An action plan through to 2029

Today, more than 25 years after it was founded, the LGBT+ Family Coalition is a key organization working to improve the lives of 2SLGBTQ+ families — which fills us with immense pride. However, we must also acknowledge that the Coalition has arrived at a crossroads, and it’s imperative that we find new strategies to pursue our work and ensure our future. 

We’re still facing a number of challenges when it comes to the legal and social recognition of our families and the inclusion of our youth. Our members know how often institutions (schools, social services, hospitals and more) lack awareness about our lives and fail to consider our particular needs. People who work in social services, healthcare and schools must be made aware of our specific issues. The myths and stereotypes about 2SLGBTQ+ people still persist in our society. 

In recent years, we have seen a change in social attitudes toward our families and our young people, in particular toward trans and nonbinary youth. These young people have become the scapegoats in a much broader clash of values, and are more than ever subjected to bullying, exclusion and even physical violence. This “moral panic” has disastrous consequences for all our communities, includingdisinformation about care for trans youth, parents who don’t want 2SLGBTQ+ realities to be discussed in their children’s schools, and more. This is why the Coalition must increase our capacity to get ahead of anti-2SLGBTQ+ discourse in Québec. 

Unfortunately, due to historic discrimination against 2SLGBTQ+ communities, our funding is grossly insufficient and our grants are usually for ad hoc projects. We have an urgent need to find new sources of funding, not only to meet the training and education needs of schools and medical institutions, but also to continue defending the rights of 2SLGBTQ+ families across Québec. 

We would like to raise greater awareness among elected officials and influence public policy to gain more concrete recognition for 2SLGBTQ+ families and youth (ex.: mandatory training for professionals who work with youth and families, the legal recognition of all families, the adaptation of administrative forms in all institutions, and more). Each of these issues requires major mobilization, and we can’t do that without major financial resources! 

Lastly, our founder and a pillar of the Coalition, Mona Greenbaum, is planning to retire. So, it’s important that we plan to train the next generation to ensure that our organization’s mission, vision and values carry on. After all, transferring the knowledge accumulated over 25 years represents a major task—a demanding process that has yet to be undertaken. 

All these considerations underscore the importance of having a clear, well-structured vision for the coming years. For this reason, in this document, we’re thrilled to introduce the fruit of our thought process: a plan for the next years that aims to guarantee the strength and relevance of our work, as always in collaboration with our members. 

After all, you—families of the heart, families under the rainbow—are the reason we exist! 

In solidarity, 

Bianca Nugent & Philippe Nadon, co-presidents of the bord of directors