Based on the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), Statistics Canada has estimated that, in 2003, 1.0% of Canadians aged 18-59 considered themselves to be homosexual and a further 0.7% considered themselves bisexual.  The survey was designed to covered the population aged 12 and up, but the question on sexuality was asked only of those aged 18 and over.  Yet, for unstated reasons, the published analysis of this question only included those aged 18 through 59.

ChristianNewsWire today carries a report on a discussion of the CCHS sexual-orientation findings by medical researchers Dr Paul Cameron and Dr Kirk Cameron.

According to two researchers, the largest random sex survey ever conducted has reported that only 1.4% of adults engaged in homosexual behavior.  Analyzing a 2003 Canadian Community survey of 121,300 adults, Drs. Paul and Kirk Cameron told attendees of the Eastern Psychological Association Convention that 2% of 18-44 year olds, 1% of 50 year olds, and only a third of a percent of subjects 60+ considered themselves homosexual. Thus homosexual activity was much more common among younger adults.
. . .
"No one can say that this statistic is 'the bedrock truth,'" Paul Cameron said, "but even with attempts to increase the percentage of active homosexuals – which Statistics Canada appears to have done by reporting only the results of those under the age of 60 – the 1.4% is a figure that has to be taken very seriously.

Some details seem to me garbled.  The question (reproduced below) asked about sexual orientation, not behaviour; and the estimated percentages refer to the sum total of homosexual and bisexuals.

Also, the difference between 1.4% and 1.7% is quite small and could even be within the margin of error.  (Statistics Canada did not publish a confidence interval or coefficient of variation.)

The Camerons purchased a custom tabulation from Statistics Canada showing a breakdown of sexual orientation responses by age group.  Based on analysis of this tabulation, they arrived at their estimate of 1.4%.

In my view, the Camerons are quite correct to say that the estimate of 1.4% is highly reliable and certainly the best estimate of the proportion of Canadians with homosexual or bisexual orientation.

The CCHS is one of Statistics Canada’s largest, most ambitious, and most comprehensive surveys.  A lengthy bi-annual survey, it covers a very wide range of health issues.  In 2003, it contained one question on sexual orientation:

Do you consider yourself to be:
[INTERVIEWER: Read categories to respondent.]

1 … heterosexual? (sexual relations with people of the opposite sex)
2 … homosexual, that is lesbian or gay? (sexual relations with people of your own sex)
3 … bisexual? (sexual relations with people of both sexes)

The question is found on page 273 of this pdf document.

The full paper by Paul and Kirk Cameron can be accessed via this page.

h/t: Virtue Online