2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan Survey Results - Safety and Justice

LGBTQ2 communities continue to face long-standing barriers to full freedom and equity in Canadian society. That is why the Government of Canada is committed to developing the first-ever Federal LGBTQ2 Action Plan, which will strive to improve the lives of Canada’s diverse LGBTQ2 communities. The LGBTQ2 Action Plan Survey was the first engagement activity supporting the development this plan.Footnote 1 

This visual product displays the survey results for questions related to safety and justice in a disaggregated manner, by showing results for related questions broken down by the respondent’s gender, age, sexual orientation, population group, Indigenous identity, disability status, province of residence and more.

To see other data releases related to the LGBTQ2 Action Plan survey, please visit the LGBTQ2 Action Plan Survey Findings page.

Alternate format

The primary text version of Safety and Justice is presented following the alternate PDF version.

Survey Approach

The LGBTQ2 Action Plan Survey was conducted by the Government of Canada’s LGBTQ2 Secretariat between November 27, 2020 and February 28, 2021. Survey participants for this crowdsourced initiative were recruited with the assistance of partner organizations through social networks, advertising, and word of mouth. A total of 25,636 LGBTQ2 people living in Canada responded to the survey.Footnote 2  Respondents were given the choice to answer questions concerning sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Results are representative of those who responded to the survey and cannot be used to make generalizations about the entire population of LGBTQ2 people living in Canada.

Public Safety

1. I feel safe being affectionate with my partner(s) in public…

Survey respondents overall

Survey respondents overall – text version
Survey Respondents Overall Percentage
Rarely / Never 21%

2. I feel safe being affectionate with my partner(s) in public…

Response by gender identity

Response by gender identity – text version

Two-Spirit respondents (30%) and cisgender men respondents (27%) felt less safe being affectionate with partner(s) in public when compared to other respondents.

Gender Identity Rarely / Never Percentage
Woman (transgender) 18%
Woman (cisgender) 15%
Man (transgender) 19%
Man (cisgender) 27%
Gender Diverse 16%
Non-Binary / Agender 18%
Two-Spirit 30%

3. I feel safe being affectionate with my partner(s) in public…

Response by sexual orientation

Response by sexual orientation – text version

Gay (28%), demisexual (24%), and lesbian (21%) respondents felt the least safe with public affection when compared to other respondents.

Sexual Orientation Rarely / Never Percentage
Lesbian 21%
Gay 28%
Bisexual 13%
Pansexual 13%
Queer 16%
Asexual 18%
Unsure 17%
Demisexual 24%
Heterosexual 11%
Two-Spirit 30%

4. I feel safe being affectionate with my partner(s) in public…

Response by population group and Indigenous identity

Response by population group and Indigenous identity – text version

South Asian (28%), Indigenous (26%) and Middle Eastern / North African respondents (25%) felt less safe, when asked about being affectionate in public when compared to other respondents

Population Group and Indigenous Identity Rarely / Never Percentage
South Asian 28%
East Asian 18%
South East Asian 18%
Middle Eastern / North AfricanFootnote 3 25%
Black Caribbean 22%
Black African 21%
Latin American 17%
Racialized: Other GroupsFootnote 4 21%
White and RacializedFootnote 5 21%
White 20%
Indigenous 26%

5. I consider personal safety risks when deciding how to dress or appear in public…

Survey respondents overall

Survey respondents overall – text version
Survey Respondents Overall Percentage
Always / Often 41%

6. I consider personal safety risks when deciding how to dress or appear in public…

Response by gender identity

Response by gender identity – text version

Transgender women respondents considered personal safety risks the most when deciding how to dress or appear in public.

Gender Identity Always / Often Percentage
Woman (transgender) 67%
Woman (cisgender) 38%
Man (transgender) 55%
Man (cisgender) 33%
Gender Diverse 57%
Non-Binary / Agender 58%
Two-Spirit 49%

7. I consider personal safety risks when deciding how to dress or appear in public…

Response by sexual orientation

Response by sexual orientation – text version

Lesbian and gay respondents considered their personal safety risks the least when deciding how to dress or appear in public.

Sexual Orientation Always / Often Percentage
Lesbian 37%
Gay 34%
Bisexual 45%
Pansexual 51%
Queer 50%
Asexual 47%
Unsure 50%
Demisexual 46%
Heterosexual 46%
Two-Spirit 49%

8. I consider personal safety risks when deciding how to dress or appear in public…

Response by population group and Indigenous identity

Response by population group and Indigenous identity – text version

South Asian (52%) and Black African (51%) respondents reported more than other respondents that they considered personal safety risks when deciding how to dress or appear in public.

Population Group and Indigenous Identity Always / Often Percentage
South Asian 52%
East Asian 36%
South East Asian 46%
Middle Eastern / North African 47%
Black Caribbean 46%
Black African 51%
Latin American 45%
Racialized: Other Groups 50%
White and Racialized 50%
White 40%
Indigenous 49%

9. I consider personal safety risks when deciding how to dress or appear in public…

Response by age group

Response by age group – text version

Younger respondents also considered personal safety risks more often than respondents from older demographic groups when deciding how to dress or appear in public.

