Canada ban conversion therapy or sexual orientation “healing” therapy on Wednesday (8/12). This conversion therapy is believed to be able to change a person’s sexual orientation or identity.
Canada’s bill makes the activity of “providing, promoting or advertising conversion therapy” a criminal offence, the Canadian Senate said on Twitter.
Additionally, this rule also prohibits people from forcing Canadian children into conversion therapy.
This rule comes into force 30 days after the bill received royal assent on Wednesday (8/12).
“It’s now official: our government’s law banning the despicable and degrading practice of conversion therapy has received royal approval, which means making it law. LGBTQ2 Canadians, we will continue to support you, as well than your rights,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement on his Twitter account.
Quotation CNN, “LGBTQ2” is an acronym used by the Government of Canada to refer to the meaning of “Two-Spirit”. Two Spirits is an identity used by some Indigenous peoples to refer to someone whose gender identity, spiritual identity, and/or sexual orientation consists of male and female spirits.
Conversion therapy is based on the assumption that sexual orientation can be changed or ‘cured’. This idea met with resistance from several of the major medical associations in the United States and Britain.
Usually, conversion therapy is performed by religious leaders. However, some doctors are also involved in this therapy.
Last year, hundreds of religious leaders joined forces to push for a global ban on conversion therapy. The statement also expresses their apologies for religious teachings that have hurt the LGBTQ+ community and calls on everyone to celebrate the inclusiveness and extraordinary gift of our diversity.
(pwn/bin)
[Gambas:Video CNN]
