During the deadliest period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Conservative Shadow Minister for Human Rights and Member of Parliament for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, Garnett Genuis, is formally opposing federal legislation to protect LGBTQ2+ Canadians from conversion therapy abuse. Throughout his media statements and appearances, Mr. Genuis has stated he will be "strongly opposing" and voting against Bill C-6, which would criminalize the fraudulent and dangerous practices of conversion therapy across Canada.

Originally introduced in March 2020 as Bill C-8, the current Bill C-6 criminalizes conversion therapy for youth, as well as related avenues such as the advertising and profiting of conversion therapy. These life-saving protections will help ensure the safety of the most vulnerable within the LGBTQ2+ community. Bill C-6 is the result of years of organizing by Canadian conversion therapy survivors.

In opposition to survivors and human rights experts, Mr. Genuis had previously called for Parliament to use a watered-down definition of conversion therapy and has made several disingenuous claims about the state of this torturous practice, before abstaining from voting during the second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons. Mr. Genuis continues to endorse and promote an anti-LGBTQ2 website calling for weaker legislation that is also being shared by leading anti-LGBTQ2+ groups.

Among other false statements, Mr. Genuis has wrongly claimed that Bill C-6 is a "dangerous bill" and that the targeted legislation designed to protect LGBTQ2+ Canadians from torture "controls private conversations". These assertions are false and perpetuate the fraudulent and traumatic myths around conversion therapy which have allowed it to flourish in Canada for decades.

Following a 2019 national survey, the Vancouver-based Community Based Research Centre found that over 47,000 GBT2Q men have experienced conversion therapy in Canada. This is only a portion of the actual, total number of survivors across the country.

"In light of recent events, which have shown us the dangers of elected officials using their platforms to spread misinformation and incite hatred, this campaign to gut human rights legislation is particularly concerning" said Nicholas Schiavo, Founder of No Conversion Canada. "Survivors, medical professionals, academics, human rights groups and Canadians across the country are united in support of this life-saving legislation. It’s time to pass the Bill and end the abuse."

In its recent Independent Forensic Expert Group report, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) affirmed that conversion therapy – any practice to change, cure or repair an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identify – constitutes torture. The IRCT’s report specifically notes that conversion therapy committed by means of talk therapy or psychotherapy can be traumatic for its victims.

"In a time when Canadians are coming together to fight for each other’s safety, it is disappointing to see Mr. Genuis spread fear and misinformation about these life-saving protections for LGBTQ2+ Canadians" said Dr. Kristopher Wells, Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth, MacEwan University.

"Unfortunately, in 2021 conversion therapy is still prevalent in Canadian society, which ranges from aversion therapy, gender coaching, regressive role play, fasting, and other more extreme forms which include demonic exorcisms. It is critical that we listen to the voices of survivors and ensure that Canada develops the strongest and most comprehensive legislation in the world. No one should be allowed to commit conversion therapy in the name of science, religion, or faith. There is no credible research that indicates conversion therapy is effective, rather what has been found is the significant harm it engenders, particularly for youth, which includes internalized homophobia and transphobia, self-hatred, depression, PTSD, self-harm, and suicide."

It is unclear who Mr. Genuis’ remarks represent as his own constituents have shown support for outlawing conversion therapy. In September 2019, Strathcona County, which occupies the majority of Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, became the first municipality in Alberta to implement a municipal conversion therapy ban. City Council also passed a policy restricting the use of any city funding or facilities for groups that practice or promote conversion therapy.

Conversion therapy is a harmful, fraudulent and scientifically discredited practice. It involves organized, sustained efforts to change, deny, supress, or direct someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Conversion therapy has been denounced for being dangerous and traumatic by more than 60+ leading medical, health, and human rights organizations, including the United Nations, the World Health Organization, Amnesty International, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, the Canadian Psychiatric Association, the Canadian Association of Social Workers, the Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health, the Professional order of sexologists of Quebec, and the American Medical Association among many others.

We call on the Conservative Party of Canada to clarify where the party stands on the issue of conversion therapy, support for Bill C-6 and the protection of all LGBTQ2+ Canadians.

To learn more about the status of conversion therapy laws in Canada, please visit No Conversion Canada’s legislation map here.