Age Group Always/Often Percentage
16 to 17 50%
18 to 24 51%
25 to 34 43%
35 to 44 38%
45 to 54 35%
55 to 64 30%
65 and above 27%

10. I consider personal safety risks when deciding how to dress or appear in public…

Response by disability status

Response by disability status – text version

Over half of respondents with a disability (53%) said that they considered personal safety risks when deciding how to dress or appear in public.

Disability Status Always/Often Percentage
Disability 53%
No disability 37%

Violence and Discrimination

11. Over the past five years have you experienced any form of violence due to homophobia, transphobia, biphobia or other forms of discrimination directed at your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression?

Survey respondents overall

Survey respondents overall – text version
Survey Respondents Overall Percentage
Yes 39%

The most common forms of violence and discrimination reported by those who experienced them were:

Forms of Violence and Discrimination Percentage
Physical violence 17%
Verbal abuse 90%
Psychological violence 47%
Sexual violence 13%
Property damage 9%
Online harassment 51%

12. Over the past five years have you experienced any form of violence due to homophobia, transphobia, biphobia or other forms of discrimination directed at your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression?

Response by gender identity

Response by gender identity – text version

Two-Spirit respondents and transgender women respondents experienced more physical and sexual violence than other respondents. Cisgender men (35%) and cisgender women (33%) respondents were least likely to experience violence and discrimination.

Gender Identity Percentage of Respondents who said Yes Experienced Physical Violence Percentage Experienced Sexual Violence Percentage
Woman (transgender) 54% 32% 21%
Woman (cisgender) 33% 11% 15%
Man (transgender) 56% 23% 19%
Man (cisgender) 35% 18% 6%
Gender Diverse 53% 18% 18%
Non-Binary / Agender 54% 19% 20%
Two-Spirit 63% 33% 25%

13. Over the past five years have you experienced any form of violence due to homophobia, transphobia, biphobia or other forms of discrimination directed at your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression?

Response by sexual orientation

Response by sexual orientation – text version

Queer (51%) and demisexual (47%) respondents experienced a higher rate of violence and discrimination, while heterosexual and demisexual respondents experienced more physical and sexual violence.

Sexual Orientation Percentage of Respondents who said Yes Experienced Physical Violence Percentage Experienced Sexual Violence Percentage
Lesbian 38% 15% 12%
Gay 38% 18% 7%
Bisexual 37% 16% 19%
Pansexual 45% 20% 20%
Queer 51% 19% 18%
Asexual 39% 13% 20%
Unsure 33% 17% 12%
Demisexual 47% 28% 23%
Heterosexual 42% 32% 24%
Two-Spirit 63% 33% 25%

14. Over the past five years have you experienced any form of violence due to homophobia, transphobia, biphobia or other forms of discrimination directed at your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression?

Response by population group and Indigenous identity

Response by population group and Indigenous identity – text version

Indigenous respondents reported that they experienced more violence and discrimination (53%) than population group respondents. Middle Eastern / North African respondents reported higher rates (66%) of online harassment than respondents from other population group respondents.

Population Group and Indigenous Identity Percentage of Respondents who said Yes Experieced Verbal Abuse Percentage Experienced Online Harassment Percentage
South Asian 45% 91% 56%
East Asian 37% 92% 46%
South East Asian 43% 90% 49%
Middle Eastern / North African 48% 90% 66%
Black Caribbean 44% 89% 46%
Black African 45% 75%Footnote 6 58%
Latin American 48% 86% 43%
Racialized: Other Groups 49% 93% 57%
White and Racialized 49% 92% 59%
White 37% 90% 50%
Indigenous 53% 92% 62%

15. Over the past five years have you experienced any form of violence due to homophobia, transphobia, biphobia or other forms of discrimination directed at your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression?

Response by province or territory of residence

Response by province or territory of residence – text version

Respondents reported varied levels of violence and discrimation across the country.

Province or Territory of Residence Percentage of Respondents who said Yes
BC 39%
ON 40%
NS 34%
AB 44%
QC 35%
MB 39%
SK 41%
NL 41%
NB 35%
PE 37%
Territories 44%

16. Over the past five years have you experienced any form of violence due to homophobia, transphobia, biphobia or other forms of discrimination directed at your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression?

Response by disability status

Response by disability status – text version

Those with a disability (51%) were more likely to say they experienced violence and discrimination than those without a disability (35%). They were also much more likely to experience high levels of all forms of violence and abuse, especially online harassment and psychological abuse.

Disability Status Percentage of Respondents who said Yes Experienced Psychological Violence Percentage Experienced Online Harassment Percentage
Disability 51% 58% 63%
No Disability 35% 40% 45%

17. Thinking only of the violence directed at you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression over the last five years, did you report any of the incidents to the police?

