Canada’s support for gender diversity is no longer moving steadily upward. For years, most surveys showed Canadians growing more open to trans and gender-diverse people. However, fresh data from Statistics Canada tells a different story. Between 2018 and 2025, acceptance of gender diversity dropped across almost every group measured, and the shift is one of the largest recorded in the survey’s history.
This change matters. It affects how safe trans and gender-diverse Canadians feel at school, at work, and even within their own families. So, what changed, and why? Let’s break down the numbers and the forces behind them.
What the New StatCan Survey Actually Found?
In May 2026, Statistics Canada released results from its Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces. Researchers collected responses from 48,547 Canadians, aged 15 and older, between October 2024 and June 2025. The survey asked people how strongly they agreed that individuals should be free to express their gender however they choose, and whether they would support a family member coming out as transgender.
Compared to 2018, agreement dropped sharply on both questions. In fact, Statistics Canada noted that this shift was the largest change recorded among all eight gender-related statements in the survey. Meanwhile, most Canadians still support gender diversity overall, but the margin is shrinking fast.
Support Dropped Among Both Women and Men
The decline touched everyone, not just one group. Consequently, the gap between 2018 and 2025 tells a clear story:
| Group | Support in 2018 | Support in 2025 | Change |
| Women | 85% | 77% | -8 points |
| Men | 78% | 70% | -8 points |
| Women aged 15-24 | – | 82% | Highest among youth |
| Men aged 15-24 | – | 68% | Lowest among youth |
As the table shows, support fell equally among men and women. Yet a striking gap has opened between young women and young men, with a 14-point difference in acceptance among 15- to 24-year-olds.
Saskatchewan Recorded the Steepest Decline
Regionally, Saskatchewan saw the sharpest drop of anywhere in Canada. Support for diverse gender expression among women in the province fell from 83% in 2018 to just 69% in 2025 – a 14-point plunge. This decline lines up closely with new provincial policies introduced in the same period, which suggests that local politics plays a real role in shaping public opinion.
Similarly, when Canadians were asked whether they’d support a transgender family member, backing dropped from 80% to 77% among women and from 72% to 65% among men. Statistics Canada cautions that wording changes make this specific comparison less precise, but the overall downward trend still holds.
Why Is Support for Trans Rights Declining in Canada?
Public opinion rarely shifts on its own. Instead, it usually follows changes in law, media coverage, and political messaging. Over the past few years, several factors have combined to push Canada’s support for gender diversity downward.
Provincial Laws Are Rolling Back Protections
Between 2023 and 2025, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Alberta each passed legislation that limits the rights of trans and gender-diverse students, particularly around school policies. Alberta went further, restricting gender-affirming healthcare for youth and limiting participation in sport for trans women and girls.
As a result, these policy changes didn’t happen in isolation. They coincided with louder, more public anti-trans rhetoric from political leaders, and research shows that when leaders frame trans inclusion as a “risk,” public support for trans rights tends to fall in response.
Hate Crimes Against Trans Canadians Are Rising
Beyond attitudes, real-world hostility is climbing too. According to hate crime data, reported incidents targeting gender identity and expression have nearly tripled since 2020. This trend runs alongside declining public acceptance, and researchers believe the two are connected: as tolerance for anti-trans rhetoric grows, so does the risk of harassment and violence.
Trans and gender-diverse people make up roughly 0.33% of Canada’s population, which means most Canadians don’t personally know someone who is trans. Because of this, public messaging, from politicians, media, and online platforms, carries outsized influence over how people form their opinions.
How Canada Compares to the U.S. on Trans Awareness?
For comparison, U.S. data offers useful context. Roughly 41% of Americans say they know a transgender person, while only 27% report having regular conversations with one. No equivalent figure exists for Canada, but the low visibility of trans people in daily life likely amplifies the effect of political messaging and online misinformation in both countries.
What Can Rebuild Support for Gender Diversity in Canada?
Fortunately, researchers and advocacy groups point to several practical steps that could slow, or even reverse, this trend:
- Meaningful consultation with 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations before new laws or policies are drafted
- Public education campaigns that counter misinformation with clear, accurate information
- Expanded access to affirming mental health and gender-based violence support services
- Dedicated funding for community organizations responding to rising hate
- Stronger platform accountability to limit the spread of anti-trans misinformation online
Taken together, these steps address both the policy side and the public-opinion side of the problem. Neither one works well without the other.
Final Thoughts: A Turning Point for Canada’s Support for Gender Diversity
Ultimately, Canada’s support for gender diversity sits at a crossroads. The country built a reputation as a global leader on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, yet recent data shows that reputation is being tested. Political decisions, provincial legislation, and online discourse all appear to be shaping how everyday Canadians feel about trans and gender-diverse people.
The numbers are clear, even if the path forward isn’t. Whether Canada’s support for gender diversity keeps sliding or starts to recover will likely depend on the choices made by political leaders, institutions, and communities over the next few years.
