Sexual reorientation therapies:
Quebec wants to legislate
Veronique Prince
Simon Jolin-Barrette would like Quebec to become the fifth Canadian province to ban conversion therapy.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Sylvain Roy Roussel
Photo: Radio-Canada / Sylvain Roy Roussel
The Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, intends to ban in Quebec any therapy aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation.
These so-called “conversion” therapies are more frequent than we think. The Legault government thus wants
to send a signal of support to the Quebec LGBTQ community.
This is an issue that concerns me, admits Minister Jolin-Barrette. It is important to put in a framework that does not discriminate against individuals' sexual orientation or gender identity. We must act. It is intolerable that such practices take place in our society.
In a bill expected to be tabled this fall, it plans not only to ban sexual reorientation therapy,
but also to ensure that those who have suffered it can obtain redress.
Some 47,000 gay, lesbian and transgender Canadians have been victims of it, according to a study by the Community Research Center,
an organization that represents them.
Last March , the Trudeau government introduced a bill to criminalize this controversial practice, but the closure of the Parliament in Ottawa overturned it. The Legault government could act within its jurisdiction, with modifications to the Civil Code of Quebec.
A signal for professional orders
Stakeholders in the field are unanimous: this kind of therapy is taboo.
Sometimes it's very insidious, explains Ariane Marchand-Labelle, of the Quebec LGBT Council. We do not have the research currently available to really target, to know exactly how many are being done in Quebec, but we know that the consequences are very serious.
Someone who goes through this is really a victim of emotional as well as financial exploitation , she denounces.
Ms. Marchand-Labelle is of the opinion that the government could provide supervision to health professionals,
in particular the Ordre des psychologues du Québec and the Collège des médecins.
These so-called “conversion” therapies are more frequent than we think. The Legault government thus wants
to send a signal of support to the Quebec LGBTQ community.
This is an issue that concerns me, admits Minister Jolin-Barrette. It is important to put in a framework that does not discriminate against individuals' sexual orientation or gender identity. We must act. It is intolerable that such practices take place in our society.
In a bill expected to be tabled this fall, it plans not only to ban sexual reorientation therapy,
but also to ensure that those who have suffered it can obtain redress.
Some 47,000 gay, lesbian and transgender Canadians have been victims of it, according to a study by the Community Research Center,
an organization that represents them.
Last March , the Trudeau government introduced a bill to criminalize this controversial practice, but the closure of the Parliament in Ottawa overturned it. The Legault government could act within its jurisdiction, with modifications to the Civil Code of Quebec.
A signal for professional orders
Stakeholders in the field are unanimous: this kind of therapy is taboo.
Sometimes it's very insidious, explains Ariane Marchand-Labelle, of the Quebec LGBT Council. We do not have the research currently available to really target, to know exactly how many are being done in Quebec, but we know that the consequences are very serious.
Someone who goes through this is really a victim of emotional as well as financial exploitation , she denounces.
Ms. Marchand-Labelle is of the opinion that the government could provide supervision to health professionals,
in particular the Ordre des psychologues du Québec and the Collège des médecins.
Antoine Beaudoin Gentes, Director of Operations for Transgender Children Canada
Photo: Radio-Canada / Isaac Olson
Photo: Radio-Canada / Isaac Olson
Antoine Beaudoin Gentes, from the Transgender Children Canada organization, suggests an update in university training.
Take the example of gender identity, he illustrates: for children who are trans, non-binary or creative in terms of gender, we notice on the side of professionals and orders that there is really a difficulty in understanding the complexity of this subject.
Take the example of gender identity, he illustrates: for children who are trans, non-binary or creative in terms of gender, we notice on the side of professionals and orders that there is really a difficulty in understanding the complexity of this subject.
Health specialists must be able to provide adequate, inclusive and safe support for young people who question their gender identity.
Antoine Beaudoin Gentes, Director of Operations, Transgender Children Canada
Antoine Beaudoin Gentes, Director of Operations, Transgender Children Canada
As children and adolescents are often the first targets of these therapies, the two workers believe that the Youth Protection Department (DYP) also has its role to play in protecting them.
Laurent Breault, of the Fondation Émergence, adds, however, that we must not forget, in the reparation aspect, that LGBTQ seniors experienced the time when homosexuality was criminalized.
This is a generation that has experienced conversion therapy head-on, he says. I think we will have to make an effort on the government side to really consider this population that still lives today with all the psychological and physical consequences.
Minister Jolin-Barrette replies that the government of Quebec, with the fight office, will also make sure to promote to tell people that they have recourse if they have ever been victims of such therapy .
Imitate other provinces
More and more Canadian provinces are legislating to protect the right to gender identity.
This is the case for Manitoba , Ontario , Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island .
Last June, a motion to ban conversion therapy was passed in the National Assembly. We must exercise political and legislative leadership at this level and it is my intention to move forward to ensure that such practices do not occur in Quebec.
The Liberal Party of Quebec must also table a bill Tuesday in the National Assembly to outlaw these therapies.
In a report tabled in July 2020, the United Nations calls for a global ban on these interventions and calls for states to equip themselves with legislative tools to apply sanctions against those who practice them.
Laurent Breault, of the Fondation Émergence, adds, however, that we must not forget, in the reparation aspect, that LGBTQ seniors experienced the time when homosexuality was criminalized.
This is a generation that has experienced conversion therapy head-on, he says. I think we will have to make an effort on the government side to really consider this population that still lives today with all the psychological and physical consequences.
Minister Jolin-Barrette replies that the government of Quebec, with the fight office, will also make sure to promote to tell people that they have recourse if they have ever been victims of such therapy .
Imitate other provinces
More and more Canadian provinces are legislating to protect the right to gender identity.
This is the case for Manitoba , Ontario , Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island .
Last June, a motion to ban conversion therapy was passed in the National Assembly. We must exercise political and legislative leadership at this level and it is my intention to move forward to ensure that such practices do not occur in Quebec.
The Liberal Party of Quebec must also table a bill Tuesday in the National Assembly to outlaw these therapies.
In a report tabled in July 2020, the United Nations calls for a global ban on these interventions and calls for states to equip themselves with legislative tools to apply sanctions against those who practice them.