Carle Jasmin (Image : Pixabay) In March 2026, an analysis by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue documented a dramatic increase in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in Canada after the Tumbler Ridge shooting. More than 10,000 anti-LGBTQ+ posts were recorded in Canada in a single day. Among the Canadian extremist accounts examined, daily posts rose from approximately 20 to 233—an increase of more than 1,000%. The analysis also found that a few recurring narratives generated a significant share of the engagement. A crisis can therefore trigger a digital avalanche in which a limited number of actors produce or relay specific narratives on a massive scale. Yet the visibility of hateful rhetoric does not necessarily indicate how many people genuinely support it. Its reach also reflects the ability of the digital system to circulate it. When a minority appears to be a majority Social media have changed the way hatred spreads. A small number of highly active accounts can create the impression that a much larger movement exists. Imagine ten particularly active people, each publishing 20 messages a day. That produces 200 posts. If only 20 other accounts repost, comment on or reformulate those messages, the number of posts associated with the same narrative can quickly reach several thousand. Each post may then be viewed by hundreds, thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people. Ten people can produce ten voices, while the Internet can give those voices an audience of millions. The apparent popularity of an idea can consequently bear little relation to the actual number of people who support it. A user…

Editor’s Note: The asterisks used throughout this article are intended to prevent our content from being censored or restricted on social media platforms, which can be particularly sensitive to certain keywords. This article is meant to inform and encourage reflection, not to have its distribution limited or its content hidden because certain platforms consider some words inappropriate. Roger-Luc Chayer (Image : Pixabay) The legal question surrounding an intimate massage does not turn simply on nudity, sensuality, or the degree of physical contact involved. In Canada, the decisive issue may instead be whether a sexual service was obtained, or sought, in exchange for money or another form of consideration. That distinction matters because an intimate or sensual massage between consenting adults is not automatically a crime. The situation can change, however, when the massage serves as a cover for, or becomes the setting in which, a sexual service is agreed upon and provided for compensation. What Canadian Law Actually Targets Section 286.1 of the Canadian Criminal Code concerns obtaining sexual services for consideration. A person may commit an offence by purchasing a sexual service or by communicating with someone for the purpose of obtaining one in exchange for consideration. The Canadian Department of Justice defines a “sexual service” as a service that is sexual in nature and whose purpose is to sexually gratify the person who receives it. Two elements are therefore central: the service must be sexual in nature, and consideration must be exchanged for it. The Criminal Code does not make every sensual massage criminal. Rather, it is the…

Carle Jasmin (Image : AI / ) It is no longer enough to learn the familiar words “gay,” “lesbian,” “bisexual” or “trans.” The expanding vocabulary of LGBTQ+ identities now includes terms such as Almondsexual, also called Verian, and Berrisexual. Even journalists who have specialized in LGBTQ+ communities for decades may need a glossary to keep up with the letters, numbers and microlabels now used to describe sexual orientation, attraction and gender. From letters and numbers to almonds and berries Among the longest documented combinations is LGBTQQIP2SAA. It contains 11 alphabetical characters and the number 2, making 12 characters in total: L G B T Q Q I P 2 S A A L — Lesbian G — Gay B — Bisexual T — Transgender Q — Queer Q — Questioning I — Intersex P — Pansexual 2S — Two-Spirit A — Asexual A — Ally / Androgynous, depending on the source That already makes the acronym difficult to decode. But the vocabulary has continued to expand, including with a designation that does not even use another letter from the familiar sequence. Almondsexuals, or Verians, have now joined the collection of identity terms. After so much of the alphabet has been used, almonds have apparently entered the discussion as well. The name does not indicate a particular attraction to almonds, although that would perhaps be easier to explain. The alternative term Verian at least avoids the inevitable question: “So… do you sleep with almonds?” An Almondsexual or Verian person is described as being primarily attracted to men and masculine people, as…

Arnaud Pontin (Image : AI / ) For viewers trying to escape increasingly expensive cable subscriptions, television can now begin with a small device and a Wi-Fi connection. A Roku Stick, Fire TV Stick or Google TV Streamer plugs into an HDMI port, connects to the home Internet network through a username and password, and provides access to a wide range of applications, movies and television programs. The access is free when the services themselves are free, and it is legal. I had considered switching to streaming television after years of paying for cable, but I knew little about the technology. I assumed that services such as YouTube were the main option and that additional content would require payment. A friend introduced me to the Roku Stick, and I discovered that no long cables, set-top boxes or small computers were needed. These devices are sold at different prices, depending on their resolution and features. The following amounts are approximate prices in Canadian dollars and may vary by country. Devices that connect to a television Device Resolution Approximate price CAD Roku Streaming Stick HD $40 Roku Streaming Stick Plus 4K HDR $50 Roku Streaming Stick 4K 4K HDR/Dolby Vision $70 Amazon Fire TV Stick HD HD $35–40 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select 4K $40–50 Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K 4K $65–70 Google TV Streamer 4K 4K HDR $130 Apple TV 4K 4K HDR approximately $200–250 A television can also come with the streaming platform already installed. Roku, Google TV, Fire TV, Tizen and other systems are available in Smart TVs,…

