Canada unveiled its new commemorative loonie Tuesday, paying tribute to the 50-year anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality across the country. But the coin is also drawing controversy.
Some LGBTQ activists and historians are calling into question the message behind the loonie, saying it mistakenly suggests equality has been reached and that it was done so largely by the Canadian government — specifically by former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
In 1967, then-justice minister Trudeau began calling for reforms to decriminalize homosexuality in Canada’s Criminal Code, which passed two years later.
“There were many gains gained by the gay community before this, but this coin gives all the credit to Pierre Trudeau and 1969. It should be about our community, not the federal government,” York University historian Tom Hooper said. Read more via Global News
Hey Canada, keep your eyes peeled for the new Equality $1 coin. This is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the years of progress towards equality for LGBTQ2 Canadians, and importantly, to think about the work still to do. pic.twitter.com/EpowvDZ9mO
— Bill Morneau (@Bill_Morneau) April 23, 2019