Fifteen Years of Rainbow in Quebec City [PHOTOS] | The Capital | News | The sun

For Jade Pelletier, communications and marketing manager of the Alliance Arc-en-ciel in Quebec City, the event is different from Pride in Montreal, particularly through awareness-raising, education and conferences that inform programming, greatly enhanced for the 15 years of the festival.

The celebration was preceded by a lecture by Martin Cauchon, former Minister of Justice Canada, who participated in the recognition of same-sex marriage.

On Friday, nearly 5,000 people gathered at the TD scene in Place d'Youville. "It's already a record for Friday shows," says Jade Pelletier. There are more and more festival-goers. We even have a delegation from Manitoba this year. "

Solidarity march, community day, family day: the Fête is addressed not only to the LGBTQ2 + community, but also to all its allies, the organization recalls. "The goal is to rally everyone to the cause."

Since 2004, the event has made it possible to "change" the face of the Capitale-Nationale, according to her. "We see that many projects are born here and there." She gives the example of many schools in Quebec that offer non-gendered toilets.

Despite these advances, the game is still far from won for the LGBTQ2 + community.

Fighting heteronormativity

Earlier this week, the test Straight, school? Advocacy for anti-sexual education was entering bookstores in the province. The author and sociologist of the genre, Gabrielle Richard, who signs the analysis, notes that the Quebec school continues to make heteronormativity a convention, in its textbooks, programs and teaching methods.

It becomes difficult to assert one's sexual orientation or gender identity when teaching students that individuals belong to one of two distinct genres, male and female.

The mission of the Rainbow Alliance is first and foremost the defense of the rights of LGBTQ2 + people. "We want to convey a positive image of diversity, democratize the realities of the community, create a safe environment for the community and normalize the community," explains Jade Pelletier.

The organization believes that it is early childhood education that will normalize sexual diversity and gender plurality. "There is a lot of work to be done in the trans community to promote their inclusion," continues Jade Pelletier. It is necessary to facilitate the steps of change with the State. The average income of trans people is still $ 15,000 a year. "

The Alliance is involved in the regions, advocates with government, but remains a community organization. "We can not afford to do everything," says Jade Pelletier. In all, three people work for the Alliance, only one of them full-time.