Political hopefuls from sexual and gender-diverse communities in Quebec are reporting a significant rise in online harassment and threats as the province approaches a fall provincial election, raising concerns among parties and advocacy groups about the impact on democratic participation.
Parties warn rhetoric may be fueling hostility
Québec solidaire has described the volume of hostile messages aimed at its LGBTQ+ candidates as both exceptional and alarming. The party’s president, Roxane Milot, who is herself running in a Montreal riding and identifies as bisexual, said the situation is discouraging potential candidates from coming forward.
“We’re concerned, and I think all candidates and party leaders will need to be careful with their rhetoric,”
Milot told reporters she has personally been targeted by hateful messages and social media “trolls.” She said community organisations that assist and support diverse candidates have reported a deterioration in the online climate over recent weeks.
Personal accounts show a range of abuse
Other candidates from sexual and gender-diverse backgrounds corroborate that harassment is common and, in some instances, escalating into threats. Philippe Schnobb, who later this year became a Parti Québécois candidate, said the hostile messages intensified after he entered politics. Schnobb noted that as an ordinary citizen or public-sector leader in prior roles he did not face the same level of abuse.
“When I was president of (Montreal’s public transit agency), a journalist, or just an ordinary citizen, I didn’t receive this kind of comment. It’s not pleasant, especially when it turns into threats,”
Schnobb’s remarks underscore a pattern described by parties and candidates: online attacks are disproportionately directed at people from marginalised backgrounds, including queer people, women and racialised communities, and that such attacks can deter prospective candidates.
Party responses and internal incidents
Québec solidaire says it is working closely with LGBTQ+ organisations and monitoring the situation. The party also faced its own controversy after one of its candidates, Vanessa Durand, withdrew following online posts that were deemed hateful toward Parti Québécois supporters from LGBTQ+ communities. Durand’s post was deleted and she resigned her candidacy; she did not respond to requests for comment.
Parties across the political spectrum are now grappling with both the safety of individual candidates and the broader question of how public discourse and campaign rhetoric contribute to a hostile online environment.
- Concern: Harassment is deterring people from diverse backgrounds from running for office.
- Targets: Queer candidates report homophobic comments and, in some cases, threats.
- Party action: Québec solidaire is monitoring the situation and liaising with community groups.
| Candidate | Party | Issue reported |
|---|---|---|
| Roxane Milot | Québec solidaire | Hateful messages, trolls |
| Philippe Schnobb | Parti Québécois | Homophobic remarks and threats |
| Vanessa Durand (withdrew) | Québec solidaire | Hateful online posts; resigned candidacy |
The reports come as Quebecers prepare for a provincial campaign in the fall. The accounts of harassment add to longstanding debates about online safety, moderation by social platforms and the responsibilities of political leaders and parties to limit incendiary rhetoric.
Policy responses at the provincial and federal level could include stronger supports for candidate safety, clearer reporting channels for threats, and collaboration with technology companies to remove violent and hateful content. Advocacy groups say such measures are important not only to protect individuals but also to preserve the pluralism of political life by ensuring diverse voices can participate without fear.
For parties that rely on recruiting candidates from under-represented backgrounds, the current trend poses both a moral and practical challenge: how to protect and encourage participation while maintaining vigorous, competitive campaigns. Unless the trend is addressed, communities already underrepresented in politics risk being further marginalised in elected institutions.
