Canada, North America

Canada is the world's second largest country by total area and shares land borders with the United States to the south and northwest. In Canada, the LGBT community now enjoys the same rights and freedoms as any other group. It has provided more legal rights for LGBT people than many other liberal nations, including the United States. In December 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the federal government has the exclusive authority to define marriage and that same-sex marriage was constitutional. As of 2005, all provinces (except Alberta) and territories had included "sexual orientation" in their human rights laws. In 2006, the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights was held in Montreal, culminating with the issuance of the Declaration of Montreal. For more: Wikipedia Gay rights in Canada

 

News & Reports:

 

Canada’s first gay couple to be married reflect on 20th anniversary

https://www.cbc.ca/i/phoenix/player/syndicate/?mediaId=2233887299978 Michael Stark and Michael Leshner became Canada’s first gay couple to get legally married in 2003. They join CBC News to reflect on their 20th anniversary and discuss what troubles them about the state of LGBTQ rights across North America. Source – CBC News

New musical in Vancouver gives queer and trans youth a Christmas story

The show seeks to raise awareness about queer youth houselessness and give young LGBTQ+ people a story to tell at Christmas Listen here A new Christmas musical running this month in Vancouver seeks to raise awareness about queer youth houselessness and give young LGBTQ+ people a more positive story to tell this holiday season. “Holiday… Read more »

New musical in Vancouver gives queer and trans youth a Christmas story

Listen to audio here A new Christmas musical running this month in Vancouver seeks to raise awareness about queer youth houselessness and give young LGBTQ+ people a more positive story to tell this holiday season. “Holiday Out”, presented by Metropolitan Performing Arts in Vancouver, takes inspiration from a traditional form of British community theater called… Read more »

Canada’s House of Commons approves bill to ban LGBT conversion therapy

Ottawa (Reuters) – Canada’s House of Commons on Wednesday voted unanimously to ban LGBT conversion therapy, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and has been condemned by medical professionals. The measure, proposed by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, must now be approved by the upper Senate chamber.… Read more »

Canadian Métis federation votes for non-binary gender option on citizenship cards in ‘respect of basic human rights’

Canada’s Manitoba Métis Federation has unanimously agreed to introduce a non-binary gender option on its citizenship cards – at no extra cost. Announcing the news on 18 December, Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) president David Chartrand said: “We want our citizens to be themselves and not have to hide or be denied their identity.” “We want… Read more »

Canadian Government Introduces Bill To Ban ‘Ex-Gay’ Therapy

The Canadian government on Monday introduced legislation that would ban therapies that attempt to alter the sexual orientation or gender identity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Canadians. Such therapies go by names such as “conversion therapy,” “reparative therapy,” “sexual orientation change efforts” or “ex-gay therapy.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau campaigned on implementing such a… Read more »

Commemorating the Victims of Canada’s ‘Gay Purge’

A national memorial will soon rise to the thousands of people whose careers were ruined because of their sexual orientation. One of the most extraordinary things about the “gay purge” of Canada’s public servants, members of the military and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is that it continued until 1992. That was a quarter-century after… Read more »

UBC exhibit of rare books and artifacts chronicles 100 years of queer history

Items dating back to 19th century reveal stories about homosexuality and key cultural moments A new exhibit of rare books, flyers, postcards and pamphlets on display at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna unveils some unique artifacts of queer history. A Queer Century, first shown at the university’s Vancouver campus, highlights some of the changing perceptions of… Read more »

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson Attends Pride For First Time As An Openly Gay Man

Longtime Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson participated in Pride activities last week for the first time as an openly gay man. Watson, who has served as mayor since 2010 and previously led Ottawa from 1997 to 2000, came out the day before the start of Ottawa’s weeklong LGBT Pride festival in an op-ed published in the… Read more »

School board removes book from libraries in Canada because of LGBTI content

We thought you were better Canada Ottawa’s Catholic School Board has removed a book called Drama from the libraries of its elementary school parents complained about it. Parents were reportedly unhappy with LGBTI content in the book. The award winning graphic novel tells the story of teenager trying to get a role in her high… Read more »

First openly gay man to adopt a child in Canada reveals struggle in memoir

He hopes to encourage more adoptions by telling his tale David McKinstry has released a memoir about his journey to become a father twenty years after he became the first openly gay Canadian man to adopt children. The book charts McKinstry’s, from Peterborough, quest as he battled governments from Canada and abroad in order to… Read more »

Thousands of Canadians rally behind petition to ban ‘conversion therapy’

So-called conversion therapy has been labeled ‘fraudulent’ in other parts of the world Thousands of people signed a petition calling on the government to ban so-called conversion therapy in Canada for LGBTI youth. The petition, signed by 4692 people so far, asks the government to outlaw the practice, citing the harm it can cause to… Read more »

