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Volume 54 Number 20
www.couriernews.ca
May 18, 2021
May 17th a day to recognize at 4 Wing and the world Statement by the Minister of National Defence on the LGBT Purge Report NATIONAL DEFENCE / CANADIAN ARMED FORCES May 17, 2021 marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, a day created to reflect on the violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTQ2 communities, and a reminder to be deliberate in our actions to end this form of discrimination. On this day we acknowledge and are proud to show support for LGBTQ2 Defence Team members who contribute so much to our organization. This year also sees the release of the LGBT Purge Fund Report, ‘Emerging from the Purge: The State of LGBTQI2S Inclusion in the Federal Workplace and Recommendations for Improvement’. We welcome the recommendations from this report as an opportunity to do better and are committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation within the Defence Team. It wasn’t very long ago that members of the LGTBQ2 community were persecuted for who they were, with official sanction of the government. During this period known as the “LGBT Purge”, LGBTQ2 members experienced abusive and violent actions that included identifying, investigating, sanctioning, and in some cases, discharging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Federal Public Service. These experiences had significant impacts on the individuals who were targeted, resulting in lifelong trauma and emotional, psychological, relational and economic consequences. It also created an overall climate of fear within these organizations. While progress has been made, and official policies
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Members of the 4 Wing Command Team alongside members of the Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization (DTPAO) raise the pride flag over 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta as part of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, on May 17, 2021. From left to Right: DTPAO Co-Chair “Civilian” Chloe Plamondon, 4 Wing Commander, Colonel (Col) Dave Moar, DTPAO Co-Chair “Military” Lieutenant Navy Garrett MacKenzie, 4 Wing Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) CWO Lee Darling, DTPAO Champion LCol Delaina Brown. have changed, we also recognize that Defence Team LGBTQ2 members continue to experience discrimination, harassment, exclusion and misconduct today. We have made progress but we have more work to do, as this report indicates. In 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau officially apologized for the LGBT Purge and worked diligently to reach a final settlement agreement with the plaintiffs of the LGBT Purge class action lawsuit in a fair, compassionate, and respectful manner. The Final Settlement Agreement stipulated that Subject Matter Experts, selected by the LGBT Purge Fund, would provide recommendations on improving training and inclusion throughout the
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federal workplace. During the summer launches today with a new name and of 2020, the Department of National purpose: the Defence Team Pride Defence and CAF participated in the Advisory Organization. Its aim is to consultation process to help inform foster awareness of the barriers faced by the LGBT Purge Fund Report. This LGBTQ2 communities, provide insight process included individual interviews, to leadership on systemic challenges, document policy reviews and individual and create meaningful engagement surveys. We will use the LGBT Purge throughout the Defence Team. Fund Report and its recommendations There are people who still feel the to identify measures needed to address harm of discriminatory policies, like systemic barriers and to strengthen those that led to the LGBT Purge. On inclusion practices, policies, tools, May 17th we acknowledge past harms training materials and mechanisms to and raise awareness of behaviors that create an even more inclusive workplace contribute to homophobia, transphobia for LGBTQ2 members of the Defence and biphobia. Although we can never Team. undo the pain these policies caused, we As part of our continued efforts must learn from our mistakes and do towards a more inclusive workplace, better for our members in a manner a Defence Advisory Group officially that respects the dignity of all.