The LGBT Purge was the systematic identification and expulsion of queer members of the military, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the civil service by the government of Canada. From the 1950s to the 1990s, government security forces investigated tens of thousands of people. Queer workers were demoted and fired. Careers and lives were ruined. But 2SLGBTQ+ people fought back. They protested discrimination, raised awareness and took the government to court. These actions finally ended the Purge. In 2018, survivors won a major class action lawsuit. Yet discrimination still haunts 2SLGBTQ+ communities. New generations of activists are rising to meet the challenge.
In this guide, you will find links to resources about the LGBT Purge alongside material that examines other examples of state‐led discrimination and oppression of 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada and internationally.
The Carte International Reference Centre is not responsible for the content of external links. Inclusion of material in this resource guide does not necessarily represent an endorsement of the views expressed. Material is presented in the language in which it was originally produced.