Barbara Thornborrow

Barbara Thornborrow is a former private who was involuntarily discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces for being a lesbian in 1977. She later challenged the decision, becoming the first person who was discharged based on their sexual orientation to do so publicly.

Early activism As a young adult, Thornborrow was active in the Hamilton-McMaster LGBT movement for which she visited universities and high schools discussing LGBT issues.

Career In 1977, Thornborrow was a private in the Canadian Armed Forces, stationed at Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe in Ottawa, Ontario. On May 3, 1977, Thornborrow applied for voluntary release from the Canadian Armed Forces. Six days later on May 9, Thornborrow was called into the office of Sergeant Cochrane of the Canadian Forces' Special Investigations Unit (SIU) where she was questioned by Cochrane and a military policewoman about her alleged homosexuality. Thornborrow was informed that she was being questioned because allegations of homosexuality threatened national security by making her more susceptible to blackmail. The SIU interviewed her roommate and subsequently searched her room in search of evidence to use against her. The officers found gay pamphlets and old love letters. According to Thornborrow, “the officer came right out and said ‘we’ve got all the stuff, and it’s quite obvious that you are, so why don’t you admit it?” So I said, ‘Alright, I am.’”

In response, the Canadian Forces issued a press release stating that Thornborrow was never pressured to leave the military as she had already requested voluntary release and it had been approved. On May 30, Thornborrow was promised that she would be “voluntarily released” under Item 4c on November 10, 1977, upon completion of the mandatory six-month waiting period.

However, on June 20, 1977, Thornborrow was informed by her commanding officer that she would be discharged under Item 5(d) as a person who is “not advantageously employable” and she had to leave the base by the end of the week. Colonel J.C. Boulet claims that granting Thornborrow a “voluntary release” was an administrative error and the Canadian Forces had considered honouring her request until the interviews and press releases. Boulet further stated “all earlier statements by forces spokesmen saying gays, on disclosure, could leave the services were wrong. ‘We do not condone homosexuality, and have to dismiss anyone who admits he is one.’”