National monument marking LGBTQ+ persecution opens this morning in Ottawa

On Thursday, Ottawa unveiled a new national monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ people who were victims of state persecution during the Cold War era. The monument, called Thunderhead, was established thanks to a $145 million settlement from a class-action lawsuit brought by 719 individuals who were wrongfully dismissed from their positions due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The monument's design, with a sculpture featuring a mirrored tile cloud and thousands of small glass squares, represents the power and hope that emerged from the adversity faced by marginalized communities in Canada. Poet Ivan Coyote, a poet who spoke at the opening ceremony, emphasized the importance of remembering those who did not live long enough for justice to be done, stating that "we need to never forget."

The monument, which is situated along an Ottawa River cycling path, offers spaces for reflection, learning, and celebration. Michelle Douglas, head of the LGBT Purge Fund, highlighted the significance of the monument as a place to tell the stories of the persecuted and ensure that Canadians understand the magnitude of this historical injustice.