The Trudeau government has earmarked more than $100 million to compensate members of the military and other federal agencies whose careers were sidelined or ended due to their sexual orientation, The Canadian Press has learned.
The money will be paid out as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement to employees who were investigated, sanctioned and sometimes fired as part of the so-called gay purge.
An agreement in principle in the court action emerged Friday, just days before the government delivers a sweeping apology for discrimination over several decades against members of the LGBTQ community.
Details of the agreement must still be worked out by the parties and approved by the Federal Court, but it’s expected that several thousand people will be eligible for the financial compensation.
As part of the apology, the federal government is also putting $250,000 toward LGBTQ community projects to combat homophobia and provide support for people in crisis.
In addition, it plans a commemoration in 2019 of the 50th anniversary of the federal decriminalization of homosexual acts.
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