In January 2022, Bill C-4 became law nationwide which formally banned conversion therapy, the widely discredited practice aimed to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression based on the belief that identities that are not cisgender and/or heterosexual are not preferred.
The harm perpetuated by conversion therapy is complex and further stigmatizes 2SLGBTQI people and ultimately undermines a person’s right to equality and dignity.
Now What?
Even though conversion therapy is now officially prohibited in Canada, it’s still important to understand the impacts it has made because of the long-lasting and damaging effects it has had on survivors.
Even still, it is important to understand what conversion therapy is and what it can look like now under other disguises; just because it is banned, does not mean the practices cease to exist.
While we can celebrate the ban, the following resources aim to help guide the continuing efforts as community and allies turn to the question, now what?
Videos
What you need to know
- What is conversion therapy (PDF)
- What acts related to conversion therapy are now illegal (PDF)
- How to spot conversion therapy practices (PDF)
- The effects of conversion therapy (PDF)
- Helpful support for conversion therapy survivors (PDF)
Related campaigns and additional information
- No Conversion Canada
- Foundation Emergence -‘put an End to conversion practices’ initiative
- CBRC – Conversion Therapy and SOGIECE
Egale Canada thrives on supporting the efforts of the Government of Canada and non-governmental charities and organizations to raise awareness that such practices are illegal and that they are harming people.
This project is made possible thanks to
Statistics shared through this project related to conversion therapy survivors are retrieved from: Community-Based Research Centre, SOGIECE/CT Survivor Support Project: Findings from a National Survey, Focus Groups, and Interviews with Hundreds of Survivors (2021-22)