Entry #162: Right to change legal gender in Canada

Current Version

RegionCanada
IssueRight to change legal gender
StatusLegal, but requires surgery
Start Datepast
End DateApr 11, 2012
DescriptionRequires surgery for sex change.
Sourceshttp://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/change_of_sex_designation.html https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/stat/sa-2007-c-v-4.1/latest/sa-2007-c-v-4.1.html http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=30592 http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onhrt/doc/2012/2012hrto726/2012hrto726.html http://nslegislature.ca/pdfs/proceedings/hansard/61-4/h55nov23.pdf http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/cit/admin/id/change-gender.asp?_ga=1.185131882.2127123025.1418426329


Revision History (5)

Revision by tsusamu

Old Value New Value (Current)
Value(REMOVED)Legal, but requires surgery
End DateJan 1, 2014Apr 11, 2012
DescriptionLegal gender change has many different contexts within Canada. Birth certificate is arguably the most recognized authoritative statement of gender. Changes to this document are regulated province by province. Some require proof of surgery for a certificate change, others require a psychologist's statement. For citizens born outside of Canada, recognition is at the federal level in the form of changes to one's certificate of Canadian citizenship and/or passport which at present requires proof of surgery to obtain.Requires surgery for sex change.
Show Difference
Legal gender change has many different contexts within Canada. Birth certificate is arguably the most recognized authoritative statement of gender. Changes to this document are regulated province by province. Some require proof of surgery for a certificate change, others require a psychologist's statement. For citizens born outside of Canada, recognition is at the federal level in the form of changes to one's certificate of Canadian citizenship and/or passport which at present requires proof of surgery to obtain. Requires surgery for sex change.

Revision by FCBSIX

Old Value New Value
Start Date2012(NONE)
End Date(NONE)Jan 1, 2014
Reports (4)
  • Note field is incorrect "YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR SEX/GENDER WITHOUT SUGERIES IN VANCOUVER. You can also change your name legally. I say Vancouver specifically because that is where I did it but if it's legal in Vancouver it is most likely legal for all of British Columbia. If you are 14-17 you must also have parental consent, I do not know about the laws regarding name changes for 13 and under. YOU DO NEED PROOF that you're transgender which can be done by being diagnosed with gender dysphoria with a therapist or psychiatrist that specialize in the transgender field. I do not know if people under 14 can have their sex legally changed but they can be diagnosed as trans, start hormone blockers and/or to get testosterone or estrogen injections. You must be over 15 and have parental consent to have "top" surgery*. The "bottom" surgery laws keep changing in terms of age required but it's legal for anyone over 18.* All surgeries require proof of being trans. If you are under 18, you need parental consent to legally change your name and/or change your sex. I do not know how old you have to be, I know it can be done *subcutaneous mastectomy is a surgery to remove breast or chest tissue. There's 5 type of FTM mastectomy surgeries that can be done depending on the person's body itself, health and personal preferences: Keyhole, Donut procedure, Batwing procedure, Double incision, Inverted T. There are more surgeries but I do not know much about them. MTF also has multiple options for top surgeries but I don't have much information on them. *FTM have 3 different main types of bottom surgeries: Urethroplasty, Vaginectomy, Scrotoplasty. Metoidioplasty or Phalloplasty are often done in conjunction but are not necessary. Penile implant placement is also optional. MTF also has multiple bottom surgeries but I don't have much information on them. (all information above are based on personal experience and research done in between the years 2014-2020 for Vancouver and Victoria. It is still legal to change your sex/gender right now in Vancouver.) (everything that is in all caps except for the words FTM and MTF are important information since I can't write in bold.)"
  • Newer law has been passed
  • Status is not correct "Correct status is YES. As someone who has changed my legal gender in Canada, you do not have to prove surgery or anything. I am completely pre-physical transition. All you have to do is check a box and sign your name."
  • Newer law has been passed "Every province as well as the federal government now allow change of gender without surgical requirements. These changes are administrative all happened before 2018. Here is the information for British Columbia a Canadian province http://www.phsa.ca/transcarebc/care-support/transitioning/id-name-change Here is the info for the federal context foreign-born Canadians https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1253&top=32 Passport https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/change-sex.html"

