A recent Statistics Canada survey indicates a decline in support among Canadians for individuals expressing their gender freely since 2018. The data, derived from the 2025 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS), shows that 77% of women and 70% of men support gender expression rights, down from 85% and 78%, respectively, in 2018. Women are generally more supportive, with 77% willing to back a family member identifying as transgender compared to 65% of men. The survey highlights a backdrop of increasing public discourse on transgender and non-binary rights and notes that certain provincial policies have impacted perceptions, such as Saskatchewan’s parental consent requirement for name changes in schools and Alberta’s restrictions on transgender youth in sports. Additionally, hate crimes based on gender identity have surged, nearly tripling from 2020 to 2024.
Why It Matters
The decline in support for gender expression rights reflects a significant shift in public attitudes over the past eight years. Educational attainment and age appear to influence these views, with higher support levels among university graduates and younger demographics. The legislative landscape surrounding gender expression has also changed, as some provinces have implemented restrictive measures, which may contribute to a more polarized public discourse. The increase in hate crimes targeting gender identity underscores the urgency of understanding these societal changes and their implications for the safety and rights of transgender and non-binary individuals in Canada.
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