104:—where she was the first woman to be promoted to the Unit as an officer. Absurdly, it was also the Unit responsible for running the "LGBT Purge" for the armed forces. In 1988, she came under investigation and was transferred to another position before losing her security clearance. 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 lesbian. She was dismissed under administrative release item 5d: "Not Advantageously Employable Due to Homosexuality". During her trial, Douglas reported that while under investigation, she was taken to a hotel room where two male officers questioned her about her sexual activities and forced her to like men. She was also prevented from seeking legal advice after the incident.
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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. In the same year, Douglas was appointed as the executive Ddrector of the LGBT Purge Fund. The LGBT
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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. In January 2020, the
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activist who launched a landmark legal challenge in the
Federal Court of Canada against the military's discriminatory policies against LGBTQ+ service members. Douglas herself served as an officer in the
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On
December 13, 2023, the Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Bill Blair appointed Douglas as the first Honorary Colonel for Professional Conduct and Culture.
166:) from 2005 to 2020. She resigned as chair of the board of directors of WE Charity in March 2020. She currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the
115:. 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.
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Bindman, Stephen (26 October 1992). "MICHELLE DOUGLAS CASE: Former officer puts
National Defence military policy on trial over gay rights".
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Michelle
Douglas being interviewed by CBC's Chris Hall at the future site of the LGBTQ2+ National Monument in Ottawa, January 2020
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from 1986 to 1989. She was honourably discharged from the military in 1989 under the military's discriminating "
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Douglas' experience in the military was the start of 30 years of social justice and human rights activism.
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as parade Grand
Marshals. Douglas was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
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355:"Former WE Charity chair says she resigned over 'concerning developments' at the organization"
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196:' National Portrait Collection, in honor of her contributions to LGBTQ2+ rights in Canada.
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LGBT refugee organization in
Toronto. Douglas was a member of the board of directors of
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Douglas has supported other landmark rulings by participating as an intervener in the
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281:"How Michelle Douglas broke down the Canadian military's LGBT walls"
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436:"LGBTQ2+ memorial to be built near Library and Archives Canada"
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Douglas subsequently launched a $ 550,000 lawsuit against the
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A portrait of
Douglas, by artist Laura Spaldin, is held by
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302:"Commemorating the Victims of Canada's 'Gay Purge'"
244:"Commemorating the Victims of Canada's 'Gay Purge'"
182:by Wellington Street and Portage Bridge in Ottawa.
154:in Toronto. She was also a founding member of the
480:General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor.
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353:Walsh, Marieke; McArthur, Greg (July 27, 2020).
96:with a major in law in 1985, Douglas joined the
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194:The ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives
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71:(born December 30, 1963) is a Canadian
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486:The Governor General of Canada
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16:Canadian human rights activist
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148:Foundation for Equal Families
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563:Lesbian military personnel
558:Carleton University alumni
505:Inductee: Michelle Douglas
300:Austen, Ian (2020-01-25).
242:Austen, Ian (2020-01-24).
88:LGBT purge legal challenge
180:LGBTQ2+ National Monument
168:Michaelle Jean Foundation
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382:"About Us - Purge LGBT"
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61:LGBTQ2+ rights activist
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92:After graduating from
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78:Canadian Armed Forces
411:"National Monument"
94:Carleton University
69:Michelle D. Douglas
482:"Michelle Douglas"
360:The Globe and Mail
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224:The Current
187:Sky Gilbert
547:Categories
532:2023-12-15
491:2020-02-27
466:2020-02-27
442:2020-02-27
420:2020-02-27
415:Purge LGBT
396:2020-02-27
386:Purge LGBT
319:2022-03-08
286:2020-02-27
261:2020-02-27
203:References
162:(formerly
160:WE Charity
82:LGBT Purge
457:"History"
314:0362-4331
256:0362-4331
366:July 27,
51:, Canada
49:Ontario
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136:M v H
368:2020
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