Family inspiration

Sherry Lundrigan was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. She lived on the Pleasantville base where her father worked as an RCMP officer. Growing up, she was surrounded by examples of service. Her father served in the Second World War, and her older brother joined the Air Force.

As she grew older, their example inspired her. She realized she wanted to serve her country, so she joined the Naval Reserve at the age of 17.

“It was just something that was sort of inside me that I wanted to serve my country.”

The moment everything changed

After joining, Lundrigan enjoyed the structure and discipline, and felt like she belonged. The camaraderie amongst her fellow reserve members made her feel she had found her calling.

“It was everything that I thought it was going to be.”

Then, during her first summer of officer training, everything changed.

While training, Lundrigan met a woman and developed a relationship with her. It was the first time she had explored feelings that she was still trying to understand. When the relationship was discovered, the other woman was transferred to another base.

After Lundrigan returned to her home unit, she was called in by a senior female officer and interrogated about her sexuality. The experience brought her to tears. She swore she would never do it again.

“I never, ever forgot that moment. It had such a huge impact on me and who I was going to be, so I went deep into the closet.”

Realizing her identity

Lundrigan continued her work, but she carried a lot of emotional stress.

For years, she tried to hide a big part of who she was. She told herself she could control it, but a relationship with another woman helped her realize the truth: she was gay.

She didn’t know what to do. If she revealed her identity to her superiors, she risked being expelled from the military as part of the LGBT Purge: a time when the government systematically identified, harassed, and fired 2SLGBTQI+ people from the CAF, RCMP and the public service.

She decided to confide in a senior non-commissioned officer she trusted, hoping for understanding or support.

Instead, he said exactly what she did not want to hear.

“You got to get out,” he said. “If you don’t get out on your own, they’re going to find out, and you’re going to be kicked out.”

Purged from the military

Terrified of being dishonourably discharged and shamed by her family for her sexuality, and facing what seemed like no alternative, Lundrigan released from the military just one month later, a victim of the LGBT Purge.

Her parents had difficulty understanding why she left as they knew how much it meant to her. But, because she had not yet come out to them, she could not reveal her truth.

After leaving, life became difficult. It took much longer than she expected to complete her degree. Anxiety began to take over. She developed fears around flying and driving, and these fears continued to limit her career prospects after graduating.

She kept much of the shame and fear to herself. Even among other members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, she didn’t feel like herself and felt alone.

“It stays with you, because it just gets inside your soul and it changes you.”

Healing and moving forward

A turning point came when she received the Canada Pride Citation. She joined the Rainbow Veterans of Canada and met other 2SLGBTQI+ Veterans who had gone through similar hardships. She took part in efforts to educate Canadians about the discrimination faced by 2SLGBTQI+ members of the military and public service.

She found strength in connecting with survivors and sharing her story so others would not face the same treatment she did.

“You only know what you’re going through, unless you actually can sit down with somebody else, and they open their heart and pour it all out.”

Lundrigan also found support through Veterans Affairs Canada. The programs and services she received helped her heal and move forward.

She doesn’t know where she would be today without all the help she has received.

“It has changed my life. It has enabled me to get over, finally, the harm that was done, or how I responded to it.”

Renewed pride

Today, Lundrigan continues to tell her story with pride and honesty. Although she faced unfair discrimination, she is still grateful for the skills she learned in the Forces.

She recommends anyone who is interested in the military to join.

“It’ll just bring so much to your soul and heart, and you will walk very proud and tall. If you’re trying to figure yourself out, or trying to figure out what you want to do in life, it’s a fantastic springboard to take on anything.”

She believes the Canadian Armed Forces have changed significantly since her time as a reservist and she is hopeful for the future of its members.

“The military now has to be a reflection of Canadians, and Canadians are from all walks of life, so they’ve got the message.”

With courage, integrity, and loyalty, Sherry Lundrigan has left her mark. She is a Canadian Armed Forces Veteran. Discover more stories.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights will have the Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada’s LGBT Purge exhibit on display until January 1, 2027, to bring light to more stories from survivors of the LGBT Purge. There is also a travelling pop-up exhibition.

Learn more about this important part of Canada's military history and 2SLGBTQI+ people who served.