Quebec’s LGBTQ+ hotline says calls from victims of violence more than doubled in the last year. Interligne’s annual report shows it received nearly 20,000 calls in 2024-2025, with most callers seeking help for gender dysphoria, discrimination, violence, psychological and emotional abuse, and concerns about current affairs and the social climate. Calls from victims of physical violence went up from 134 the previous year to 282, while 245 callers reached out about discrimination – including racism – up from 65. “While the number of annual calls to the helpline has remained stable, the severity of the interventions made with users is greater than ever. This increase in distress reflects the current social situation, where far-right rhetoric is becoming increasingly prevalent in the public sphere,” Interligne said in a news release. Though the majority of callers come from Montreal (61 per cent), Interligne notes these situations are observed throughout Quebec. “It is crucial to be aware that crimes and violence against LGBTQ+ people are on the rise in Canada,” said Interligne Director Pascal Vaillancourt in the report. “It comes as no surprise that the mental health of these communities is in a worrying state.” Back in March, Interligne published the results of Leger’s Canada-wide survey on LGBTQ+ mental health The hotline points to increasing polarization exacerbated by social media, the rise of masculinist and extremist rhetoric, disinformation around LGBTQ+ issues and the demonization of inclusive initiatives – including the pejorative use of the word “woke” – as factors contributing to stigmatization. “LGBTQ+ people are often portrayed in the public sphere as unreasonable or excessive in their demands. Trans people, in particular, are becoming a recurring point of tension in public and political debates,” Interligne said in an email statement. It proposes solutions like promoting positive discourse around inclusion and its social benefits, encouraging political figures to reiterate the importance of protecting fundamental rights, and strong public education to re-establish healthy dialogue. Interligne stresses that through its partnerships, it offers various toolkits, workshops and training with clear and rigorous information based on science “and aligned with our values.” ‘What are we waiting for?’ ENSEMBLE pour le respect de la diversité, a non-profit focused on education to end discrimination, often works with Interligne. Director Rafaël Provost says Interligne’s report should spur action. “What are we are waiting for? We need to find solutions as a group, as a team. For that, how many more numbers we need to understand?” he told CTV News. “There is a real problem now in Quebec, about bullying and hate, and we have to fight for that. It’s shocking, it’s devastating, because it’s not only about numbers, it’s not about LGBT people, it’s about humanity.” Provost agrees with Interligne’s conclusions and says more people are feeling emboldened to use hateful rhetoric or even violence without fear of consequence. He believes education and strong policy are needed to curb the phenomenon. He says Quebec has long been a bastion of progressive ideas around gender and sexuality, but worries that the province is going down a slippery slope and pointed to the government’s latest gender diversity committee’s report. “It’s another example that we don’t work as a team. People have solutions. People want to be understood, they want to work with the government … But we don’t have access to the rules. We don’t know how to play. And lot of people, lot of organization, lot of experts just want to help,” said Provost. But he stressed that front-line community organizations are there to support those feeling vulnerable. Though Interligne’s numbers show violence against the LGBTQ2S+ community isn’t going down, people know there are resources available and are reaching out. Many Quebec schools reach out to ENSEMBLE for workshops and toolkits, and though it means there are problems, “they make the first and the most important step to say, hey, I need help,” said Provost. “It’s OK to say you need help, there are solutions,” he said. And, despite the noted rise in hateful and violent incidents, Provost believes Quebec is a tolerant society. “The minority doesn’t have to speak louder than us. We need to speak louder than to from them and say, here in Quebec, it’s a kind place, and there’s solution for everyone, but we have to work harder for that,” he said.
