Suchergebnisse

In recent years, more out-of-the-closet lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer individuals have entered parliaments. Their visibility raises the question of how they imagine that their non-heteronormative sexuality interferes with their mandate of political representation. Based on interviews with 20 out of the 25 openly lesbian, gay and bisexual legislators in Canada in 2017, this article shows that they do imagine numerous ways in which being out of the closet empowers their role of representation. Without a doubt, being proudly visible is an asset for lesbian, gay and bisexual legislators.

AbstractIn December 1977, the Québec government, formed by the Parti québécois (PQ), amended the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground of discrimination. Québec thus became the first jurisdiction in North America to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. This paper examines the reasons why the PQ government stood ahead of everybody else in this matter. It argues that the Québec lesbian and gay movement drew on favorable political and cultural opportunities to secure legal protection against discrimination.

Only recently have women been recruited to serve in Canadian cabinets, and their presence in these bodies remains marginal, although it is progressing steadily. This article has the objective to examine the role of some institutional variables on women's access to federal and provincial cabinets in Canada, from 1984 to the end of 2007. Six hypotheses are tested exploring the following independent variables: the overall proportion of female legislators versus the proportion of women within the government caucus only; the region; the majority or minority status of the government; the change (or lack of change) of government following a general election; the size of the cabinet; and, the political party that forms the government. The overall pro-portion of women legislators and notably, their proportion within the government caucus both exert an almost monopolistic influence on the feminization rate of cabinets. In addition, the results invite to qualify the idea which suggests that the higher a political role, the harder it is for women to attain.

Résumé.En décembre 1977, le gouvernement du Québec, formé par le parti québécois (PQ), modifiait la Charte des droits et libertés de la personne pour y ajouter l'orientation sexuelle comme motif illicite de discrimination, devenant ainsi le premièr gouvernement en Amérique du Nord à interdire la discrimination pour cause d'orientation sexuelle. Le présent texte analyse les raisons pour lesquelles le gouvernement du PQ a agi avec autant d'avant-gardisme en cette matière. Il repose sur l'argument suivant lequel le mouvement des lesbiennes et des gais au Québec a bénéficié d'une conjoncture favorable, tissée d'opportunités de nature politique et culturelle, afin de décrocher une protection de l'État contre la discrimination.Abstract.In December 1977, the Quebec government, formed by the Parti Québécois (PQ), amended the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground for discrimination. Quebec thus became the first jurisdiction in North America to prohibit discrimination on the basis of one's sexual orientation. This paper examines the reasons why the PQ government was ahead of everybody else in this matter. It argues that the Quebec lesbian and gay movement benefited from a coincidence of political and cultural opportunities that played in its favor in order to secure legal protection against discrimination.