Canada reintroduces bill to ban LGBT+ conversion therapy

James Crump
·2 min read
A giant pride flag is carried down Younge Street in Toronto, Ontario during the city's Pride Parade, 25 June 2017 ((AFP via Getty Images))
A giant pride flag is carried down Younge Street in Toronto, Ontario during the city's Pride Parade, 25 June 2017 ((AFP via Getty Images))

Canada’s Liberal Party has reintroduced a bill to parliament that if passed will criminalise LGBT+ conversion therapy in the country.

LGBT+ conversion therapy is defined as any practice that is designed to repress or reduce non-heterosexual sexual attraction or behaviours in a person, or to change someone’s gender identity to one that matches their sex assigned at birth, according to Reuters.

If sucessful, the bill will make it an offence to force anyone to undergo conversion therapy against their will, or to cause a minor to take part in it.

The legislation would also make it a criminal offence to profit from the practice, but would not apply to personal views expressed to people seeking support and guidance about their gender or sexual identity.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, prime minister Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party, said: “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.”

Diversity Minister Bardish Chagger, who introduced the bill in the House of Commons on Thursday, said that tabling it just days into the new parliamentary session sends a strong message, according to CBC.

Ms Chagger added: “On this side of the House, we focus on advancing and protecting LGBTQ rights.”

The bill was first introduced in March, but the effort failed when parliament was discontinued in August due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The New Demoractic Party (NDP) backed the bill in March, and on Thursday suggested it will again support the legislation.

Speaking in parliament, NDP MP Randall Garrison said: “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.”

Ontario was the first Canadian province to ban conversion therapy in 2015, and the practice has since been outlawed in Vancouver and Calgary.

LGBT+ conversion therapy has also been banned in several US states, including New York, Washington and California.

No date has been set yet to vote on the legislation.

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