Canada Bans Conversion Therapy, Forms 2SLGBTQ+ Council

Canada is making big strides to do away with old, harmful policy and move forward with eyes on equity, as the country banned conversion therapy and additionally formed a Two-Spirit and LGBTQ council last week.

Conversion therapy is a widely discredited practice that seeks to change LGBTQ people’s sexuality. Canada introduced a new bill, which was approved to become law last Wednesday and will take effect 30 days from then, January 7. The bill, Bill C-4, amends the criminal code so those who cause another person to undergo conversion therapy, providers included, are guilty of an indictable offense, with a possible prison sentence of up to five years.

In addition, promoting and advertising conversion therapy will be criminalized, with a possible sentence of up to two years. Those profiting from conversion therapy are also liable for a prison sentence of up to two years, and removing a child from the country to undergo conversion therapy somewhere else would also be a criminal offense.

The bill says that conversion therapy “causes harm to society because, among other things, it is based on and propagates myths and stereotypes about sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.” It carries on to say that allowing it continues the myth that heterosexuality, cisgender gender identity, and gender expression conforming to one’s assigned sex at birth is to be preferred over others and, “in light of those harms, it is important to discourage and denounce the provision of conversion therapy in order to protect the human dignity and equality of all Canadians.”

Last week, CBC also reported that Canada approved in an unanimous vote to form a Two-Spirit and LGBTQ council. Previous assembly resolutions have affirmed Two-Spirit and LGBTQ rights, though this is the first time the Association of First Nations has moved to form a dedicated body to weigh in on Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+ issues.

“It was a little bit emotional for me when I was speaking to it … because there’s a lot of experiences of homophobia and transphobia, just discrimination, even within First Nations communities,” says Squamish Nation chairperson Khelsilem, who proposed the resolution, to CBC.

Indigenous nations have experienced decades of struggle under the colonial Canadian government, and while the new resolution doesn’t guarantee progress, it does give Indigenous folks in Canada a seat at the table, where it has historically been denied.

“I think for our young people in our communities who might not feel included or represented or heard as a part of this community, this might be a way to open up that conversation and think about ways to bring some of these ideas on the national level,” Khelisim says.