MONTREAL – More than 73% of Gay, Bi, Trans and Queer men report that they have been rejected entirely based on their physical appearance. Fat-phobia, body shaming, and discrimination based on appearance are detrimental to a person’s health and self-esteem. Egale Canada Human Rights Trust is determined to have an authentic dialogue about this issue because of the impact it is having on queer men’s mental health, general health and wellness.
On August 1st Egale will launch mon.corps at Galerie France Cantin in Montreal, marking the commencement of an online campaign addressing Montreal’s gay, bi, trans, and queer (GBTQ) men’s mental health and body image. mon.corps is a continuation of Egale’s successful m.bodiment campaign launched last year in Toronto.
moncorps.ca acts a hub for GBTQ men, and addresses GBTQ body health through a powerful short video featuring participating GBTQ Montreal men of diverse age, size, ethnicity, ability, and gender-identity, each posing nude while sharing their own personal stories of body shame and discrimination. The project is funded by the Movember Foundation, and is intended to break through the perpetual stigma and shame around talking about men’s health and wellness. “3 out of 4 deaths by suicide in Canada are men, which amounts to 7 men dying by suicide everyday in this country.” Explains Kevin Edwards, Country Director of Movember Foundation Canada. “At Movember we know we have to address a number of factors upstream to prevent suicide, which is why we’re so proud to support incredible projects like moncorps.ca that look to decrease the stigma associated with mental health and help GBTQ men talk about men’s health and wellness.”
The launch also celebrates the beginning of Fierté in Montreal, during which Egale will be running a billboard campaign in the Beaudry Metro Station for the entire month, featuring mon.corps m.bassadors posing nude.
It is Egale’s wish that Canadians nation-wide can benefit from the message of acceptance vocalized by mon.corps and m.bodiment.
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Egale is Canada’s only national charity promoting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBTQ2SI) human rights
through research, education and community engagement.
mon.corps Launch Event
Galerie France Cantin
1200 rue Amherst
Monday, August 1st
7:00 pm