Over a third of LGBTQ2 Canadians surveyed reported some form of violence over the past five years

Survey part of federal government's plan to craft an LGBTQ2 Action Plan

A recent federally-sponsored survey of LGBTQ2 community members indicates these folks continue to face long-standing barriers to full freedom and equity in Canadian society.

As part of its efforts to create the first-ever Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan, the Canadian Government surveyed over 25,000 LGBTQ2 people living in the country. Respondents shared their experiences related to safety, health, housing and homelessness, employment, and discrimination as well as stigma and resilience.

Graph courtesy Department of Canadian Heritage

Of those surveyed, 39 per cent reported experiencing violence due to homophobia, transphobia, biophobia or another form of discrimination surrounding sexual orientation, identity, or gender expression over the past five years. The majority of this violence took the form of verbal abuse.

Transgender respondents were most likely to say they were denied employment due to their gender identity, while Two-Spirited respondents were more likely to report being denied employment based on sexual orientation.

Graph courtesy Department of Canadian Heritage

Transgender and Two-Spirited individuals also reported the highest level of discrimination when it comes to obtaining housing in Canada.

While 81 per cent of respondents reported having a family doctor or nurse practitioner, those who identified as asexual, non-binary, or gender diverse were most likely to say their health care provider was not knowledgeable about how their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression impacted their health needs.

Of those surveyed, cisgender men reported the highest level of life satisfaction, while transgender men reported the lowest level. Life satisfaction for the Canadian general public was 6.7 in June 2020 compared to 6.4 for those surveyed for the LGBTQ2 Action Plan.

Roundtable discussions with LGBTQ2 communities are expected to be held in the spring of this year. Results of those talks will be combined with the outcome of this survey to help guide the LGBTQ2 Action Plan.

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