
Gay Globe Media
Montreal, August 15, 2024 – On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, yesterday, Madame Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal, posted the following message on her Facebook page: “Fugues is more than a magazine; it is the only Quebec media dedicated to Francophone LGBTQ2IA+ communities. For its 40th anniversary, we invited its team to sign the City of Montreal’s Golden Book. Congratulations to Fugues Magazine for its 40 years of raising awareness and fighting for justice. Its team contributes to making Montreal a more inclusive city, combating hatred, and defending respect, justice, and equality.”
However, Madame Plante knew she was disseminating false information about the exclusive existence of the Fugues Magazine, and she did so knowingly, committing an act of identity erasure against myself and the media I run, Gay Globe Magazine.
Gay Globe Magazine is legally registered with the Quebec Enterprise Registry as a media entity under activity code 2831 and Quebec business number 2247724695. Its address is in Montreal.
Gay Globe Magazine has its tax numbers, which are TPS 803991744 and TVQ 1024110229. It is a legally constituted media group that has existed for many years. There are only two professional media outlets serving the LGBTQ+ community in Quebec: Fugues and Gay Globe.
Madame Plante and the elected officials of her party are well aware of Gay Globe Magazine and its publisher, as the media regularly participates in press conferences with the Mayor on topics relevant to Gay Globe’s mission, and officials are frequently invited to highlight important events for the LGBT communities with the media, whether it is World AIDS Day, Anti-Homophobia Day, or Gay Pride in Montreal. The publisher even maintains written correspondence with Projet Montréal’s elected representative for the area where Gay Globe’s offices are located (Rosemont), Madame Dominique Ollivier, since her election.
When Mayor Plante declares that our competitor “Fugues is the only Quebec media dedicated to Francophone LGBTQ2IA+ communities,” she is not telling the truth and is doing so deliberately, deceiving Montrealers.
“When I was informed of Madame Plante’s statement yesterday, I was extremely hurt and disturbed. As a Montrealer and LGBTQ+ media professional, being erased from the municipal landscape is profoundly shocking, especially after having been a journalist for Montreal media since 1993. I am also hurt for our readers and partners, who have the right to rely on the honesty of Montreal’s top elected official, responsible for recognizing and respecting all citizens and businesses.
I believe Madame Plante owes us an apology for this act of identity erasure, not only to my company and our readers but also to all Montrealers who have been misled,” says Roger-Luc Chayer, publisher of the Gay Globe Group divisions and a classical musician often recognized and awarded as a Montrealer with significant cultural influence both in Canada and France.
“I am fully aware that, as LGBTQ+ media, Gay Globe’s mission is to publish important reports on the state of Montreal’s Gay Village. However, it is important to note that the media’s critical stance towards those in power does not mean it deserves to be erased. Throughout my career, I have received communications and acknowledgments from numerous presidents, prime ministers, mayors, as well as congratulations from international figures, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Madame Plante’s attitude is punitive and should not have a place in a just and democratic society that she is duty-bound to embody as Mayor,” adds Roger-Luc Chayer.
What is identity erasure?
Identity erasure refers to the marginalization or suppression of the existence and identity of a group, person, or culture. It manifests through invisibility in media and popular culture, historical revision or omission, forced assimilation, systemic discrimination, and denial of identity. For example, a group or person may be excluded from historical narratives, forced to abandon their cultural practices, or have their contributions minimized. Institutional policies and practices may also marginalize a group or person, making its members less visible or influential in society. Denial of identity is reflected in the refusal to recognize chosen names, pronouns, sexual orientations, or genders. The consequences of identity erasure are severe, perpetuating inequalities and social injustices.
Can identity erasure be a homophobic act?
Identity erasure of a homosexual person can be considered a form of homophobia. Homophobia includes not only acts of explicit violence or discrimination but also behaviors and attitudes that deny or minimize the identity and experiences of homosexual individuals. These actions perpetuate marginalization and stigma, contributing to an environment where homosexual individuals do not feel accepted or valued.