Organizations Across Canada Defend 2SLGBTQIA+ Students in New Brunswick; Support Legal Action Against Policy 713

Ottawa (June 14, 2023) - Today, 39 queer, trans, human rights, labour and educational organizations from across Canada have released an Open Letter to Defend 2SLGBTQIA+ Students in New Brunswick and call on Premier Higgs to reverse his attack on vulnerable students. Standing with students, parents and families, the letter calls on the Premier to reverse the weakened Policy 713, uphold human rights codes, and end the cruel campaign against 2SLGTBQIA+ New Brunswickers.

The coalition of organizations is condemning Policy 713’s mandated discrimination against 2SLGBTQIA+ students on the basis of gender identity and gender expression, as these changes contribute to increased bullying and violence. In the absence of a reversal from the Premier, the coalition is calling for swift legal action for students, with several national organizations volunteering to serve as intervenors in any class action lawsuits.

The government’s anti-2SLGBTQIA+ agenda has been staunchly opposed by over 16,000 parents and Canadians, educators, social workers, children’s advocates, human rights groups, unions and Progressive Conservative Ministers. The New Brunswick Child and Youth Advocate called the new policy “textbook legal discrimination”, warning it will make life harder for both students and educators.

“The New Brunswick Federation of Labour is committed to standing in solidarity with the New Brunswick Teachers Association and Pride in Education. Along with our affiliates, we will stand to protect the safety of education workers and students who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+” said President, Daniel Légère.

Fae Johnstone, President of the Society for Queer Momentum echoed the concerns from across Canada stating: “Changes to Policy 713 jeopardize the safety and inclusion of trans students in New Brunswick schools. These changes, undertaken without meaningful consultation, send a devastating message of exclusion and stigma to trans young people, and place trans youth with unsafe homes in an untenable situation: unable to be themselves at home or at school”.

Polling shows the move comes at a time of desperation for the Higgs government. The Higgs government has the highest dissatisfaction rate of any government in 24 years with nearly 70% of New Brunswickers dissatisfied. Premier Higgs also has the second-worst approval rating of any Premier in Canada at the moment, with only 28% of New Brunswickers approving of his leadership.

The abrupt focus on Policy 713 comes at a time when New Brunswick families are anxious about their province: wildfires are devastating communities, healthcare worker shortages are impacting hospitals, grocery prices remain high, affordable housing is continuing to plummet, and 84% of anglophone schools lack mental health resources for students. Changes to Policy 713 are a desperate attempt to distract New Brunswickers from their dissatisfaction with the Higgs government.

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Momentum is registered as a nonprofit in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, which we acknowledge as the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq. Momentum runs programming and advocacy campaigns that help 2SLGBTQIA+ people thrive. Our areas of focus — confronting hate, promoting mental health, realizing the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ children and youth, and ending gender-based violence — guide our work alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

 

The Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) promotes the health of people of diverse sexualities and genders through research and intervention development. CBRC's core pillars - community-led research, knowledge exchange, network building, and leadership development - position the organization as a thought leader, transforming ideas into actions that make a difference in our communities. CBRC was incorporated in 1999 and is a non-profit charitable organization. Our main office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, and we also have satellite offices located in Edmonton, Toronto, and Halifax.

 

No Conversion Canada is a national, nonpartisan, grassroots organization and registered nonprofit dedicated to ending conversion “therapy” / conversion practices. We work directly with survivors of conversion practices, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, civil society organizations, medical professionals, experts and policymakers to raise awareness about conversion practices in Canada, develop comprehensive legislation to outlaw this abuse at all levels of government and develop fulsome survivor supports to foster healing.


For More Information

Fae Johnstone (she/her)
President, Society of Queer Momentum
fae@momentumcanada.net

Michael Kwag (he/him)
Executive Director, Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC)
michael.kwag@cbrc.net

Nick Schiavo (he/him)
Executive Director, No Conversion Canada
noconversioncanada@gmail.com

No Conversion Canada and Wisdom2Action Release New Resources to Combat Conversion Therapy

Ottawa (April 19, 2023) - Today, No Conversion Canada and Wisdom2Action launched a toolkit to raise awareness about Canada’s conversion therapy ban, which came into effect in January 2022. Made possible with funding from Justice Canada, this toolkit aims to address misconceptions, help identify conversion practices and, ultimately, contribute to the eradication of conversion practices in Canada while educating the public on Canada’s new legal landscape concerning conversion therapy. The toolkit can be accessed here.

Nick Schiavo, Founder of No Conversion Canada, said “We are proud of Canada’s ban on conversion “therapy”, but we knew from the beginning that legislative protections were only the first step. Now, we need to educate the public, address misconceptions and support survivors. That’s what this toolkit is all about.”

