Michelle Douglas

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Michelle Douglas
Michelle Douglas.jpg
Born1963
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Known forLGBTQ2+ rights activist

Michelle Douglas (born 1963) is a Canadian human rights activist who launched a landmark legal challenge in the Federal Court of Canada against the military's discriminatory policies against LGBT service members.[1] Douglas herself served as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1986 to 1989. She was honourably discharged from the military in 1989 under the military's "LGBT Purge".[1][2]

LGBT purge legal challenge[]

After graduating from Carleton University in 1985 with a major in law, Douglas joined the Canadian Forces in 1986. She was soon promoted to the Special Investigations Unit—the first woman to be promoted to the Unit as an officer.[3] Paradoxically, it was also the Unit responsible for running the LGBT Purge for the armed forces.[2] In 1988, she came under investigation and was transferred to another position before losing her security clearance.[4] Despite having an exemplary service record and repeatedly being at the top of her class, in 1989, she was released from the Forces because she was a lesbian.[3] She was dismissed under administrative release item 5d: "Not Advantageously Employable Due to Homosexuality".[1][3] During her trial, Douglas reported that while under investigation, she was taken to a hotel room where two men questioned her about her sexual activities. She was also prevented from seeking legal advice.[4]

Douglas subsequently launched a $550,000 lawsuit against the Department of National Defence in January 1990 where she was represented by Clayton Ruby.[4] In October 1992, just before Douglas' legal challenge went to trial, the Canadian military abandoned its policy banning gays and lesbians and settled the case.[1]

Subsequent service and activism[]

Michelle Douglas being interviewed by CBC's Chris Hall at the future site of the LGBTQ2+ National Monument in Ottawa, January 2020

Douglas' experience in the military was the start of 30 years of social justice and human rights activism.

Douglas has supported other landmark rulings by participating as an intervener in the M v H and Vriend v Alberta cases in the Supreme Court of Canada. She formerly served as the Chair of the Foundation for Equal Families and later served at Chair of the board of The 519 Church Street Community Centre in Toronto. She was also a founding member of the Rainbow Railroad LGBT refugee organization in Toronto. Douglas was a member of the board of directors of WE Charity (formerly Free the Children) from 2005 to 2020. She resigned as chair of the board of directors of WE Charity in March 2020.[5] She currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Michaelle Jean Foundation.

Professionally, Douglas served as the Director of International Relations at the Canadian Department of Justice. She retired in September 2019 after a 30-year career in the federal public service.[2] In the same year, Douglas was appointed as the Executive Director of the LGBT Purge Fund.[6] The LGBT Purge Fund manages a fund of $15 million to support reconciliation projects relating to the LGBT Purge. This includes leading a project to build the LGBTQ2+ National Monument in Ottawa, which is expected to open in 2024.[7] In January 2020, the National Capital Commission approved the future site for this monument—by Wellington Street and Portage Bridge in Ottawa.[8]

In 2000, Pride Toronto named Douglas and Sky Gilbert as parade Grand Marshals.[9] Douglas was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.[10]

A portrait of Douglas, by artist Laura Spaldin, is held by The ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives' National Portrait Collection, in honour of her contributions to LGBTQ2+ rights in Canada.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d The Current, May 9, 2005.
  2. ^ a b c Austen, Ian (2020-01-24). "Commemorating the Victims of Canada's 'Gay Purge'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  3. ^ a b c "How Michelle Douglas broke down the Canadian military's LGBT walls". Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  4. ^ a b c Bindman, Stephen (26 October 1992). "MICHELLE DOUGLAS CASE: Former officer puts National Defence military policy on trial over gay rights". The Ottawa Citizen. CanWest Interactive.
  5. ^ Walsh, Marieke; McArthur, Greg (July 27, 2020). "Former WE Charity chair says she resigned over 'concerning developments' at the organization". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  6. ^ "About Us - Purge LGBT". Purge LGBT. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  7. ^ "National Monument". Purge LGBT. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  8. ^ Crawford, Blair (2020-01-23). "LGBTQ2+ memorial to be built near Library and Archives Canada". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  9. ^ "History". Pride Toronto. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  10. ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Michelle Douglas". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  11. ^ Inductee: Michelle Douglas. The ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives.
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