Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that he will formally apologise to LGBT+ Canadians who were persecuted because of their sexuality.
“On November 28, the Government will offer a formal apology to LGBTQ2 Canadians in the House - for the persecution & injustices they have suffered, and to advance together on the path to equality & inclusion,” Trudeau tweeted.
A Canadian government policy that began in the 1950s and only ended in the 1990s meant that queer people in the armed forces and those working in government positions were weeded out as a matter of ‘national security’.
The government devised a crude process—known as the ‘fruit machine’— to determine the sexuality of those in the civil service and military.
Same-sex sexual acts were decriminalised in Canada in 1969 but the last victim of the policy—Michelle Douglas—was discharged from the military in 1989 because of her sexual orientation.
Martine Roy was 20 when she was discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces after military police arrested her at work.
"It's amazing," Roy told The Canadian Press on Sunday. "Even though if you fight all your life for that it's always hard to believe it will happen."
“You really think you did a big big crime," she said of the ordeal. "Sexual orientation has nothing to do with your skills."
Roy added that the apology “means a lot”. “It means even more coming from [Trudeau] because I know it's going to come from his heart."
Randy Boissonnault is Prime Minister Trudeau’s advisor on LGBT+ issues and tweeted that November 28 will be “an historic day for LGBTQ2 communities and for Canada.”
“Diversity makes us stronger,” Boissonnault added.
The Globe and Mail reports that while the date has been set for the official apology, there is no word yet on details about the compensation victims will be entitled to for the historic persecution.
