Certain individuals from the 2SLGBTQ+ community have expressed frustration for being excluded from the grand opening of a new monument in Ottawa dedicated to acknowledging the discrimination they underwent within the public sector.
Sharon McGunigal, a retired civil servant, narrated her experience with her partner of 35 years, Susan Scott, when they arrived for the unveiling of the Thunderhead monument on August 21.
Upon arrival, they were informed by security that the event was restricted to invitees only.
McGunigal disclosed that approximately 100 others were also denied access, some of whom congregated outside a perimeter fence to observe the inauguration ceremonies from a distance.
Among the attendees were Governor General Louise Arbour and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who issued a public apology in 2017 for the prolonged discrimination and injustice endured by the community.
“It was shocking to witness officials present while the very individuals the monument represents were excluded from attending,” remarked McGunigal.
She emphasized, “The ceremony commemorating the monument’s unveiling should have been a celebration for us, the members of the community it symbolizes.”
The towering nine-meter white and silver structure aims to acknowledge the historical discrimination faced by the 2SLGBTQ+ community during the Canadian government’s extensive campaign known as the LGBT purge.
The purge spanned from the 1950s to the mid-1990s, during which the federal government investigated and dismissed numerous individuals from the RCMP, Canadian Armed Forces, and federal public service based on their sexual orientation.
Funds for the monument were sourced from a class-action lawsuit against the federal government.
McGunigal shared that while she didn’t personally encounter discrimination, she was acquainted with individuals who did, such as Michelle Douglas, who was discharged from the Armed Forces in 1989 and now leads the LGBT Purge Fund, the organization behind the unveiling.
“When someone in your community faces discrimination, it impacts you as well, even if not immediately or directly,” remarked McGunigal.
Organizers Cite Limited Capacity
According to a statement from the LGBT Purge Fund, the invite-only nature of the event was due to the venue’s restricted capacity, with security protocols in place to “s