Citizens’ march in Montreal: A call to allies of the LGBTQ+ communities

LGBTQ2S+ pride flags in the Village. (Daniel J. Rowe/CTV News)

The Fondation Émergence has issued a call to allies of the LGBTQ+ communities to turn out in large numbers for the citizens’ march taking place Sunday afternoon in Montreal.

The organization will hold the third edition of the Citizens’ March, which takes place as part of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

This year, Fondation Émergence wanted to highlight the importance of allies, as hostile rhetoric, hatred, and attacks against LGBTQ+ people are on the rise.

“Several reports recently published in Quebec point to a marked increase in hate speech and a climate that undermines the well-being and dignity of LGBTQ+ people,” the organization explained in a news release.

“Now more than ever, the presence, listening, and support of allies are essential to counter these setbacks,” said executive director Laurent Breault.

The organization reiterated that every action counts toward “creating a genuine movement of solidarity in the face of rising hate speech and the rollback of LGBTQ+ rights here and elsewhere in the world.”

“Participating in the campaign and marching on May 17 means taking clear action and affirming that we choose to act collectively to continue moving toward a more inclusive society,” said Breault.

The march will begin around 1 p.m. at Place des Festivals and will end a few hours later at the corner of Alexandre-DeSève and Sainte-Catherine East streets.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 17, 2026.