Nearly $24 million will be allocated to combat homophobia and transphobia in Quebec over the next five years. The minister responsible for this file, Martine Biron, unveiled her plan on Thursday in Montreal.

This is the largest amount ever granted to this cause in Quebec since the adoption of the first plan to combat homophobia by the Liberal government led by Jean Charest in 2011.

In total, $23.7 million will be used to fund the 2023-2028 plan to combat homophobia and transphobia. This is more than double the amount invested in the previous plan, about $10 million for the 2017-2022 period.

"It is a big step forward, we have injected twice the money, and we have started investing," Martine Biron declared on Thursday. The minister responsible for the status of women and combating homophobia and transphobia said that the largest part of the pie goes to funding community organizations working with people from the LGBTQ+ community.

These organizations will receive 55% of the budget, that is $11 million. Ms. Biron announced that the organizations are good, they know their clients well, and sometimes better than us [in the government], although we have seriously started developing our expertise.

In Biron's view, there is still much work to be done to raise awareness among the population about the reality of LGBTQ+ people. In this regard, awareness will be raised among the general public. More targeted content will be designed especially for the sports community and healthcare workers.

This Quebec plan includes 44 measures and follows five directions:

Recognition of sexual and gender diversity ($4.6 million)

Respecting and exercising rights ($1 million)

Enhancing the community environment and support networks for LGBTQ+ people ($11 million)

Access to public services and adapting them (1.5 million dollars)

Strengthening cohesion and effectiveness of actions ($1.6 million)

The Office to Combat Homophobia and Transphobia will receive $4 million to ensure its sustainability within the Quebec government.

The government also plans to establish an LGBTQ+ award starting in 2024 in addition to a web guide that gathers all the tools and resources developed as part of the fight plan.