Guides: Queer Studies: Legal Rights

Legal Rights

LGBTQ+ communities have endured a long and drawn out battle for equality under the law. Discover more about their journey and continuing struggles below.

In Canada

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights in Canada
Article by Krishna Rau, Published Online June 16, 2014, Accessed July 7, 2025
TIMELINE | Same-sex rights in Canada
CBC News Article. Accessed July 7, 2025
FAQ: Gender Identity and Canada's Human Rights System
Egale - Canada Human Rights Trust. Accessed July 7, 2025
Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
Relevant milestones:
* 2012 - Amendments on gender identity and gender expression are passed as law and added to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act to protect the rights of trans and gender-diverse people.
* 2005 - Canada is the fourth country to recognise the right of same-sex couples to marry..
* 1994 - Simon Thwaites, a soldier, is honourably discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 because he is a homosexual and HIV carrier. Simon Thwaites was compensated for his wrongful dismissal from the Canadian Armed Forces.

Legislation

Canadian Human Rights Act, RSC 1985, c H-6
Civil Marriage Act, SC 2005, c 33
Employment Equity Act, SC 1995, c 44
Human Rights Act, RSNS 1989, c 214
Transgendered Persons Protection Act (Bill 140, 2012)
An Act to Amend Chapter 214 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Human Rights Act, to Protect the Rights of Transgendered Persons

Documents

Here is a partial list of sources relating to the legal rights of the LGBTQ+ community from CanLII - Canadian Legal Information Institute. See link below to continue searching CanLII.

CanLII
CanLii is one of the best sources for finding legislation and case law on the web. With CanLii, you can view previous iterations of the law to see how it has changed over time. When looking for legislation and case law related to LGBTQ+ peoples, use the terms "LGBT", "queer", "gay", "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" or "same sex".
"One in Ten" but Who's Counting?: Lesbians, Gay Men and Employment Equity, 1995 CanLIIDocs 25
Christopher N Kendall and Brian Eyolfson, "One in Ten" but Who's Counting?: Lesbians, Gay Men and Employment Equity, 1995 27-2 Ottawa Law Review 281, 1995 CanLIIDocs 25, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
Converging Feminist and Queer Legal Theories: Family Feuds and Family Ties, 2010 CanLIIDocs 34
Elaine Craig, Converging Feminist and Queer Legal Theories: Family Feuds and Family Ties, 2010 28-1 Windsor Yearbook on Access to Justice 209, 2010 CanLIIDocs 34, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
The Emotional Dimensions of Lesbian and Gay Demands for Hate Crime Reform, 2004 CanLIIDocs 40
Leslie J Moran, The Emotional Dimensions of Lesbian and Gay Demands for Hate Crime Reform, 2004 49-4 McGill Law Journal 925, 2004 CanLIIDocs 40, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
Gay and Lesbian Pornography and the Obscenity Laws in Canada, 1999 8 Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies 94, 1999 CanLIIDocs 4
Susan R Taylor, Gay and Lesbian Pornography and the Obscenity Laws in Canada, 1999 8 Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies 94, 1999 CanLIIDocs 4, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
Gay Male Pornography and Sexual Violence: A Sex Equality Perspective on Gay Male Rape and Partner Abuse, 2004 CanLIIDocs 39
Christopher N Kendall, Gay Male Pornography and Sexual Violence: A Sex Equality Perspective on Gay Male Rape and Partner Abuse, 2004 49-4 McGill Law Journal 877, 2004 CanLIIDocs 39, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
The Legally Queer Child, 2004 49-4 McGill Law Journal 1057, 2004 CanLIIDocs 44
Bruce MacDougall, The Legally Queer Child, 2004 49-4 McGill Law Journal 1057, 2004 CanLIIDocs 44, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
MSM Blood Donation Ban: (In)equality, Gay Rights and Discrimination under the Charter, 2010 15 Appeal: Review of Current Law and Law Reform 136, 2010 CanLIIDocs 222
Rachael Lake, MSM Blood Donation Ban: (In)equality, Gay Rights and Discrimination under the Charter, 2010 15 Appeal: Review of Current Law and Law Reform 136, 2010 CanLIIDocs 222, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
One of these Families is not like the Others: The Legal Response to Non-Normative Queer Parenting in Canada, 2013 CanLIIDocs 76
Fiona Kelly, One of these Families is not like the Others: The Legal Response to Non-Normative Queer Parenting in Canada, 2013 51-1 Alberta Law Review 1, 2013 CanLIIDocs 76, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
Outlaws or Inlaws?: Successes and Challenges in the Struggle for LGBT Equality, 2004 CanLIIDocs 47
John Fisher, Outlaws or Inlaws?: Successes and Challenges in the Struggle for LGBT Equality, 2004 49-4 McGill Law Journal 1183, 2004 CanLIIDocs 47, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
The Queer Child Deserves Protection: Bill 18 and the Justifiable Infringement of Denominational Schools' Freedom of Religion, 2014 CanLIIDocs 266
Joshua David Michael Shaw, The Queer Child Deserves Protection: Bill 18 and the Justifiable Infringement of Denominational Schools' Freedom of Religion, 2014 38-1 Manitoba Law Journal 331, 2014 CanLIIDocs 266, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
A Queer Critique on the Polygamy Debate in Canada: Law, Culture, and Diversity, 2012 CanLIIDocs 65
Erin Fowler, A Queer Critique on the Polygamy Debate in Canada: Law, Culture, and Diversity, 2012 21 Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies 93, 2012 CanLIIDocs 65, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
Queer Judgments, 2001 CanLIIDocs 15
Diana Majury, Queer Judgments, 2001 32-2 Ottawa Law Review 299, 2001 CanLIIDocs 15, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
Sexuality, Queer Theory, and "Feminism After": Reading and Rereading the Sexual Subject, 2004 49-4 McGill Law Journal 847, 2004 CanLIIDocs 38
Brenda Cossman, Sexuality, Queer Theory, and "Feminism After": Reading and Rereading the Sexual Subject, 2004 49-4 McGill Law Journal 847, 2004 CanLIIDocs 38, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
The Silencing of Queer Voices in the Litigation Over Trinity Western University’s Proposed Law School, 2017 CanLIIDocs 161
Pippa Feinstein and Sarah E Hamill, The Silencing of Queer Voices in the Litigation Over Trinity Western University’s Proposed Law School, 2017 34-2 Windsor Yearbook on Access to Justice 156, 2017 CanLIIDocs 161, , retrieved on 2019-04-08
“Pernicious [E]ffects”: Discretionary Decision-making in Queer Immigration to Canada, 2018 CanLIIDocs 72
Renata Colwell, “Pernicious [E]ffects”: Discretionary Decision-making in Queer Immigration to Canada, 2018 8-2 Western Journal of Legal Studies, 2018 CanLIIDocs 72, , retrieved on 2019-04-08