Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) plays a vital role in equipping young people with knowledge about their bodies, identities, rights and relationships. In Canada, a country often regarded as progressive on matters of inclusion, the integration of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) into CSE is not only necessary, but also imperative. Despite significant progress in some regions, inconsistencies, resistance and systemic gaps mean that many 2SLGBTQIA+ youth remain invisible within their classrooms.
SOGI-inclusive CSE affirms the identities of youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, intersex, asexual and more. A 2022 survey of Canadian youth aged 15-29 found that many sexually and gender-diverse participants noted that CSE focused almost exclusively on cisgender and heterosexual experiences, leaving them feeling unrepresented and ill-informed.
The consequences are devastating. According to Research in Canada, suicidal ideation is reported by 14.0 per cent of bisexual youth, 5.2 per cent of gay and lesbian youth and 2.4 per cent of heterosexual youth. Indigenous youth identifying as Two-Spirit are especially vulnerable, experiencing high levels of violence, stigma and isolation.
Evidence shows that when students see their realities reflected in school curricula, mental health outcomes improve. For instance, a study in Journal of Adolescent Health found that explicit SOGI-inclusive policies in schools significantly reduce suicide attempts among sexual minority youth. These effects aren’t limited to queer and trans students. SOGI-inclusive environments improve outcomes for all students by creating safer, more respectful school environments.
Yet access to this kind of education depends largely on geography. In British Columbia, the SOGI 1 2 3 initiative launched in 2017 provides educators with tools, lesson plans and training to integrate SOGI topics from kindergarten onward. By 2019, 49 of 60 school districts were using this framework. The province also mandated inclusive anti-bullying policies in 2016, which studies later linked to a decline in harassment and a boost in school safety.
Ontario’s path has been far less steady. Ontario took a major step in 2015 by modernizing its CSE curriculum to include gender identity in Grade 3 and sexual orientation in Grade 6. The update faced intense backlash from socially conservative groups, resulting in its rollback in 2018 by the newly elected provincial government. Health experts and educators denounced the decision. According to the CBC, more than 1,800 medical professionals signed an open letter urging the province to reinstate the 2015 version, citing increased risks to student wellbeing. Although a revised 2019 curriculum reinstated some content, including sexual orientation in Grade 5 and gender identity in Grade 8, it also allowed for parental opt-outs and removed earlier references to SOGI.
Elsewhere in Canada, progress is uneven. According to Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, Alberta’s curriculum documents mention SOGI, but implementation is inconsistent and often shaped by local school board discretion. In Quebec, sexuality education includes discussions of love and gender diversity from the early grades, while Nova Scotia and New Brunswick offer less comprehensive programming with significant gaps in delivery. These gaps are particularly detrimental to marginalized youth in rural, newcomer or religious communities.
Educational gaps are particularly detrimental to marginalized youth in rural, newcomer or religious communities.
Even where inclusive policies exist, they’re not always implemented effectively. Many educators simply aren’t trained to address SOGI topics. In fact, research shows that gaps in LGBTQ+ health training in Canadian medical schools mirror broader challenges in K-12 classrooms. A national survey found that many students still face unsafe and non-affirming environments due to the absence of SOGI-inclusive instruction. Moreover, opt-out provisions, while framed as respecting parental rights, can mean the very youth who most need inclusive education are denied access to it.
When we include SOGI in education, we give young people the tools they need to navigate their sexual health with confidence and safety. The World Health Organization emphasizes that comprehensive sexuality education delays sexual initiation, increases condom and contraceptive use and reduces STIs among adolescents. In Canada, young people aged 15-24 have the highest rates of STIs; inclusive CSE helps mitigate this public health concern.
In a 2023 national report featured by CBC News, Canadian youth opened up about how unprepared and even scared they feel when it comes to navigating sex and relationships. Many said their sex-ed classes left them feeling “unprepared, scared or embarrassed,” highlighting how outdated and inadequate their education is. They’re not asking for anything radical, they’re asking for honesty, for realism and for education that reflects their lives and identities.
This call for change isn’t just local; it’s echoed around the world. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) continues to advocate for CSE that is rights-based, age-appropriate and inclusive of all identities.
If Canada is serious about equity, inclusion and youth wellbeing, we must stop relying on a patchwork of provincial systems. It’s time for a national CSE framework, one that ensures every student, no matter where they live, has access to inclusive and affirming education. At the same time, teacher training programs must be strengthened to ensure that educators are equipped to teach diverse content with competence and compassion. Resources like SOGI 1 2 3 and Egale Canada’s educator tools can help bridge knowledge gaps and offer culturally responsive materials that reflect Indigenous and racialized communities.
Most importantly, young people must be at the centre of CSE reform. Their insights, experiences and aspirations should drive decisions around content, delivery and policy. Education should never be a site of erasure or shame, but one of affirmation and empowerment.
In classrooms where SOGI topics are included, students aren’t just learning about gender or sexuality, they’re learning about dignity, mutual respect and belonging. That’s the kind of education every young person deserves.
