The Largest Study on Sexual and Gender Diversity in Canada
The Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais Foundation launched a second pan-Canadian study on sexual and gender diversity in 2024.
8,396 Canadians participated in this study, of which 7,481 are sexually and gender diverse. Of these respondents, 1,309 self-identified as trans and 1,625 as non-binary.
Among the results of this extensive survey, the focus is on the general population’s comfort with individuals from sexual and gender diversity, the fluidity of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as the psychological distress and violence experienced over the past 12 months by people of sexual and gender diversity.
Some concerning data relate to mental health, suicidal thoughts, and the violence experienced by people of sexual and gender diversity, including:
– 60% of people from sexual and gender diversity consider their mental health to be poor or fair, compared to 32% of the general population.
– Individuals who are questioning (77%), non-binary (74%), or trans (66%) are the most affected by poor mental health.
– 83% of trans youth aged 15 to 17 are experiencing psychological distress.
– 40% of people from sexual and gender diversity have contemplated ending their lives in the past year, compared to 12% of the general population. This distress is more significant among non-binary and trans individuals, particularly trans men.
– Suicide attempts are higher among youth from sexual and gender diversity, at 5% compared to 2% for the general population. This dramatic proportion peaks among the youngest (15-17 years old) trans (20%) and non-binary (23%) people.
– Over a lifetime, violence/discrimination in all forms has been experienced by nine out of ten people from sexual and gender diversity (89%), compared to 69% of the Canadian population. In the past 12 months, this disparity in experienced violence/discrimination is double, with 23% within the general population compared to 46% among people from sexual and gender diversity.
Watch or rewatch the press conference by Mr. Jasmin Roy, President of the Jasmin Roy Sophie Desmarais Foundation, regarding the release of the results of this extensive national survey on August 6, 2024.