LGBTQ

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien raise the pride flag during an event on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Monday, June 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Trudeau condemns ‘rising hate’ as Pride flag raised in Ottawa

Feds set aside $1.5 million to cover security and insurance costs of Pride events this summer

 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hugs Veteran’s Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan after making a formal apology to individuals harmed by federal legislation, policies, and practices that led to the oppression of and discrimination against LGBTQ2 people in Canada, in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Tuesday, Nov.28, 2017. A new podcast delves into a dark Cold War chapter when federal agencies investigated, sanctioned and sometimes fired lesbian and gay members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP and the public service because they were deemed unsuitable.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Audio documentary delves into dark Cold War chapter of Canada’s LGBT purge

Many targeted employees who managed to keep their jobs were demoted

 

Canadian Blood Services says it has issued an apology to LGBTQ+ groups for a past policy that banned gay and bisexual men from donating blood. A blood donor clinic pictured at a shopping mall in Calgary, Alta., Friday, March 27, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadian Blood Services apologizes to LGBTQ+ groups for donation ban

Egale Canada called apology a historic moment, long overdue

 

The future site of Thunderhead: Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument is marked out in the dirt by a translucent ring behind political leaders and members of the LGBT Purge Fund as they participate in a ground breaking ceremony in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Clouds part as national LBGTQ monument work begins in Ottawa

Monument inspired by ‘those whose storms renew the land and make things right’

The future site of Thunderhead: Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument is marked out in the dirt by a translucent ring behind political leaders and members of the LGBT Purge Fund as they participate in a ground breaking ceremony in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Dupre Latour is seen during an interview about health misinformation and gender identity Thursday, February 29, 2024 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Transgender misinformation clouds Canada’s debate on gender issues: experts

Pervasive influence of misinformation impacts mental health of transgender people

Dupre Latour is seen during an interview about health misinformation and gender identity Thursday, February 29, 2024 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
In this image provided Malia Pila, Nex Benedict poses outside the family’s home in Owasso, Okla., in December 2023. Police in Oklahoma are investigating the death of Benedict, a 16-year-old student who died a day after an altercation in a high school bathroom that may have been prompted by bullying over gender identity. Neither police nor school officials have said what led to the fight. But the family of Benedict says there had been harassment because the teen was nonbinary. (Sue Benedict via AP)

Vigils held for U.S. non-binary teen who died following school bathroom fight

16-year-old said they were the target of bullying; police not commenting on cause of death

In this image provided Malia Pila, Nex Benedict poses outside the family’s home in Owasso, Okla., in December 2023. Police in Oklahoma are investigating the death of Benedict, a 16-year-old student who died a day after an altercation in a high school bathroom that may have been prompted by bullying over gender identity. Neither police nor school officials have said what led to the fight. But the family of Benedict says there had been harassment because the teen was nonbinary. (Sue Benedict via AP)
Authoritarian countries are leveraging social media to set back progress for women worldwide, a Canadian special envoy says, as Ottawa refreshes its cross-government gender policy. Jacqueline O’Neill, Canada’s ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, prepares to appear before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, at the Senate of Canada Building, in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Online safety a key part of Ottawa’s new gender plan, says ambassador

Social media being leveraged to attack gender equity and women’s rights, Canadian envoy says

Authoritarian countries are leveraging social media to set back progress for women worldwide, a Canadian special envoy says, as Ottawa refreshes its cross-government gender policy. Jacqueline O’Neill, Canada’s ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, prepares to appear before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, at the Senate of Canada Building, in Ottawa, on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holds a press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Poilievre says he believes “biological males” have no place in sports or change rooms that are labelled female. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Women’s sports, change rooms no place for ‘biological males’: Poilievre

Conservative leader’s statement in line with a Conservative policy resolution last fall

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre holds a press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Poilievre says he believes “biological males” have no place in sports or change rooms that are labelled female. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Mary Lawrence is a teacher in Prince George B.C. that has received death threats for the past two years. She attributes the targeted threats and hate-filled messages to her role as an outspoken advocate for SOGI resources and to her sexual identity as a queer woman. (Mary Lawrence/Submitted)

‘Students are worth it’: B.C. teachers stand by SOGI amid threats

B.C. 2SLGBTQIA+ teachers speak out amidst threats

Mary Lawrence is a teacher in Prince George B.C. that has received death threats for the past two years. She attributes the targeted threats and hate-filled messages to her role as an outspoken advocate for SOGI resources and to her sexual identity as a queer woman. (Mary Lawrence/Submitted)
(Jillian Karpick/Photographer)

