The rights of Queer individuals and communities have evolved significantly in Canada in the past decades. Yet Queer street-involved youth are disproportionately profiled by police; trans individuals face barriers in accessing healthcare; and 2SLGTBQI+ youth – in particular trans including gender non-binary – youth face various forms of harassment and inequality in school settings.
Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of the sense of self.
The Know Your Rights Guide
CCLA has published a Know Your Rights Guide to educate students about 2SLGTBQI+ rights in schools. This resource helps students, allies, and teachers better understand rights under the Charter, human rights laws, and Ontario’s Education Act, and how to take positive action toward making schools more safe and inclusive.
Our Win in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal
CCLA works directly with the 2SLGTBQI+ community advocating for their rights and freedoms.
The Saskatchewan Court was victorious in advocating for equality when refusing changes to Saskatchewan’s Marriage Act. The proposed changes would have allowed provincially appointed marriage commissioners to refuse to perform civil marriages where it would conflict with their religious beliefs. The changes were proposed in response to objections by some commissioners to same-sex marriage, which became legal in Canada in 2005. The proposed changes were also broad enough to allow commissioners to refuse to perform marriages on other grounds, including objections to inter-faith and inter-racial unions.
CCLA intervened in this case to argue it is unconstitutional to allow discrimination in some instances based on sexual orientation. We argued the discrimination would risk creating a system of unequal access to basic government services. While we have always been, and remain, an advocate of freedom of religion, the core function of marriage commissioners is to preside over civil marriages, not religious ceremonies.
Everyone should have equal access to government services, regardless of an individual’s religious beliefs.
Our Work for 2SLGBTQI+ Rights

Olympic Committee’s New Eligibility Rules Exclude Transgender Athletes and Expands Policing of Women’s Bodies

The Fight for Gender-Affirming Care Protections Must Continue

CCLA Sounds the Alarm as Alberta Government Entrenches Discrimination Into Law

Joint Statement from Canada’s Civil Liberties Organizations on Alberta’s Proposed Use of the Notwithstanding Clause

CCLA Urges Premier to Reconsider Plan Undermining Charter Freedoms

CCLA Condemn Alberta’s Proposed Use of the Notwithstanding Clause to Target Trans Communities

CCLA Welcomes UR Pride Decision Affirming Key Role of Courts in Protecting Charter Rights

CCLA condemns Quebec’s discriminatory detention policy targeting trans inmates

CCLA welcomes decision on gender affirming healthcare funding in Ontario

Civil Society Groups Call for Immediate Suspension of Safe Third Country Agreement With United States of America

CCLA Submissions to Standing Committee on Status of Women’s study on Hate Motivated Violence Directed at 2SLGBTQIA+ Communities

CCLA Condemns Passage of Anti-Trans Laws in Alberta

CCLA Intervening To Ensure Equitable Health Care Funding for Trans and Nonbinary People in Ontario

CCLA Strongly Condemns Alberta Legislation That Erodes Freedoms of Trans and Gender Diverse Youth and Their Families

CCLA Welcomes Commitment to Reverse Harmful Changes to Policy 713 in New Brunswick

CCLA Argues That Notwithstanding Clause Should Not Limit Democratic Accountability and Protection of Marginalized Groups

CCLA Argues Notwithstanding Clause Should Not Limit Democratic Accountability and Protection of Marginalized Groups

Canadian Civil Liberties Association Granted Leave to Intervene in Saskatchewan v UR Pride

European Court of Human Rights Rules That Termination of Trans Parent’s Foster Care Agreement Violates Family Rights in Russian Case

Update: New Brunswick Policy 713 Challenge Continues

CCLA Reacts to Quebec Education Ministers latest Directive on Gender Neutral Washrooms

CCLA Reacts to Proposed Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Policy in Alberta

CCLA Granted Public Interest Standing in Policy 713 Lawsuit

CCLA Reaction to Bill 137
The Guardian: Canada province uses constitutional override to advance pronoun legislation

CCLA Reacts in Saskatchewan

CCLA Reacts to New Brunswick Premier

CCLA Granted Intervenor Status in Saskatchewan

CCLA Files Suit Against New Brunswick Government on Policy 713

CCLA reacts to latest revisions to New Brunswick Policy 713

CCLA: SK Policy Violates Rights of Students

CCLA: New Brunswick Policy 713, Unlawful, Unconstitutional

CCLA Reacts to New Brunswick Policy 713 on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
CBC: Civil liberties group concerned about ‘domino effect’ of LGBTQ-protection policy review

SLAPPs, Speech, and Standing Up for Equality

CCLA Statement at New Brunswick Rally on Abortion, Reproductive Justice, and 2SGLBTQI+ Rights

CCLA opposes Quebec’s Anti-Trans and Anti-Choice Bill 2 on Family Law

Justice Vs. Exclusion: Fighting for LGBTQ2S+ Representation and Inclusivity

CCLA Will Sue New Brunswick Over Abortion Restrictions

CCLA Statement of Support for Abortion Rights & LGBTQ+ Healthcare Now Protest

CCLA and the 519 Write to PM: Alarming Increase of LGBTQ2S Abuse

Sex Ed Legal Challenge Continues

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Sex Ed Saga

This Public Consultation on Sex Ed is Keeping a Lot Secret

Battles begin over the repeal of Ontario’s 2015 sex-ed curriculum

UPDATE: CCLA and ETFO Sex-Ed Legal Challenges to be Heard Together

CCLA Takes Legal Action to Fight the Rollback of a Modern, Inclusive 2015 Sex-Education Curriculum

Taking the Fight for Inclusive Sex-Education in Ontario to the Steps of Queen’s Park

Update – Changes To Ontario’s Sex-Ed Curriculum: CCLA Taking It To The Next Level

March For Our Education

CCLA Joins Coalition Calling For Ontario Government To Reinstate 2015 Sex-Ed Curriculum

Smart Sex-Ed

LGBTQ+ and Gender Equality Triumph: TWU v LSUC

Ella Webber Talks Trans-Non-Binary Rights With The CCLA

Join CCLA at the Trans Pride Rally and March Friday June 22nd, 2018

CCLA at Supreme Court in Trinity Western Case – Hearing This Week

Hamilton Approves Cutting-Edge Trans Rights Protocol

No More Delay: Time To Protect Trans Rights