Revision by vviet93

Old Value New Value
Special StatusAmbiguous(REMOVED)
Reports (6)
  • Status is not correct "Nova Scotia no longer requires surgery for gender marker change as of 22 September 2015. reference: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20150408002"
  • Status is not correct "Nova Scotia no longer requires surgery in order to change gender as of September 2015."
  • Status is not correct "Gender marker change in Newfoundland is now legal, with a letter from the Dr treating you/administering HRT. http://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/birth/changing_your_sex_designation/index.html"
  • Newer law has been passed "Surgery is no longer required in Ontario. From ontario.ca: "The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ordered the Government to cease requiring transgender persons to have “transsexual surgery” in order to obtain a change of sex designation on their birth registration. In accordance with the Tribunal’s order, the criteria for changing sex designation on a birth registration have been revised and there is no longer a requirement for “transsexual surgery”. " http://www.ontario.ca/page/changing-your-sex-designation-your-birth-registration-and-birth-certificate "
  • Newer law has been passed "BC and QC have allowed it without Surgery"
  • Status is not correct "Ontario - surgery no longer required to change province docs. Just need letter from your GP."

Revision by imullin01

Old Value New Value
Special StatusN/AAmbiguous
DescriptionThis is not decided at the Federal level, but at the provincial government level.Legal gender change has many different contexts within Canada. Birth certificate is arguably the most recognized authoritative statement of gender. Changes to this document are regulated province by province. Some require proof of surgery for a certificate change, others require a psychologist's statement. For citizens born outside of Canada, recognition is at the federal level in the form of changes to one's certificate of Canadian citizenship and/or passport which at present requires proof of surgery to obtain.
Show Difference
This is not decided at the Federal level, but at the provincial government level. Legal gender change has many different contexts within Canada. Birth certificate is arguably the most recognized authoritative statement of gender. Changes to this document are regulated province by province. Some require proof of surgery for a certificate change, others require a psychologist's statement. For citizens born outside of Canada, recognition is at the federal level in the form of changes to one's certificate of Canadian citizenship and/or passport which at present requires proof of surgery to obtain.
Sources(Needs source.)http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/change_of_sex_designation.html
https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/stat/sa-2007-c-v-4.1/latest/sa-2007-c-v-4.1.html
http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=30592
http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onhrt/doc/2012/2012hrto726/2012hrto726.html
http://nslegislature.ca/pdfs/proceedings/hansard/61-4/h55nov23.pdf
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/cit/admin/id/change-gender.asp?_ga=1.185131882.2127123025.1418426329
Show Difference
(Needs source.) http://vitalstats.gov.mb.ca/change_of_sex_designation.html https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/laws/stat/sa-2007-c-v-4.1/latest/sa-2007-c-v-4.1.html http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=30592 http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onhrt/doc/2012/2012hrto726/2012hrto726.html http://nslegislature.ca/pdfs/proceedings/hansard/61-4/h55nov23.pdf http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/cit/admin/id/change-gender.asp?_ga=1.185131882.2127123025.1418426329
Reports (1)
  • Status is not correct "1) This needs to be changed to "varies by region" as most forms of ID are under provincial jurisdiction. 2) The existing description and sources are largely accurate but for a statement made by Citizenship and Immigration Canada that they would no longer be requiring surgical proof on Federal identity documents. Details were not provided. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/cit/admin/id/gender.asp"

Revision by danlev

Old Value (Original) New Value
Sources(Needs source.)
Show Difference
(Needs source.)
Reports (2)
  • Status is not correct "Legal gender change has many different contexts within Canada. Birth certificate is arguably the most recognized authoritative statement of gender. Changes to this document are regulated province by province. Some require proof of surgery for a certificate change, others require a psychologist's statement. For citizens born outside of Canada, recognition is at the federal level in the form of changes to one's certificate of Canadian citizenship and/or passport which at present requires proof of surgery to obtain."
  • Other information is incorrect "allowed to change legal gender in all provinces and territories"

sofoust created this entry.