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 91裸聊视频� including two of Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 own kids, Xavier and Ella-Grace 91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淭his is the devastating story of people who were branded criminals by the government 91裸聊视频� people who lost their livelihoods, and in some cases, their lives,91裸聊视频� Trudeau says in prepared remarks.
91裸聊视频淭hese aren91裸聊视频檛 distant practices of governments long forgotten. This happened systematically, in Canada, with a timeline more recent than any of us would like to admit.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频済ay purge.91裸聊视频�
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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,91裸聊视频� Trudeau says in his remarks, using an acronym that includes reference to Indigenous people known as 91裸聊视频渢wo-spirit.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚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.
91裸聊视频淚 am sorry. We are sorry.91裸聊视频�
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 91裸聊视频渃haracter weakness.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭his thinking was prejudiced and flawed,91裸聊视频� Trudeau says. 91裸聊视频淪adly, what resulted was nothing short of a witch hunt.
91裸聊视频淭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.91裸聊视频�
Premier John Horgan 91裸聊视频榳elcomes91裸聊视频� federal apology
Since Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 speech in the House of Commons, Premier John Horgan has issued a statement welcoming the apology.
91裸聊视频淲ords cannot reverse Canada91裸聊视频檚 shameful treatment of LGBTQ2S+ people. But they can help heal the wounds left behind by the harmful laws and policies of the past,91裸聊视频� he said.
91裸聊视频淲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.91裸聊视频�
The Canadian Press
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