From the Purge to Pride: The Story of the Public Service Pride Network

The roots of the Public Service Pride Network (PSPN) stretch back to a difficult period in Canadian public service history: the LGBT Purge. From the 1950s through the mid-1990s, thousands of federal public servants, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were targeted because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

At the height of the Cold War, many 2SLGBTQIA+ people were falsely labelled as security risks and forced out of their jobs. These individuals were subjected to invasive surveillance, interrogation, and, in many cases, dismissal. Careers were destroyed. Lives were upended. It was a period marked by systemic discrimination and institutional betrayal — one that left lasting scars on individuals and the integrity of the public institutions meant to serve all Canadians.

A Long Silence, and a Slow Shift

Although the Purge's most active years ended by the mid-1990s, the harm endured well into the following decades. In many ways, the period between the 1990s and 2017 was one of quiet resistance, cautious visibility, and the slow rebuilding of trust.

In 1992, the Canadian Armed Forces formally lifted its ban on 2SLGBTQIA+ members, following a legal challenge. Four years later, the Canadian Human Rights Act was amended to include “sexual orientation” as a protected ground against discrimination. However, despite these legal advances, many federal workplaces lacked the culture and leadership to support meaningful inclusion.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, employee networks began to take shape. Representatives of Canadian Heritage (PCH), Energy, Mines and Resources Canada (EMRC), and Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) collaborated to create what was first called “Pride at Work.” During this period, same-sex marriage was legalized in Canada. 

Still, many 2SLGBTQIA+ public servants remained hesitant to be open about their identities. The shadow of the Purge lingered — trust had been broken, and it would take more than new laws to repair it.

It wasn’t until 2016 that a true reckoning began. Led by three representative plaintiffs – Todd Ross, Martine Roy, and Alida Satalic – survivors of the Purge stepped forward to share their stories and pursue justice through a class action lawsuit against the Government of Canada. Their courage sparked national attention, media coverage, and public pressure for change.

A Historic Apology

In 2017, that call for justice was answered. On November 28, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered a formal apology in the House of Commons to those harmed by federal policies and practices. The apology acknowledged decades of discrimination and offered a commitment to reconciliation. A landmark settlement followed, including financial compensation, the creation of the LGBT Purge Fund, and plans for a national memorial.

This apology was a turning point in recognizing past harms and a catalyst for lasting change.