A multi-stakeholder working group has been formed under the direction of the provincial minister of health to determine how to ban conversion therapy in Alberta.
Conversion therapy is treatment, counselling or behaviour modification that attempts to change or modify someone’s sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
Some supporters of conversion therapy say same-sex attraction is abnormal and treatable.
While conversion therapy is currently legal in Alberta, there have been calls for it to be made illegal.
Co-chaired by MLA Nicole Goehring and advocate Glynnis Lieb, the working group will include academics, representatives from health and legal professions, community advocates, faith leaders, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, subject matter experts and individuals who have experienced conversion therapy.
Whether the group’s work will lead to the banning of conversion therapy remains to be seen. What is known is that those who oppose it and those who support it are now on a full-speed collision course.
For her part, Sarah Hoffman, minister of health, says conversion therapy should be banned without undue delay.
“Conversion therapy is a damaging, hateful practice that has no place in our province,” said Hoffman. “Albertans deserve to trust that any measures to end this practice are as strong as possible, will withstand legal challenges and have the support of those who need them most.
“I look forward to receiving their recommendations and taking action to ban conversion therapy in Alberta.”
The working group will meet with stakeholders over the next five months.
Liberal Leader David Kahn says the government should immediately move forward with legislation banning conversion therapy in the province.
“Alberta’s youth cannot wait another five months for an NDP committee to reach the conclusion that is obvious to most people in this province. What further input is needed to convince this government? We must act now,” said Khan.
There are many topics that will be campaign issues in the upcoming Alberta election – and conversion therapy will be one of them.
Dan Singleton is the Mountain View Gazette editor.
