Our History

Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere (EGALE) founded by Les McAfee, to advocate for increased rights and recognition and to combat discrimination.

Egan v. Canada: With Egale’s intervention, The Supreme Court of Canada found for the first time that human rights based on sexual orientation are protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Amendment to the Canadian Human Rights Act adding sexual orientation as a ground for discrimination.

Egale Canada Human Rights Trust is launched and becomes Canada’s national 2SLGBTQI charity.

Vriend’s case: Supreme Court decision requiring that all Canadian provinces and territories prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

With Egale’s help, Marc Hall wins rights to Jean-Paul Dumond to Oshawa Catholic High school prom.

Halpern v. Canada: With Egale’s intervention, the Ontario Court of Appeal finds the common law definition of marriage violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Michael Leshner and Michael Stark become the first married same sex couple in Canada.

Civil Marriage Act receives royal assent, recognizing equal marriage across Canada.

Egale publishes findings of our first national climate survey on homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in Canadian secondary schools.

Egale Youth OUTReach, offering individual counselling, homelessness and suicide crisis services for 2SLGBTQI youth up to age 29.

Egale announces the creation of Egale Centre, Canada’s fi­rst dedicated 2SLGBTQI youth transitional housing service.

Egale’s Just Society Committee submits The Grossly Indecent Report to the Government of Canada requesting an apology and reparations for the criminal persecution, job loss, ineligibility for pension, and dishonourable discharge from the military following decriminalization in Canada.

Bill C-16 is passed, adding gender expression and gender identity as protected grounds to the Canadian Human Rights Act and also to the Criminal Code.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers an historic apology on behalf of the Government of Canada for years of state-sponsored, systemic oppression and rejection targeting LGBTQ2 public servants and military personnel.

Egale announces it will undertake the second national climate survey on homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in Canadian secondary schools.

Egale releases the IDENTITY Report following our inaugural national conference, IDENTITY: Canadian Perspectives on 2SLGBTQI Inclusion, to bring together the many perspectives on the state of inclusion for our community and chart a path forward together.

Egale launches Speak OUT, a national survey to understand the unique experiences of 2SLGBTQI youth with dating violence.

Egale launches a new organization called Friends of Ruby, to oversee its established direct services for youth, including the former Egale Centre and Egale Youth OUTreach.

Egale launches a brand refresh that more closely reflects our people and the communities we serve.

Egale places the “2S” for “Two Spirit” at the beginning of the “LGBTQI” acronym to acknowledge that Two Spirit, Indigiqueer and LGBTQI Indigenous People were the first sexual orientation and gender minority people in North America/Canada. While this is a small gesture, it is one of many ways that we at Egale strive to demonstrate solidarity with Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island.