Peace Button, 1987

Button – Donnelly/Colt. Diefenbunker Museum: 2011.002.213. Image does not reflect actual size.

The Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum

This round plastic button with metal backing depicts a black peace sign over a rainbow-coloured background. The button was designed by Donnelly/Colt Progressive Resources, a family-owned business that has been producing progressive materials since 1975 with the goal of raising awareness and funds to help make the world a more peaceful place.

Copyrighted in 1987, this button was distributed during a time of turmoil for the 2SLGBTQI+ community in Canada. The LGBT Purge began in the 1950s and continued up until the mid-1990s. Canadian civil servants, RCMP employees, and Canadian Armed Forces personnel who were perceived or discovered to be queer faced systematic discrimination, including investigation, questioning, and dismissal because of their sexual orientation, which was considered a “character weakness.” Though survivors launched a nation-wide class action lawsuit against the Canadian government and a settlement was reached in 2018, these traumatic acts continue to impact lives today and reconciliation efforts are ongoing.

The Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum is proud to be Rainbow Registered and is committed to amplifying diverse and underrepresented stories from Canada’s Cold War history, including those of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.