LGBTQ2S+ and Gender
Terms and scope
LGBTQ2S+ is a Canadian abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and Two-Spirit people, with the plus sign marking additional identities. Two-Spirit is a term used within some Indigenous communities and carries specific cultural meanings that differ by nation. Terminology evolves, and reference writing notes where usage varies.
A Canadian timeline
Parliament decriminalized private same-sex acts between adults in 1969 through an omnibus criminal law reform. Sexual orientation was read into the Charter through court decisions, the Civil Marriage Act of 2005 extended marriage nationwide, and gender identity and expression were added to the Canadian Human Rights Act in 2017. Federal and provincial governments have also addressed the historical treatment of public servants and military personnel.
Pride celebrations take place in many cities each year, and community organizations operate in urban and rural regions alike.
What this section contains
- Histories of activism, legislation and community institutions
- Explainers on terms covering orientation, gender identity and expression
- Profiles of cultural figures and organizations
- Summaries of research on health and social outcomes
Entries are neutral and descriptive and rely on Wikipedia and official Canadian sources.
Articles
- Ageing, Desire and Older Queer Women
Older adults are often treated as asexual in public talk; community events for ageing queer women address that gap.
- Heterosexual Allies and Same-Sex Equality
A Toronto group of straight allies used school talks, letters and Pride marches to back same-sex equality.
- Black Queer Youth Drop-In Groups in Toronto
How drop-in groups for Black queer and trans youth begin, what they offer, and what members say about identity and family.
- Trans Cabaret: From Stage to Screen
How a Toronto stage workshop grew into an educational video about trans identity, barriers and pride.
- Trans Advocacy and Public Life in Alberta
A southern Alberta writer and advocate on trans organizing, stigma and misconceptions about transition.
- Vigils Honouring Queer Youth Lost
Vigils across Canada honoured queer and trans youth lost to suicide and opened talk about bullying, school climate and community support.
- Is New Westminster LGBTQ2S+ Friendly?
How municipal inclusion of LGBTQ2S+ residents is generally assessed, with New Westminster in Metro Vancouver as the setting.
- Drag in Halifax and Nova Scotia
How drag performers in Halifax find stage names, start at pageants, join troupes and build a community.
- Ontario Schools and LGBTQ Acceptance Programs
Online storytelling, school presentations and community fundraisers as responses to bullying of LGBTQ youth in Ontario.
- Covering Sexual Politics in Toronto
Queer reporters in Toronto cover Pride, school clubs, trans rights and censorship, linking sex and politics.
- Pride Festivals Beyond the Big Cities
Smaller Canadian cities run their own Pride festivals, and Lethbridge in Alberta shows how they grow.
- Non-Monogamy Among Long-Term Gay Male Couples
Study themes: honest non-monogamy, limited social support and the value of mentors.
- Attraction to Trans Women: Labels and Perceptions
Orientation labels are debated when people are attracted to trans women, and self-identification is central.
- Bisexual men and the question of visibility
A neutral look at research on male bisexuality, biphobia and a Toronto anti-stigma poster campaign.
- Switch: A Photo Series on Gender Presentation
Switch pairs studio portraits of the same models as a man and as a woman, questioning how identity and appearance relate.
- Pride Festivals Across Canada
An overview of Pride festivals in Canada, their origins and the role they play in communities.
- How Community Centres Serve LGBTQ Residents
An explainer on LGBTQ community centres in mid-sized Canadian cities: origins, programs, outreach and volunteers.
- Queer Print Media Under Financial Strain
Why queer print media in Canada has faced strain, from falling print revenue to funding eligibility rules.
- The Q Hall of Fame and Canadian LGBT History
A look at the Q Hall of Fame Canada, a national project that commemorates LGBT contributors through public nominations.
- Kristopher Wells and LGBTQ+ Youth in Alberta
An overview of Kristopher Wells's research on inclusive schools, the founding of Camp fYrefly and the Alberta Bill 44 controversy.
- Attraction to Trans Women: Core Concepts
Neutral background on terminology, labels and social attitudes around men's attraction to trans women.
- MMA and the Homoerotic Reading of Combat Sport
Some commentators read mixed martial arts as homoerotic. A neutral look at the idea, its critics and inclusion in Canadian sport.
- Homophobic Bullying and Canadian Schools
How bullying linked to sexual orientation and gender identity is understood in Canadian schools, and how policy has addressed it.
- May 17 Against Homophobia and Transphobia
What May 17 marks, how communities observe it in Halifax, and the legal context for LGBTQ2S rights in Canada.
- May 17 and the Fight Against Homophobia in Canada
Explains the May 17 observance, Canada's legal protections and the kinds of incidents advocates cite when they mark the day.
- Vancouver Kiss-In Outside a Russian Consulate
About fifty people held a kiss-in outside Vancouver's Russian consulate to object to anti-gay laws and reported violence in Russia.
- Gay Bathhouse Culture in Canada
An overview of gay bathhouses in Canada, their social role and their links with health education.
- A Toronto Queer Band and Its Humour
How a Toronto queer band mixed raunchy humour with personal and political lyrics and played Pride-season stages.
- Anglicans in Canada and Same-Sex Unions
How the Anglican Church of Canada has examined theology, marriage canon and same-sex unions across decades.
- Butch and Femme: Terms, Debates and Visibility
Butch and femme remain contested labels in queer communities; a reader's response to an anthology shows why.
- Community Trans Health Clinics in Canada
Community-run clinics in Canada offer low-barrier care to trans and gender-diverse people in response to gaps in mainstream health care.
Frequently asked questions
What does Two-Spirit mean?
It is a term used by some Indigenous people in North America to describe a person who embodies both masculine and feminine spirits or a distinct gender role. Meanings differ across nations and communities.
When was same-sex marriage legalized in Canada?
The Civil Marriage Act received royal assent in 2005. Several provinces and territories had already recognized same-sex marriage through court rulings.
Updated November 2026. General information only, not medical, legal or professional advice. See the disclaimer and the medical disclaimer.