Back to SearchOntario’s police leaders today support their colleagues at the CACP as they apologize to our Two-spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Transgender, and Queer (2SLGBTQ+) communities for a historical wrong that has caused pain and suffering to countless fellow Canadians.
In 1968, the Government of Canada introduced amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada to decriminalize homosexuality. Police leaders at the time publicly opposed these amendments. Police organizations across Canada continued to criminalize members of sexual and gender diverse communities. Harassment, discrimination, and persecution of members of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities by police continued despite the legislated changes. These fellow Canadians were targeted by police organizations based solely on their sexual orientation. Members of our own police services who were also members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities also suffered because of the actions of law enforcement agencies in Ontario and across Canada.
It is important that today, police leaders in Canada issue an official apology for this historical wrong. Members of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) support the apology for the harm police in Canada caused by not fully supporting 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
Police have an obligation and a duty to uphold the law. We have a responsibility to create and support safe communities for every Canadian. We echo the words of CACP President Bryan Larkin of the Waterloo Regional Police Service in acknowledging that we have not always succeeded in serving the 2SLGBTQ+ communities:
“We acknowledge the pain our actions have caused…the personal suffering, shame, and trauma our public positions contributed to…and the deep distrust and divide that was created by the positions we took. Our decisions and actions legitimized attitudes and beliefs that were discriminatory.”
Today’s apology cannot be an end. It must be the starting point in building bridges between 2SLGBTQ+ communities and police services. It must be a starting point for police services to support our 2SLGBTQ+ members. It must also be about courage.
Courage to acknowledge a historical wrong.
Courage to admit that our past actions as a police community have brought hurt and pain to our fellow citizens – loved ones, friends, co-workers, neighbours and fellow Canadians – in our 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
Courage to acknowledge systemic discrimination in the past and in the present.
Courage to work together for real change with communities that have not always been supported by their police organizations.
We look forward to working and learning with our 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Ontario and across our country.
Chief Antje McNeely President Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police
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