Council committee votes to ban conversion therapy
Posted May 14, 2020 10:11 pm.
Last Updated May 14, 2020 10:18 pm.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — A City of Calgary committee has voted unanimously to ban conversion therapy.
After two long days of meetings for the Community and Protective Services committee, the final vote was made just after 9 p.m. on Thursday night.
Now, the proposed bylaw will go up for a vote in front of the rest of city council on May 25.
After 2 long days, I'm incredibly pleased that Committee unanimously passed the bylaw to protect members of the LGBTQ2S+ community from the harmful practice of conversion therapy. Onto Council May 25 #LoveIsLove #yyccc pic.twitter.com/I569YkNRo1
— Evan Woolley (@EWoolleyWard8) May 15, 2020
The committee heard over a hundred submissions from the public during the lengthy meetings, which began at around noon on Wednesday.
Almost 2,000 written submissions were sent in to the city as well.
Opponents of the bylaw expressed concern that it infringed on religious freedoms, affected the ability of councillors, or could open up the city to legal action.
On the other side, backers said it goes a long way towards showing support for the LGBTQ2S+ community.
The bylaw states that no therapy can attempt to change, repress, or discourage a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
1/Alright, everyone. I know that presenting to Council committees (especially remotely) can cause some nerves. But if you’re opposing a bylaw to ban conversion therapy, make sure you know what it says. This is Schedule A. Have a look???????? pic.twitter.com/ceJ5YmINjS
— Jyoti Gondek (@JyotiGondek) May 14, 2020
Many other cities in Canada and the United States have banned conversion therapy, and in March the federal government tabled legislation to ban it nationwide.
