May 9 Ottawa Private Barbara […]
When
1977-05-09
Description
May 9 Ottawa Private Barbara Thornborrow of the Canadian Armed Forces was confronted by the Canadian Forces' Special Investigations Unit concerning her alleged lesbianism. She was told she was being questioned for reasons of national security, because she was "susceptible to blackmail." Thornborrow admitted that she was a lesbian and was given two choices: sign a document confirming her lesbianism (which would lead to her release from the service, under Canadian Forces Administrative Order 19–20), or undergo psychiatric counselling. Thornborrow rejected both options and decided to go public with her situation by arranging for a lawyer and calling GO. The NGRC also publicized her case. The Department of Defence later claimed that Thornborrow was not threatened with dismissal but had already asked for and received permission to leave the army. (See also May 17–19, 1977, and June 20, 1977.)
All Events
June 20 Ottawa Private Barbara […]May 17–19 Ottawa The Standing […]April 2 Argentia, Nfld. Master […]All Places
OttawaAll People
Barbara ThornborrowAll Organizations
Canadian Forces' Special Investigation UniDepartment of National DefenceNational Gay Rights Coalition Coalition nationale pour les droits des homosexuels NGRC CNDH, Canadian Lesbian and Gay Rights Coalition / Coalition canadienne pour les droits des lesbiennes et des gais (CLGRC / CCDLG)Gays of Ottawa Gays d'Ottawa GO, Gays of Ottawa Gais de L'Outaouais GOCanadian Armed ForcesAll Monograph
Canadian Forces Administrative Order 19–20All Citations
"Woman Not Discharged from Army for Lesbianism Official Says," Whig-Standard (Kingston), Friday ed., 20 May 1977, p. 21.Neil Macdonald, "Lesbian Private Seeking Return of Personal Belongings, Letters," Ottawa Citizen, 31 May 1977, p. 3Neil Macdonald, "Armed Forces Refuses to Accept Homosexuals," Ottawa Citizen, 31 May 1977, p. 3"Lesbian Goes Public: Threatened with Expulsion from Military," Body Politic, no. 34 (1977), p. 1"Lesbian Cites Dismissal Threat She Wanted to Quit, Forces Say," Globe and Mail, metro ed., 20 May 1977, p. 13Gary Kinsman and Patrizia Gentile, The Canadian War on Queers: National Security as Sexual Regulation (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2010), pp. 232–33 236–38 327–29 368–69Barbara Freeman and Barbara Thornborrow, "Private Goes Public" (interview), Body Politic, no. 35 (1977), p. 13John Duggan, "Ottawa Lesbian Talks," GO Info, 4, no. 4 (July 1977): 1Ron Dayman, "Armed Forces Closed to Gays," NGRC Forum, 3, no. 1 (Winter 1978): (5)
