- 2012
Honorary Presidents, Guests of Honour and Spokesperson
Mr. Jean-Luc Romero
Honorary President
Jean-Luc Romero is active in many fields, both in politics and in the world of non-profit organizations. He is also the author of numerous books. These all target a single goal: the human being. He is the first and only politician in France to have revealed his HIV status in May 2002 in a book entitled, Virus de Vie (“Virus of Life”). He was also the first politician to reveal is homosexuality in the book, On m’ a volé ma vérité (“My Truth Was Stolen”), in May 2001.
He is regional council of the Île-de-France region, president of Élus Locaux Contre le Sida (French elected representatives against AIDS), of the Association pour le Droit de Mourir dans la Dignité (ADMD), of CRIPS Île-de-France and part of the official support committee for Florence Cassez. His strong involvement in the fight against AIDS led to his nomination in 2005 by the Prime Minister as Member of the National Council Against AIDS.
He has fought vigorously to have homophobic remarks be treated with the same severity as racist ones. He was elected “Gay of the Year 2011” by the readers of Yagg.fr.
Mr. David Testo
Honorary President
David Testo is a professional soccer player from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He played for the Montréal Impact from 2007 to 2011 and, at the end of the 2009 season, he received the Giuseppe-Saputo Award for Most Valuable Player. He is one of the few openly gay athletes in professional sports.
In November 2011, following a series of suicides by young gay men, David decided to speak publicly about his homosexuality, making him the first professional soccer player in North America to officially “come out”. His decision was hailed by media around the world, including the prestigious magazine, Sports Illustrated. David is the first openly gay man to be elected and to serve as a member of the US Soccer Athletic Council. He is an active member of the advisory board for the “You Can Play” Campaign, launched by Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager, Brian Burke. He is a passionate advocate for gay rights and awareness in sports and is frequently asked to speak at many events.
Ms. Line Chamberland
Guest of Honour
Long-time activist and sociologist by training, Line Chamberland has conducted several studies on discrimination against sexual minorities in various areas of life, such as school, the workplace and health and social services. She has also published many publications on the history of lesbianism in Québec as well as studies on gays and lesbians. As a researcher, Line Chamberland is part of the Groupe de travail mixte sur l’homophobie (joint working group on homophobia) whose work led to the adoption of a Québec Government Action Plan Against Homophobia, followed by a 2011-2016 Action Plan. In November 2011, she was named Research Chair on Homophobia, a position created at UQAM as one of the key measures of the Action Plan. The first of its kind in North America, the Chair will build bridges between institutional, community and scientific milieus to fight more effectively against homophobia and transphobia.Ms. Julie-Maude Beauchesne
Guest of Honour
Journalist, publicist and political scientist, Julie-Maude Beauchesne is an activist who takes the advancement of the rights and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgender people to heart. For the past nine years, she has been involved in organizations and projects that have touched many different realities, such as Jeunesse Lambda and AlterHéros, where she invested much time and energy as a volunteer since 2004. She served in many positions within the organization and, as president, she led a complete reform of the organization, for which she received the award for Volunteer Excellence at the Arc-en-Ciel Gala.
Concurrently, she has represented the trans community within the Groupe de travail mixte contre l’homophobie (joint working group against homophobia) and the Collectif de travail LGBT (LGBT work collective), which worked on the development of the first Government Action Plan Against Homophobia. Within the CQGL, she also championed the collective effort that led to the first Trans Claim Plan, which has been filed with the Québec Ministry of Justice.
Ms. Kat Coric
Guest of Honour
Kat Coric is recognized as one of the few female, heterosexual artists to work within the contemporary gay circuit party subculture as an activist and an ardent supporter of LGBT rights. She represents an established an ever growing part of society where gays and straights mingle together professionally and socially. With her collaborators she has produced numerous projects and events with the focus on HIV education for youth.Mr. Jasmin Roy
Spokesperson
Actor and radio and television host, Jasmin Roy is among the constellation of Québec artists who have made their mark in several fields. For Jasmin, 2010 was a banner year, with the release of his book, “Osti de Fif” and the creation of La Fondation Jasmin Roy to fight intimidation in schools. Jasmin Roy is also a familiar voice on Rythme FM radio.
Jasmin Roy has always championed the cause of social recognition for the LGBT community in Montréal, and for communities around the world.
- 2011
Grand Marshal
Me Alice Nkom
Grand Marshal
A lawyer since 1969, Alice Nkom was 24 when she became the first black woman to enter the Cameroon Bar Association at a time when practicing law was almost exclusively a male endeavour. Despite the difficulties she faced, and through many battles fought and positions taken, she won the admiration and respect of her peers in the profession.
