2SLGBTQ Rights—More Fragile than They Appear? 

2SLGBTQ people in Canada have experienced some significant gains over the past couple of decades in relation to their rights. Marriage equality became federal law in 2005, meaning at this time same-sex marriages became legal in all provinces (in the United States, they had to wait until 2015 but still got there). This major win for the 2SLBGTQ community came shortly after an improvement in access to assisted reproduction for queer families. In 2004, section  2E of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act was adopted, which expressly forbids discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or marital status. We have also seen improved access to 2SLGBTQ adoption, which became legal in Ontario in 1995 and in all provinces and territories by 2011.  

In 2017, Bill C-16 added trans people to a list of groups protected by the Charter, and by 2018, surgical requirements for changing your gender marker had been revoked in all provinces. 

Still, all of this progress is quite recent, and the struggles that made it possible are far from over. For instance, according to a 2021 poll, only 75% of Canadians believe that same-sex marriage should be allowed (other polls give an even lower percentage). This shows there is still a significant portion of Canadians who oppose marriage equality, almost 20 years after it became law.  

It’s more than just opinion polls, though. In the United States and the United Kingdom—two of the countries that Canada is closest with—there are mass movements underway against the rights of 2SLGBTQ people. In the US, laws are being passed seemingly every week limiting the ability of 2SLGBTQ people to exist in public, with a specific focus on transgender people.  

Anti-2SLGBTQ Backlash Is Happening in Canada Too 

Watching all of this from Canada, it is possible to feel a bit smug. After all, no politician in Canada is trying to stop trans adults from accessing hormones or criminalizing parents who try to support their trans children (well, except the People’s Party). There is even a movement for Canada to accept trans and non-binary people as refugees from the US and the UK. Although things are undoubtedly better here, we can’t afford to be complacent, because the seeds of an anti-queer backlash are being planted in Canada as well. 

Canada is, after all, the home of Jordan Peterson, who first came to prominence as a campaigner against trans rights back in 2016. It has also become a sadly frequent event to see youth-focused 2SLGBTQ events targeted with protests across the country. The town of Norwich, Ontario, and the district of Hope, BC, recently reversed course and decided not to fly the Pride flag this June, and this follows debates about doing the same in school boards across the country (the York Region Catholic school board recently decided not to fly it as well). Then there are the frequent protests at Pride celebrations by religious and far-right groups. These reached a frightening point in 2019 in Hamilton, Ontario, when anti-queer protesters physically attacked attendees, including with weapons, resulting in several injuries. And of course, Canada is strongly influenced by US culture, with outlets like Fox News, which regularly broadcasts anti-2SLGBTQ content, reaching millions of Canadians. 

It wouldn’t take much for some opportunistic politician to decide to cater to this anti-queer section of the electorate. It would likely look similar to the choice of the current leader of the federal Conservative Party to support the 2022 trucker convoy in Ottawa (the links between the convoy and anti-trans organizing are well documented). In 2018, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party’s members passed a resolution to not recognize gender identity—this has so far not been taken up as official policy, but it shows the strong support it has within the party’s base.

It’s Time for Allies to Get Active 

All this to say that repeating the phrase “love is love” is not enough. In the face of a growing anti-2SLGBTQ movement, being personally supportive of queer rights won’t be enough to stop those rights from being eroded. What we need is for allies to start getting active and find ways to concretely show support for 2SLGBTQ groups and causes.  

This can include showing up at a counter-protest to protect youth-focused events or supporting those who do. It can be pushing back against attempts at book banning and so-called anti-woke school board trustees. However, in the housing and homelessness sector, a powerful way to support 2SLGBTQ people is to enhance their visibility and full participation in society through 2SLGBTQ-focused programs and services.  

Housing as a Response to Hate 

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, one in three homeless youth in Canada identity as 2SLGBTQ, and the reason for this disproportionate figure is discrimination. We can conclude then that combatting hate in our communities can contribute to better housing outcomes for queer youth. As well, one recommendation of the 2017 LGBTQ2S Adult Housing Needs Assessment is that to address 2SLGBTQ homelessness, we must “develop housing that meets the needs of LGBTQ2S individuals. A wide range of housing options should be created, such as emergency shelters and congregate supportive housing, but the emphasis should be placed on independent living with full supports.” 

Are there 2SLGBTQ-focused housing programs where you live? What do you think it would take to create one?  

In Canada’s current housing crisis, 2SLGBTQ people are particularly vulnerable, and without specific supports that is only likely to get worse. As described in a previous blog, trans inclusion in homelessness services is a work in progress that requires constant attention. In the sector, we are uniquely positioned to help marginalized 2SLGBTQ people to live with dignity and participate fully in their communities. What better way is there than housing to push back against those who want to further marginalize them? 

To learn more, check out the free training on the Homelessness Learning Hub about how to support 2SLGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness or the collection of resources about 2SLGBTQ homelessness in general.