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'''Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)''' persons in '''[[British Columbia]]''' have most of the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexuals.
'''Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)''' persons in '''[[British Columbia]]''' have most of the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexuals.


=Laws Regarding Sexual Activity=
==Laws Regarding Sexual Activity==
All sodomy laws in Canada were [[Criminal_Law_Amendment_Act,_1968-69|repealed in 1969]]. The age of consent for consensual sodomy is 18 and the age of consent for other sexual acts is 16.
All sodomy laws in Canada were [[Criminal_Law_Amendment_Act,_1968-69|repealed in 1969]]. The age of consent for consensual sodomy is 18 and the age of consent for other sexual acts is 16.


=Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage=
==Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage==
Same-sex marriage in British Columbia has been legal since July 8, 2003, two months after the [[British Columbia Court of Appeal]] ruled in a 3-0 decision that same-sex couples were entitled to marriage licenses under the [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]].
Same-sex marriage in British Columbia has been legal since July 8, 2003, two months after the [[British Columbia Court of Appeal]] ruled in a 3-0 decision that same-sex couples were entitled to marriage licenses under the [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]].


=Adoption=
==Adoption==
Same-sex couples can jointly adopt in British Columbia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96005_01 |title=Adoption Act |publisher=Government of British Columbia |date=1973 |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>
Same-sex couples can jointly adopt in British Columbia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws_new/document/ID/freeside/00_96005_01 |title=Adoption Act |publisher=Government of British Columbia |date=1973 |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>


=Discrimination Protection=
==Discrimination Protection==
Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by the [[British Columbia Human Rights Code|Human Rights Code]]<ref name="Human Rights Code">{{cite web|url=http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_96210_01 |title=Human Rights Code |publisher=Government of British Columbia |date=1973 |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>. While gender identity is not explicitly mentioned in the Human Rights Code, it is interpreted as being covered under sex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bchrt.bc.ca/shareddocs/human-rights/HR9-PersonalCharacteristics.pdf |title=Personal Characteristics Protected Under The Human Rights Code |publisher=B.C. Human Rights Tribunal |date=15 July 2014 |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>
Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by the [[British Columbia Human Rights Code|Human Rights Code]]<ref name="Human Rights Code">{{cite web|url=http://www.bclaws.ca/Recon/document/ID/freeside/00_96210_01 |title=Human Rights Code |publisher=Government of British Columbia |date=1973 |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>. While gender identity is not explicitly mentioned in the Human Rights Code, it is interpreted as being covered under sex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bchrt.bc.ca/shareddocs/human-rights/HR9-PersonalCharacteristics.pdf |title=Personal Characteristics Protected Under The Human Rights Code |publisher=B.C. Human Rights Tribunal |date=15 July 2014 |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>


=Hate Speech Laws=
==Hate Speech Laws==
The Human Rights Code prohibits "any statement, publication, notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation" that could cause a person to be exposed to hatred or contempt because of sexual orientation or gender identity (called "sex" in the code).<ref name="Human Rights Code" />
The Human Rights Code prohibits "any statement, publication, notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation" that could cause a person to be exposed to hatred or contempt because of sexual orientation or gender identity (called "sex" in the code).<ref name="Human Rights Code" />


=Gender Reassignment=
==Gender Reassignment==
British Columbia allows people to change their gender designation without any surgery, becoming the first province to remove the requirement. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=C53953157EE344A681EFD28325B526F4 |title=Change Your Name, Address or Gender |publisher=Government of British Columbia |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref> The [[Medical Services Plan of British Columbia|Medical Services Plan]] covers sex-reassignment surgery. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoprac/physnews/srs-in-british-columbia.pdf |title=Sex Reassignment Services in British Columbia: new Standards of Care |publisher=British Columbia Ministry of Health |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>
British Columbia allows people to change their gender designation without any surgery, becoming the first province to remove the requirement. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=C53953157EE344A681EFD28325B526F4 |title=Change Your Name, Address or Gender |publisher=Government of British Columbia |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref> The [[Medical Services Plan of British Columbia|Medical Services Plan]] covers sex-reassignment surgery. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/infoprac/physnews/srs-in-british-columbia.pdf |title=Sex Reassignment Services in British Columbia: new Standards of Care |publisher=British Columbia Ministry of Health |accessdate=21 November 2014}}</ref>


=Summary Table=
==Summary Table==


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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| But after a 5-year deferral
| But after a 5-year deferral
|}
|}

==See Also==
[[LGBT rights in Canada]] <br/>
[[Same-sex marriage in British Columbia]]



==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


{{LGBT topics in Canada}}
{{Canada topics}}
{{North America topic|LGBT rights in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lgbt Rights In Canada}}
[[Category:LGBT rights in Canada| ]]

Revision as of 07:39, 22 November 2014

LGBTQ rights in British Columbia
British Columbia (Canada)
StatusLegal since 1969;
unequal age of consent for anal sex (regardless of gender)
Gender identityYes
Discrimination protectionsSexual Orientation and gender identity
Family rights
Recognition of relationshipsSame-sex marriage since 2003
AdoptionYes

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in British Columbia have most of the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexuals.

Laws Regarding Sexual Activity

All sodomy laws in Canada were repealed in 1969. The age of consent for consensual sodomy is 18 and the age of consent for other sexual acts is 16.

Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage in British Columbia has been legal since July 8, 2003, two months after the British Columbia Court of Appeal ruled in a 3-0 decision that same-sex couples were entitled to marriage licenses under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Adoption

Same-sex couples can jointly adopt in British Columbia.[1]

Discrimination Protection

Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by the Human Rights Code[2]. While gender identity is not explicitly mentioned in the Human Rights Code, it is interpreted as being covered under sex.[3]

Hate Speech Laws

The Human Rights Code prohibits "any statement, publication, notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation" that could cause a person to be exposed to hatred or contempt because of sexual orientation or gender identity (called "sex" in the code).[2]

Gender Reassignment

British Columbia allows people to change their gender designation without any surgery, becoming the first province to remove the requirement. [4] The Medical Services Plan covers sex-reassignment surgery. [5]

Summary Table

Right Yes/No Note
Same-sex sexual activity legal Yes Since 1969
Equal age of consent No Unequal age of consent for anal sex (regardless of gender)
Anti-discrimination laws in employment Yes
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services Yes
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech) Yes
Same-sex marriages Yes Since 2003
Step-child adoption by same-sex couples Yes
Joint adoption by same-sex couples Yes
Right to change legal gender Yes
Access to IVF for lesbians Yes
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples Yes Since 2013
MSM allowed to donate blood Yes But after a 5-year deferral

See Also

LGBT rights in Canada
Same-sex marriage in British Columbia


References

  1. ^ "Adoption Act". Government of British Columbia. 1973. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Human Rights Code". Government of British Columbia. 1973. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Personal Characteristics Protected Under The Human Rights Code" (PDF). B.C. Human Rights Tribunal. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Change Your Name, Address or Gender". Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Sex Reassignment Services in British Columbia: new Standards of Care" (PDF). British Columbia Ministry of Health. Retrieved 21 November 2014.


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