Protesters show their support for banning conversion therapy in Lethbridge. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Protesters show support for banning conversion therapy in Lethbridge, others want definition changed

Jul 13, 2020 | 2:56 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – As discussions continue in Lethbridge City Council about abolishing conversion therapy, locals took to streets to voice their opinions.

The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry (CJP) defines conversion therapy as “pseudoscientific practices intended to suppress or deny sexual attraction to members of the same gender/sex.”

At Monday’s city council meeting, members will give first reading to a bylaw to “prohibit the business practice of conversion therapy” with a fine of $10,000 for any violation.

UPDATE: Lethbridge City Council has defeated a motion to delay a decision so that a public hearing could be held first.

Around 20 minutes into the protest, at 1:50 pm, approximately 50 people had shown up.

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It was organized by Devon Hargreaves, Co-President of YQueerL Society for Change, who referred to the controversial practice as a form of torture against innocent people.

“This is not an LGBTQ2+ issue, it’s a human rights issue, so let’s stand up and do the right thing, both as a city and as a nation.”

He cited research from the CJP which says that those who go through conversion therapy are more likely to experience problems with their mental health or suffer from substance addiction.

(Supplied by Canadian Journal of Psychiatry)

Resident Colette Iakema offered a different perspective on the issue and says what could be referred to as conversion therapy actually helped her.

She shared the story of how she was raped as a teenager. This led her to struggling with mental health issues, particularly around her sexuality, and later sought counseling at the University of Lethbridge.

“I went to therapy because I wanted to live out the life that I wanted, based on where I came from, based on who I am, based on what I believe, so I went to therapy at the University of Lethbridge to help me reduce my sexual attraction and sexual behaviour, and that’s why I think it’s extremely important that we do not pass this bylaw as it’s worded.”

Iakema believes the phrasing of the proposed bylaw is far too vague.

The spectrum of what can be considered conversion therapy is quite expansive. On the one end, it can be talk counselling, while at the other, some people have been strapped to a chair and electrocuted while being shown nude images of a person from the same gender.

“I think it’s extremely important that we change and fix the definition to represent people like me who were helped by life-giving therapy that would now be obsolete…I completely oppose any torture, abuse, and coercion,” says Iakema.

While Iakema would like to see a public hearing be held before a decision is made by city council, Hargreaves says “torture is torture” and that this should not be up for debate.

Protesters in front of Lethbridge City Hall. (Lethbridge News Now)

Protesters in front of Lethbridge City Hall. (Lethbridge News Now)