432-01127 (Justice)

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:

Whereas, conversion therapy has historically referred to coercive, degrading actions that seek to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity which are wrong and should be banned;

Whereas, Bill C-6 defines conversion therapy as “a practice, treatment or service designed to change a person's sexual orientation to heterosexual, to change a person's gender identity or gender expression to cisgender or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behavior or non-cisgender gender expression";

Whereas, this broad definition wrongly applies the label “conversion therapy” to a broad range of practices, including counsel from parents, teachers, and counsellors encouraging children to reduce sexual behavior;

Whereas, Bill C-6 expressly allows counselling, medical, and surgical efforts to change a child's gender, but prohibits support for a child seeking to de-transition to his or her birth (cis) gender;

Whereas, Bill C-6 could restrict the choices of LGBTQ2 Canadians concerning sexuality and gender by prohibiting access to any professional or spiritual support freely chosen to limit sexual behaviour or de-transition.

Therefore we, the undersigned, call on the House of Commons to take the following actions to address the situation:

1. Ban coercive, degrading practices that are designed to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity;

2. Ensure that no laws discriminate against Canadians by limiting the services they can receive based on their sexual orientation or gender identity;

3. Allow parents to speak with their own children about sexuality and gender, and to set house rules about sex and relationships;

4. Allow free and open conversations about sexuality and sexual behaviour; and

5. Avoid criminalizing professional and religious counselling voluntarily requested and consented to by Canadians.