- Only 54 % of respondents are aware that homophobia is a form of
discrimination
- 70 % say they feel comfortable with homosexuality
- 77 % understand that being gay or lesbian is not an illness
- 30 % mistakenly believe that there are "cures" to change one's sexual
orientationMONTREAL, May 16 /CNW Telbec/ - On the day before the International Day
Against Homophobia, Fondation Emergence has revealed the results from a Léger
Marketing survey on Canadians' perceptions concerning homosexuality. An
amazing fact: in a choice of answers for the definition of homophobia (is
homophobia an illness, does it mean the same as "homosexuality" or is it a
form of discrimination?) only 54 % of people answered that it was a form of
discrimination. Fondation Emergence President, Mr. Laurent McCutcheon, said
that he was still encouraged by these results "because few people had ever
heard the actual word before the first edition of the International Day
Against Homophobia in 2003".
The results from the survey carried out for the 2008 Campaign entitled
"Homosexuality is NOT an sickness!" show that Canadians' acknowledging of
homosexuality is steadily improving. For example, 70 % of those surveyed said
they felt comfortable with homosexuality, 77 % believe that being gay or
lesbian is not an illness, and 76 % think that homosexuality is not a mental
disorder. Mr. McCutcheon says, "These results should make us glad in that not
too long ago, in fact, up until 1991, the World Health Organisation had
regarded homosexuality as an illness."
The survey analysis provides a glimpse of a few contradictions. Whereas
77 % of Canadians feel that being gay or lesbian is neither an illness nor a
mental disorder, 30 % (almost one-third) believe that there are treatments or
"cures" available for people who wish to change their sexual orientation. In
addition, only 57 % think that mental health specialists should help gay men
and lesbians come to terms with their sexual orientation. Even more surprising
is the answer concerning whether it is important for a person to reveal their
sexual orientation to their psychologist: almost 53 % of respondents think
it's important to do it.
It is otherwise reassuring to know that 79 % of those surveyed believe
that healthcare professionals and workers should have training on gay and
lesbian issues. While this answer may seem logical for the vast majority of
the population, the reality however is quite different: few professionals and
workers in the healthcare field receive training on such issues.
The survey shows that, overall, women and younger people hold a more
positive attitude toward homosexuality than men and older people do, and that
Québec residents display a more open attitude toward gay and lesbian issues
than Canadians in the rest of Canada do. Mr. McCutcheon concludes that "Gay
men and lesbians who live in Canada, and more so in Québec, are fortunate
enough to live in undoubtedly the most welcoming society in the world for gay
men and lesbians. Yet we need to realise that a significant number of people
out there still have a poor understanding of LGBT issues. Full recognition of
LGBT issues seems, though, to increase with the level of awareness of these
issues, and that's an encouraging fact."
The survey was conducted between April 2 and 9, 2008, among
1,501 Canadian men and women over the age of 18. It has a margin of error of
+/- 2.6 %, 19 times out of 20. The survey does not take into account
respondents' sexual orientations. Full survey results (PDF) are available at
www.homophobiaday.org.
Lastly, we would like to remind you that the International Day Against
Homophobia on May 17 is a moment to join efforts to fight against homophobia.
Launched in Québec in 2003, as an initiative by Fondation Emergence, this
theme-day is now celebrated throughout several countries.
For further information: Fondation Emergence: Richard Rancourt, Director
of Communications, (514) 866-6788; Laurent McCutcheon, President, (514)
522-7614
