South Africa’s out Deputy Minister, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has visited the site of what is said to become one of the world’s largest LGBTQ2+ monument in Canada.
Letsike, from the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, was accompanied by Jessica Stern, who served as the US Special Envoy for LGBTQI Human Rights from 2021 to 2025, Kim Vance-Mubanga of Egale International, and Doug Kerr of the Canada Dignity Network.
Thunderhead Monument Honours LGBTQ2+ History
Known as Thunderhead, the monument will honour the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and Two-Spirit communities in Canada. Two-Spirit is a term used by some Indigenous North American people to describe a person who embodies both male and female spirits.
In a social media statement, the department said the visit underscored the importance of memory, recognition and justice in building inclusive societies.
“Cultural monuments are not just symbols of remembrance — they are instruments of justice,” commented Deputy Minister Letsike. “They confront erasure, affirm dignity, and expand civic space for LGBTI persons and all vulnerable groups whose stories must be seen, heard, and remembered.”
Visit Linked to Ottawa Civic Space Summit
Letsike travelled to Canada to represent South Africa at the 2026 Ottawa Civic Space Summit, held from 21 to 23 April. The event brings together civil society organisations, governments, donors, media, academia and private sector representatives.
Participants discussed strategies to defend civic freedoms, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and explore new tools and approaches to support inclusive democratic engagement.
Monument Design and Location
The monument will stand in Ottawa, Ontario, on traditional Anishinabe Algonquin Nation territory. It will feature a mirrored thunderhead cloud inside a large column.
The site will also include an orchard, a medicinal garden, a healing circle with stones selected by Indigenous elders, and a walking path designed for reflection and remembrance.
Monument Rooted in LGBT Purge Settlement
Funding for the initiative came from a 2018 class action settlement against the Government of Canada. Survivors of the LGBT Purge launched the lawsuit after decades of systemic discrimination.
The purge saw authorities hunt, harass and dismiss LGBTQ2+ members of the Canadian military and federal public service from the 1950s to the mid-1990s.
Developers expect to complete and unveil the monument in the coming weeks during the Northern Hemisphere summer.
