Action Plan for Two-Spirit, Trans & Non-Binary Youth

The City is working to improve access and reduce barriers to services and programs for Two-Spirit, trans, and non-binary (2STNB) youth through the creation of a new Action Plan.

The Action Plan builds on the City’s Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, which identified key issues faced by youth, including gender-based violence experienced by gender-diverse youth. The Action Plan’s recommendations and activities will be implemented between 2024 and 2027.

To develop the Action Plan, the City:

  • reviewed new research about barriers faced by 2STNB youth
  • met and partnered with community partners that serve gender-diverse youth and adults in Toronto
  • is engaging directly with Toronto’s 2STNB youth

Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary (2STNB) youth in Canada experience harassment, discrimination and violence at higher rates than cisgender youth.

Canadian trans and non-binary youth have reported avoiding a range of community spaces for fear of harassment or harm:

  • 28 per cent of Ontario trans and non-binary youth reported never, rarely, or sometimes feeling safe at home
  • 10 per cent of Canadian trans and non-binary youth reported experiencing physical violence by a family member
  • 36 per cent reported not feeling safe at school
  • 74 per cent avoided public and school washrooms
  • 66 per cent avoided sports and recreation facilities
  • 44 per cent avoided clubs/social groups intended for their age group

The City’s Street Needs Assessment shows that gender-diverse youth are overrepresented in Toronto’s homeless population, and they become homeless at a younger age than their cisgender counterparts:

  •  38 per cent of Toronto’s homeless 2STNB youth identified conflict with or abuse from parents or guardians as the reason for most recent housing loss vs. 20 per cent of their cisgender counterparts

The impacts of these experiences on the health and wellbeing of youth are profound:

  • Gender diverse Canadians of all ages are three times as likely to report poor or fair mental health; to have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder; and/or to have seriously contemplated suicide in their lifetimes compared to their cisgender counterparts (40 per cent vs. 15 per cent)
  • 64 per cent of trans and non-binary youth reported having seriously considered suicide within the past year and 21 per cent reported having made a serious attempt

These highlights from research and consultations to support the development of the Action Plan demonstrate the urgency and timeliness of work to address systemic transphobia.

Virtual focus groups

Have your say and share your ideas on improving service and program experiences for gender diverse youth in Toronto. All Two-Spirit, trans and/or non-binary youth between the ages of 16 to 29 are welcome to register for an upcoming, paid focus group. Registration closes at 5 p.m. August 15.

Past engagement sessions

  • March 2018 to December 2020:
    • Native Youth Sexual Health Network partnered with the City to engage Indigenous gender-diverse youth. Through the establishment of a youth advisory council followed by a two-day gathering, an intergenerational focus group, a youth focus group and one-to-one interviews. The City was provided with 18 recommendations were provided to the City.
    • Black Coalition for Aids Prevention (BlackCAP) partnered with the City to engage Black trans youth on barriers to employment. The initiative resulted in recommendations across five issue areas provided to the City. In addition, 100 African, Caribbean and Black trans youth participated in employment readiness trainings, attended an employment networking event and joined a virtual job network.
  • September 2023 to September 2024:
    • An advisory committee of community service providers with lived experience provided insights into barriers to gender-affirming service. Committee members participated in four meetings and provided insights across six themes as well as priority areas for intervention.
    • Indigenous gender-diverse community members participated in Sharing Circles led by an Indigenous facilitator and supported by a Ninoshe (auntie). The Sharing Circles provided 21 recommendations on meeting the needs of Indigenous community through the Action Plan.
    • Interviews were conducted with 10 professional/subject matter experts to inform gender-inclusive implementation of the Action Plan through the development of promising practice guides.
A Note On Language

Many different terms are used by people to describe their genders, and these terms change over time. The City uses “Two-Spirit, trans and non-binary (2STNB)” and “gender-diverse” to refer collectively to the diverse communities that we hope will benefit from the Action Plan.

This includes but is not limited to those who used the following terms to describe themselves:

agender, androgyne, androgynous, bigender, demiboy, demigirl, enby, FTM, genderfluid, genderqueer, genderf*cked, gender expansive, gender non-conforming, GNC, Indigiqueer, intergender, man of trans experience, MTF, multigender, netrois, non-binary, NB, pangender, polygender, trans, transgender, trans man, trans woman, Two-Spirit, two-spirited, woman of trans experience.

The City of Toronto is not responsible for the content of the external websites listed on this page. The City of Toronto does not endorse, approve, or guarantee the accuracy of the information available on these websites. The views expressed on external websites are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the City of Toronto.