Michelle D. Douglas (born December 30, 1963) is a Canadian human rights activist who launched a landmark legal challenge in the Federal Court of Canada against the military's discriminatory policies against LGBTQ+ service members. Douglas herself served as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1986 to 1989. She was honourably discharged from the military in 1989 under the military's discriminatory anti-gay purge. In 2024, Douglas received an honorary degree from Mount Saint Vincent University.
Gay purge legal challenge
After graduating from Carleton University with a major in law in 1985, Douglas joined the Canadian Forces in 1986. She was soon promoted to the Special Investigations Unit—where she was the first woman to be promoted to the Unit as an officer. Absurdly, it was also the Unit responsible for running the anti-gay purge for the armed forces. Despite having an exemplary service record and repeatedly being at the top of her class, in 1989, she was released from the Forces because she was lesbian. She currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Michaelle Jean Foundation.
Professionally, Douglas served as the Director of International Relations at the Canadian Department of Justice. She retired in September 2019 after a 30-year career in the federal public service. The LGBT Purge Fund manages a fund of $15 million to support reconciliation projects relating to the LGBT Purge. This includes leading a project to build the LGBTQ2+ National Monument in Ottawa, which is expected to open in 2024. In January 2020, the National Capital Commission approved the future site for the LGBTQ2+ National Monument by Wellington Street and Portage Bridge in Ottawa.
In 2000, Pride Toronto named Douglas and Sky Gilbert as parade Grand Marshals. Douglas was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
A portrait of Douglas, by artist Laura Spaldin, is held by The ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives' National Portrait Collection, in honor of her contributions to LGBTQ2+ rights in Canada.
On December 13, 2023, the Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Bill Blair appointed Douglas as the first Honorary Colonel for Professional Conduct and Culture.