Edmonton MP has three years to answer calls for pardons and compensation for those convicted and fired for homosexual activity<\/p>\n\n \n\n
After mounting pressure from advocates, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed a gay Liberal member of Parliament as \u201cSpecial Advisor on LGBTQ2 issues,\u201d and set a three-year timeline to respond to calls for apologies and compensation for discriminatory federal policies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Randy Boissonnault, MP for Edmonton Centre, has been tasked \u201cto advance and protect the rights of the community and address historical injustices that we have endured,\u201d he told reporters at a Nov 15 press conference.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
“We\u2019re only getting started. We know that there\u2019s a lot of work ahead of us.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The government announced Boissonnault\u2019s role alongside its intention to repeal a law<\/a> that criminalizes anal sex. Section 159 of the Criminal Code<\/a> forbids anal intercourse \u201cin a public place or if more than two persons take part or are present,\u201d and puts the age of consent for anal sex two years higher than the general consent age of 16.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Tabled Nov 15, 2016, Bill C-32 will move anal sex under Canada\u2019s general consent laws. Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould told reporters it was part of a move to \u201cextract some of those zombie provisions\u201d from the Criminal Code, which courts have deemed unconstitutional.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Behind the podium stood 20 queer activists. Earlier that morning, they spent an hour with Boissonnault, discussing his new role. They were told that within three years, the government will answer demands for apologies, record-clearing and compensation for people convicted and fired for homosexual activity. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Marni Panas, an Edmonton trans woman, had flown to Ottawa to see the ongoing debate around trans-rights Bill C-16<\/a>. She says Boissonnault pledged to study everything, including compensation for those purged from the public service<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \u201cWe\u2019re seeing some real, meaningful action. We\u2019d like to see some real timelines on an apology, but a sincere one \u2014 it has to be heard and received, as well as given. This is our moment to experience that,\u201d Panas says. <\/p>\r\n\r\n She echoed other activists in noting the move comes a week after Donald Trump was named US president-elect. \u201cWe need to be leaders in the world in saying, \u2018listen, this is what we value as Canadians.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n Gabriel Boisvert, executive assistant for the Conseil qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois LGBT, says the government is receptive to criticism that Boissonnault\u2019s mandate left out any mention of intersex people. \u201cI appreciate that the government wants to take the time to do it right, instead of doing something and having to correct it again and again.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n The government\u2019s announcement came two weeks after lawyers filed two class-action lawsuits<\/a>, seeking at least $600 million in compensation for LGBT Canadians pushed out of the military and public service. One suit was filed in Ontario, and the other in Quebec.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to the day I can put this all behind me,\u201d says Martine Roy, a plaintiff in the Quebec case. <\/p>\r\n\r\n Roy says she\u2019s optimistic about Boissonault\u2019s new role, even though Egale Canada published its extensive review<\/a> of present and past federal discrimination<\/a> five months ago. \u201cYou have to start somewhere. They\u2019ve appointed someone, and someone who comes from the community to boot.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n Doug Elliott, who is leading the suit for all Canadians outside of Quebec, says his suit has been granted a case-management judge and is still proceeding \u201cuntil the government does something about it.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n \u201cThey\u2019ve had months to plan this, and frankly I would have thought that after all those months, there would have been a little more meat available today,\u201d Elliott says. \u201cI expected we\u2019d be listening to them today with their proposals, and instead they were listening to us for our suggestions.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n MP Randall Garrison, the NDP critic on LGBT issues, says he expects the government to issue an apology soon. \u201cIt definitely should take less than a year, but it has to be followed by real actions that make a difference in our society,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of unfinished business.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n