Canada Reintroduces Bill To Ban Conversion Therapy
Canada reintroduced a bill that will criminalise ‘conversion’ therapy. The bill was previously introduced in March but was delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, as ‘Gay Times’ report.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has supported the bill, stating: “Conversion therapy is harmful, degrading, and has no place in Canada … I hope that all parties will do the right thing by supporting this bill.”
Trudeau said in last year's election that banning conversion therapy would be a “top priority” for his new government.
Diversity Minister Bardish Chagger, who brought the bill to the House of Commons, states: “On this side of the House we focus on advancing and protecting LGBTQ+ rights.”.
Other members of the New Democratic party echoed words of support for the proposed bill.
“Attempting to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity is impossible and the attempts themselves do great harm to those fearing or already suffering from rejection by family, friends, and their community,” NDP MP Randall Garrison said.
According to Stonewall, “Conversion therapy refers to any form of treatment or psychotherapy which aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or to suppress a person’s gender identity. It is based on an assumption that being lesbian, gay, bi or trans is a mental illness that can be ‘cured’.”
If the bill passes, it will ban conversion therapy for minors and prohibit people from taking minors outside of the country to get harmful therapy. The bill will also make it illegal to forcibly send an adult to therapy against their will.
Read related myGwork articles here:
Religious Leaders Urge Boris Johnson To Ban Conversion Therapy
Polish Therapists And Psychologists Speak Out Against ‘Conversion’ Therapy In Open Letter
Mexico City Criminalises ‘Conversion Therapy’
South Australia Moves To Outlaw ‘Conversion Therapy’
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