Canadian Lawmakers Unanimously Vote to Ban LGBTQ Conversion Therapy

By Peyton Phillips December 2, 2021

The Canadian Parliament's updated bill to ban the practice of conversion therapy has been adopted unanimously by the House of Commons. Lawmakers voted to fast track Bill C-4 on Wednesday afternoon.

Canadian lawmakers have passed a motion banning the practice of “conversion therapy,” which aims to change individuals’ sexual orientation or gender identity, and has been deemed harmful by health experts globally.

In a rare show of bipartisan unanimity, the Canadian Members of Parliament (MPs) voted to fast-track the legislation. This triggered an eruption of applause, as Liberal cabinet members hugged their Conservative colleagues.

“I dream of the day when LGBTQ2 issues are no longer political footballs. And we are one day closer to that future,” said Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault, who is gay.

The bill was first introduced in March 2020, but it died after the government prorogued parliament. Trudeau’s party reintroduced the bill again but it died again when parliament dissolved ahead of the Sept. federal election.

Good news! Today, Members of Parliament worked together to pass our government’s legislation banning conversion therapy – and it is now headed to the Senate. We’ll keep working to make sure this abhorrent and unacceptable practice is prohibited in Canada.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 1, 2021

Erin O’Toole, the Conservative leader, has become an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights since gaining control of the party. By voting to fast-track the bill, lawmakers do not have to record their vote. The bill will now go to the senate for a separate vote before becoming an official law.

Image source: BBC