He went voluntarily after he came out to his father and was shunned for being gay. "I will never be able to forget what happened to me on that weekend, it's still so hard to process."Īshcroft is referring to the first time he attended a conversion therapy retreat six years ago. Matt Ashcroft, 29, of Belleville, Ont., is someone who knows about that impact first-hand, and he's gone public about his experience. (Cody Kapscos)Īlthough Hargreaves hasn't experienced conversion therapy himself, he says he knows others who have, and he's witnessed the effects on their lives through his work at YQueerL Society for Change in Lethbridge.Ĭonversion therapy these days happens mostly informally in churches on a one-on-one basis rather than in larger, more organized groups, Hargreaves says, but he stresses that the impact on people is the same. "We will continue to push for that legislation," he says.ĭevon Hargreaves of Lethbridge, Alta., is running for provincial office in the upcoming election to call attention to the practice of conversion therapy. He's running as an MLA in Alberta's upcoming election to continue to bring attention to the issue. Hargreaves says he's disappointed by the federal government's response, and he doesn't plan to stop campaigning for a formal ban on conversion therapy in Canada. "For example, Criminal Code offences such as kidnapping, forcible confinement and assault may apply where a person is forcibly compelled to undergo conversion therapy … we continue to work with provincial and territorial governments to address these practices." 'I'm scarred from it' "Certain Criminal Code offences may apply to situations involving conversion therapy, depending upon the circumstances," reads the federal government's statement. On March 19, the government responded to it by saying that, "conversion therapies are immoral, painful, and do not reflect the values of our government or those of Canadians."īut it added that the governance of conversion therapy is largely a provincial and territorial issue, since it is sometimes carried out by members of the health profession, and said the practice can be addressed through existing portions of the Criminal Code. 1 by NDP MP for Saskatoon West, Sheri Benson.Ī Facebook video post of MP Sheri Benson presenting a petition of more than 18,000 names in the House of Commons, calling for a national ban on conversion therapy. The petition was presented in the House of Commons on Feb. "If there isn't a federal ban, we have a hard time tracking where this is still happening, and it shouldn't be happening anywhere," he says. Hargreaves says the patchwork of provincial prohibitions is problematic, and he believes a federal ban is essential. Nova Scotia has made it it illegal for health professionals to provide conversion therapy for minors.Vancouver has passed a law restricting businesses from offering it.Manitoba has outlawed health professionals from offering conversion therapy. Ontario has made the practice illegal by initiating an outright ban.While Canada doesn't have a national ban on the practice, some provinces have restrictions: The Canadian Psychological Association echoed that stand in 2015, saying: "Conversion or reparative therapy can result in negative outcomes, such as distress, anxiety, depression, negative self-image, a feeling of personal failure, difficulty sustaining relationships, and sexual dysfunction." The CPA adds that it, " opposes any therapy with the goal of repairing or converting an individual's sexual orientation, regardless of age." The World Health Organization issued a statement in 2012 saying this type of therapy poses a "severe threat to the health and human rights of the affected persons." "But we know it is still happening, and it's happening to minors." " should not be happening in Canada in 2018 or 2019," says Hargreaves, 24. Petition calls for national ban on 'conversion therapy' for LGBT youth.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |