The Royal Canadian Mint has unveiled a new commemorative coin to honour lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirited people. The coin marks 50 years since Parliament passed legislation in 1969 to decriminalize homosexuality in Canada.
The Royal Canadian Mint plans to circulate about 3 million of these commemorative LGBTQ2 coins! Keep an eye out, you might find one in your pockets soon.
The coin features the words "EQUALITY - ÉGALITÉ" and the years "1969" and "2019" alongside an illustration by Vancouver artist Joe Average, who has dedicated his life to art and charity work after an HIV+ diagnosis in 1984.
Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the coin is meant to highlight progress made since then in achieving equality between people of all orientations, but also recognized that there is still progress to be made. "We are not at the end of this path," he said.
Critics said the coin could be misinterpreted as a claim that equality has been achieved, though that is not the case. They also said the idea that homosexuality was "decriminalized" is not entirely accurate. "No laws were repelled in 1969," said York University historian Tom Hooper. "They added a reform. They allowed us to commit these crimes provided we did so under strict circumstances."
However, Hooper and others acknowleged that the 1969 legislation and subsequent social changes were positive, even worthy of celebration.