Steven Deschamps: Serving his Country with Pride
Lieutenant-Colonel Steven Deschamps's journey: Expelled from the RCAF for being gay, then reinstated and honoured.
LGBTQ Purge in the Canadian Armed Forces
From the late 1950s through the 1990s, many LGBTQ members were purged from the Canadian Armed Forces. The military and government leadership feared that they could be blackmailed into supporting the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
The 'Fruit Machine'
Canada's attempt to identify LGBTQ+ personnel through flawed 'scientific' research led to the derogatory 'Fruit Machine' program. Its use ended in 1967, but the discriminatory purge continued.
The Fruit Machine: Canada's Cold War Gay Purge
Steven Deschamps: Love for the RCAF
In 1969, 16-year-old Steven Deschamps's passion for the RCAF began as an Air Cadet in Cornwall, Ontario. He earned a glider pilot scholarship, igniting his aviation career.
Deschamps Survival Training SchoolRCAF Foundation
Cadet Instructor
He spent his teenage summers teaching other Air Cadets at CFB Trenton and Cold Lake. He continued to teach cadets as a Reserve Officer.
At Officer Candidate School
In 1979, Steve joined the Regular Force as a pilot trainee. He attended Canadian Forces Officer Candidate School at CFB Chilliwack and was top of his class of three hundred.
Despite his success, he was purged from the RCAF in 1982 for being gay.
Lieutenant-Colonel Steven Deschamps Interview Part 1
Steven Deschamps discusses the course of his military career, his dismal from the RCAF, and eventual reinstate to the Canadian military.
Deschamps Interview Part 2
Back in the RCAF
Back in uniform in 1992, Deschamps excelled. He was instrumental in pioneering simulation systems for the Air Cadets.
Deschamps continued to serve at RCAF headquarters and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. He retired in 2013.
Deschamps Interview Part 3
Official Apology to LGBTQ Purge Victims
Honourary Colonel and A Symbol
In 2021, the RCAF Commander asked him to serve as the Honourary Colonel for No 443 Squadron in Victoria, BC. He proudly wears the Pride Citation on his uniform today.
Hear more about his story
https://rcaffoundation.ca/episode-2-steven-deschamps-the-gay-purge/
Sources
Pride in service: 2S2SLGBTQI+ Canadians in uniform
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/people-and-stories/pride-in-service
---
Mathison's Electropsychometer
CWM 19990189-001
Canadian War Museum
Électropsychomètre
MCG 19990189-001
Musée canadien de la guerre
https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1304464
---
Pathway to the Stars: 100 Years of the Royal Canadian Air Force by Michael Hood and Tom Jenkins
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.