Montrealers brave the rain to march for International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Hundreds rallied in downtown Montreal on Saturday for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Pride prevailed over grey skies in downtown Montreal on Saturday as hundreds took to the streets for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

The march marked the 23rd annual edition of the awareness day, which advocates say remains crucial in the face of growing intolerance — particularly in Quebec.

“We need to be a majority of people to stand together against hate,” said Olivia Baker with Fondation Émergence, the 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy organization behind the event.

“That just starts with people trying to understand sexual and gender diversity better and then start to stand up for LGBTQ+ people at their level.”

This year’s event is focused on mobilizing allies, urging the broader public to speak up and support the queer and trans community, not just on May 17 but year-round.

According to a recent study by GRIS-Montréal, anti-queer sentiment is on the rise in the province, especially among youth.

That includes a growing number of people who say they oppose equal adoption rights for couples of the same gender.

Intolerance runs deep, said the executive director of Fierté Montréal, Simon Gamache.

“There are right-wing movements that do not like us, that hate us, that want to cause us harm,” he said. “What I hope is solidarity between the LGBTQ+ movement.”

Among those speaking out is longtime gay rights activist Theo Wouters, who has spent decades pushing for equality alongside his late husband, Robert Thibault.

The pair became one of the first gay couples in North America to enter into a civil union.

“There were 4,000 people who came to support us in 2001,” Wouters recalled.

Thibault passed away two years ago after more than 50 years together. Wouters says while the couple witnessed incredible progress in their lifetime, there’s still work to be done.

“We are all born equal when we come on this planet and it’s nobody’s right to take it away from us,” he said.

He warned that the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment in the United States — particularly toward trans people — is not isolated to one country, and that Canada must remain vigilant.

Despite the rain, the march in Montreal showed resistance always shines through.