Census data released Wednesday offers an unprecedented snapshot of Canada91裸聊视频檚 transgender population, showing 0.33 per cent of residents identify as a gender that differs from the sex they were assigned at birth.

The data collected during last year91裸聊视频檚 national household survey shows about 100,815 people are transgender or non-binary, including 31,555 who are transgender women, 27,905 who are transgender men and 41,355 who are non-binary.

It91裸聊视频檚 the first time Statistics Canada has differentiated between 91裸聊视频渟ex at birth91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频済ender91裸聊视频� in the census, a change advocates say will offer crucial insight into a marginalized population and the systemic barriers it faces.

Fae Johnstone, a transgender advocate, said population-level data backing up trans people91裸聊视频檚 lived experience has thus far been slim, so this new information is important both symbolically and practically.

91裸聊视频淚t says something when our government is recognizing the existence of trans folks who have historically been kept out of these conversations and uncounted,91裸聊视频� Johnstone said. 91裸聊视频淏ut it also is useful to us to better understand how we can focus interventions and address health inequities experienced by trans folks across this country.91裸聊视频�

While previous censuses asked only about sex, the 2021 edition asked about both 91裸聊视频渟ex at birth,91裸聊视频� which it said is 91裸聊视频渄etermined by a person91裸聊视频檚 biological characteristics,91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频済ender,91裸聊视频� which it said could differ from what91裸聊视频檚 indicated on legal documents.

Under 91裸聊视频済ender,91裸聊视频� respondents were able to choose either male or female, or write in a third option.

Government demographers said they will use 91裸聊视频渟ex at birth91裸聊视频� to compare to historical data on sex.

In some cases, Statistics Canada said, it will be necessary to narrow gender down into two categories 91裸聊视频渢o protect the confidentiality of responses provided.91裸聊视频� Those categories will be 91裸聊视频渕en+91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渨omen+91裸聊视频�, and each will encompass some people who are non-binary.

The inclusion of transgender people in the census is part of a broader move by the Liberal government to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ community.

In 2017, the government added gender identity and expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act, and amended the Criminal Code to include those same groups in the list of 91裸聊视频渋dentifiable groups91裸聊视频� that could be targets of genocides and hate crimes.

The following year, the federal budget noted Statistics Canada91裸聊视频檚 efforts to reflect gender diversity in the census and allocated funds to the agency to create a new Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics.

Its mandate, Statistics Canada said, is to develop 91裸聊视频渁 Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) data hub to support evidence-based policy development and decision making, both within the federal government and beyond.91裸聊视频�

Johnstone said this government has been good in some ways on LGBTQ issues, but it hasn91裸聊视频檛 been perfect.

91裸聊视频淚 think my biggest critique of this government on LGBTQ issues is that they put all of their words in the right place, they say all of the right words. But it91裸聊视频檚 the delivery, the implementation that I really want to see happen,91裸聊视频� she said.

For example, the government91裸聊视频檚 recent announcement of $100 million toward its federal LGBTQ2 action plan was historic, Johnstone said, but it came late and the amount is still disproportionately low.

91裸聊视频淗olding all of that as true, I still think that this says something about our current government in the best of ways, that we91裸聊视频檙e recognizing trans people exist and that trans people need to be captured,91裸聊视频� she said.

Gemma Hickey, a transmasculine non-binary author and activist, said it91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渁bout time.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淎s an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights for over 20 years, I91裸聊视频檝e been a part of and witnessed many changes. But these types of changes, especially when it comes to the census, are long overdue.91裸聊视频�

Nearly five years ago, Hickey became one of the first Canadians to receive a gender-neutral birth certificate.

Hickey said they hope the census will spark a broader conversation by acknowledging that the sex a person was assigned at birth is not necessarily the same as gender.

91裸聊视频淭hat visibility 91裸聊视频� that recognition 91裸聊视频� is very important for people, because we are here. We have been here as long as you91裸聊视频檝e been here,91裸聊视频� they said.

91裸聊视频擭icole Thompson, The Canadian Press