Beginning in 1890,Īccused gays were usually charged with the crime of “gross indecency.” Amendments to the criminal code were made in 19, which further criminalized homosexuality They were almost always targeted at men, and by using consistently ambiguous language tended to give a tremendous amount of discretionary power to law enforcement. The laws governing “homosexual acts” in became more and more stringent. In 1861, that law was moderated slightly, when the sentence became imprisonment for a period of 10 years to life. Illegal and the penalty for “the abominable act of buggery” (also known as sodomy) was punishable by death. Dating from the early colonial era, homosexuality was officially 'Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights in Canada,' by Krishna Rau, Accessed June 03, 2022, īritain held immense sway over Canadian policy throughout the many years in which homosexuality was criminalized.

Article published JLast Edited December 02, 2021. 'Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights in Canada.' The Canadian Encyclopedia. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights in Canada.

The Canadian Encyclopedia, 02 December 2021, Historica Canada.

'Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights in Canada'.