According to her, this movement has its source in the United States, where a “wind of intolerance has risen” since the reversal of the judgment Roe v. wade on the right to abortion, in June 2022. Women and minorities, in particular LGBTQ +, are the victims, supports the one who is also minister responsible for the Status of Women.
“I see a certain polarization that I don’t like at all, remarks Mme Biron. I think we use [du sujet des drags] to try to split the discourse. »
In the context, Interligne’s mission is more relevant than ever, believes Mr.me Biron. “Our energies must be put together to fight this type of violence, this type of hatred. »