Roger-Luc Chayer (Image : AI / ) Montreal’s image as a prosperous, modern and welcoming metropolis can change within moments. For visitors arriving downtown, the first scene of their tour may not be the architecture, terraces, festivals or picturesque streets featured in promotional material, but approximately 20 to 25 homeless people gathered beside garbage and filth. That was what I saw yesterday afternoon while waiting for about 30 minutes in a parking lot near Jeanne-Mance Street. I had driven a fellow journalist downtown so he could attend to personal matters. Jeanne-Mance Street is another Montreal street that has been closed, forcing drivers to make detours that are not even reasonable, although that is not the subject of this article. The people around me included both men and women. Some were lying on the sidewalk. Others were asleep, leaning against whatever was nearby. They appeared to be contemplating the surrounding garbage and dirt, abandoned in the middle of the city. I am accustomed to seeing poverty in Montreal’s Gay Village, but this location was downtown, only a few metres from the courthouse. As far as I could see, people were left without a meaningful place to go and without the services they clearly needed. Their situation raised the question of how such abandonment can be accepted in a society that owes them help and assistance, particularly under the principles of dignity and protection recognized by the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Across Saint-Antoine Street, an open-top tourist bus was filling with visitors preparing to discover the metropolis. They looked…

Roger-Luc Chayer (Photo: AP / Euronews) Two features of Donald Trump’s return to the White House invite comparison: an administration that has made LGBT rights, especially the rights of trans people, a political target, and a tariff policy that places additional charges on several countries known for being comparatively open to LGBT communities. The relationship between those two policies may be coincidental. The pattern, however, is difficult to overlook. What the comparison shows To examine the two dimensions together, I used the Equaldex LGBT Equality Index 2026, which combines legal rights with public opinion, and the schedule of additional U.S. tariffs currently in effect. Important: the percentage shown is the general additional tariff by country, where one exists. It does not necessarily indicate the total customs duty charged on every product. Depending on the sector, additional tariffs of 25%, 50%, or 100% may also apply. The 10 countries most favorable to LGBTQ+ people Global LGBTQ+ rank Country Equaldex score /100 Additional U.S. tariff 2026 1 🇮🇸 Iceland 93 No general tariff 2 🇳🇴 Norway 89 12.5% 3 🇺🇾 Uruguay 87 12.5% 4 🇪🇸 Spain 83 10% 5 🇩🇰 Denmark 82 10% 6 🇲🇹 Malta 80 10% 7 🇨🇱 Chile 80 12.5% 8 🇦🇩 Andorra 80 No general tariff 9 🇩🇪 Germany 80 10% 10 🇳🇿 New Zealand 78 12.5% Equaldex published these rankings and scores in 2026. The tariff figures come from the U.S. tariff-tracking table verified on September 10, 2026. The 10 countries least favorable to LGBTQ+ people Global LGBTQ+ rank Country Equaldex score /100 Additional U.S. tariff 2026…

Arnaud Pontin (Image: Pixabay) For people living with HIV, antiretroviral treatment remains the foundation of care. When taken correctly, these medicines suppress HIV replication, maintain an undetectable viral load, and prevent sexual transmission of the virus. Yet they do not completely eliminate HIV from the body. Some virus can remain dormant inside certain cells, forming what researchers call the viral reservoir. If treatment is stopped, these reservoirs may allow HIV to begin multiplying again. The possibility of targeting these hidden cells is one reason immunotherapy has become an important area of HIV research. The idea draws partly on progress in cancer medicine. Research in one medical field increasingly produces results that can be useful in another, and cancer studies have led to particularly interesting developments for HIV, including the design of new drugs and immune-based strategies. Immunotherapy has changed the treatment of some cancers by replacing or supplementing intensive treatments such as chemotherapy. In certain cancers of the lung, throat, or colon, these approaches can be better tolerated by the body. A close neighbor provided a personal example of this change. About 10 years ago, after many years of smoking cigarettes, he developed throat and lung cancer. He sought medical advice after losing his voice and experiencing discomfort in his throat. Following several examinations, the cancer was diagnosed, and he immediately began a series of chemotherapy treatments that caused significant side effects. After several treatments, he decided not to continue, preferring to end things with less suffering. His oncologist then told him about an experimental immunotherapy treatment. Its principle was…

