Justin Trudeau has confirmed that the Canadian government will formally apologize to gay men and women later this month…
The Canadian government will apologize to gay men and women who were forced out of the military or public service in the past as well as offer an apology to those who were prosecuted criminally for “gross indecency.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed on Twitter that he will offer the apology to all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirited people in a formal statement that will be released on November 28.
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.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 19, 2017
Starting in the 1950s and lasting until 1992, thousands of Canadians in the military, RCMP, and across the civil service were fired because of their sexuality.
Lawyer Douglas Elliot, who has pushed a class-action suit against the government of Canada for compensation for those identifying as LGBT, largely homosexual men, who were fired from government jobs and the military for their sexuality.
“I never thought I’d live to see the day,” Elliott told The Globe and Mail, adding that Trudeau will also be offering compensation along with an apology. The lawyer also said a monument to commemorate those fired from their government employment was also in the works.
The Canadian Press reports:
Trudeau promised to issue the apology more than a year ago after Egale Canada, a group that advocates for the rights of sexual minorities, released a report on the matter and made a number of recommendations including that a formal apology be issued.
The government has been consulting with Egale and others to determine the best way to approach the apology.
A spokeswoman for Egale said on Sunday that having a date is “exciting.”
“We think it’s long overdue,” said Jennifer Boyce.
The Globe and Mail speculates that the apology may be the first such announcement by any national government in the world, if it is a comprehensive as expected.
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