Intolerance of LGBTQ2S+ people on the rise in Quebec schools

Students enter Pierre Laporte High School as high school students return to full-time in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal, Monday, March 29, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson) (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)

MONTREAL -- A new study shows a sharp rise in anti-LGBTQ2S+ attitudes among Quebec high school students.

GRIS-Montreal, an LGBTQ2S+ advocacy group, released its findings today based on data collected from 35,000 questionnaires completed by students across several Quebec regions.

The number of respondents who said they would be uncomfortable to learn their best friend is a lesbian doubled to 34 per cent in 2024 from 15 per cent in 2017.

And more than 40 per cent said they would be uncomfortable to learn their best friend is gay, up from 25 per cent over the same period.

GRIS-Montreal, which runs workshops on sexual and gender diversity in the province’s schools, says intolerant attitudes were expressed by youth of all age, gender, faith and geographic locations.

Gabrielle Richard, GRIS-Montreal research director, suggests anti-LGBTQ2S+ perspectives among youth are amplified by social media, which can promote polarization and certain masculinist ideas.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 16, 2025.

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