Gay Globe: 30 Years of Journalism

Picture Roger-Luc Chayer

Arnaud Pontin

Photo: Roger-Luc Chayer, byu Bruce Moore – Groupe Gay Globe

Roger-Luc Chayer, the publisher of the Gay Globe Group, celebrated his thirty years of professional journalism at the end of May, not only within the LGBTQ+ communities but also with several national media outlets such as TVA, TQS, the Journal de Montréal, and many others. Thirty years of writing, analyzing, and explaining to an increasingly international readership is no small feat. Extremely curious, I wanted to interview him on complex issues to better understand the journey of a rather unique individual in our communities.

A.P.: Roger-Luc, what have been the biggest changes in local and international LGBTQ+ journalism over the past three decades?

R.L.C.: Well, here we go, the big question right off the bat… Everything has changed, especially for traditional media like newspapers, television, and print publications. But what is most remarkable to me is that media produced by or for the LGBTQ+ communities have adapted and offer more diverse information than ever before compared to the mainstream. This allows us to continue growing.

A.P.: Which investigation that you conducted impacted you the most and why?

R.L.C.: There was definitely scheming at all levels at one time, whether in the political, social, community, or even commercial spheres. About 30 years ago, there was significant collusion aiming to control everything related to the gay and lesbian communities, as they were called then, before the term LGBTQ+ emerged. The leaders of this collusion benefited from the silence of national media, which feared being perceived as anti-gay. At that time, it was the heyday of public and private subsidies. If a government didn’t provide enough funding for gay and lesbian causes, the leaders of these movements would threaten to « out » (reveal the homosexuality of) certain ministers, even at the risk of being wrong. I was entrusted with several of these investigative files that national media dared not tackle, and it was up to my editor to decide whether to publish the results. Did these schemes have positive aspects in the end? My files often ended up on TVA, Radio-Canada, TQS, and others afterwards, which answers the question. Given the advancement of LGBTQ+ issues in 2024, one can certainly conclude that pushing hard had positive effects. However, I’m not sure that the means used were always the right ones in hindsight.

A.P.: What are the biggest challenges facing LGBTQ+ investigative journalists today?

R.L.C.: Being taken seriously! We certainly don’t have the resources of Radio-Canada, J.E., or La Presse, but we know our community, our world, and the decision-makers better than anyone. Traditional journalists should consult specialized journalists more often before discussing LGBTQ+ communities, whether on public affairs or HIV issues. We are the specialists, we deal with these issues daily, and for those like me with 30 years of experience, it represents an invaluable bank of information, it seems to me.

A.P.: Can you tell us about a moment when one of your investigations had a significant impact on society or politics?

R.L.C.: I would say that two subjects were greatly affected by journalistic investigations. Firstly, there was a definite impact on the quality of life of people with HIV, as my work involved exercising a sort of counter-power to better protect the most vulnerable. Secondly, there was increased attention to the phenomenon of « pinkwashing, » which neither honors the companies that use it nor the LGBTQ+ communities that think they see new allies. In reality, these companies don’t care about our communities; for them, it’s solely about money and profit.

A.P.: How have you seen the relationship between LGBTQ+ media and the public evolve over the years?

R.L.C.: During my first 10 years, I observed a constant demand, mainly financial, often coming from the social sector. I warned against a pendulum effect that might backfire on us from the general population, which had its own claims. I feared that a sort of societal revolt would manifest in response to the importance given to LGBTQ+ rights at the time. Today, in 2024, I feel that this popular revolt is indeed present and aggressive, as I mention in my editorial on page 3 of this edition. Social networks such as Facebook, X, and others facilitate the dissemination of insulting remarks against Pride, trans issues, or drag queens, for example. Honestly, these platforms don’t do much to improve the situation. I think it is our duty as LGBTQ+ media journalists to continue explaining our realities in-depth, without systematically falling into over-victimization, which could ultimately harm us more than help.

A.P.: What advice would you give to young journalists starting in LGBTQ+ investigative journalism?

R.L.C.: I regularly give advice to young journalists because they still face today what I experienced at the beginning of my career. First, I would tell them never to give in to ease, complacency, or « plugs. » The public is not fooled; they quickly spot this kind of bad journalism, and their trust can be irreparably shaken. In 30 years, I have often been criticized for my professional rigor, sure, but I have never been accused of corruption, and that is a personal victory in my eyes.

A.P.: How do you manage the pressure and risks associated with publishing sensitive investigations?

R.L.C.: It’s all a matter of experience. Of course, you learn from your mistakes; you gain a deeper understanding of things with years and maturity. I now know much better the risks associated with different styles of journalism. There are subjects or public requests that I no longer handle the same way as before because I consider that it is not my place to lead such a fight when it does not concern me directly. I always recommend that people defend their own causes and keep me informed of the official developments that result. Publishing an accurate report or a legal judgment is always more effective than risking making serious errors during an investigation.

A.P.: What have been the most rewarding and challenging moments of your career?

R.L.C.: The most rewarding for me, throughout these thirty years, has been the reactions and comments from readers, the public, and often from partners. Of course, receiving a royal medal by order of Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 was the emotional highlight, but the loyalty and trust of the public are just as important to me. The most challenging aspect professionally was witnessing the death of hundreds of people with HIV helplessly.

My friends, my colleagues, my readers, my partners. It broke my heart, and I still bear the scars every day. All my decisions are influenced by these memories, especially those with the people I loved the most who died with incredible suffering.

Thank you to Roger-Luc Chayer, who allowed me to ask him very intimate questions and to publish his answers without any intervention on his part. This is also part of the basic rules of professional journalism…

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