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The workshops

Who are our workshops aimed at?

Secondary
schools

Primary
schools

Cégeps
universities

Youth settings

Adult settings

Senior settings

Workshop Method

GRIS-Montréal’s workshops are given in the form of testimony by a question-and-answer session with two volunteers who identify as either gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, trans, or non-binary/gender non-conforming. The participants can thereby put a face on a reality which sometimes scares or intimidates them. After a brief biographical talk, the volunteers invite the students to ask any questions they might have about the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identity. The volunteers answer those questions in the most open way possible, and shared their lived experiences as LGBTQ+ people.

In order to deepen class discussions on these realities, GRIS-Montréal proposes two distinct workshops: one concerning the demystification of the diversity of sexual orientations (which are facilitated by gay, lesbian, bisexual or pansexual volunteers), and the other concerning the demystification of the diversity of gender identities (facilitated by trans or non-binary/gender non-conforming volunteers).

Teacher Evaluation

For each of the workshops completed, we ask the teachers and classroom leaders to fill out a workshop evaluation form and to give it to the volunteers. Their answers allow us to monitor the quality of our workshops. Some workshops are also subject to being observed.

Examples of questions asked by students at GRIS-Montréal workshops

  • How did you know you were homosexual/bisexual/trans?

  • How did your parents react?

  • Does being trans really affect your love life?

  • Do you want to have kids?

  • Do you want to get married?

  • Did people try to convince you that you were not trans?

  • Why do you want to have a parade, a Village, Gay Games?

  • Are homosexual/bisexual/trans people religious?

Student Questionnaire

The research questionnaire is an integral part of the workshop. As well as encouraging students to reflect and put themselves in these situations, these questionnaires allow the organization to measure the short-term impact of the workshops and to monitor the evolution of attitudes in society.

The questionnaire is handed out to each of the students at the start of the period. The first part is filled out by students before they meet the volunteers. The two other parts are completed just before the end of the period. The questionnaires are anonymous and stay in the students’ hands during the entire workshop. The volunteers only collect them at the end of the period.

Workshop Request

To submit a workshop request, you need to call 514 590-0016 or fill out the workshop request form online and the person in charge will contact you.

During the first contact with GRIS, you will be able to ask any questions you have. It’s also at this point that our staff will collect all of the necessary information to organize the workshop.

Testimonials

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Research

From the very beginning, research has had an important place in our approach. During each GRIS-Montréal workshop, students or participants fill out a three-part questionnaire. This helps to gauge the participants perceptions and understanding of issues related to the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities. Thanks to a mainly volunteer team, the answers from these questionnaires have been compiled into a large database since the early 2000s.

The first part of the questionnaire has to be completed by the participants before the volunteers show up. Filled out at the end of the meeting, the second part asks the same series of questions and allows the impact of the workshop to be evaluated. The third part collects socio-demographic information – age, sex, religion, if they know/have relationships with LGBTQ+ people, etc… These anonymous portraits of each participant allows the data to be grouped together and for pertinent statistics to be established. Particular questionnaires also exist for primary classes and adult groups.

Eloquent Research Results

In general, girls are less comfortable with situations involving a lesbian girl than a gay boy, while boys are less comfortable with situations involving a gay boy than lesbian girl.

By knowing gays, lesbians and bisexuals, you become comfortable with homosexual or bisexual realities. Young people who already knew a gay or bisexual person before the GRIS-Montréal visit were more at ease than the young people who had never met them before. Thus, our research confirms the principle underlying our interventions.

Discover what students say in the questionnaires

“Well, for me, I find it courageous to be able to express yourself when it’s difficult. For me, my friend on the internet didn’t tell anyone because she doesn’t know how to deal with it at all. Anyway, it’s fun to see people like you who accept it. ”

- A 14-year-old girl, Laval

“Thanks to you, I know a lot about gays and lesbians and that doesn’t shock me to see them, so thank you for taking away the hate that I felt toward them. ”“Thanks to you, I know a lot about gays and lesbians and that doesn’t shock me to see them, so thank you for taking away the hate that I felt toward them. ”

- A 15-year-old boy, Montréal

“It was a good experience and it’s good what you are doing. I encourage you to keep making it so that you’re respected and loved as you are, not as others want you to be. ”

- A 16-year-old boy, Montréal

“A great meeting that erased the ideas I had about it. As for kids, you really touched me. I congratulate you and I support you 100% One thing’s for sure, questioning my orientation doesn’t scare me anymore. It makes me reflect. ”

- A 19-year-old woman, Longueuil

“A great meeting. It takes courage to do what you do and it helps people. Thanks on our behalf and on theirs. ”

- An 18-year-old boy, L’Assomption

Research Report

The research report « “L’homophobie pas dans ma cour!” »published by GRIS-Montréal in 2008 looked mainly at understanding homophobia among people and determining how young people understand homophobia. To do this, three research questions were used to collect the necessary information. What is the picture painted of homophobia in specialized literature? What is the minimal prevalence of homophobic acts in school? And lastly, how do young people understand homophobia?

Over the last few years, our research has been published in English and French scientific reviews. Here are a few of our articles:

Collaborations and Resources