The members of the committee for sexual diversity and gender identity (CDSIG) of the Centrale des unions du Québec (CSQ) can only be concerned about the proliferation of initiatives aimed at criminalizing representations of sexual diversity in the south of our border. In fact, bills are multiplying to legislate on the presence (or even the sole mention) of people of sexual and gender diversity in educational spaces. In the same vein, a Florida teacher can’t talk about homosexuality in class and soon librarians in Texas could face jail time for promoting books advocating sexual and gender diversity.
It is in this context that our committee welcomed the recent adoption of a unanimous motion in the National Assembly aimed at protecting drag artists from intimidation and harassment for their participation in children’s reading activities. .
A shameful political recovery
Until very recently, although groups here also relayed hate speech targeting gender diversity under the pretext of wanting to protect our children, we could differentiate ourselves from the United States by emphasizing that these speeches did not find any political relay here.
It was without counting on the political recovery of Éric Duhaime. Thus, the leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec wasted no time in launching a petition to demand that the government stop funding activities exposing children to drag queens. This solicitation from conspiratorial circles as well as this attempt to politically federate various hate groups illustrate the climate of panic that seems to reign within the Conservative Party of Quebec.
Trusting education staff
Much more than a matter of partisan politics, it is also the expertise and judgment of education personnel that are undermined. During his appearance on the show Everybody talks about itBarbada, a longtime ally of the CSQ, recalled, once again, that she had a teaching certificate and that, like so many other drag queens and drag kings, she knew the difference between a performance of cabaret and an early reading activity.
Beyond Barbada, it is important to reiterate our confidence in the expertise of people specifically trained to animate and manage our educational spaces. Librarians, educational childcare providers, early childhood workers, specialized educators, teaching and school support staff, in short, all of the people who make up the staff of our public education network are experienced and competent, and know very well how to draw the line between getting down the throats of ideologies and moral values and educating in openness, respect and tolerance – all social and civic skills that will be invaluable and precious for the next generation.
These are the people who make Quebec schools a fair environment where everyone finds their place, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
We are certain that a society where our young boys would be skilled in expressing their emotions, our young girls in believing in themselves, and all our young people in asking themselves the questions they want, in short, a society with a small dose of sequins would only be better. And if it requires artists in flamboyant costumes to do it, rejoice; there could be much duller ways to boost literacy in our youth.
For us, it goes without saying that Quebec public schools are based on inclusion, tolerance and openness.