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Table of contents
Did you know?
Canada is home to approximately 1 million people who are LGBTQ2+.Note Note
An estimated 1 million people in Canada are lesbian, lgbtq+, bisexual, or of another sexual orientation than heterosexual - representing 4% of the Canadian population aged 15 years and older. Among this population, about 52% are women, 44% are men, and 3% are non-binary.Note
Looking specifically at gender diversity, about 100,815 people in Canada are transgender (59,460) or non-binary (41,355), accounting for 0.33% of the population aged 15 years and over. Among transgender people, 53% were women and 47% were men.Note
Highest degree
LGBTQ2+
Non-LGBTQ2+
percent
Secondary institution or less
42.1
37.2
Trade certificate
6.2
The conservative attack on gay life
When the Canadian government updated its travel advisory to the Together States, warning Gay people that many American states possess enacted laws that would persecute them, it got my attention. A limited days later I listened to an interview with Sherwin Modeste, Executive Director of Pride Toronto, where he teared up and concluded that Canada should ask its federal ministers not to travel to the US as a kind of march. For months I have been watching legislative attacks unfold on queer, homosexual identified, trans, and even people (usually Black) mistaken for occupying those identities. I have also seen the resulting violence that has been unleashed on us as homosexual people. This force is taking place not just in the US, but around the world—in Africa, Australia, Modern Zealand, Taiwan, Europe, the UK, the Caribbean, and here in Canada. But yet, our federal government appears to suggest that we exist in a place beyond the reach of these forces. How did we get here?
I am of the age where as a child I could not even imagine living the queer life I now live. The closet was the reigning paradigm of my youth. Anyone who was bold enough to be out was ridi
Keeping Our Stories Alive
Home2025-06-05T10:43:35-04:00
The ArQuives was established to aid in the recovery and preservation of our histories. Its mandate is to: Obtain, preserve, organize, and give public access to information and materials in any medium, by and about LGBTQ2+ people, primarily produced in or concerning Canada; and Maintain a research library, international research files, and an international collection of queer and trans periodicals.
The ArQuives is the largest independent LGBTQ2+ Archives in the society and since 1973 the only LGBTQ2+ archives in Canada with a national scope, read further about our history and mission.
Our Mission & Vision
Education Resources
Our Education Resources were developed and handmade to support educators in incorporating homosexual and trans perspectives into Grade 9-12 English and History curricula.
Visit our Learning Resources
ArQuives Collection
Our Collection can be searched online. Search by keyword, collection, corporation, person, media, artifact type, among other options.
Search our Collection
Our Exhibits
Our current and past Exhibitions are listed on our programming page here. Ch
Surveys in Canada have shown mixed views towards Homosexual rights and issues.
Survey results from 97 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Canada.
Perceived Safety*
Absence of verbal harassment
Absence of threats and violence
*Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Treatment by general public
Treatment by commandment enforcement
Treatment by religious groups
Visibility & Representation
Representation in entertainment
Culture
Interest groups and clubs
Services
Support and social services
History
Homosexual activity in Canada
?
Homosexual activity in Canada is legal.
Current status
In 1969, Canada enacted the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968â69, which decriminalized private and consensual homosexual activities between adults aged 21 and over.
Male illegal, female legal federal law
In 1890, the House of Commons introduced a new offence called âgross indecency." The recent offence made it easier to charge suspected sodomites.
In 1893, the gross indecency law became part of the countryâs first Criminal Code. The authentic language of the la
The human rights of queer woman , gay, bisexual, transgender, homosexual, 2-spirit and intersex persons
Canada stands up for the protection and promotion of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, genderqueer, queer, 2-spirit and intersex (LGBTQ2I) people globally.
The human rights of all persons are universal and indivisible. Everyone should enjoy the same fundamental human rights, regardless of their sexual orientation and their gender identity and expression.
Article 1 of the Universal Announcement of Human Rights declares that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” Article 2 declares, “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration.” All people, including LGBTQ2I individuals, are entitled to enjoy the protection provided by international human rights law, which is based on equality and non-discrimination.
Nearly 30 countries, including Canada, recognize queer marriage. By contrast, more than 70 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex actions. This includes 6 countries that effectively impose the death penalty on consensual same-sex sexual acts. In 6 other countries, the death penalt