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# Canada to criminalise LGBTQ+ conversion therapy
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/canada-to-criminalise-lgbtq-conversion-therapy/
- Published: 2020-10-04T12:30:49.000Z
- Updated: 2020-10-04T11:20:22.000Z
- Description: Canada has reintroduced a previously unsuccessful bill to criminalise the practise of LGBTQ+ conversion therapy after past efforts were interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: Mental Health, News, Politics, Queer Corner, ban conversion therapy, Boris Johnson, Canada, Coronavirus (Covid-19), Glaad, Justin Trudeau, LGBTQ, LGBTQ+ rights, UK

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/justin-trudeau.jpg)

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau

**Canada** has reintroduced a previously unsuccessful bill to criminalise the practice of LGBTQ+ conversion therapy after past efforts were interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. The bill was presented once again to the House of Commons on **Thursday 1 October** but as of yet, no voting date has been set. Canadian prime minster **Justin Trudeau** told [reporters](https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-canada-lgbt-idUKKBN26M780?ref=scenemag.co.uk)*: “Conversion therapy is harmful, degrading, and has no place in Canada … I hope that all parties will do the right thing by supporting this bill.”*

According to **[GLAAD](https://www.glaad.org/conversiontherapy?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**, conversion therapy is *“any attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression”.* The organisation found nearly 700,000 LGBTQ+ adults in the US alone had been subjected to the practice, leaving them six times more likely to experience depression. Studies untaken by the Canadian government also discovered 20% of gay, bisexual, trans and gender non-conforming men in the country had undergone conversion therapy.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/636021103464263637-fix-society-rally-01-1.jpg)

In the **UK**, conversion therapy has not yet been outlawed. Prime minister **Boris Johnson** described the practice as ‘abhorrent’ but has not yet taken action to ban it. In [September](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/johnson-urged-to-ban-conversion-therapy/), Johnson was collectively urged by religious leaders from the **Ozanne Foundation** to criminalise the discredited practice, in the hope the UK will shortly follow in the footsteps of other countries which are taking steps to protect the LGBTQ+ community from conversion therapy.