Canada repeals historic laws targeting women, LGBTQ community

FILE PHOTO: Canada's Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth Marci Ien speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada February 1, 2022. REUTERS/Blair Gable

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada has expunged historic indecency and anti-abortion laws targeting women and the LGBTQ community, the government said on Tuesday, in a criminal justice system reform that will allow people convicted under such offences to clear their records.

The repealed laws had targeted women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals' access to abortion as well as to bathhouses, nightclubs and swinger clubs, considered to be safe spaces for queer communities.