OTTAWA: Trudeau Raises Pride Flag Over Parliament, Vows To Expunge Records For Anti-Gay Convictions

The Toronto Star reports:

The Liberal government will introduce legislation later this year to erase past convictions for sexual activity with a same-sex partner, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday as multi-coloured flags were raised on Parliament’s west lawn.

The legislation would add to reforms already in the works to atone for the damage caused to thousands of Canadians convicted of gross indecency for committing homosexual acts.

Egale, a national organization that advocates for the rights of sexual minorities, handed the government a report last June that recommended those convictions be expunged, pardoned or somehow stricken from the records of those convicted. Before 1969, same-sex acts between consensual adults were considered unlawful.

“Our government will be moving forward with a process for the expungement of criminal convictions for Canadians who were unjustly convicted of a crime simply for who they were and who they loved,” Trudeau said as dozens of people gathered for the announcement cheered.

The flag raising ceremony is at the start of the clip. As you’ll see, also raised is the transgender flag.

Today’s Pride flag raising marks a milestone as we work to right historical injustices against LGBTQ2 Canadians: https://t.co/lPgyVhw7xQ

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 14, 2017