News

Statement regarding allegations of racism & homophobia at the CMHR

The LGBT Purge Fund has just become aware of very serious allegations of racism and homophobia at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR), as reported in the news media.

The LGBT Purge Fund was created as a result of a class action lawsuit with the primary purpose to memorialize this tragic chapter in our history and to build reconciliation between the federal government and the LGBT community following the homophobia and other forms of systemic discrimination experienced by thousands of LGBTQ2+ Canadians who worked in the federal public service, the RCMP or the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Fund is required by the settlement [...]

The LGBTQ2+ National Monument

Good news!

On January 23, 2020, the LGBT Purge Fund received approval from the National Capital Commission for access to our preferred land location to build the LGBTQ2+ National Monument.

https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/news/lgbtq2-national-monument-site-selection

The monument will be built in downtown Ottawa in a large area of open land on Wellington Street. The site is located near the Portage Bridge (between Ontario and Quebec) and is close to the Ottawa River, the Supreme Court of Canada and the Parliament Buildings. It is a beautiful piece of land and it has enough space for gatherings of approx. 2000 people. The monument will be built by 2024. See the Projects [...]

Announcements

The board of directors of the LGBT Purge Fund is pleased to announce that we have hired our first employee. Effective September 19, 2019, Michelle Douglas became the full-time Executive Director of the LGBT Purge Fund.

We are also pleased to announce that Martine Roy will become the Chair of the Board of Directors of the LGBT Purge Fund.

We are also thrilled to announce that Linda Goguen-Manning will become a member of the board of directors of the LGBT Purge Fund. Welcome Linda!

The LGBT Purge Fund is so pleased to welcome Martine, Linda and Michelle in their new roles.

Diane Pitre

On September 24, 1980, she was purged from the Armed Forces after a lengthy 2-year investigation under the CFAO 19-20 “Sexual Deviation – Investigation, Medical Investigation and Disposal for being a homosexual”. She was told that she was a threat to her country because of her sexuality. Diane has spent close to 40 years lobbying the government for an apology for her wrongful dismissal, which was received on November 28, 2017 from Prime Minister Trudeau. Although that chapter is closed, Diane continues to work as an activist so that history does not repeat itself! She has launched a Facebook page for LGBT [...]

The Royal Canadian Mint Marks 50 Years of Progress in the Journey to Equal Rights For LGBTQ2 Canadians With $1 “Equality” Circulation Coin

TORONTO, ONTARIO – While Canadians’ are known for their strongly held values of diversity, inclusion and equality, for many years, LGBTQ2 Canadians were not treated equally. Today, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to launch a one-dollar circulation coin commemorating 50 years of progress in recognizing the rights of LGBTQ2 Canadians.  It was a 1969 Act of Parliament that marked the initial milestone on the journey to equality for LGBTQ2 communities by decriminalizing homosexual acts between two consenting people of 21 years or older. The new coin, combining the words “EQUALITY-ÉGALITÉ” with the signature work of Vancouver artist Joe Average, starts [...]