Diversity and inclusion are among Canada's greatest strengths. Everyone should be able to live a true and authentic life, free from violence and discrimination, no matter who they are or whom they love.
Today, the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, accompanied by the Honourable Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, announced funding to the Vancouver Community-Based Research Centre, for a project that supports the implementation of legislative changes to criminalize conversion therapy. This organization will raise awareness about the new Criminal Code offences related to conversion therapy, and bring light to some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
Conversion therapy practices aim to change an individual's sexual orientation to heterosexual, to change an individual's gender identity to cisgender, or to change their gender expression to match the sex they were assigned at birth. They harm and further stigmatize sexual and gender-diverse persons and undermine their equality and dignity. They reflect myths and stereotypes about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2+) communities, particularly that their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression are wrong. These harmful practices also reinforce heteronormative and cis-normative ideas, as well as gender-conformity on LGBTQ2+ individuals. Changes to the Criminal Code that came into force in January 2022 criminalized conversion therapy practices.
Justice Canada has provided a total of $100,000 for this project under the Victims Fund. This investment supports the Government of Canada's commitment to protect all Canadians - regardless of age - from the harms of conversion therapy and from its commercialization.
The funding has supported the Community-Based Research Centre to:
- coordinate a pan-Canadian, bilingual consultation and needs assessment
- develop and disseminate a series of bilingual public legal education and information resources on conversion therapy practices and conversion therapy Criminal Code offences in Canada
