Canadian 2SLGBTQI+ and Civil Society Organizations Unite to Call on Parliament to Ban Conversion Practices

Ottawa (November 1, 2021) - Today over 100 2SLGBTQI+, healthcare, human rights, academic, faith, labour and civil society organizations from across Canada have united in support of a “Community Call to Action” to call on Parliament to ban conversion practices and support survivors. If introduced, federal legislation to ban conversion practices would be the fourth piece of legislation brought forward to outlaw this abuse following the failed attempts of bills S-260, C-8 and C-6.

Developed in collaboration with Canadian survivors and civil society experts, the Community Call to Action calls on Parliament to take immediate action to prohibit all forms of conversion practices, develop accompanying policies to support survivor healing and create public education and awareness programs. The document compiles peer-reviewed research, lived experience and best practices from other jurisdictions as a roadmap for officials to develop comprehensive legislation and supporting measures, and keep 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians safe. 

“I’m proud to see communities come together with this Community Call to Action and send such a clear message. We need all levels of government - federal, provincial and municipal - to ensure that conversion practices are banned so that no one of any age, orientation or gender identity is subjected to the harm they cause” said Mark Hartburg, Kitchener-based survivor and advocate.

"Survivors of conversion practices, such as myself, and all Canadians, deserve protection from all kinds of coercive, traumatic and damaging conversion practices that seek to alter or end our LGBTQ2S+ identities. That’s why I support this Community Call to Action” said Erika Muse, survivor and trans advocate.

The memorandum has 106 signatories from across 10 provinces and territories, with support ranging from national organizations, to Prides festivals, to grassroots community groups. Included within this diverse range of support is Egale Canada, Rainbow Railroad, Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Association of Social Workers, Canadian Teachers’ Federation, Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals, Canadian Union of Public Employees, LGBT Purge Fund, National Association of Women and the Law and the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health, among many others.

“From research conducted with people in Canada with lived experience of conversion practices, we know that there is no magic bullet to fully eradicate these ongoing and traumatic practices. Rather, we need multiple policies, laws, and educational efforts at all levels of government, to ensure that future generations of Canadians are able to affirm their diverse identities, expressions, and authentic selves, as 2SLGBTQI+ people. This broad coalition is echoing a call for more comprehensive action by the federal government—this is our opportunity to do more” says Dr. Travis Salway, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University.

Conversion “therapy” or conversion practices (also known as “reparative therapy”, “reintegrative therapy” or “aversion therapy”) are any treatment, practice, or sustained effort that has the effect of denying, repressing, discouraging or changing a person’s non-heterosexual sexual orientation, non-cisgender gender identity or gender expression, or any behaviours associated with a gender other than the person’s sex assigned at birth. 

Conversion practices have been denounced for being dangerous and traumatic by more than 60 leading medical, health, and human rights organizations, including the United Nations, the World Health Organization, Amnesty International, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, the Canadian Psychiatric Association, Canadian Association of Social Workers, the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health, the Professional order of sexologists of Quebec, and the American Medical Association, among many others.

Data from June 2021 shows that as many as one in ten (10%) gay, bi, trans, and queer men and Two-Spirit and non-binary people (GBT2Q) in Canada have experienced conversion practices. Of particular concern, the data shows that 67% experienced conversion “therapy” practices in religious/faith-based settings, and 72% started conversion “therapy” practices before the age of 20.

Download the Community Call to Action on Conversion Practices Legislation
(English)

Télécharger l’Appel à l’action communautaire : Législation relative aux pratiques de conversion (Français)

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