- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- ✔ Illegal
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✔ Banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
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Homosexual activity in British Columbia is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 27, 1969
Male illegal, female legal under federal Canada law
In 1890, the House of Commons introduced a new offence called “gross indecency." The new offence made it easier to charge suspected sodomites.
In 1893, the gross indecency law became part of the country’s first Criminal Code. The original language of the law referred only to homosexual acts between men, as sex between women was typically ignored at the time.
In 1893, the gross indecency law became part of the country’s first Criminal Code. The original language of the law referred only to homosexual acts between men, as sex between women was typically ignored at the time.
Until Jun 30, 1893
Illegal (death penalty as punishment) under federal Canada law
In 1648, the first documented case of a sodomy conviction occurred.
The military drummer, who was the man convicted, was found guilty and was sentenced to death. However, Jesuits stepped in and were able to transfer the case to Québec City, where his life was sparred.
From then until 1893, few known cases exist of homosexuals being sentenced to death.
The military drummer, who was the man convicted, was found guilty and was sentenced to death. However, Jesuits stepped in and were able to transfer the case to Québec City, where his life was sparred.
From then until 1893, few known cases exist of homosexuals being sentenced to death.
Same-sex marriage in British Columbia is legal.
Current status
Since Jul 8, 2003
Legal
British Columbia became the second province in Canada behind Ontario to legalize gay marriage.
Censorship of LGBT issues in British Columbia is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In British Columbia, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in British Columbia is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Apr 29, 2014
Legal, no restrictions
Now, surgery is not required to change an individual's stated gender on their birth certificate.
Gender-affirming care in British Columbia is legal.
Current status
Since 2000
Legal
British Columbia covers the following procedures:
-Chest construction (including reduction)
-Orchiectomy
-Hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
-Vaginoplasty
-Vulvoplasty
-Clitoral release
-Metoidioplasty
-Phalloplasty
-Travel Assistance Program for provincial travel assistance for services not available in own community
-Expenses for out-of-province surgical aftercare if medically required
-Psychiatry services
-Vocal feminization program (via free Changing Keys program)
Breast augmentations can be covered on a case-by-case basis and hormones are generally covered under Pharmacare plans. Binders, packers and breast forms can be covered under PWD with a prescription/letter from a MD or NP.
Patients must have completed a surgical readiness assessment with a qualified assessor to be approved for coverage.
-Chest construction (including reduction)
-Orchiectomy
-Hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
-Vaginoplasty
-Vulvoplasty
-Clitoral release
-Metoidioplasty
-Phalloplasty
-Travel Assistance Program for provincial travel assistance for services not available in own community
-Expenses for out-of-province surgical aftercare if medically required
-Psychiatry services
-Vocal feminization program (via free Changing Keys program)
Breast augmentations can be covered on a case-by-case basis and hormones are generally covered under Pharmacare plans. Binders, packers and breast forms can be covered under PWD with a prescription/letter from a MD or NP.
Patients must have completed a surgical readiness assessment with a qualified assessor to be approved for coverage.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in British Columbia is recognized.
Current status
Since Nov 1, 2018
Recognized
British Columbia residents can ask for an X gender marker on their driver’s license, identity card, birth certificate and BC Services Card.
LGBT discrimination in British Columbia is illegal.
Current status
Since 1996
Illegal
Outlined in BC Human Rights Code
LGBT employment discrimination in British Columbia is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jul 25, 2016
Sexual orientation and gender identity
BC Legislature passed a bill adding gender identity to protected class in the BC Human Rights Code
LGBT housing discrimination in British Columbia is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jul 25, 2016
Sexual orientation and gender identity
BC Legislature passed a bill to include gender identity in the protected class for BC Human Rights Code
Intersex infant surgery in British Columbia is not banned.
Current status
Not banned under federal Canada law
Section 268 of Canada's Criminal Code (1985) makes aggravated assault illegal, including actions that cause injury or harm to a victim's sex organs. However, there is an exception in Section 268(3)(a) for medical practitioners performing surgeries to establish a "normal sexual appearance." Therefore, medical practitioners performing surgeries on intersex youth is not banned.
Serving openly in military in British Columbia is legal.
Current status
Since Oct 10, 1992
Legal under federal Canada law
LGBT soldiers are permitted to serve in the Canadian military and have been since Douglas v Canada.
Until Oct 9, 1992
Illegal under federal Canada law
Before Douglas v Canada LGBT individuals were banned from serving in the Canadian military.
Blood donations by MSMs in British Columbia is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 30, 2022
Legal
Following the Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
Conversion therapy in British Columbia is banned.
Current status
Since Jan 7, 2022
Banned
Conversion therapy is banned in British Columbia under federal Canadian law.
Equal age of consent in British Columbia is equal.
Current status
Since Jun 21, 2019
Equal under federal Canada law
In 2019, a bill was passed to equalise the age of consent to age 16 no matter the sexuality.
Unequal under federal Canada law
The age of consent in for anal sex in Canada is 18, whereas the age of consent for acts of sex is 16.
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