On January 7, 2022, the Canadian government officially implemented a bill on ‘ban of Conversion therapy’ which was passed by the Canadian Parliament in December 2021.

Key Points

• With the ban of conversion therapy, Canada joined a select list of countries that have discontinued the discredited treatment which claims to be able to change a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
• The bill has made “providing, promoting, or advertising the conversion therapy” a criminal offence. It will now be illegal to promote, advertise, benefit from, or subject someone to this harmful or hateful, because rights of LGBTQ2 are human rights.

What is LGBTQ2?

LGBTQ2 acronym is used by the Canadian government. “2” refers to Two-Spirit that is male and female. Thus, LGBTQ2 is a culturally-specific identity used by Indigenous people for indicating a person whose gender identity, sexual orientation or spiritual identity comprises both male and female spirits.

What are the provisions of new law?

• Under the new law, anyone who seeks to subject someone of any age, with his consent or not, to the conversion therapy will face imprisonment of up to five years.
• If someone is found to be promoting, advertising, or profiting from this practice, they will face imprisonment of up to two years.

Conversion Therapy

The conversion therapies are based on the belief that sexual orientation can be cured or changed. This practice is often performed by religious leaders. However, some licensed clinicians are also involved in the practice.