On January 31, 2025, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg launched Love in a Dangerous Time: Canada's LGBT Purge, a major exhibition curated by ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ History alumnus Dr. Scott de Groot. This exhibition is the largest queer history exhibition ever held by a Canadian museum (4000 sq. ft.). It tells the story of how, during the Cold War, queer members of the military, RCMP, and civil service were constructed as a threat to national security and investigated, harassed, and often fired from their jobs. It also explores how 2SLGBTQ+ people fought back, protested against discrimination, took the government to court, and ultimately ended the Purge. The exhibition incorporates oral history interviews with Purge survivors, immersive and interactive content, commissioned artwork (e.g. a film created in collaboration with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet), and much else.
Love in a Dangerous Time will remain in Winnipeg for a year before travelling the country, likely to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa as a first stop. A small, pop-up version of the exhibition launched in Calgary this summer (500 sq. ft.) It's currently travelling to community and non-museum venues out West before heading to Ontario and Quebec.
published an article speaking with Dr. de Groot and others involved in the making of the exhibition.
More details about the exhibition itself can be found on the .
