{"id":28765,"date":"2020-02-10T12:08:06","date_gmt":"2020-02-10T17:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/?p=28765"},"modified":"2021-10-04T12:27:24","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T16:27:24","slug":"the-controversy-over-conversion-therapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/intersection\/2020\/02\/10\/the-controversy-over-conversion-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Controversy over Conversion Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series Conversion Therapy<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

A wave of \u201cconversion therapy bans\u201d is sweeping across Canada\u2019s municipal, provincial, and federal governments. Indeed, the federal government had made this a priority issue, urging the Minister of Justice \u201cto amend the Criminal Code<\/em> to ban the practice of conversion therapy and take other steps required with the provinces and territories to end conversion therapy in Canada.\u201d[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Given how seriously the government is taking this issue, we, too, ought to be concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, \u201cconversion\ntherapy\u201d (sometimes known as \u201caversion therapy\u201d) referred to various\npsychological or medical practices which are now widely denounced. These\ntreatments, which included medication, electric shock, and even lobotomies,\nwere intended to change a person\u2019s sexual orientation, sometimes against his or\nher will. Many of these efforts were unsuccessful and instead brought physical\nand emotional pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not\nsurprising, then, that conversion therapy has come under increasing criticism. It\nis appropriate to condemn coercive practices that involved such extreme or\nbizarre methods, since they violated basic human dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, however,\nthe label of conversion therapy has significantly broadened. It is now being\nmisapplied to individuals who voluntarily seek counselling, particularly in a\nbiblical context. Therapy for young people with gender dysphoria is also being\ncondemned as \u201cconversion therapy\u201d if youth are counselled to affirm their bodies\nrather than \u201ctransitioning\u201d from one gender to another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of this expansive meaning (and a lack of appropriate clarification or exemptions), the legislative bans on conversion therapy which are being drafted across the country may have troubling implications for churches and religious charities.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going forward,\nthere are many questions that remain open, which the government will have to\naddress. They include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n