Interligne (organization)

Interligne is a front-line organization that, through its listening, intervention and awareness services, contributes to the well-being of people concerned with sexual diversity and gender plurality.[1]

Interligne
Centre Interligne Inc.
Formation1980
Founded atMontreal, QC
TypeRegistered Charity
WebsiteInterligne.co

Mission and values

Interligne serves as a front-line center providing assistance and information for people impacted by sexual diversity and gender diversity. Through its 24-hour service, it provides support to LGBTQ+ people, their loved ones and community, school, health and social service staff. Interligne also conducts outreach activities, to promote a greater openness of society towards LGBTQ+ people realities.

Interligne's shares a main set of values.

Restoring LGBTQ+ communities power to act, while ensuring their inclusion in the different spheres of society. .[2]

Services

Interligne services includes:

  • Help, information and references by phone and text messaging at 1-888-505-1010 (24/7);
  • Help, information and references by private chat;
  • Help, information and references by e-mail;
  • A Frequently asked questions about LGBTQ+ realities (FAQ Archived 2021-04-13 at the Wayback Machine);
  • Youth programs;
  • Violence programs;
  • Awareness campaigns;
  • And much more…[3]

History

Gay Line was founded in 1976 by activists who wanted to provide a helpline with information and advice to gay and lesbian people in Montreal.[4] It was part of what was called the "Gay Social Services Project" of the Ville Marie Social Services Centre and was staffed by volunteers and professional social workers, who offered counseling services.[5] In the late 1990s, Gay Line widened its scope to include bisexual and transgender people.[5] It operated until [6]2012.

In the early 1980s, a similar version of the helpline was formed in Quebec called Gai Écoute.[4][5] Since 2017, Gai Écoute has become Centre Interligne Inc.[7]

“Since our inception in 1980, we have been listening and supporting people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. In recent years, we have felt that the name Gai Écoute was out of step with our reality. We then began a long process of studying our own brand identity and how best to convey this openness,” explains Pascal Vaillancourt, executive director of Interligne. “Above all, the goal is to reach everyone so that no one is isolated,”[7]says Robert Asselin, president of Interligne.

Interligne, has been now working for over 40 years to provide its services for both French-speaking and English-speaking members of the LGBTQ+ communities across Canada. In 2019-2020, Interligne has received over 36 000 help request from members of the LGBTQ+ communities across the world.[8]

References
  1. "About Us". Interligne. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  2. "Rapport annuel 2019-2020" (PDF). Interligne.co . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  3. "Help and information". Interligne. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  4. Hays, Matthew (June 2006), "Lending a queer ear", Montreal Mirror, archived from the original on July 8, 2008, retrieved June 26, 2008
  5. "About Us". Gay Line. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
  6. "CAEO Québec". CAEO Québec. 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
  7. "Press release - Gai Écoute becomes Interligne". Interligne (Press release). 2017-06-19. Archived from the original on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  8. "Rapport annuel 2019-2020" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-04-13. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
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