Introduction

Joseph John “J.J.” Belanger was born in Edmonton, Alberta in 1925.

He enlisted in the military as a teenager during the Second World War and served as a wireless air gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Bomber crew

He flew in Lancaster bombers on raids over occupied Europe. During one mission in mid-1944, enemy fire hit J. J.’s plane and he was wounded by shrapnel.

The crew had to bail out along the coast of France where J. J. spent three days in a small dingy before being rescued.

Tragic loss

Only three of the plane’s eight crew members survived. One of the dead was the bomber pilot, an Australian named Gordon and J. J.’s lover. They had met at the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan base in Winnipeg earlier in the war and had spent much time together.

This tragic loss was very hard for J.J. and was made even worse because their love had to be hidden from the wider world. Grieving the death of his partner too openly would have caused problems, so he couldn’t express the full depth of his sorrow.

After the war

J.J. had already come out to his family and to Gordon’s parents—who lived in England during the war.

After the war, he returned to civilian life and moved to the west coast. Soon, he became active in public 2SLGBTQI+ advocacy.

As a researcher in sexuality studies, he contributed to the work of the trailblazer Dr. Alfred Kinsey who expanded the field of sexuality during that era.

J.J. was also involved in the early fight for transgender rights and served in the United States Air Force in the late 1950s.

He died in 1993.

Related information

Belanger Papers – Online Archive of California

J.J. Belanger – episode transcript from “Making Gay History – The Podcast”

Stolen kiss helps uncover story of Edmonton's forgotten LGBTQ pioneer – CBC News