In 2021 the Canadian federal government passed legislation (Bill C-4) officially criminalizing the practice and promotion of conversion "therapy", sending a powerful message acknowledging the harms survivors experienced and condemning efforts to change, deny, or suppress the sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression of 2S/LGBTQIA+ people. The law, which came into effect on January 7, 2022, followed efforts at the provincial and municipal levels to ban conversion practices.
While the criminal prohibition of conversion therapy represents a critical step in addressing the most visible forms of conversion practices, these discredited and harmful practices persist across the country, impacting our communities. More work is needed—not only to end conversion practices but also to support survivors and our communities in times when anti-2S/LGBTQIA+ rhetoric is on the rise.
This explainer provides an overview of Canada’s efforts thus far in ending conversion practices and reflections from survivors, advocates, and researchers on next steps to truly end conversion practices for good.
url="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/cbrc/pages/4565/attachments/original/1741121258/IAF-Explainer-EN.pdf?1741121258
