Canada launches new coin to mark 50 years of LGBT+ rights
Canada has launched a new coin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
The $1 coin features two overlapping faces with the word “equality” written in both English and French, and an engraving of the years 1969 and 2019.
The coin was unveiled at a special event in Toronto on Tuesday where Randy Boissonnault, special advisor to the prime minister on LGBT+ issues, said it was “an important day” for the LGBT+ community in Canada.
“It is an opportunity to reflect on a landmark event in our country’s history, and a reminder of the progress still to be made as we work toward inclusion and equality for all LGBT+ Canadians,” he said.
Meanwhile, Marie Lemay, president of the Royal Canadian Mint, added: “The Mint plays a significant role in celebrating Canada’s culture, history and values through coins.
“Marking 50 years since a landmark decision that began a process of legal reforms to recognise the rights of LGBT+ Canadians is a powerful way to recognise Canada’s profound belief in equality and inclusion."
The new coin was designed by Vancouver-based artist Joe Average who dedicated his life to art when he was diagnosed with HIV in 1984.
Average has revealed that the image of two intertwined faces reflects gender fluidity and the spectrum of genders.
Average's artwork is also celebrated on a full-colour, pure silver collector version of the coin, which is limited to a mintage of 15,000.
Details of the equality coin were first released in December 2019, when it was reported that the design had been approved by Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau’s father, former Canadian leader Pierre Trudeau, proposed changes to the Criminal Code in 1967 that would go on to decriminalise gay sex.
“I think the view we take here is that there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. I think that what’s done in private between adults doesn’t concern the Criminal Code. When it becomes public this is a different matter, or when it relates to minors this is a different matter,” Pierre Trudeau said at the time.
Almost ten years later, in 1977, Quebec became the first jurisdiction in Canada to amend its provincial charter of human rights to include sexual orientation as a prohibited ground for discrimination.
On 20 July, 2005, Canada became the first country outside Europe and the fourth country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage nationwide after the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act.
However, the equality coin has been criticised by some historians and LGBT+ activists.
Historian Tom Hooper – who researches LGBT+ history – said the coin commemorates a “myth” as changes to the Criminal Code in 1969 only decriminalised gay sex between men aged 21 and over in a private setting.
“I feel like they're putting this myth onto a coin, Hooper told CBC.
“They're stamping this coin with 1969 and right next to it 'equality' and there was nothing in 1969 to do with equality.
"Even the people who supported the Criminal Code reforms were arguing that we were a mental disease. So this was not about equality."
