- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✔ Legal, no restrictions
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✔ Legal
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✔ Recognized
- Discrimination
- Unknown
- Employment Discrimination
- Unknown
- Housing Discrimination
- Unknown
- 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 Nova Scotia 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.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Nova Scotia is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Nova Scotia, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Nova Scotia is legal, no restrictions.
Current status
Since Sep 24, 2015
Legal, no restrictions
Surgeries are no longer required to change one's gender marker in Nova Scotia since September 24th 2015.
Legal, but requires surgery
In a 2001 amendment, sex change is possible but only with surgery.
Gender-affirming care in Nova Scotia is legal.
Current status
Since 2000
Legal
Nova Scotia covers the following procedures:
-Hysterectomy
-Oophorectomy (only available in NS)
-Orchiectomy
-Penectomy
-Breast augmentation
-Breast reduction
-Chest masculinization/mastectomy (in NS or Montreal Centre)
-Phalloplasty
-Metoidplasty
-Vaginoplasty (only available at Centre Metropolitain de Chirurgie in Montreal)
Counselling and hormones are covered in the public system.
An assessment by a healthcare professional with required competencies to assess/treat/refer patients with gender dysphoria is required for coverage.
-Hysterectomy
-Oophorectomy (only available in NS)
-Orchiectomy
-Penectomy
-Breast augmentation
-Breast reduction
-Chest masculinization/mastectomy (in NS or Montreal Centre)
-Phalloplasty
-Metoidplasty
-Vaginoplasty (only available at Centre Metropolitain de Chirurgie in Montreal)
Counselling and hormones are covered in the public system.
An assessment by a healthcare professional with required competencies to assess/treat/refer patients with gender dysphoria is required for coverage.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Nova Scotia is recognized.
Current status
Since Jul 9, 2019
Recognized
Nova Scotia residents can ask for an X on their birth certificate or driver's license, or they can opt to remove the gender marker altogether, free of charge.
LGBT discrimination in Nova Scotia is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
LGBT employment discrimination in Nova Scotia is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
LGBT housing discrimination in Nova Scotia is unknown.
Current status
Unknown
Same-sex adoption in Nova Scotia is legal.
Intersex infant surgery in Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 30, 2022
Legal
Following Canadian Blood Services guidelines.
Banned (less than 6-month deferral)
Following the Canadian Blood Services Guidelines.
Conversion therapy in Nova Scotia is banned.
Current status
Since Sep 25, 2018
Legal Rights
95 / 100
This region's Equality Index is based on legal rights alone. Please submit survey results that show the public opinion of LGBTQ+ issues in Nova Scotia to help improve its accuracy.
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