Selective Remembrance: Justice for Our Discharged LGBTQ Veterans

Out of respect for all veterans, Egale Canada calls on the federal government to apologize and restore veterans’ benefits to those Canadians who have been discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. Further, Egale urges the Canadian government to polish the service records of these individuals, who have been labeled “not advantageously employable” and charged with “unsatisfactory conduct” before being “discharged with ignominy” and having their “service terminated.”

Throughout Canada’s extensive military history, it has regularly been the case that people discharged in this manner have not only suffered the loss of their pensions and benefits, but they also had their civilian lives destroyed by tainted records and rumours. These effects echo onwards, despite the landmark policy change in 1992 when the Federal Court of Canada declared that policies restricting the service of “homosexuals” were contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In fact, regardless of these advances, many trans individuals remain discriminated against in military processes because of enrollment medical policies that prevent the recruitment of individuals who are in the process of transitioning.

In 2009, your letters and political actions on the part of the government opposition critics prompted Canada’s Department of Defence to publicly address the issue of past discharges. However, since then, the federal government has taken no actions to address these offenses against veterans. It’s time for us to call for real change!

Click here to contact Peter MacKay, Minister of Defence, and tell him to restore the dignity, morale, and benefits of veterans who honourably served our country. If you wish, include a personal message and tell the Minister to take action immediately to restore benefits and apologize to those who have faced unjust investigation into their private lives and a general climate of homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in the military service.

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Egale Canada ©2011

Canada's LGBT human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education, and justice.