By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Lethbridge organizations launch petition seeking national ban on conversion therapy

Sep 20, 2018 | 3:30 PM

LETHBRIDGE – With a private members bill expected this fall to ban conversion therapy in Alberta, the YQueerL Society for Change and the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group (LPIRG) are looking to take the ban to the national level.

The two organizations launched a petition Thursday, Sept. 20, seeking to ban the practice of trying to convert an individual’s sexual orientation for minors in Canada, after getting sponsorship from Saskatoon West MP, Sheri Benson.

“We’re very happy with [Edmonton-Castle Downs MLA] Nicole Goehring announcing that she’ll be introducing a provincial conversion therapy ban, however, there are limitations with a provincial ban as far as criminalizing it – getting it added to the criminal code, which is definitely important, and we need to do that,” said Devon Hargreaves, Co-President of YQueerL. “The provincial ban will go a long-ways in helping to slow the practice, but it’s by no means the end of it.”

In addition to a ban in Canada, Hargreaves says they are seeking legislation that would prohibit the transportation of minors outside the country for such purposes; and that conversion therapy be included in the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, to protect children from abuse.

Hargreaves said the practice carries the potential to inflict mental, emotional and sometimes even physical harm on children, adding, “It’s a traumatizing experience and it needs to end.”

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“Conversion therapy’s a pseudoscientific practice to try to convert someone from being a queer individual into making them straight,” continued Hargreaves. “I think, as a society, we’ve come far enough to recognize that being queer, or gay, or part of the LGBT+ community is not a wrong thing and it’s fine to accept who you are. The issue we have is with individuals trying to change how minors and children were born.”

For those looking to help the initiative, Hargreaves said it’s important that people sign the new petition – even if they have already signed another one online – as it is the only one that can actually go before the federal government.

As of 3:29 p.m. MST, and about eight hours after the petition was officially launched, the petition had 93 signatures – with 84 coming from Alberta.

“Look up your MLA’s email address and phone number, look up your MP’s email address and phone number – if you need help doing that, contact our YQueerL Facebook page – write them letters, let them know that it’s more than just a petition, it’s something that you care passionately about and let’s get that pressure on Ottawa to bring forward a bill,” Hargreaves stated.

“Conversion therapy has been banned by Ontario, it’s been banned in Manitoba, the City of Vancouver banned it, one of the Maritime provinces right now is in the process of banning it, and Alberta is going to be looking at banning it. So, with that and the momentum that’s coming behind that, let’s take the next step and do this as a nation.”