Why Data Equity Matters — And What We’re Doing About It

Who gets counted, how we’re asked, and what questions are even considered — it all shapes policy, funding, and representation. The way data is collected can either affirm our realities or erase them entirely.

For Black 2SLGBTQI+ communities, this erasure is nothing new. We have been misrepresented, underrepresented, or left out of Canadian datasets altogether. And when we are absent from the data, we are absent from the solutions.

The Cost of Being Invisible

This invisibility has real-world consequences. It means fewer resources for housing programs, healthcare services that don’t reflect our needs, and educational policies that fail to address the full scope of who we are. It allows harmful assumptions to go unchallenged and perpetuates systemic gaps in care and opportunity.

How Black Queer Canada is Changing the Story

At Black Queer Canada, we believe data is power — and that power must be shared equitably. We are working to:

• Conduct community-led research that centers lived experience.

• Design culturally responsive surveys that ask the right questions in the right ways.

• Build strategic partnerships with institutions and researchers committed to equity.

Our approach is rooted in collaboration with community members from the start — not as an afterthought. Because the people most impacted by data gaps must also shape how those gaps are closed.

Why This Work Matters

Data determines who gets funding, who gets heard, and who gets helped. If we’re not counted, we don’t count. And we refuse to be erased.

By ensuring Black 2SLGBTQI+ people are visible in research, we are laying the groundwork for better policies, stronger services, and a more just Canada.

A Call to Join Us

Data equity is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you’re a policymaker, researcher, service provider, or community advocate — you have a role to play. Share your expertise, challenge exclusionary practices, and amplify the need for inclusive data collection.

We’re building a future where no one is invisible. Learn more about our current findings, tools, and opportunities to get involved by visiting our Reports & Resources page. Join the movement.