A transgender military chaplain who was celebrated by the Canadian Armed Forces on ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’ has been disciplined for making an inappropriate comment or request of another individual, according to the Department of National Defence.
Captain Beatrice Gale, was celebrated by the Department of National Defence (DND) in a video released in 2023 that discusses the chaplain’s gender transition.
DND has confirmed in an email to The Epoch Times that Capt. Gale was “found to have committed a service infraction” on April 3 and has since been suspended from the role of chaplain.
“When the Chaplain General was initially informed of the allegations, the mandate for Capt. Gale to serve as a military chaplain was immediately suspended,” the email said.
Additional sanctions included losing two days of pay and 20 days of leave, except for medical reasons. Capt. Gale has also been assigned to administrative duties at the Royal Military College, spokesperson Andrée-Anne Poulin wrote in the email.
“This incident stems from an inappropriate comment or request to another individual. Neither member was in a position of authority over the other,” the email said.
“The Military Police (MP) conducted a detailed and thorough investigation into this matter, and after consultation with the Crown, the MP determined that the evidence gathered did not meet the threshold for criminal charges.”
Military police charged Capt. Gale with “infractions in relation to military service” and a summary hearing was held.
“All breaches of discipline and allegations of breaches are taken with the utmost seriousness by the Chaplain General. Certain behaviours not only cause immense harm to all those impacted and affected by them, but they also violate the sacred trust between military chaplains and those they are called upon to serve,” Ms. Poulin said in the email.
“The Chaplain General will consider the implications of the summary hearing’s verdict in order to determine if additional administrative actions within their authority are required.”
Capt. Gale was the focus of a National Defence publication marking the 2024 Transgender Day of Visibility roughly a week before the summary hearing was held.
“Greater diversity and inclusivity enrich the workplace and enable us to leverage the range of perspectives and expertise needed to address today’s complex challenges,” DND wrote.
Capt. Gale talks in the video, released last March on social media, about transitioning at the age of 43.
“What I bring to the cadets here is the same thing that any other chaplain would. Most of the cadets that I talk to actually don’t see me as transgender. They see me as a chaplain,” Capt. Gale said.
That influential position, Capt. Gale said, sends a message to the LGBT community.
“It makes us stronger when we share our challenges and I hope that being a transgender chaplain sends a message to the LGBTQ plus community that the Royal Canadian Chaplains service cares, that it cares for that community.”
In line with its diversity, equity, and inclusion focus, the federal government has been making broader changes in the military, including the chaplaincy.
