Canada Is Apologizing to Its Gay Citizens — Will America Follow Suit?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants to help right some of the wrongs of the past. Barack Obama -- or Hillary Clinton -- could do the same.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

August 12 2016 8:41 PM EST

May 26 2023 2:12 PM EST

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Before 1969, gay sex was illegal in Canada; many people were jailed and had their reputations ruined as a result. Similar to the U.S., LGBT people in Canada were also booted from the military and public service positions up until recent decades. Now, Canada's young, liberal prime minister, Justin Trudeau, is planning to apologize for the country's past treatment of LGBT people, expunge the records of those convicted under the homophobic laws, and possibly compensate those affected by them.

The announcement led some LGBT Americans to ponder if such an incredible olive branch could be extended here. The short answer: no.

The most obvious reason to believe America would not follow Canada down the path of atonement is that it has never done anything similar. The nation has yet to apologize for slavery, which wasn't abolished until 1865, or offer financial reparations to the descendants of enslaved African-Americans (even though a United Nations panel suggested such an action). In addition, Barack Obama, visiting Japan in May, didn't apologize for the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II. "Sorry" isn't really American, we guess.

Another consideration is that an apology usually comes after a wrong is righted. In the U.S., LGBT Americans can still legally be fired and kicked out of their homes in several states. Transgender rights are also still up for debate in many places, and antigay "religious freedom" bills are still proposed and passed regularly. Gay and bisexual men also aren't allowed to donate blood unless they haven't had a same-sex experience in a year. At this point, an apology from the American government would feel very premature.

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\u201cThank you @JohnIbbitson for your advocacy.\nJustin Trudeau to apologize for historic persecution of gay Canadians https://t.co/z7Yqu0oCbN\u201d
— Dr. Rebecca Sullivan (@Dr. Rebecca Sullivan) 1470975885