For the first time, census data offers a snapshot of Canada's transgender population

New census data shows that 0.33 per cent of Canadians who are at least 15 years old identify as transgender or non-binary; about 100,815 people.

It's been a long time coming, but new data from Statistics Canada gives an unprecedented look at Canada's transgender and non-binary population. Some advocates say it's long overdue.

The gender section of last year's national household survey was completely changed. For the first time, it made a distinction between the sex a person was given at birth and their own gender.

Gemma Hickey, a transmasculine non-binary author, and activist says it's "about time" the census acknowledged people who exist outside the gender binary.

Hickey became one of the first Canadians to receive a gender-neutral birth certificate in 2017.

They hope the census will start a bigger conversation about gender by pointing out that the sex a person was assigned at birth is not necessarily the same as gender.

[Via: Yahoo News. The Canadian Press first ran this report on April 27, 2022.]