As Quebec celebrates pride month, political candidates from diverse sexual and gender backgrounds running in the upcoming provincial election are raising concerns about a surge in hateful messages directed at them. Québec solidaire has reported a significant increase in online hate towards its 2SLGBTQ+ candidates, describing the situation as exceptional and alarming.
Roxane Milot, the party president and a candidate in Montreal, expressed worry about the impact of online violence on marginalized candidates, suggesting that it deters individuals from diverse backgrounds from participating in politics. Milot, who identifies as bisexual, highlighted the challenges faced by queer, women, and racialized individuals in entering the political arena, noting a worsening situation in Quebec according to feedback from 2SLGBTQ+ organizations.
Recently, Milot herself was targeted with hateful messages and online trolling. The party also faced controversy when Vanessa Durand, one of its candidates, withdrew after making derogatory remarks online about Parti Québécois supporters from the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Durand apologized and ended her candidacy following the incident.
Philippe Schnobb, a Parti Québécois candidate, shared his experience of receiving homophobic hate messages, including threats, since his entry into politics earlier this year. Schnobb, who is also running in the same Montreal riding as Milot, emphasized the need to address such personal and sensitive issues during the election campaign period.
Liberal Leader Charles Milliard, who is openly gay, has faced homophobic remarks and highlighted the importance of public figures being true to themselves. The Liberal party acknowledged that homophobic and transphobic comments are a challenge across all major political parties, affecting candidates regardless of their personal identities.
Amidst these challenges, the communication teams of various parties, including the Coalition Avenir Québec and Quebec Conservative Party led by openly gay leader Éric Duhaime, are monitoring candidates’ social media accounts closely to address and denounce any attacks. Parties like Québec solidaire and the Liberals have implemented support systems and training sessions to assist candidates in handling online violence and threats effectively.