The Fruit Machine

"The Fruit Machine" is a 2018 Canadian documentary film that profiles the infamous "fruit machine", a device used by the Canadian government in the 1950s and 1960s to identify LGBT employees and disqualify them from the civil service. The film features interviews with individuals whose lives were disrupted or destroyed by the test, including Michelle Douglas, John Ibbitson, John Sawatsky, and Gary Kinsman. Through their stories, the documentary sheds light on a dark chapter in Canadian history that had a profound impact on public servants and military personnel who were unfairly targeted due to their sexual orientation.