Gay laws in canada

Serious Legal Problems faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Other Sexual-Minority People in Western Canada: A Qualitative Study

Background

Since the partial decriminalization of private same-sex sexual activity between two consenting adults in Canada in , lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and other sexual-minority people include gained a variety of legal rights through Canada’s justice system. Prior to , same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults was criminalized and could steer to indefinite imprisonment of those who engaged in these activities^{Footnote 1}^{Footnote 2}^{Footnote 3}. Sexual-minority people were targeted, fired from public service jobs, and subjected to police surveillance and harassment, including raids on queer spaces, such as bars and bathhouses, for over three decades.^{Footnote 1}^{Footnote 2}^{Footnote 4}^{Footnote 5}.

While progress has been marginal, strides have been made towards greater legal protections and equity for sexual minorities in Canada, including the introduction of human rights and anti-discrimination protections, the removal of the ban on

Bill C An Verb to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)

Tabled in the House of Commons, December 6,

Explanatory Note

Section of the Department of Justice Act requires the Minister of Justice to prepare a Charter Statement for every government bill to help verb public and Parliamentary debate on government bills. One of the Minister of Justice’s most vital responsibilities is to examine legislation for inconsistency with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms [“the Charter”]. By tabling a Charter Statement, the Minister is sharing some of the key considerations that informed the review of a bill for inconsistency with the Charter. A Statement identifies Charter rights and freedoms that may potentially be engaged by a bill and provides a brief explanation of the nature of any engagement, in light of the measures being proposed.

A Charter Statement also identifies potential justifications for any limits a bill may impose on Charter rights and freedoms. Section 1 of the Charter provides that rights and freedoms may be subject to reasonable limits if those

The human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, 2-spirit and intersex persons

Canada stands up for the protection and promotion of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, 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 Declaration 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 relish the protection provided by international human rights law, which is based on equality and non-discrimination.

Nearly 30 countries, including Canada, recognize same-sex marriage. By contrast, more than 70 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex conduct. This includes 6 countries that effectively

History isn’t repeating itself on LGBTQ rights. That is concerning.

LGBTQ advocates in Canada have gradually secured their rights through hard-fought battles going back almost 40 years. That left the impression among sexual and gender minorities that social progress, while sluggish, was inevitable. The events of the past few months, however, have disillusioned and disheartened many.

Significant departures from historical precedents have resulted in queer and trans rights being less protected now as conservative politicians target transgender and nonbinary youth often using the language of “parental rights” in an apparent attempt to score political points.

When conservative governments respected judicial guardrails

Throughout public consultations leading to the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in , former prime minister Pierre Trudeau and the provincial premiers resisted calls from queer and feminist advocates to list sexual orientation as one of the specific grounds for protection from discrimination under equality rights in Section

This was disappoint