Carle Jasmin (Image : Saviez-vous que ?)
There is no one better positioned than the LGBT community to engage in the rhetoric of over-victimization, and this is not a recent phenomenon. To such an extent that it can sometimes become exaggerated. This reflex of continually presenting oneself as victims in order to obtain gains also irritates several people within these very communities.
A clear example is the Facebook group Saviez-vous que ?, whose authors and intentions remain unknown. Yesterday, this group published a post that sparked panic within the LGBT community and triggered strong anger against the province of Alberta, in Western Canada.
However, this publication constitutes misinformation. It claimed in particular: “As of September 1, schools in the province of Alberta, Canada, will no longer be allowed to raise the Pride flag, due to a new provincial law.”
But is this claim true?
Yes and no, because there is both the general policy and the manipulation. In Alberta, the provincial government has indeed adopted legislation on “neutrality” in schools, which provides that only certain approved banners and flags may be displayed in educational institutions. In practice, this means that schools will no longer be able to freely raise the LGBTQ+ Pride flag on flagpoles once the law comes into effect.
However, the framing is somewhat misleading when it simply states that a “new law bans the Pride flag.” The law more broadly targets flags and symbols considered non-governmental or ideological within schools, and does not single out the Pride flag. Canadian and Alberta flags remain mandatory, while other flags are subject to restrictions or ministerial approval.
It is false to claim that the Pride flag is specifically targeted by the new law, which will in fact come into force on September 1, 2026. In reality, this law prohibits the display of all non-governmental flags in schools, whether they are flags of other countries, religious symbols, thematic flags, or those of organizations and associations.
Worse still, to amplify this false narrative, Saviez-vous que ? used an image likely generated by artificial intelligence. In a journalistic context, an image must remain as faithful as possible to reality and should not be used to exaggerate or dramatize a situation.
What is the rhetoric of over-victimization?
The rhetoric of over-victimization is a communication strategy that consists of presenting a person, group, or organization as more victimized than they actually are, or of amplifying the extent of harm in order to generate greater sympathy, anger, support, or mobilization.
This rhetoric can take several forms:
Exaggerating the consequences of a decision or event.
Presenting a general measure as a targeted attack against a single group.
Omitting contextual elements that would otherwise nuance the situation.
Using dramatic language that suggests persecution, even when the facts are more complex.
For example, in the case of the Alberta post, stating that “the government bans the Pride flag in schools” can create the impression that the LGBTQ+ community is being specifically targeted. However, if the law actually prohibits all non-governmental flags—whether related to a cause, religion, another country, or an organization—then presenting it as an exclusive attack on LGBTQ+ people may fall under over-victimization rhetoric, because it removes a key element of context.
This does not mean that those affected cannot perceive the measure as discriminatory or concerning. The difference lies in how the facts are presented: over-victimization consists of amplifying or simplifying the narrative of victimhood beyond what the facts establish.
However, it is important to distinguish over-victimization from genuine victimization. A person or group can indeed be the victim of discrimination or violence. The concept only applies when there is a demonstrable gap between the facts and the way they are presented. In other words, it is not the act of denouncing injustice that constitutes over-victimization, but the amplification or distortion of its scope relative to reality.
In the case of Alberta, the post is misleading and serves as a clear example of over-victimization rhetoric. While the law does exist, it is presented as a measure exclusively targeting the Pride flag, whereas in reality it applies to all non-governmental flags in schools.
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