Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is apologizing on behalf of the federal government for perpetrating decades of discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community.
Dozens of people B次元官网网址� including two of TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 own kids, Xavier and Ella-Grace B次元官网网址� were crammed into the various House of Commons galleries, many of them sporting rainbow ribbons, to witness the historic occasion, which the prime minister says he hopes will finally allow the healing process to begin for those affected.
B次元官网网址淭his is the devastating story of people who were branded criminals by the government B次元官网网址� people who lost their livelihoods, and in some cases, their lives,B次元官网网址� Trudeau says in prepared remarks.
B次元官网网址淭hese arenB次元官网网址檛 distant practices of governments long forgotten. This happened systematically, in Canada, with a timeline more recent than any of us would like to admit.B次元官网网址�
Earlier Tuesday, the government introduced legislation which, if passed, will allow the expungement of criminal records belonging to people convicted of consensual sexual activity with same-sex partners.
It has also earmarked more than $100 million to compensate members of the military and other federal agencies whose careers were sidelined or ended due to their sexual orientation, part of a class-action settlement with employees who were investigated, sanctioned and sometimes fired as part of the so-called B次元官网网址済ay purge.B次元官网网址�
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The number one job of any government is to keep its citizens safe. And on this, we have failed LGBTQ2 people, time and time again,B次元官网网址� Trudeau says in his remarks, using an acronym that includes reference to Indigenous people known as B次元官网网址渢wo-spirit.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚t is with shame and sorrow and deep regret for the things we have done that I stand here today and say: We were wrong. We apologize.
B次元官网网址淚 am sorry. We are sorry.B次元官网网址�
The government is also putting $250,000 toward community projects to combat homophobia and provide support for people in crisis, and plans a commemoration in 2019 to mark the 50th anniversary of the federal decriminalization of homosexual acts.
The discriminatory policies that often ruined careers and lives had their roots in federal efforts that began as early as the 1940s to delve into the personal lives of people who were considered security risks as a result of what was considered B次元官网网址渃haracter weakness.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭his thinking was prejudiced and flawed,B次元官网网址� Trudeau says. B次元官网网址淪adly, what resulted was nothing short of a witch hunt.
B次元官网网址淭hose arrested and charged were purposefully and vindictively shamed. Their names appeared in newspapers in order to humiliate them, and their families. Lives were destroyed. And tragically, lives were lost.B次元官网网址�
Premier John Horgan B次元官网网址榳elcomesB次元官网网址� federal apology
Since TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 speech in the House of Commons, Premier John Horgan has issued a statement welcoming the apology.
B次元官网网址淲ords cannot reverse CanadaB次元官网网址檚 shameful treatment of LGBTQ2S+ people. But they can help heal the wounds left behind by the harmful laws and policies of the past,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲hile Canada has been making strides since the 1960s to offer LGBTQ2S+ people full and equal protection in the law, more must be done to make sure everyone is free and unafraid to be who they are.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Press
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