- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- Unknown
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✖ Banned (3-month deferral)
- Conversion Therapy
- Varies by Region
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Suggest Public Opinion Data
Until Jan 1, 2014
Public Opinion
Views on same-sex marriage or other legal recognition
Ranked #6 out of 27 countries surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(8%) Against
Support (82%)
Views on same-sex couples' right to adopt
Ranked #2 out of 27 countries surveyed. (Source: Ipsos, April–May, 2021)
(13%) Disagree
Agree (81%)
Acceptance of homosexuals as neighbors
Ranked #14 out of 79 countries surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
Question: "On this list are various groups of people. Could you please mention any that you would not like to have as neighbors?"
(10.2%) Mentioned homosexuals
Did not mention homosexuals (89.8%)
Justifiability of homosexuality
Ranked #7 out of 79 countries surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
Question: "Please tell me for each of the following statements whether you think it can always be justified, never be justified, or something in between."
(9.6%) Not justifiable
Justifiable (69.2%)
Opinion on same-sex couples as parents
Ranked #3 out of 74 countries surveyed. (Source: World Values Survey, 2017-2020)
Question: "Homosexual couples are as good parents as other couples"
(8.6%) Disagree
Agree (72.3%)
"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019)
Ranked #4 out of 34 countries surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
Question: "Should society accept homosexuality?"
(10%) No
Yes (85%)
"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013)
Ranked #3 out of 39 countries surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
Question: "Should society accept homosexuality?"
(14%) No
Yes (80%)
Perceived Acceptance of Gay People
Ranked #3 out of 119 countries surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)
Question: "Is the city or area where you live a good place or not a good place for homosexuals?"
(12%) Not a good place
Good place (80%)
History
Same-sex marriage in Canada is legal.
Current status
Since Jul 20, 2005
Since Jul 20, 2005
Legal
Same-sex marriage in Canada became legal with The Civil Marriage Act.
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Canada is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Canada, there are no laws restricting to discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Canada is unknown.
Until Jan 1, 2014
Varies by Region
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.
Current status
Unknown
LGBT discrimination in Canada is illegal.
Current status
Since Jan 1, 2017
Since Jan 1, 2017
Illegal
Bill C-16 amended the Canadian Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Canada is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 1, 2017
Since Jun 1, 2017
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protections since 2017. Under revisions to the criminal code and under Bill C-16
Sexual orientation only
Federal human rights law applies directly to only federal government employment and employers which fall under federal jurisdiction. Gender identity is only implicitly protected under interpretation of the law by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. Attempts have been made to have gender identity and gender expression added as protected classes to both the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code, though none of these attempts so far has been successful.
Provincial human rights acts are separate, but Supreme Court precedent exists for requiring provinces to protect the same classes as the Canadian Human Rights Act. At this time all provinces protect against employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Of the provinces only Ontario has explicit protection on the basis of both gender identity and gender expression in its human rights code, though several provide implicit protections on the basis of gender identity or "transsexualism" under the category of "sex" or "gender".
Provincial human rights acts are separate, but Supreme Court precedent exists for requiring provinces to protect the same classes as the Canadian Human Rights Act. At this time all provinces protect against employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Of the provinces only Ontario has explicit protection on the basis of both gender identity and gender expression in its human rights code, though several provide implicit protections on the basis of gender identity or "transsexualism" under the category of "sex" or "gender".
LGBT housing discrimination in Canada is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Housing and tenancy typically falls under provincial jurisdiction.
Same-sex adoption in Canada is legal.
Current status
Since May 25, 1995
Since May 25, 1995
Legal
Homosexuals serving openly in military in Canada is legal.
Current status
Since Oct 10, 1992
Since Oct 10, 1992
Legal
LGBT soldiers are permitted to serve in the Canadian military.
Blood donations by MSMs in Canada is banned (3-month deferral).
Current status
Since May 9, 2019
Since May 9, 2019
Banned (3-month deferral)
Banned with 3 months deferral
Banned (1-year deferral)
Health Canada approved Canadian Blood Services’ proposal to reduce the blood donation ineligibility period for men who have sex with men from five years to one year.
Banned (5-year deferral)
Health Canada changed the indefinite deferral period to a 5-year deferral, effective July 22, 2013.
Conversion therapy in Canada is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
Conversion therapy in Canada is not yet banned at a Federal level and many ex-gay organizations and groups who endorse conversion/reparative therapy continue to operate as registered charities. Some provinces have made gestures or passed laws to make conversion therapy illegal both for sexual orientation and gender identity.
Banned
Not banned
Ambiguous
LGBT Rights by Province
View the LGBT laws in each individual province of Canada.
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Northwest Territories (Territory)
- Nunavut (Territory)
- Yukon Territory (Territory)
Equality Index ?
89 / 100
Legal Rights
98 / 100
Public Opinion
80 / 100
#3
Interest Rank ?
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