A travelling exhibit from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is set up in the Campbell River library for the next month.
It’s titled “Love in a Dangerous Time” and it provides a history lesson about thousands of Canadians who lost their jobs, and were spied on by their own government, because they were gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, between 1950 and 1990, thousands were dismissed from the police, military, and civil service for their sexuality. Their removal was justified by Cold War rhetoric, suggesting they were particularly vulnerable to blackmail by Soviet spies, and posed risks to national security.
In 2017, the federal government issued a formal apology for its discriminatory actions.
The display is set up in the library until February 20.
