The House of Commons in Canada passed a bill criminalising LGBT conversion therapy 263 to 63 on Tuesday, providing a victory to the minority ruling Liberal party, who promised to outlaw the practise during its election programme reveal in 2019.
What is conversion therapy?
According to NHS England, conversion therapy – sometimes called “reparative therapy” or “gay cure therapy” – tries to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
In practice, it means trying to stop or suppress someone from being gay, or from living as a different gender to their sex recorded at birth.
It can include talking therapies and prayer, says Jayne Ozanne, a former government equality adviser subjected to the practice. More extreme forms can include “exorcisms, physical violence and food deprivation”, she says.
It includes talk therapy, hypnosis, electric shocks, and fasting:
Conversion therapy, which aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, can include talk therapy, hypnosis, electric shocks, and fasting. The procedure has been labelled “harmful and ineffective” by the American Medical Association.
The vote occurred as the House attempted to complete its legislative agenda before the start of the summer recess on Wednesday and the possibility of elections later this year. The bill will now be sent to the Senate for consideration.
The government’s budget bill remained in limbo, with major pandemic aid programmes slated to expire at the end of the month.
The summer recess ends on September 20th, and an election might take place as early as that month.
According to a Leger poll released on Tuesday, the Liberals have a 34-to-30 edge over the main opposition Conservatives.
Approx 20% of sexual minority men in Canada have undergone some form of conversion therapy
According to government data, approximately 20% of sexual minority men in Canada have undergone some form of conversion therapy. According to the data, lower-income, indigenous, and trans people are disproportionately exposed to the practise.
However, the bill will not apply to those seeking guidance and support from counselors or faith leaders.
According to a government statement, Canadian cities such as Vancouver in British Columbia and Calgary in Alberta have banned the practise within their borders.