Survey respondents overall

Survey respondents overall – text version
Survey Respondents Overall Percentage
No 91%

Reasons respondents did not report the violence they experience

Survey Respondents Overall Percentage
I didn't trust the police 45%
I didn't think it would make a difference 74%
I didn't think that the police would believe me 26%

18. Thinking only of the violence directed at you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression over the last five years, did you report any of the incidents to the police?

Response by gender identity

Response by gender identity – text version

Mistrust of the police was higher among non-binary/agender and transgender respondents.

Gender Identity Percentage of Respondents who said No Reasons for Not Reporting Percentages
I didn't trust the police I didn't think it would make a difference I didn't think that the police would believe me
Woman (transgender) 85% 64% 73% 36%
Woman (cisgender) 93% 38% 74% 24%
Man (transgender) 92% 61% 74% 34%
Man (cisgender) 89% 32% 75% 18%
Gender Diverse 92% 58% 74% 36%
Non-Binary / Agender 93% 67% 75% 36%
Two-Spirit 86% 59% 69% 43%

19. Thinking only of the violence directed at you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression over the last five years, did you report any of the incidents to the police?

Response by sexual orientation

Response by sexual orientation – text version

Demisexual (63%), queer (61%) and asexual (60%) respondents were more likely to respond ‘not trusting the police’ as a reason for not reporting violent incidents.

Sexual Orientation Percentage of Respondents who said No Reasons for Not Reporting Percentages
I didn't trust the police I didn't think it would make a difference I didn't think that the police would believe me
Lesbian 92% 42% 74% 24%
Gay 89% 34% 75% 20%
Bisexual 93% 52% 73% 30%
Pansexual 91% 56% 75% 36%
Queer 93% 61% 76% 32%
Asexual 92% 60% 76% 38%
Unsure 90% 43% 69% 34%
Demisexual 92% 63% 71% 33%
Heterosexual 86% 51% 69% 34%
Two-Spirit 86% 59% 69% 43%

20. Thinking only of the violence directed at you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression over the last five years, did you report any of the incidents to the police?

Response by population group and Indigenous identity

Response by population group and Indigenous identity – text version

The main reason that respondents gave for not reporting violent incidents to the police was that they didn’t think it would make a difference.

Population Group and Indigenous Identity Percentage of Respondents who said No Reasons for Not Reporting Percentages
I didn't trust the police I didn't think it would make a difference I didn't think that the police would believe me
South Asian 90% 40% 72% 28%
East Asian 94% 44% 84% 29%
South East Asian 95% 49% 81% 30%
Middle Eastern / North African 89% 49% 72% 26%
Black Caribbean 92% 58% 68% 32%
Black AfricanFootnote 7 86% 61% 70% 31%
Latin American 90% 40% 74% 27%
Racialized: Other Groups 82% 62% 73% 37%
White and Racialized 92% 58% 76% 32%
White 91% 44% 74% 25%
Indigenous 87% 51% 73% 35%

21. Thinking only of the violence directed at you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression over the last five years, did you report any of the incidents to the police?

Response by age group

Response by age group – text version

Older respondents were more likely to report violent incidents to the police compared to younger respondents.

Age Group Percentage of Respondents who said No Reasons for Not Reporting Percentages
I didn't trust the police I didn't think it would make a difference I didn't think that the police would believe me
16 to 17 94% 48% 76% 30%
18 to 24 94% 55% 74% 32%
25 to 34 92% 49% 76% 28%
35 to 44 89% 36% 74% 21%
45 to 54 85% 31% 71% 18%
55 to 64 84% 27% 65% 16%
65 and above 83% 26% 68% 14%

22. Thinking only of the violence directed at you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression over the last five years, did you report any of the incidents to the police?

Response by disability status

Response by disability status – text version

59% of those with a disability did not report experiences of violence to the police because they didn’t trust the police, while only 37% of those with no disability felt this way.

Disability Status Percentage of Respondents who said No Reasons for Not Reporting Percentages
I didn't trust the police I didn't think it would make a difference I didn't think that the police would believe me
Disability 89% 59% 73% 36%
No Disability 92% 37% 75% 21%

23. Thinking only of the violence directed at you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression over the last five years, did you report any of the incidents to the police?

Response by first official language

Response by first official language – text version
First Official Language Percentage of Respondents who said No Reasons for Not Reporting Percentages
I didn't trust the police I didn't think it would make a difference I didn't think that the police would believe me
English 91% 45% 75% 27%
French 91% 35% 67% 20%

24. Thinking only of the violence directed at you based on your sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression over the last five years, who committed the act(s) against you?

Survey respondents that experienced violence

Survey respondents that experienced violence – text version
Survey Respondents that Experienced Violence Percentage
A Stranger 82%
Family 28%
Co-worker 27%
Friend or Acquaintance 26%
Online Friend or Acquaintance 25%

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