Canada’s Supreme Court Rules That LGBT Rights Come Before Your Religious Beliefs

Canada’s top court has ruled in favour of denying accreditation to a Christian law school that banned students from having gay sex. Friday’s ruling against Trinity Western University in British Columbia (BC) was closely watched by both religious freedom and gay rights advocates. The university made students promise not to have extra-marital or gay sex.… Read more »

The first openly transgender mayor has been elected in Canada

An openly transgender woman has just become the first mayor to be elected in Canada. Julie Lemieux is also the first female mayor in Montreal town Très-Saint-Rédempteur’s 136-year history. ? Many supporters of the new mayor have said they did not think about the fact that Lemieux was transgender when voting for her. According to… Read more »

Canada Can Push LGBTQ Agenda In Asia

LGBTQ movements are gaining strength and prominence across Asia providing Canada with significant opportunities to be a leader for change, says a new report on Canada’s support of gay community activism in the region. The Canadian government has already taken steps on this front, announcing in June 2017 that Canada would co-chair the Equal Rights… Read more »

Canada quietly accepts gay refugees escaping violent crackdown in Chechnya

Canada has quietly accepted 22 gay men and women from Chechnya since the end of June, amid a crackdown on the LGBT community in the conservative Muslim region. Rainbow Railroad, a Toronto-based non-profit organization that helps gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people escape from state-sponsored violence, revealed the clandestine initiative, which involved the Canadian government,… Read more »

World pole vaulting champion comes out as gay

The world pole vault champion has come out as gay. Shawn Barber, 22, is a Canadian track and field athlete and currently reigning world champion in pole vault. The athlete opened up in a post on Facebook, with little fanfare around the news. He wrote: “Gay and proud! Thank you to my parents for being… Read more »

The UN’s LGBT expert has advocated for a global partnership to end violence

He advocated for unity in his keynote speech at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) in Bangkok. Vitit Muntarbhorn said: “resolute action is required to stop the violence and discrimination affecting not only LGBT communities but also the human rights defenders working with them… “this goes hand in hand with the… Read more »

Gay dad elected as a bishop in Canadian church

The Anglican Church of Canada has elected a gay father-of-two as a bishop. The third largest Canadian church after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, the Anglican Church is already accepting of same-sex unions and gay clergy. But another barrier was broken this week, when the Diocese of Toronto green lit… Read more »

This Syrian refugee marched next to Canada’s Prime Minister at Pride

A Syrian refugee marched next to Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Toronto Pride. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau made history on Sunday by becoming the first Prime Minister to march in Toronto’s Pride parade, with thousands taking to the streets for the celebrations. However, while lots of people were focused on Mr Trudeau, another man… Read more »

Gay Malaysian student given refugee status in Canada after threats

An out gay Malaysian student has been given refugee status in Canada after receiving threats. Hazim Ismail, who says he is an atheist, was granted leave to stay in Canada by the country’s Immigration and Refugee Board. He had been attacked due to his sexual orientation back in Malaysia The University of Winnipeg student will… Read more »

Justin Trudeau: Canada leader to march in Toronto gay pride

Canada’s Justin Trudeau will become one of the first world leaders to take part in a gay pride march, organisers of the Toronto event have announced. Mr Trudeau will march in the 3 July parade alongside the city’s mayor and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, the first lesbian premier in Canada. The newly elected leader tweeted:… Read more »

Toronto’s gay mecca a refuge for persecuted Iranians

While other Muslims pay homage to the holy city of Mecca, Elina Azari worships Toronto, the gay mecca for queer Iranians. A month ago, the 26-year-old native from Tehran followed the treks of other queer refugees stranded in Turkey and joined the growing Iranian LGBTQ community for a new life in what some of them… Read more »

Two gay Syrian refugees get sanctuary in Canada

Canada: A gay Syrian couple seeking refuge from discrimination and war in their hometown are now able to live in Canada after local sponsors and supporters intervened on their behalf “I want to ride a roller coaster for the first time,” Danny Ramadan told cbc.ca. “I would also like to give back to the community… Read more »

Gay Syrian refugees start new lives in Vancouver

Same-sex couple among the first of 1,300 refugees Canada promised to bring in by end of 2014 Two gay Syrian refugees are enjoying their first full day in Canada Wednesday, thanks to the efforts of local sponsors and supporters. “I want to ride a roller coaster for the first time,” says Danny Ramadan. “I would… Read more »

Association between Childhood Physical Abuse, Unprotected Receptive Anal Intercourse and HIV Infection among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men in Vancouver, Canada.

