Montréal, May 17, 2012 – Montréal Pride is pleased to announce that it is hosting a gala event to mark the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17, 2012, at the Nelligan Hotel in Montréal. The gala, which will be held under the theme of “Les bâtisseurs” (the builders) will highlight the important contributions that individuals and organizations have made to defend the rights of LGBTA people in Montréal and in Québec, and to promoting a positive image of the community. This event is organized in collaboration with La Fondation Émergence.
This gala, made possible through the support of the Government of Québec, will bring together prominent figures and organizations from Montréal’s LGBTA community and from the business milieu to celebrate the social advances made and the achievement of legal equality. And, of course, the International Day Against Homophobia is also the time to remember there is still much work to be done, both here at home and elsewhere, to ensure equal rights and freedoms for all, regardless of sexual orientation.
Six recipients will be presented with awards over the course of the evening:
- Mr. Jean-Marc Fournier, Québec’s Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Québec, Minister responsible for the fight against homophobia and Member for Saint-Laurent. Mr. Fournier played a key role from the elaboration until the adoption of the first Government Action Plan Against Homophobia 2011-2016, which was launched in May 2011.
- Ms. Kathleen Weil, Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities and Member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. In 2009, as Minister of Justice, Ms. Weil supported the adoption and implementation of the Québec Policy Against Homophobia, one of the first of its kind in the world.
- Ms. Marie-Marcelle Godbout, founder of Aide aux transsexuel(le)s du Québec (ATQ). Ms. Godbout runs a crisis and referral line as well as a weekly support group to assist transgender people.
- Mr. David Testo, professional soccer player, named Most Valuable Player of the Montréal Impact in 2009. Last fall, following a series of suicides by young gay men, David decided to “come out” and speak openly about his homosexuality.
- Divers/Cité, the organization that officially founded Gay Pride in its current form in Montréal in 1992 and held the first Pride parade in 1993. Divers/Cité is an integral part of Montréal’s LGBTA community.
- The TD Bank Group, which has been a leading partner for Montréal Pride since 2008. TD has also been an important partner for many other LGBTA community organizations and foundations.
“I am delighted to be celebrating this International Day Against Homophobia in the company of such distinguished award recipients,” said Éric Pineault, president of Montréal Pride. “For us, it is especially important to underscore the exceptional contribution of the people who built and continue to support Montréal’s LGBTA community, which is a vibrant and dynamic force in the advancement of our rights.
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Sources:
M. Éric Pineault, President
Montréal Pride
epineault@fiertemontrealpride.com
Cell. : 514 616-7170
Me Jean-Sébastien Boudreault, Vice President
Montréal Pride
jsboudreault@fiertemontrealpride.com
Cell. (514) 924-0229
About Montréal Pride
Montréal Pride was formed and legally founded under the name Célébrations LGBTA Montréal in 2007 as an initiative of Montréal’s LGBT community, following Divers/Cité’s decision, in May 2007, to cease the organization of the Pride Parade and Community Day. Montréal Pride is a community-driven, not-for-profit organization overseen by a Board of Directors consisting of members of the business community, local LGBTA associations as well as representatives from the event-planning and tourism industries.