Group working to ban gay conversion therapy in Alberta

Partial content provided by the government of Alberta: 

Alberta Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman recently announced the formation of Conversion Therapy Working Groups, whose goal is to figure out the most effective way to ban the dangerous and harmful practice of gay conversion therapy.

It will include academics, representatives from health and legal professions, community advocates, faith leaders, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, subject matter experts and those with lived experience of conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy can be defined as any treatment, counselling or behaviour modification that aims to change or modify someone’s sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

“Conversion therapy is a damaging, hateful practice that has no place in our province. Albertans deserve to trust that any measures to end this practice are as strong as possible, will withstand legal challenges and have the support of those who need them most. I thank the members of the group for fighting for vulnerable Albertans, and look forward to receiving their recommendations and taking action to ban conversion therapy in Alberta.”

Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health

Alberta Liberal Candidate for Lethbridge-East Devon Hargreaves has been campaigning against this barbaric practice for some time now, recently getting 18,200 signatures on a petition that was presented to the federal Feb 1st in the house of commons, which the government now has 45 days to respond to.

Hargreaves says the actual methods used in conversation can differ.

“It varies depending on the type of treatment, so we got everything from ‘Pray Away the Gay’, to enforcing that being queer is wrong, forcing people to watch gay porn and give them a negative reaction to conditions them to not be who they were born to be.”

Chair of the Central Alberta Pride Society Shannon Humphrey says it's a good step, but it's incredible that these steps have to be taken in the first place.

"It's certainly a step in the right direction but one, that in this day and age, should not be necessary. It is shocking to me that this is still a conversation that is being had, considering it is a violation of constitutional rights and freedoms guranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms located directly in our Constitution. Conversion therapy and camp are unconstitutional in and of itself and should be illegal. I think the debate on this topic illustrates just how far we still have to go in the fight for equality and basic human rights. People often ask why things like Pride Week, Pride Month, or Pride Societies exists. This is why, because despite the perceived absence of inequality and limitations on freedom, unfortunately, they still exist." 

Co-Chair of the Conversion Therapy Working Group and MLA for Edmonton-Castle Downs Nicole Goehring says this practice can cause serious negative side effects for a person forced to undergo this therapy.

“Some of those symptoms are stress, anxiety, depression, negative self-image, just an overall feeling of personal failure…people having difficulty sustaining relationships, sexual dysfunction, and many other negative outcomes associated with those who have gone through conversion therapy. “

Goehring says they will meet with academics, health and legal professionals, faith leaders, and members of the LGBTQ2S + groups to determine the most effective way to ban this dangerous practice.

“We want to make sure that any measures that we bring forward are absolutely as strong as possible and can stand up to any legal challenges they might incur, and ultimately we want to make sure we get it right and we are protecting those who need it most.”

“No one deserves to be discriminated against or subject to harmful practices based on their innate sexual orientation. Conversion therapy is wrong and I’m pleased to see our government taking action to eliminate this practice in Alberta. It’s an honour to be a part of this life-saving work.”

Glynnis Lieb, Executive Director of the Institute of Sexual Minority Studies and Services at University of Alberta, co-chair of Conversion Therapy Working Group

The group will meet regularly for five months and will have opportunities to engage with stakeholders and those with lived experience as part of this work. The group members will be supported by an Alberta Health staff secretariat as they prepare their final written report.