- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Legal, but restricted for minors
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- Unknown
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Surveys in Alberta have shown mixed views towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 12 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Alberta.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
Homosexual activity in Alberta is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 27, 1969
Male illegal, female legal under federal Canada law
In 1890, the House of Commons introduced a new offence called “gross indecency." The new offence made it easier to charge suspected sodomites.
In 1893, the gross indecency law became part of the country’s first Criminal Code. The original language of the law referred only to homosexual acts between men, as sex between women was typically ignored at the time.
In 1893, the gross indecency law became part of the country’s first Criminal Code. The original language of the law referred only to homosexual acts between men, as sex between women was typically ignored at the time.
Until Jun 30, 1893
Illegal (death penalty as punishment) under federal Canada law
In 1648, the first documented case of a sodomy conviction occurred.
The military drummer, who was the man convicted, was found guilty and was sentenced to death. However, Jesuits stepped in and were able to transfer the case to Québec City, where his life was sparred.
From then until 1893, few known cases exist of homosexuals being sentenced to death.
The military drummer, who was the man convicted, was found guilty and was sentenced to death. However, Jesuits stepped in and were able to transfer the case to Québec City, where his life was sparred.
From then until 1893, few known cases exist of homosexuals being sentenced to death.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Alberta is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Alberta, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Alberta is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Apr 23, 2014
Legal, no restrictions
Application requires a letter from a psychiatrist, a commissioned for oaths letter from the applicant, and $20. The Vital Statistics Act's surgical requirement was defeated in court.
Legal, but requires surgery
Since 1982, Alberta required surgery for legal gender recognition.
Gender-affirming care in Alberta is legal, but restricted for minors.
Current status
Since Dec 3, 2024
Legal, but restricted for minors
As of December 3rd (2024), the Alberta Legislature passed the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024. The Act Bans Puberty Blockers and Hormone Replacement Therapy for individuals under the age of 16
Alberta covers the following procedures for those above 18:
-Phalloplasty
-Metoidioplasty
-Vaginoplasty
-Hysterectomy and ovary removal
-Breast augmentation and mastectomy (patient must get pre-approval)
-Voice therapy
Hormones are covered under the Alberta Drug Benefit List. Hormones replacement therapy only allowed for Individuals aged 16 and above.
To be eligible, patients must be diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two physicians licensed in Alberta.
Alberta covers the following procedures for those above 18:
-Phalloplasty
-Metoidioplasty
-Vaginoplasty
-Hysterectomy and ovary removal
-Breast augmentation and mastectomy (patient must get pre-approval)
-Voice therapy
Hormones are covered under the Alberta Drug Benefit List. Hormones replacement therapy only allowed for Individuals aged 16 and above.
To be eligible, patients must be diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two physicians licensed in Alberta.
Legal
Alberta covers the following procedures:
-Phalloplasty
-Metoidioplasty
-Vaginoplasty
-Hysterectomy and ovary removal
-Breast augmentation and mastectomy (patient must get pre-approval)
-Voice therapy
Hormones are covered under the Alberta Drug Benefit List. To be eligible, patients must be diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two physicians licensed in Alberta. Minors were also eligible until 2024.
-Phalloplasty
-Metoidioplasty
-Vaginoplasty
-Hysterectomy and ovary removal
-Breast augmentation and mastectomy (patient must get pre-approval)
-Voice therapy
Hormones are covered under the Alberta Drug Benefit List. To be eligible, patients must be diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two physicians licensed in Alberta. Minors were also eligible until 2024.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Alberta is recognized.
Current status
Since Jun 8, 2018
Recognized
Residents of Alberta can ask for an X gender marker on their IDs and birth certificates.
LGBT discrimination in Alberta is illegal.
Current status
Since Mar 10, 2015
Illegal
In Bill 10, a bill ensuring the right of students to form gay-straight alliances in Alberta schools, amendments were added before it was passed adding protection of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression to the Alberta Bill of Rights. Bill 10 goes into effect on June 1, 2015.
The Alberta Human Rights Act has not yet been explicitly modified to include gender identity and gender expression, though they continue to be read in implicitly by the Alberta Human Rights Commission.
The Alberta Human Rights Act has not yet been explicitly modified to include gender identity and gender expression, though they continue to be read in implicitly by the Alberta Human Rights Commission.
Illegal in some contexts
There remains no explicit protection of transgender people under the Act, though the Alberta Human Rights Commission reads in transgender rights under "gender".
LGBT employment discrimination in Alberta is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Oct 1, 2017
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Since June 1, 2015. Also under Bill C-16. As well there is a hate crime unit investigating complaints.
Sexual orientation only
Sexual orientation has been explicitly protected since 2009 in the Alberta Human Rights Act. Gender identity is read-in by the Alberta Human Rights Commission under "gender" though it is not explicit in the Act, however a lengthy tribunal process makes this implicit protection inaccessible to many Albertans.
LGBT housing discrimination in Alberta is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Oct 1, 2017
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Under the Bill 7 of Alberta legislature. As well under Bill C-16.
Sexual orientation only
Sexual orientation is officially a protected group. While not explicit in the law, the Alberta Human Rights Commission reads in transgender rights under "gender", but lengthy tribunal process makes this implicit protection inaccessible to many Albertans.
Intersex infant surgery in Alberta is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Canada law
Section 268 of Canada's Criminal Code (1985) makes aggravated assault illegal, including actions that cause injury or harm to a victim's sex organs. However, there is an exception in Section 268(3)(a) for medical practitioners performing surgeries to establish a "normal sexual appearance." Therefore, medical practitioners performing surgeries on intersex youth is not banned.
Serving openly in military in Alberta is legal.
Current status
Since Oct 10, 1992
Legal under federal Canada law
LGBT soldiers are permitted to serve in the Canadian military and have been since Douglas v Canada.
Until Oct 9, 1992
Illegal under federal Canada law
Before Douglas v Canada LGBT individuals were banned from serving in the Canadian military.
Blood donations by MSMs in Alberta is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 30, 2022
Legal
Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
Banned (less than 6-month deferral)
Following the Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
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