This text is part of the special edition Pride Montreal
The public debate surrounding the very existence of trans and non-binary people has been growing steadily in recent years. While the microphone is increasingly being extended to these communities to highlight their realities, this sudden visibility also creates its own set of challenges.
“It is a privilege that our demands are amplified by certain media. However, this visibility comes with strong opposition to our community and our rights,” says Victoria Legault, executive director of the organization Aide aux trans du Québec (ATQ), referring to a “double-edged sword.”
Community organizations are unanimous: the social climate has changed since the pandemic. There is a “gap” today, as legal advances in trans rights have evolved much more quickly than public opinion. “Most people have the impression that trans people have existed for 10 or 15 years, when in reality, we have always been here,” emphasizes the director.
James Galantino, executive director of the Quebec LGBT Council, also notes increased resistance from the population regarding trans issues. “People are more relaxed about making transphobic or homophobic comments. In classes, young people cause trouble or even refuse to attend workshops to demystify LGBTQ+ realities,” he says.
Requests for help on the rise
This rise in hatred is reflected in an increase in requests for help from most LGBTQ+ organizations in the province. According to Victoria Legault, more and more people are using these types of services because they are experiencing, among other things, isolation, discrimination and violence.
“People come to us and tell us that they were physically attacked in the street, or that they lost their job after announcing their transition at work,” says Galantino. The director believes that this trend is “directly linked” to the current social climate, in which more and more politicians are speaking out on trans issues and using this discourse to win over a part of the electorate. “Even in the political sphere, we feel that governments are more reluctant to openly and firmly assert themselves as allies of the community,” he continues.
For trans and non-binary people, this tense climate is synonymous with precariousness. Difficulty accessing housing, discrimination in hiring, feeling unsafe on the street: concerns are growing within communities. “It all starts with economic stability. When you live in precarious conditions, you can’t afford gender-affirming care that costs thousands of dollars,” explains Mme Legault.
To date, gender-affirming care remains relatively inaccessible, particularly in the regions. However, it is essential to enable trans people to be productive and engaged contributors to society, adds the director. According to a 2020 pan-Canadian survey on access to health care for trans and non-binary people, more than a third of respondents said they had an unmet need for general health care. This proportion rose to 4% in the general population before the pandemic.
Although Quebec continues to make progress on LGBTQ+ rights, including allowing non-binary people to use the sex designation “X” on their identity documents, several challenges remain. “With everything that is happening in our communities, it is important to understand that it is not the hatred of the anti-trans movement that has the power to destroy us, but rather the intercommunity division that is being created,” recalls the director of the ATQ. “We must remain united and work together to advance LGBTQ+ rights in Quebec.”
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