Question Period Note: 2SLGBTQI+ VETERANS

• The Government of Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada recognize the sacrifices and achievements of all 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans, including those affected by the LGBT Purge and systemic discrimination. Guided by Canada’s first Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan, VAC collaborates with Women and Gender Equality Canada, academics, Veteran organizations, and community partners to better support their unique needs.
• 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans face significant challenges – including negative mental health impacts, underemployment, homelessness, harassment, bullying and violence. These challenges are further amplified for people with intersecting lived experiences, including Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities, Black and racialized 2SLGBTQI+ communities, and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans with disabilities.
• Veterans Affairs Canada promotes equity for 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans, identifying systemic barriers and unique service-related needs by working collaboratively across the Department to shape solutions.
• In 2024-2025, the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund sponsored Egale Canada and Helmets to Hardhats directly supporting the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
• In 2024, the Department hosted the 2024 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum in Fredericton, NB. The 2025 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum will be held in Ottawa on November 26-27.

Veterans Affairs Canada supports 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans and their families; a broad community that includes diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. The 2SLGBTQI+ community includes those who identify as Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex, as well as Veterans who identify as part of sexual and gender-diverse communities and use additional terminology.
Between the 1950s and mid-1990s, 2SLGBTQI+ members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP and the federal public service were systematically discriminated against, harassed and often fired as a matter of policy and sanctioned practice, in what came to be known as the “LGBT Purge”. In June 2018, a historic settlement was reached, including a global settlement of $145 million, including $110 million for LGBT Purge victims. The LGBT Purge Fund administers a settlement of $23 million to support reconciliation and memorialization of the LGBT Purge.
Veterans Affairs Canada works collaboratively with the Rainbow Veterans of Canada and the LGBT Purge Fund to identify and address systemic challenges facing 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans.
Veterans Affairs Canada has committed to making space to build community with 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans, hosting the landmark 2020 virtual roundtable on 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans and guiding the implementation of Gender Inclusive Services to ensure the representation of transgender and gender-diverse Veterans and their families.
In 2023, Veterans Affairs Canada hosted the Women and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum, on February 9th and February 16th. The intent of the Forum was to continue to provide an opportunity for Veterans Affairs to elevate the experiences of underrepresented Veterans and encourage conversations and linkages with stakeholder that respond to the needs of women and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans. This Women and 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum built on the 2020 Women Veterans Forum, 2020 LGBTQ2 Veterans Roundtable, and 2019 Women Veterans Forum.
In April 2024, Veterans Affairs sent the first ever 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans delegation to France and Belgium to visit historical sites and participate in commemorative events. The delegation was made up of members from Rainbow Veterans of Canada and The LGBT Purge Fund. The delegation also took part in a Battle of Vimy Ridge ceremony on April 9th to honour all First World War 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans, particularly Frederick Hardy, whose name is listed on the monument.
In August 2024, VAC partnered with Rainbow Veterans of Canada and the LGBT Purge Fund to host the first annual 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum. The event was held in Fredericton, New Brunswick on August 28-29. The 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum Summary Report was published in January 2025.

QUICK FACTS & FIGURES
Findings from the 2023 Veterans’ Well-Being Community Health Needs Assessment
• The number of Veterans who are non-binary is similar to that of the general population (0.1% each).
• The number of Veterans who are transgender men and women is the same as that of the Canadian general population (0.1% respectively).
• Only 39.8% of 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans feel a strong sense of community belonging, compared to 59.9% of heterosexual Veterans.
VAC Actions to Support 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans
• Engagement & Partnerships:
o Ongoing engagement with the Rainbow Veterans of Canada and the LGBT Purge Fund Board of Directors.
o Engagement with the larger community via the 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum and other venues to identify systemic barriers and gaps.
o Inclusion of 2SLGBTQI+ perspectives in Ministerial Advisory Groups.
o Represented in commemorative events and pilgrimages.
• Targeted Funding
o Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund (VFWF) supports projects addressing 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans’ needs.
o Allocated funding to support the 2025 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans Forum
• Inclusive Policies & Training:
o Modernizing Sex and Gender Information Practices.
o Trauma-informed, bias awareness, and 2SLGBTQI+ history training for VAC staff. In the 2025 Public Service Pride Week , VAC hosted screening of The Fruit Machine documentary, and hosted a virtual event highlighting the Canadian Museum for Human Rights exhibit, Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada's LGBT Purge.
o Integration of Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus), Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (SGBA Plus) across programs, benefits, and services policy development/update, as well as decision-making processes.
Improvements to Disability Benefits
• Multi-year modernization of Table of Disabilities (TOD) and Entitlement Eligibility Guidelines (EEGs) (completion 2025–26).
Updates include:
o Expanded guidance on gender-affirming care.
o New EEG for Sexual Dysfunction (2022) with gender-inclusive criteria.
o Enhancements in TOD Chapter 16 - Urinary, Sexual, Reproductive and Breast Impairment (2024)
Commemoration & Recognition
• Expansion of commemorative materials to honour 2SLGBTQI+ military history.
• Public education on the LGBT Purge and past discrimination.