Amid the pride month festivities in Quebec, political hopefuls from diverse sexual and gender backgrounds gearing up for the upcoming provincial election are raising concerns about a surge in hateful messages aimed at them. Québec solidaire has reported an unprecedented wave of online hate directed at its 2SLGBTQ+ candidates, describing the situation as “exceptional” and “alarming.”
Roxane Milot, the party president and a candidate in Montreal, expressed worries about the escalating online violence targeting marginalized candidates, which she believes deters individuals from diverse backgrounds from engaging in politics. Milot, who identifies as bisexual, highlighted the challenges faced by marginalized groups, such as the queer, women, and racialized communities, in terms of political participation due to the increasing hostility online.
Recently, Milot herself encountered hateful messages and online trolls. The party also faced a controversy when one of its candidates, Vanessa Durand, withdrew following derogatory remarks aimed at Parti Québécois supporters from 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Durand later apologized and retracted her candidacy.
Parti Québécois candidate Philippe Schnobb, who identifies as part of the sexual and gender diverse community, disclosed that he regularly receives homophobic hate messages, some even escalating to threats. Schnobb expressed discomfort with the hateful comments and threats, emphasizing the need for respectful discourse in the lead-up to the election.
Addressing the issue of online hate, Liberal Leader Charles Milliard, who is openly gay, stressed the importance of inclusivity in politics and denounced homophobic remarks directed at him. He underscored the right of all Quebecers to participate in the electoral process without facing discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The prevalence of homophobic and transphobic comments in politics was acknowledged by Philip Laflamme, senior adviser for content and communications at the Liberal party, who highlighted the challenges faced by candidates from all major political parties. The Coalition Avenir Québec Leader’s team and the Quebec Conservative Party Leader Éric Duhaime, who is also openly gay, confirmed receiving hateful comments online but opted not to magnify the negativity.
As the election approaches, parties have implemented support systems to assist candidates dealing with online violence. Within Québec solidaire and the Liberal party, support groups and remote assistance services have been established to aid candidates in need, with training sessions offered to equip them in handling hostile situations effectively.
