Supporters gather as council looks to ban conversion therapy
Posted Feb 3, 2020 7:10 am.
Last Updated Feb 3, 2020 9:55 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Hundreds are gathered inside City Hall as a motion to ban conversion therapy goes before city council.
The original notice of motion was brought forward by city councillors Evan Woolley, Druh Farrel, Gian-Carlo Carra, Jyoti Gondek and Mayor Naheed Nenshi earlier this month.
WATCH: City proposes motion to ban conversion therapy
Other cities including Spruce Grove and Edmonton have already moved to ban the practice which seeks to change a person’s sexual identity through counselling or religious teachings.
A rally is also being planned in front of City Hall to support the ban.
LGBTQ activist Pam Rocker is one of the organizers of the rally who says the practice is still being done in the city and it’s hurting people.
“It’s been proven by all major health and medical professions and organizations to be ineffective and in fact extremely damaging, psychologically, to those who are victims of it. If we have really strict and clear bylaws, this means there would actually be penalties for providing it and business licenses being taken away.”
JOIN US AT CITY HALL Tomorrow, Feb 3, 9:00am!
Come to support this historic moment, in favour of drafting bylaws against Conversion Therapy in Calgary!
We have almost 100 rainbow scarves for folks to wear, brought to you by a lovely volunteer. Let’s rainbow it up! pic.twitter.com/2J2i3UD2U6
— Pam Rocker (@realpamrocker) February 2, 2020
If a bylaw comes into effect, it could mean a $10,000 fine for businesses providing the practice and revoking their license.
Rocker adds a city ban isn’t the end of conversion therapy, but it’s an important step forward and may help in the long-term.
“Making sure that there is another narrative out there that people can be all parts of who they are and practice whatever faith is meaningful to them. I think coming from a faith-community approach and political approach are both going to be really key players.”
The federal government has said they are looking at banning conversion therapy as part of the criminal code.
