Gender & Sexual Identity

66% of Canadian youth do not recall learning about sexuality and sexual orientation

70% of Canadian youth surveyed agreed that “Sex-Ed only taught me about heterosexual relationships/sex”

The most prominent theme that emerged from the responses was the desire for more comprehensive education on gender and sexual identity. Many respondents expressed their belief that the sexual education they received was primarily heteronormative, lacking coverage of diverse identities and failing to address the complexities of gender and sexual orientation.

Respondents emphasized the importance of including discussions on diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and the unique challenges and experiences faced by individuals within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. They believed that comprehensive education in this area would foster greater inclusivity, understanding, and acceptance among all students.

81% of Canadian youth do not recall learning about gender identity in Sex-Ed

While instruction on gender identity is not completely absent from the Canadian Sex-Ed curriculum, only 34% of young Canadians recall learning about sexuality and sexual orientation, and only 19% remember learning about gender identity. This is supported by the finding that 70% of youth surveyed agreed that “Sex-Ed only taught me about heterosexual relationships/sex”. More shocking is the statistic that 81% of Canadian youth do not recall learning about gender identity in Sex-Ed. Lauren from Edmonton shared “It is so important that kids understand people aren’t just cisgender and straight and those who aren’t are not freaks”. Similarly, John from Sherbrooke felt “there was essentially no education other than how to prevent pregnancy. Everything was very heterosexual focused”.