Vernon queer community ‘disheartened’ after drag show cancellation

Freida Whales had been scheduled to perform at Status Nightclub in Vernon on Feb. 10

(Jillian Karpick/Photographer)
Young girls wait to participate in the Lunar New Year parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

LGBTQ+ groups can’t march in Vancouver’s Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade

Applicants told decision based on parade’s desire to distance itself from political activism

Young girls wait to participate in the Lunar New Year parade, in Vancouver, on Sunday, January 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling Alberta’s new proposals on the treatment of transgender youth the “most anti-LGBT of anywhere in the country.” Trudeau makes an announcement in Waterloo, Ont. on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn

Trudeau calls Alberta policies ‘most anti-LGBT in the country’

Premier Danielle Smith last week introduced plans for new rules for transgender children

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is calling Alberta’s new proposals on the treatment of transgender youth the “most anti-LGBT of anywhere in the country.” Trudeau makes an announcement in Waterloo, Ont. on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn
Krystle Wilpert stands in front of the outdoor skating rink on the lagoon at Bowness Park in Calgary on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colette Derworiz

Parents weigh in on if kids need consent to change names or pronouns at school

Canadian parents have mixed feelings on what rights their children have without their say-so

Krystle Wilpert stands in front of the outdoor skating rink on the lagoon at Bowness Park in Calgary on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colette Derworiz
Members of the LGBTQ+ community have long faced discrimination and prejudice in Canada and beyond, having to fight for job protection, access to services and basic human rights. Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Minister Randy Boissonnault and Labour and Seniors Minister Seamus O’Regan shake hands with labour leaders after making an announcement in the Foyer of the House of Commons, in Ottawa, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

‘Silence is not a solution’: LGBTQ+ parliamentarians reflect on year

2023 saw heated debate around what is taught in schools, what rights gender non-conforming children have

Members of the LGBTQ+ community have long faced discrimination and prejudice in Canada and beyond, having to fight for job protection, access to services and basic human rights. Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages Minister Randy Boissonnault and Labour and Seniors Minister Seamus O’Regan shake hands with labour leaders after making an announcement in the Foyer of the House of Commons, in Ottawa, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
While some are welcoming the Vatican’s declaration on blessings for same-gender couples as a sign of progress, other Canadian Catholics see the document as cementing the church’s existing position: that romantic relationships between people of the same gender are lesser than those of their heterosexual counterparts. Pope Francis delivers a speech during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini

Vatican same-sex blessing not the blessing some were looking for

‘A blow’: Some LGBTQ+ Catholics disappointed in pope’s statement on blessing couples

While some are welcoming the Vatican’s declaration on blessings for same-gender couples as a sign of progress, other Canadian Catholics see the document as cementing the church’s existing position: that romantic relationships between people of the same gender are lesser than those of their heterosexual counterparts. Pope Francis delivers a speech during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Medichini
Freida Whales reading at Drag Story Time on Jan. 28, 2023. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna drag queen praises Ontario court ruling over ‘groomer’ 2SLGBTQIA+ slur

A recent decision states that calling drag performers a ‘groomer’ is not protected as free speech

Freida Whales reading at Drag Story Time on Jan. 28, 2023. (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
People hold pride flags while attending a rally against the Saskatchewan government’s legislation on pronouns in schools, in front of Saskatchewan legislature in Regina, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

Behind Saskatchewan’s pronoun debate: 18 letters, “thousands” of parents

Acccess to information reveals letters, education minister says feedback came from many more sources

People hold pride flags while attending a rally against the Saskatchewan government’s legislation on pronouns in schools, in front of Saskatchewan legislature in Regina, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
Author Ruby Remenda Swanson is pictured in Edmonton on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Remenda Swanson says she never thought her hometown high school would be the only place to bar her from sharing her family’s story. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Hometown high school rejects Saskatchewan author’s bid to talk about gay son

‘A Family Outing’ discusses what it was like when Ruby Remenda Swanson’s teen son came out

Author Ruby Remenda Swanson is pictured in Edmonton on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Remenda Swanson says she never thought her hometown high school would be the only place to bar her from sharing her family’s story. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Members of Queer Shred Revelstoke. (Ryan Collins/VIMFF)

B.C. film examines queer identities affected by small mountain town life

People Like Us is set to premiere in Revelstoke tonight

Members of Queer Shred Revelstoke. (Ryan Collins/VIMFF)
An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow-coloured hockey tape prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Rainbow tape OK in the NHL again as league rescinds social cause ban

League says players will have option to represent social causes with stick tape throughout season

An Ottawa Senators player warms-up with rainbow-coloured hockey tape prior to taking on the Vancouver Canucks in NHL hockey action in Ottawa on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick