What We Want to Know
When we’re travelling to a new destination as a lesbian couple, there are a few things we take into consideration to figure out how lesbian friendly it is. We like to know what the LGBTQ+ laws are in that country, as well as what the social climate is. In some places the laws and the feelings of the local people don’t necessarily match. We also like to know if there are any “gaybourhoods” or areas that are especially lesbian friendly. This blog series is meant to inform other lesbian travellers about different destinations around the world, and help empower them to travel more openly when it is safe to do so. We will be sharing our experiences in each country as well as our recommendations, but as always we encourage everyone to do their own research. We can only speak to our own experiences, and everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to being out and open while travelling. The travel destinations that an LGBTQ+ person chooses, and the way in which they travel is a very personal decision, and we encourage everyone to do what feels right to them.
This article is very special for us because we’re sharing about our home country! We are so proud to be Canadian, and we have so much love and admiration for the place we call home. We feel very fortunate to be from a country that celebrates diversity, and accepts our community.
Keep reading to find out how lesbian friendly Canada is!
LGBTQ+ Laws
The laws regarding LGBTQ+ people in Canada are among some of the best in the world, and it is often referred to as one of the most gay friendly countries on the globe. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1969, and same-sex marriages were made legal nationwide in 2005 after many of the country’s provinces were already recognizing them. Some Canadian provinces were allowing same-sex couples to adopt back in 1996, and since 2011, all provinces and territories have allowed it. There have been anti-discrimination laws in place since 1996 for people of all sexual orientations, and since 2017 for people of all gender identities and expressions. In most provinces and territories, schools have designed anti-bullying programs in place to protect all students, including those that identify as LGBTQ+. The Canadian Criminal Code explicitly prohibits hate propaganda against LGBTQ+ people, and the Canadian Government has been especially supportive of the community in recent years, as the governing party changed from moderate/conservative to liberal. In 2017, the Prime Minister of Canada issued a formal apology to members of the LGBTQ+ community for any and all oppression they’ve endured, and promised to stand with them. In 2018, a bill was passed allowing any person who was convicted of homosexual acts prior to 1969 to have the record of the conviction destroyed. Canada has been, and continues to be, a leader for LGBTQ+ rights in the Americas and around the world!
Social Climate
A global survey from 2013 showed 80% of Canadians accepting of homosexuality, and Canada’s major political parties have all supported LGBTQ+ rights in varying degrees. People are generally very accepting of same-sex couples and other members of the community, and Canada is frequently called one of the most gay friendly places in the world. Its major cities all have vibrant gay communities, and each summer huge Pride celebrations are hosted across the country. The Pride festivities usually have many politicians in attendance, including the Prime Minister as well as provincial and municipal representatives. Canada ranks #6 on the Gap Happiness Index, and opinions form the general public continue to improve. This year in 2019, the Royal Canadian Mint released a new one dollar coin that “commemorates 50 years of progress in recognizing the rights of LGBTQ2 Canadians”. It’s been 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalized in Canada and it’s important to recognize how far we’ve come! Of course there is always still more work to do, but Canada is absolutely a very LGBTQ+ friendly country to visit. It’s an incredible destination for gay travellers looking for an open and accepting place!
Gaybourhoods
Canada has a “gaybourhood” in nearly every major city in the country. The most prominent would be Vancouver’s Davie Village, Toronto’s Church & Wellesley neighbourhood, Montreal’s Gay Village district, and Ottawa’s Bank Street Gay Village. Smaller cities also have noteworthy gay culture including Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Halifax. Canada is a big place, and there are LGBTQ+ safe spaces found in many cities across the country. Gay and gay friendly bars, nightclubs, organizations, groups, and the list goes on. The gaybourhoods are all welcoming and inclusive of women, and lesbian travellers will have no problem finding an awesome gay scene during their travels. If you want to visit certain Canadian cities during their Pride celebrations, head to Victoria at the end of June, Vancouver at the start of August, Calgary at the end of August, Winnipeg at the end of May, Toronto in mid June, Ottawa in mid August, Montreal in mid August, or Halifax in mid July. Canada is a country where you can absolutely feel not only safe and welcomed, but celebrated! It is an amazing LGBTQ+ friendly travel destination, and we are so proud to call it home.
Our Experience
We were both born in Canada and are so proud to be Canadian! Together we’ve lived in Vancouver, Toronto, and Niagara Falls, and we’ve also travelled extensively across the country. We’ve visited 9 of the 10 provinces, and have spent time in all of the major Canadian cities. We’ve driven coast to coast and travelled through the mountains, the prairies, and the maritimes. We can’t recommend it enough as a travel destination! There is so much to see in our beautiful country, and it is such a welcoming place. We feel very accepted and supported when we’re at home, and we’ve had great experiences travelling around Canada. Even in smaller cities and more suburban areas, attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community are quite positive. We always feel comfortable being out and open, and we never feel the need to hide our relationship. We feel safe knowing that the law protects us, and that our country stands with our community. We wish that every LGBTQ+ person on the globe could be so fortunate, because it is what we all deserve! We highly recommend Canada as a lesbian friendly travel destination for both solo women and lesbian couples, and we can’t say enough good things. Of course we think everyone should visit our home city of Vancouver (it’s amazing!), but there are so many incredible destinations in our big country. Whether you like urban city destinations, quiet islands, mountainous regions, or arctic adventures, Canada has it all. Our favourite areas to recommend are beautiful BC including Vancouver, the Okanagan, Whistler, Vancouver Island, and the Southern Gulf Islands. As well as the Rocky Mountain region in Alberta, including Banff and Jasper. In the big province of Ontario, Toronto cannot be missed, as well as the surrounding lakes and nearby Niagara region! In the French-Canadian province of Quebec, Montreal and Quebec City are both wonderful destinations. Further East, the Maritime provinces are truly amazing. Prince Edward Island is one of our favourite places in the country, and Nova Scotia is so special. Come visit!
Have you been to Canada or are you a fellow Canadian? Share your experience in the comments below!
View our library of How Lesbian Friendly Is… articles here!
