“Together For All,” A Podcast Series That Sounds Like Us! 

Fierté Montréal’s new podcast highlights the realities of queer people across Québec…

Fierté Montréal presents Together for All, a podcast series directed by Marie-Hélène Frenette-Assad and hosted by the politico-social comedian, Coco Belliveau. Throughout the series, Coco takes the audience on a road trip across queer-Québec to cover topics such as the struggles, histories, demands, and realities of 2SLGBTQIA+ people with members of our communities living outside large urban centres.

“I’m very happy to participate in this project. It’s always fun when I can tie my work to something I’m passionate about. I learned, laughed, and was moved. We hear a lot about the community in large cities, but knowing that, no matter the village, suburb, town… wherever you are, you can find people who look like you, is incredibly heart-warming,” stated Belliveau.

Up-close with invisible realities 
From Nunavik to Outaouais, from Bas-Saint-Laurent to Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Together for All amplifies the voices of queer people living in rural areas. The series of 10 episodes highlights the realities and daily challenges of, for instance, a gay farmer in the Eastern Townships, a sexologist in Gatineau, Kuujjuaq’s and Val-d’Or’s Pride organizers, a trans woman in Saguenay, or a lesbian mother in a single stepfamily in Kamouraska. The podcast also meets with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities in Gaspésie, Laurentides, Chaudière-Appalaches and Québec, as well as 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations based in Montréal.

Representation and expression
This Fierté Montréal production is made possible thanks to funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Equality for Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression Program. It’s a unique platform that offers 2SLGBTQIA+ people an opportunity for visibility and expression of their realities in their geographical context. The podcast aims to give public access to unheard testimonies from sexually and gender-diverse people living outside large urban centres.

“Together for All is a gleaming kaleidoscope of the realities and lived experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ people all over Québec,” explains Simon Gamache, Fierté Montréal’s Executive Director. “Coco Belliveau navigates the series with finesse and humour which, depending on the audience, will move, raise awareness, surprise and invite people to learn more. We are witnessing demographic changes which bode well for an ever so queerer and more diversified Québec outside of large urban centres.”

Pride from multiple angles
At a time when disinformation and hate towards 2SLGBTQIA+ communities keep increasing, Together for All explores the fights, histories, and solutions implemented by remote communities. The podcast series tackles queer gathering spaces, agricultural life, sexual health, gender affirmation journeys, the daily lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ families, the bustling queer arts scene, pride celebrations in rural towns, and so much more. 

Premiered on November 28, 2023
The first of 10 episodes of the podcast series were released on November 28, 2023, on the Fierté Montréal website. The following episodes will then be released every other week until the end of March 2024. The podcast series is entirely in French, except for episode 10, “Destination Kuujjuaq”.”

“Too often, people from the 2SLGBTQI+ community do not have the chance to have a voice and to be heard as they deserve. These challenges are all the more important when you find yourself in rural areas. Collectively, we must work together to allow everyone to be heard so that no reality is forgotten. Our government proudly supports Fierté Montréal and I warmly congratulate the creation of the podcast series Together for All, which contributes to highlighting the voices of people of all identities and origins,” said Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth.

Episode list
1. Parcours trans affirmatif — November 28 
2. La tournée des bars queer — December 12 
3. Havre de rassemblement — December 19 
4. Va-et-vient queer au travail — January 9 
5. Fierté au galop ! —January 23 
6. Un arc-en-ciel effervescent et panquébécois — February 6 
7. Pause pipi et dépistage — February 20 
8. Minivan familiale 2SLGBTQIA+ — March 5
9. Sur la route des Fiertés — March 19 
10. Destination Kuujjuaq (French Version & English Version) — March 29 

About Fierté Montréal 
Since 2007, Fierté Montréal amplifies the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities to assure their representation, their inclusion and the recognition of their rights in society. Catalysts for social change, our Festival, our community initiatives, as well as our artistic and cultural projects celebrate the creativity and resilience of our communities. Mindful of and in collaboration with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, we call attention to their fights and realities in the wider public and the institutions. 

Fierté Montréal is based in Tio’tia:ke, on the unceded territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation. We recognize them as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather. Tio’tia:ke is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations, and today a diverse Indigenous population, as well as other peoples, reside here. It is with respect for the connections to the past, present, and future that we recognize the ongoing relationships between Indigenous Peoples and others in the Montréal community.