June is known as Pride Month in Canada & worldwide. It is the time to celebrate Pride & 2SLGBTQ+ Canadian immigrants nationwide. Moreover, the nation recognizes the struggle these communities have endured to attain equality under the law & in society.
Generally, the Pride celebrations started in Canada as a kind of protest against prejudice. Women & Gender Equity Canada asserts that the first representations occurred in Vancouver & Ottawa in the year 1971. By 1973, numerous Pride events happened in various Canadian cities, like Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, & Toronto. Today, Canada celebrates 2SLGBTQ+ individuals throughout June in numerous ways!
The celebrations of Pride & 2SLGBTQ+ Canadian immigrants in Toronto are one of the largest Pride parades in the world. This year, it is happening on June 25 & will feature over 100+ groups. In addition, there are also parades, parties, concerts, & discussions that take place throughout the month in Canada.
The federal government completely supports these celebrations. Recently, the government committed $1.5 million to Pride organizations, thus ensuring that Pride events in Canada have adequate funding to hold all events as planned.
Interestingly, the country was ranked as the safest travel destination in the world for 2SLGBTQ+ travelers. In addition, it is the leading destination for Pride & 2SLGBTQ+ Canadian immigrants.
Well, this is because of its reputation in safety & tolerance. Discriminating against a person’s sexual orientation/ gender identity is forbidden under the Canadian Human Rights Act & cannot be utilized to deny an immigration application.
Pride & 2SLGBTQ+ Canadian Immigrants
Pride & 2SLGBTQ+ Canadian immigrants are often well-suited for immigration. The data from Statistics Canada shows that in 2018, more than half of lesbian/ gay immigrants (55%) & half of bisexual (49.6%) & heterosexual (45.8%) immigrants had an undergraduate degree. This is a higher percentage as compared to Canadian-born people of the same sexual orientation.
The same study also stated that a more significant proportion of these communities spoke both the official languages of Canada, i.e., English & French.
All the 2SLGBTQ+ communities have the exact same rights & freedom as a heterosexual/ cisgender person. Moreover, a same-sex couple can marry, sponsor their spouses, and adopt children. They have the same rights as opposite-sex partners.
Immigration To Canada As 2SLGBTQ+
The immigration process for Pride & 2SLGBTQ+ Canadian immigrants isn’t different.
IRCC says that when you immigrate to Canada, you won’t be asked about your sexual orientation. Moreover, when you apply for immigration, you will be asked to mark ‘F’ for female, ‘M’ for male, & ‘X’ for another gender.
In addition, in case your gender identity changes, you can apply to change it on your PR card, work visa, citizenship certificate, or study visa. No additional documents are needed.
History Of 2SLGBTQ+ Rights In Canada
Looking at the history of 2SLGBTQ+ rights in Canada, we’ll see that it hasn’t always been optimistic, particularly during immigration. In the year 1953, an immigration act was amended to prohibit ‘homosexuals’ from Canadian immigration.
However, homosexuality was decriminalized in the year 1969. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Canada’s former Prime Minister, asserted that the state has nil place in the nation’s bedrooms! Moreover, until 1978, homosexual immigrants were deemed admissible to Canada.
In 1995, the government legalized same-sex couple adoptions in Ontario. The other provinces followed quickly! The following year, sexual orientation/ gender identity was added to the Human Rights Act as an illegal reason for discrimination.
Moreover, in 1999, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples would be entitled to similar benefits as married couples in Ontario. Thus, same-sex marriage became legal in 2005 in Canada. It was the third country worldwide to take this step after Belgium & Netherlands.
In addition, Bill C-279 was passed in 2013 & extended human rights protection to transexual & transgender people in Canada. Also, in 2017, gender expression & gender identity were added as protected grounds from discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act.