Abstract Introduction: The association between childhood sexual abuse and HIV risk among men who have sex with men (MSM) is well established. However, no studies have examined the potential impact of other forms of childhood maltreatment on HIV incidence in this population. Methods: We explored the impact of child physical abuse (CPA) on HIV seroconversion… Read more »

Canada: A safer haven for LGBT refugees

As the WorldPride festival hits Toronto, a look at LGBT refugees and their struggle for security inside Canada’s borders More than 75 countries have outlawed homosexuality and at least five countries have laws that allow homosexual acts to be punished by death. Because of the physical and emotional abuse that some people who identify as… Read more »

Ant-gay Pakistan gets its first LGBTI themed book for children

Canada – A Toronto-based Pakistani author has written an LGBTI themed book for children in the hope that it will teach tolerance and further equality in Pakistan where same-sex relations are illegal. The book “My Chacha is gay” is billed as the first ever resource designed to teach Pakistani young people about different family arrangements.… Read more »

World’s first lesbian head of government to headline WorldPride summit

LGBTI rights leaders from around the world to speak at event as part of Toronto’s WorldPride celebrations in 2014 The event, organized as part of the WorldPride celebrations, which next year are in Toronto, Canada, will see presenters from 60 countries. International LGBTI activists will debate human rights around the world at the event from… Read more »

Gay Russian man seeks refugee status in Vancouver

Maxim Zhuravlev says stay at Vancouver homeless shelter safer than life in Russia A gay refugee claimant living in Vancouver says he fled to Canada from his native Russia to escape being persecuted for his sexual orientation. Maxim Zhuravlev is staying at a homeless shelter in downtown Vancouver, but says the conditions are far safer… Read more »

Video: Montreal a human rights ‘hot spot’

  Montreal – There are no gays in Yemen. That’s the Middle Eastern republic’s official position on homosexuality. But in the event that a person is caught committing a homosexual act in one of Yemen’s southeastern provinces, two kinds of punishment are meted out: flogging and death. In the face of the country’s profoundly homophobic… Read more »

Ontario Gets First Female and Openly Gay Premier

(AP) Canada’s most populous province is getting its first female premier and the country’s first openly gay premier after the provincial Liberals chose a new leader. Former education minister Kathleen Wynne won the party’s leadership race Saturday. Wynne is making history as Canada’s first openly gay premier, a subject she confronted head-on in a speech… Read more »

Ugandan parliamentary speaker blasts Canada over gay rights criticism

The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament claims that Canada has refused to grant visas for several of the country’s politicians due to its ban on same-sex marriage. According to the Daily Trust, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga made the statement on Tuesday as an international summit took place in Quebec. She reportedly said most of her colleagues who… Read more »

Lesbian doctor is first openly gay president of the Canadian Medical Association

The Canadian Medical Association has its first openly gay president. Anna Reid MD officially became the president of the CMA at their national convention in Yellowknife, in Canada’s Northwest Territories, where she works as an emergency room doctor. The body has 76,000 members, and installed Doctor Reid as their president earlier this month. She will… Read more »

Pressure grows to improve human rights for transgender people in Newfoundland

St. John’s, N.L. – As Newfoundland and Labrador celebrates its gay pride week, pressure is growing on the province to improve human rights protections for the transgender community, one of society’s most marginalized and vulnerable groups. The NDP has called on the Progressive Conservative government to add gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination… Read more »

Toronto unveils rainbow cabs to woo gay Londoners for WorldPride 2014

Pride Toronto has unveiled a new taxi advertising campaign to promote the host city of WorldPride 2014 to gay Londoners, as the latter city handed over the mantle this weekend. Toronto beat Stockholm to host WorldPride after winning the majority vote from leaders of gay and lesbian organisations around the globe. As WorldPride celebrations in… Read more »

Iranian Queers March in Toronto Pride Parade for Those Who Can Not in Iran

A group of Iranian queers in Toronto decided to march in Toronto Pride Parade 2012 (Today, July 1st), to show their existence and promote Iranian Queer Human Rights Cause. Last year, IRQR officially registered the first Iranian contingent at Pride Parade 2011 and won the Best Entry Award of ‘Dream Big’ Theme by Pride Toronto… Read more »

Ontario passes pro-gay anti-bullying bill despite opposition from Catholic Church

The Canadian province of Ontario has passed a wide-ranging anti-bullying bill which mandates that students be allowed to form Gay-Straight Alliances in schools, including those run by the Catholic Church. The state’s legislature passed Bill 13 easily by a 65 to 36 majority, and the Education Minister, Laurel Broten, said that it is expected to… Read more »

Halifax gay rights activist beaten to death outside bar

A well-known gay rights activist in Halifax is dead after being beaten as he was leaving a popular gay bar Monday night. Raymond Taavel intervened when a man he was with began arguing with another man, who was yelling at the pair as they left Menz Bar. Witnesses said the man was yelling homophobic slurs.… Read more »

Coming out to family could help, prof says

In high school, Darren Ho recalls boys writing, “Darren’s so gay” in his notebook or calling him girly. A shy kid who didn’t like standing out, Ho kept mostly to himself. Now a 23-year-old linguistics major at Simon Fraser University, Ho says he couldn’t talk to his parents about what was going on in school… Read more »