10th anniversary of the International Day Against Homophobia - Fabienne Larouche to be awarded the 2012 Fight Against Homophobia Award

MONTREAL, March 5, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Fondation Émergence, founder of the International Day Against Homophobia, is announcing that the 2012 Fight Against Homophobia Award will be awarded to playwright Fabienne Larouche.

Great strides have been made in representing gays and lesbians on Quebecois TV shows and dramas since the legendary episode of Paradis terrestre in 1972 when a scene depicting two men exiting an elevator holding hands caused such a scandal that the show was taken off the air.

Fabienne Larouche has been extremely adept at incorporating the realities of the gay community into her work by writing parts for lesbian women and gay men showing them in their daily lives, just like in real life. While gays and lesbians can be flamboyant at times, says Fondation Émergence's President Laurent McCutcheon, "They are just like everyone else in their everyday lives, which Ms. Larouche has a knack for portraying on screen."

Laurent McCutcheon thinks that, "Although Quebec is one of the most progressive societies in the world when it comes to sexual orientation, it owes that in great part to the influence of its TV programs - especially its soap operas and series that show gays and lesbians as regular, positive, nonjudgmental people, thereby creating programs that are educational and raise awareness."

We have Fabienne Larouche to thank for shows like Fortier, Jamais deux sans toi, Music hall, Un homme mort, Virginie, Trauma and 30 vies, which have helped and are still helping put a human face on the gay community. She also always managed to cast her gay characters with credible and talented actors.

On May 7, Fabienne Larouche will be awarded the 10^th annual Fight Against Homophobia Award given as part of the International Day Against Homophobia held every year on May 17. Her name will be added to the winners circle:

2011:		Xavier Dolan, filmmaker
2010:		Michel Tremblay, Quebecois dramatist and novelist
2009:		Dany Turcotte, television host and comedian
2008:		Marc-André Bédard, Minister of Justice, responsible for including sexual orientation in the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
2007:		Mark Tewksbury, Olympic gold medallist
2006:		The Members of the Canadian Parliament who voted for gay marriage
2005:		Posthumously, the Right Honourable Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who depenalized homosexuality in Canada
2004:		Reverend Raymond Gravel for his work on gay advocacy issues
2003:		Janette Bertrand, TV celebrity who pioneered social recognition for gays and lesbians

Fondation Émergence gives the Fight Against Homophobia Award every year to a person or organization to honour their exceptional contribution to the fight against homophobia.

Fondation Émergence also runs annual information and awareness campaigns to fight homophobia. The 2012 campaign focuses on the workplace and the theme is Sexual diversity in the workplace, it pays off!

You can find all the information on:  www.homophobiaday.org.

Source: Fondation Émergence 514 866-6788

Info: Laurent McCutcheon, President of Fondation Émergence: 514 522-7614