Carle Jasmin (Image: Facebook account of Brenda Lopez) Good news: before this article was finished, the hateful message posted in the Les P’tits LGBT Facebook group had been removed. It was either deleted by the group’s administrators or taken down by Facebook after our report. The removal followed a series of posts by a person presenting herself as Brenda Lopez. Her identity cannot be verified because her Facebook profile is locked. What can be seen, however, are numerous homophobic signals left in LGBTQ+ groups, including Les P’tits LGBT, along with repeated provocations aimed at members of these communities through hateful statements and images directed against us. Four days ago, apparently seeking to stir up hatred toward LGBTQ+ people, she published a message about an alleged father of an 11-year-old boy who supposedly caught an 18-year-old having a sexual relationship with his son. She claimed that the father had beaten the 18-year-old almost to death, while also stating that he had not been charged by the courts. The post included the words: “Always these fucking homosexuals, bravo to this dad.” Members of the Facebook group responded with numerous expressions of outrage. The images on her page reinforce the same message. The main image at the top shows one person kicking another, with the person being kicked depicted in LGBTQ+ colors. Her profile picture shows parents with children beneath an umbrella, apparently trying to protect themselves from rain in LGBTQ+ colors. When group members asked why she posted such content, she notably answered: “xxx, because you are nothing but a bunch of…

Groupe Média (Image: AI / ) Your comments may directly influence some of our future topics and help shape the evolution of our editorial coverage. We therefore want to hear more about your view of the media outlet, the subjects that interest you and the ways in which our coverage could improve. For this exceptional request, please use the comments form at the bottom of this article to share your opinions, suggestions and recommendations, as well as any topics you would like a member of the team to cover. Although you already contact the editorial team regularly for many different reasons, this is an opportunity for us to listen to you more closely. Every topic is welcome. You may highlight LGBTQ+ realities that receive too little discussion, issues you believe are insufficiently covered or questions that warrant further investigation. Submissions will be selected according to their relevance to , their journalistic interest and whether they can be addressed in a serious, documented and original way. This initiative comes after more than 33 years during which has existed in various forms: on the Web, on social media, in PDF and in print. We now have more than 13,000 articles, an achievement of which we are very proud, along with a very high-calibre editorial and writing team. For a media outlet of this seriousness, the time has come to listen to you and hear from you even more. To communicate with the editorial team more personally, please use the contact button at the top of this page or email us at [email protected].…

Review of Arthur J. Bressan Jr.’s film Juice, which follows a gay photographer who must find new models for a magazine. Light and sexy. With this feature film, Arthur J. Bressan Jr. delivers a lighter, more modest work, immersing us in the daily life of Jim, an adult gay magazine photographer (Michael Christopher, very well endowed by nature)…

Sadly, this series falls into the same trap most GMM shows do. I really wanted it to be good because the premise genuinely had potential. And honestly, it starts out strong: playful, funny, with a fun little love-scam angle running through it. But around episode four or five, it slips back into the same worn-out formula every other show like this uses, leaving very little that sticks with you. There are twelve episodes, each roughly fifty five to sixty minutes long, so it demands a serious time commitment, yet it never offers enough charm to make all that feel worthwhile. The story centers on cousins Pai and North, both heirs to a rich, influential family. Pai is doing well in business, while North keeps wasting family money on ventures that fail. We first meet Tim, whose random encounter with Pai gradually turns into a slow-burn romance. But it is revealed pretty quickly that Tim had been after Pai from the beginning, intending to make him fall in love so he could secure a comfortable life with a wealthy man, while secretly also dating several rich women on the side. At roughly the same time, North meets U during a hiking trip and immediately falls for him. This comes right after North's breakup, and in a moment of impulsiveness, he proposes to U right there, even offering him money to agree. Since U is broke, he accepts the money and marries North, only learning afterward just how wealthy North's family really is. Eventually, U and Tim uncover one another's scams and…

This coming-of-age movie follows two teenage guys who seem completely opposite on paper, even though they’re both carrying baggage from their past. We get to watch them deal with it and fall for each other along the way. It starts off feeling like a teen rom-com, then becomes something much more personal by the end. Not gonna lie, I have no idea why they chose the English title they did, because the original title translates as Fifteen Days, and that fits so much better. Apparently it’s based on a book, and honestly, what makes it work is how straightforward it remains throughout. It has this warm, sunny vibe, and it’s not only about two boys falling in love. It’s really about learning to quit hiding after spending years trying not to be seen. Felipe is sixteen and has been insecure about his weight for years because other kids gave him hell about it growing up. He’s openly gay and lives with his mom, who’s a major presence in his life. When summer comes around, he’d honestly rather sit inside binge-watching things and reading manga than head outdoors to swim. Then Caio, his neighbor and the guy Felipe’s had a crush on since childhood, winds up staying at their house for two weeks while his parents are gone. Like that isn’t awkward enough already, Felipe realizes that he and Caio haven’t even talked in years. They drifted apart, and Felipe has convinced himself that Caio is one of those straight jock guys who could never be interested in someone like him.…