Resources

Canada is home to approximately one million people who are LGBTQ2+, accounting for 4% of the total population aged 15 and older in 2018.

Although much has been accomplished since the beginning of the new millennium, including the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005, and protecting gender expression and identity in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code in 2017, concerns remain, given the spike in hate crimes targeting LGBTQ2+ Canadians in 2019. From 2021, this resource provides a statistical briefing of Canada's 2SLGBTQIA+ gender diversity. 

In April 2021, the 2SLGBTQQIA+ sub-working group published a national action plan report that advocated for the inclusion of Two-spirit, gender, and sexually diverse Indigenous folks within the MMWIG inquiry. 

This 2022 study is a comparative thematic content analysis of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s (MOHLTC) website and the websites of each of the 14 local health integration networks (LHINs) in 2009 and 2017. It provides a snapshot and evaluation of the amount and type of online content concerning LGBTQ+-specific health needs and determines how well the programs and services aligned with the Ministry’s stated priorities and population health/SDH philosophy. Researchers argue that to promote healthy equity, the MOHLTC needs to acknowledge inequalities and intervene through political and social mechanisms that extend beyond HIV.

This information sheets contains information and resources on what is involved in making a refugee protection claim in Canada, geared specifically toward LGBTI persons.

The primary audience are individuals who are considering seeking asylum in Canada due to persecution, violence or threats because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI), or because others perceive them to be.

Available in Arabic, English, French, Russian, and Spanish. 

This online resource is for refugee claimants preparing for their refugee hearing. It shows them what a hearing room in Toronto looks like and who may be at their hearing. It also has practical information to help them:

This resource provides some background information on how to apply for refugee status. Canada accepts people as refugees if they have a well-founded fear of persecution on certain grounds. These grounds are race, religion, nationality, political opinion and being member of a particular social group. Recognized social groups include Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) and HIV+ people. Political opinion can also include the work of LGBT activists and HIV activists. It is possible to claim well-founded fear of persecution on multiple grounds. There have been successful claims made in Canada by LGBT and HIV+ people who are afraid to return to their country because of fear of persecution.