Throughout her legal career, which has spanned over forty years, Alice Nkom has always been driven by a passion to champion justice and win against the odds, with a natural spirit of leadership that has made her a lawyer unlike any other. Often described as stubborn by the people who know and love her, she is a woman of courage, of law and duty, even when she faced threats to her life. In addition to being a woman of law, Alice Nkom is a woman inspired by important causes and deeply-held beliefs. She has dedicated her entire life to fighting for gender equality, for respect and for human dignity. As an activist, she has earned international recognition for promoting democracy, the establishment of state rights and freedoms, respect for human rights, for protecting the environment and for her fight against AIDS and against the illegal emigration of young Cameroonians.
Spokeperson
Mr. Jasmin Roy
Spokeperson
Jasmin Roy, né le 16 septembre 1965. Comédien, animateur et auteur québécois de renom, Jasmin Roy gravite au sein du milieu culturel depuis plus de 20 ans. Touche-à-tout, curieux et intarissable défenseur de la liberté d’expression, il porte en lui une mission de justice pour l’avenir de notre société. Reconnu pour son franc-parler et son dynamisme, il est également tour à tour, chroniqueur et producteur événementiel. Formé à l’École nationale du théâtre du Canada, Jasmin Roy cumule une impressionnante filmographie. Aujourd’hui fondateur et président de la Fondation Jasmin Roy, il compte assurer un milieu sain et sécuritaire pour les élèves du Québec en soutenant toutes les initiatives citoyennes qui luttent contre la discrimination et la violence à l’école.- 2010
Grand Marshals
Montréal Pride is proud to host its 2010 Grand Marchals from Latvia. These ceremonial roles honour two members of the gay and lesbian community who continue to inspire us through their actions, their fearlessness and the generosity of their spirit.
Mr. Kaspars Zalitis
Grand Marshal
Kaspars Zalitis is a human rights activist and a board member of LGBT and their friends alliance “Mozaika”, the only functioning gay rights organization in Latvia. Kaspars was born in Venstpils, a seaside city in West of Latvia. He has studied and taken deep interest in Public Relations. For almost 15 years he has volunteered in various youth and human rights organizations. Currently he works for Latvian Centre for Human Rights.
Kaspars joined “Mozaika” in 2006 and since then has been actively involved in the organization of Prides, being a head security coordinator for all Riga pride parades from 2007 on as well as the challenging 2010 Baltic Pride in Vilnius, which involved discussions with the police and other security authorities to ensure the safety of all participants. Kaspars has represented “Mozaika” in countless international events with Amnesty International, at InterPride conferences and Pride parades all over the world.
Ms. Kristine Garina
Grand Marshal
Kristine Garina is one of the founders of LGBT and their friends alliance “Mozaika”, the only functioning gay rights organisation in Latvia. Kristine was born and raised in Riga, Latvia. In 2000, she graduated from the University of Latvia Institute of International Relations, where she earned a master’s degree in economics. In her day to day job, Kristine is working in business.
She has been actively involved with organizing prides in Riga since 2006 and was one of the authors of the idea of the Baltic Pride which successfully took place in Riga in 2009 and in Vilnius in 2010. In her involvement with the organization of Prides, Kristine has been responsible for parade logistics of the parade route. In light of difficulties “Mozaika” had to face with the Riga city council authorities and numerous bans or attempts to ban Riga pride parade. Kristine has been actively involved in International Relations representing “Mozaika” at various international LGBT themed events such as InterPride conferences, Pride London, Europride etc.
Spokepersons
Jasmin Roy and Michelle Blanc will be the spokespersons for the 4th edition of the Montréal Pride.
Ms. Michelle Blanc
Spokeperson
One of the first to hold an Electronic Business M.Sc. with a specialization in management, Ms. Blanc is known for the many scientific, educational and popular projects she leads and produces here in Canada. She hosts the michelleblanc.com blog, which has become one of the favourites of the French marketing magazine, Stratégies.fr. She also has recently been named Yahoo Canada’s Big Idea Chair personality and the third most influential woman in Canadian social media. Her blog is classified as one of the most influential francophone blogs in the world, according to many sources.Mr. Jasmin Roy
Spokeperson
Jasmin Roy has been active on the cultural scene for many years now and is no stranger to the world of television. From Chambres en ville to Salut Bonjour and Caméra Café, he is equally at ease in the role of host, reporter or actor. After creating the hit show Les Gaydailles, which was performed as part of the Just For Laughs Festival, and acting as spokesperson for the 2009 Montréal Pride Celebrations, Jasmin Roy resumed his role in the popular comedy series, Caméra Café on TVA and returned as the host of La Tribune d’Occupation Double. He continues to produce weekly features for Rhythm FM Radio and the TV morning show, Salut Bonjour. He also contributes regular columns for the popular Dernière Heure and Lundi magazines. For Jasmin, 2010 was a banner year, with the release of his book, “Osti de Fif” published by Les intouchables. And, of course, he is back with a new show for the Just For Laughs Festival and for Montréal Pride, Les Gaydailles contre-attaquent (“The Gaydailles Strike Back!”).
Jasmin Roy strongly believes in the social recognition of Montréal’s LGBTA community, as well as the importance of visibility for worldwide LGBTA communities.
