Workshop 11

Diane "Dee" Doiron (they/them) is a survivor of the LGBT Purge within the Canadian Armed Forces. After serving in the Royal Canadian Navy, she was dismissed in 1987 because of her sexual orientation. She went on to build a career in photojournalism at the Chronicle Herald in Halifax and the Daily Gleaner in Fredericton, before joining the National Post in Toronto, where she served as Assistant Bureau Chief. Her work has been published in outlets including the National Post, The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and The Canadian Press. Today, she shares her story and speaks on behalf of those affected by the LGBT Purge, in support of memory, healing, and dignity.

Drawing on her lived experience as a survivor of the LGBT Purge, Diane (Dee) Doiron will reflect on the lasting effects of institutional exclusion, stigma, and silence on life trajectories, mental health, and dignity. This presentation will create space for a deeper understanding of the systemic violence experienced by 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada, while emphasizing the importance of recognition, repair, and transmission.