119:(SIU) where she was questioned by Cochrane and a military policewoman about her alleged homosexuality. Thornborrow was informed that she was being questioned because allegations of homosexuality threatened national security by making her more susceptible to blackmail. The SIU interviewed her roommate and subsequently searched her room in search of evidence to use against her. The officers found gay pamphlets and old love letters. According to Thornborrow, “the officer came right out and said ‘we’ve got all the stuff, and it’s quite obvious that you are, so why don’t you admit it?” So I said, ‘Alright, I am.’” Thornborrow and the military officers returned to SIU headquarters where she was presented with an ultimatum: either sign the documents admitting she was a lesbian and be released from service within the month or seek psychiatric treatment. Thornborrow refused both options and asked to consult a lawyer.
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release” was an administrative error and the
Canadian Forces had considered honouring her request until the interviews and press releases. Boulet further stated “all earlier statements by forces spokesmen saying gays, on disclosure, could leave the services were wrong. ‘We do not condone homosexuality, and have to dismiss anyone who admits he is one.’”
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issued a press release stating that
Thornborrow was never pressured to leave the military as she had already requested voluntary release and it had been approved. On May 30, Thornborrow was promised that she would be “voluntarily released” under Item 4c on November 10, 1977, upon completion of the
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However, on June 20, 1977, Thornborrow was informed by her commanding officer that she would be discharged under Item 5(d) as a person who is “not advantageously employable” and she had to leave the base by the end of the week. Colonel J.C. Boulet claims that granting
Thornborrow a “voluntary
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and they convened a meeting on May 16, 1977, of GO and LOON. During the meeting, Barbara was told that she probably was not going to be able to keep her job, but she could help other homosexuals by publicly sharing her story. With the help of the
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Sinclair, Rob (May 18, 1977). "Threatened with expulsion from military
Lesbian goes public and Discrimination? Admitted lesbian says armed forces threatening to dismiss her".
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As a young adult, Thornborrow was active in the
Hamilton-McMaster LGBT movement for which she visited universities and high schools discussing LGBT issues.
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143:(NGRC), Thornborrow issued a press release detailing her experience, bringing national attention to her case. She then accompanied members of the NGRC to “
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in 1977. She later challenged the decision, becoming the first person who was discharged based on their sexual orientation to do so publicly.
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where the
Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs was beginning a clause-by-clause study of the government's
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Nancy Nicol, “Interview with
Barbara Thornborrow, on anti-gay discrimination in the Canadian military,”
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culture and history in Canada, a portrait of
Thornborrow by artist Barbara Augustine is held by
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115:. Six days later on May 9, Thornborrow was called into the office of Sergeant Cochrane of the
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151:,” including an amendment to forbid discrimination based on sexual orientation.
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Lesbian and Gay Rights in Canada: Social
Movements and Equality-seeking, 1971-1995
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111:. On May 3, 1977, Thornborrow applied for voluntary release from the
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is a former private who was involuntarily discharged from the
270:"Threatened with expulsion from military Lesbian goes public"
387:"Barbara Thornborrow (1951 - ) · CLGA Digital Collections"
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who
Thornborrow knew from Hamilton. Robertson contacted
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https://digitalexhibitions.arquives.ca/items/show/671
345:Macdonald, Neil (June 21, 1977). "Lesbian sacked".
122:Shortly after her dismissal, Thornborrow contacted
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42:
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171:In honour of her role as a significant builder of
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117:Canadian Forces' Special Investigations Unit
327:"Army denies pressure Lesbian wanted out".
208:Smith, Miriam Catherine (January 1, 1999).
95:In 1977, Thornborrow was a private in the
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361:"Forces ignore outcry, expel Thornborrow"
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177:The ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives
54:former Private in Canadian Armed forces
238:Freeman, Barbara (July–August 1977).
179:in its National Portrait Collection.
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159:mandatory six-month waiting period.
423:Canadian female military personnel
189:Timeline of LGBT history in Canada
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448:21st-century Canadian LGBT people
418:20th-century Canadian LGBT people
391:Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives
296:The ArQuives Digital Exhibitions
214:. University of Toronto Press.
101:Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe
428:Canadian LGBT rights activists
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141:National Gay Rights Coalition
128:Lesbians of Ottawa Now (LOON)
16:Canadian military personnel
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433:Lesbian military personnel
149:Canadian Human Rights Act
298:, accessed June 2021,
240:"Private goes public"
113:Canadian Armed Forces
97:Canadian Armed Forces
73:Canadian Armed Forces
136:Gays of Ottawa (GO)
69:Barbara Thornborrow
25:Barbara Thornborrow
367:. July–August 1977
347:The Ottawa Citizen
329:The Ottawa Citizen
314:The Ottawa Citizen
37:Waterdown, Ontario
154:In response, the
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75:for being a
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438:1951 births
276:. June 1977
43:Nationality
412:Categories
195:References
51:Occupation
396:March 19,
183:See also
46:Canadian
371:June 1,
280:June 1,
249:June 1,
167:Honours
109:Ontario
77:lesbian
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105:Ottawa
91:Career
34:1951-
398:2017
373:2021
282:2021
251:2021
216:ISBN
173:LGBT
31:Born
134:of
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103:in
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