May 9, 1996: The House of Commons passed a Canadian Human Rights Act amendment (Bill C-33) adding sexual orientation as a prohibited grounds of discrimination. This historic event marked the final chapter in a 25-year battle by activists across the country to amend the federal, provincial, and territorial human rights codes so that they would collectively prohibit all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Prior to this amendment, gays and lesbians were routinely dismissed or refused employment, denied access to their children in custody cases, and barred from renting properties. Phone directories would not list contact information, and newspapers would not run ads, for gay and lesbian groups.
May 9, 1977: The Canadian Forces’ Special Investigations Unit confronted Private Barbara Thornborrow of the Canadian Armed Forces following an investigation that uncovered that she was a lesbian. She was told she was being questioned for reasons of national security because she was “susceptible to blackmail.”
Thornborrow admitted that she was a lesbian and was given two choices: sign a document confirming her true sexuality, which would lead to her release from the service, or undergo psychiatric counselling. Thornborrow rejected both options and decided to go public with her situation, which was covered extensively by the media across Canada.
Thornborrow’s campaign, while brave and unprecedented, was up against an entrenched culture of discrimination. Society viewed homosexuals as unstable, unreliable, and untrustworthy. Government considered them potential security risks or traitors who could not be trusted with access to important state information.* Consequently, homosexuals were barred from all positions deemed sensitive, including the military.
Despite here efforts, Thornborrow was discharged for being a “sexual deviate” who was “not advantageously employable.” It was not until 1992 that lesbians, gays, and bisexuals were allowed to serve openly in the military.
*Gentile, Patrizia and Kinsman, Gary. The Canadian War on Queers: National Security as Sexual Regulation. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2009
Prior to this amendment, gays and lesbians were routinely dismissed or refused employment, denied access to their children in custody cases, and barred from renting properties. Phone directories would not list contact information, and newspapers would not run ads, for gay and lesbian groups.
May 9, 1977: The Canadian Forces’ Special Investigations Unit confronted Private Barbara Thornborrow of the Canadian Armed Forces following an investigation that uncovered that she was a lesbian. She was told she was being questioned for reasons of national security because she was “susceptible to blackmail.”
Thornborrow admitted that she was a lesbian and was given two choices: sign a document confirming her true sexuality, which would lead to her release from the service, or undergo psychiatric counselling. Thornborrow rejected both options and decided to go public with her situation, which was covered extensively by the media across Canada.
Thornborrow’s campaign, while brave and unprecedented, was up against an entrenched culture of discrimination. Society viewed homosexuals as unstable, unreliable, and untrustworthy. Government considered them potential security risks or traitors who could not be trusted with access to important state information.* Consequently, homosexuals were barred from all positions deemed sensitive, including the military.
Despite here efforts, Thornborrow was discharged for being a “sexual deviate” who was “not advantageously employable.” It was not until 1992 that lesbians, gays, and bisexuals were allowed to serve openly in the military.
*Gentile, Patrizia and Kinsman, Gary. The Canadian War on Queers: National Security as Sexual Regulation. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2009
(l) Barbara Thornborrow speaking at gay men and lesbians conference in 1977. (r) Barbara Thornborrow at left, taking her seat after her speech.