May 17–19 Ottawa The Standing […]

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When

1977-05-17 – 1977-05-19

Description

May 17–19 Ottawa The Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs undertook a clause-by-clause study of the government's proposed Canadian Human Rights Act (Bill C–25). An amendment to add sexual orientation to the prohibited categories of discrimination in the act was proposed by MP Gordon Fairweather (PC –Fundy-Royal), but it did not have the support of the Progressive Conservative party; the amendment was defeated in the committee by a vote of four to two, with three abstentions. The committee debate on May 19 was particularly lively, sparked by the case of Barbara Thornborrow, who was threatened with dismissal from the Canadian Armed Forces because of her lesbianism. The Thornborrow example prompted Justice Minister Ron Basford to cite national security as a reason for excluding sexual orientation from the act. (See also June 2, 1977.)

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June 2 Ottawa In a unanimous vote in […]May 9 Ottawa Private Barbara […]

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Ottawa

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Ron Basford Barbara Thornborrow Gordon Fairweather

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Liberal-Conservative Party, Conservative Party of Canada, Progressive Conservative party of Canada, Conservative Party of Canada Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs House of Commons

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Bill C–25 Canadian Human Rights Act

All Citations

"No Rights for Gays: Canadian Human Rights Act," Body Politic, no. 34 (1977), pp. 1, 9."Lesbian Begins Battle against Armed Forces," Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 18 May 1977, p. 2 "Being Lesbian 'May Cost Job': Armed Forces Employee," Toronto Star, four star ed., 18 May 1977, p. A19

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Bill C–25

Monograph

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