The toolkit, developed in close collaboration with survivors of conversion therapy, legal and health experts and 2SLGBTQIA+ community organizations, includes information about the new conversion therapy ban, educational content on 2SLGBTQIA+ identities, resources to support the wellbeing of survivors, tools for service providers, and resources to address common myths about both conversion therapy and Canada’s new conversion therapy ban.

Alice Gauntley, Project Officer with Wisdom2Action, shared that “Conversion therapy bans have been the subject of extreme misinformation disseminated by anti-trans and anti-queer groups. This toolkit clears up misinformation and gives everyone - educators, social workers, parents, and survivors tools to identify and address conversion practices.”

Media Contacts

Fae Johnstone
Executive Director, Wisdom2Action
Fae@wisdom2action.org | 613-897-1176

Nick Schiavo
Founder, No Conversion Canada
noconversioncanada@gmail.com | 613-323-0205

No Conversion Canada Applauds Introduction of Legislation to Ban Conversion Practices and Protect LGBTQ2+ Canadians

Ottawa (November 29, 2021) - Today, No Conversion Canada applauds the introduction of Bill C-4 (An Act to Amend the Criminal Code - Conversion Therapy) by the government to ban conversion practices and protect LGBTQ2+ Canadians from abuse. Bill C-4 is the fourth piece of federal legislation brought forward to outlaw conversion practices and is the most comprehensive legislation to date, with significant improvements over its predecessor Bill C-6.

Conversion “therapy” or conversion practices (also known as “reparative therapy”, “reintegrative therapy” or “aversion therapy”) are any treatment, practice, or sustained effort that has the effect of denying, repressing, discouraging or changing a person’s non-heterosexual sexual orientation, non-cisgender gender identity or gender expression, or any behaviours associated with a gender other than the person’s sex assigned at birth.

Conversion practices are not based in scientific evidence, are widely discredited by major medical and health associations, are proven to cause serious harm such as depression, anxiety, internalized shame and stigma, PTSD and suicide ideation and have been described as a form of torture by the United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, the International Council on the Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and OutRight Action International. 

"It is high time that LGBTQ2+ people across Canada are protected from the dangers and death-dealing effects of conversion “therapy” practices. Despite the setback of the 62 MPs' decision to not protect the welfare of LGBTQ2+ persons by opposing Bill C-6 earlier this year, I am relieved that the Canadian government is taking steps to ensure that Canadians will no longer be subject to the abuse that are conversion “therapy" practices” said Lucas Wilson, survivor and Sessional Lecturer at the University of Toronto.

Earlier this month over 100 LGBTQ2+, healthcare, human rights, academic, faith, labour and civil society organizations from across Canada united in support of a Community Call to Action to call on Parliament to ban conversion practices and support survivors with clear recommendations. Today’s legislation confirms that many of these requests by survivors and experts were adopted. As a result, Bill C-4 is a stronger, more comprehensive bill.

“We are pleased to see this strong legislation introduced, that has adopted many of the requests from survivors and community for a more comprehensive ban on these barbaric practices” said Nicholas Schiavo, Executive Director of No Conversion Canada. “It is critical that Parliament pass a complete ban on conversion practices - that are proven to be fraudulent and dangerous - so that all LGBTQ2+ Canadians are protected from abuse. We look forward to working with survivors and all Parliamentarians to see it through”. 

Data from June 2021 shows that as many as one in ten (10%) gay, bi, trans, and queer men and Two-Spirit and non-binary people in Canada have experienced conversion practices. Of particular concern, the data shows that 67% experienced conversion “therapy” practices in religious/faith-based settings, and 72% started conversion “therapy” practices before the age of 20.

Conversion practices have 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 Canadian Psychiatric Association, 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.

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No Conversion Canada is a national, nonpartisan, grassroots organization and registered nonprofit dedicated to ending conversion “therapy”/ conversion practices. We work directly with survivors of conversion practices, the LGBTQ2+ community, civil society organizations, medical professionals, academics and policymakers to raise awareness about conversion practices in Canada, develop comprehensive legislation to outlaw this abuse at all levels of government and develop fulsome survivor supports to foster healing. More information about the organization can be found on our website: www.noconversioncanada.com.


For More Information:

Nicholas Schiavo
Executive Director, No Conversion Canada
613-323-0205
noconversioncanada@gmail.com


Resources and Research


Show Your Support!
Use our social media shareable to show that you stand with survivors and support the bill!

Canadian 2SLGBTQI+ and Civil Society Organizations Unite to Call on Parliament to Ban Conversion Practices

Ottawa (November 1, 2021) - Today over 100 2SLGBTQI+, healthcare, human rights, academic, faith, labour and civil society organizations from across Canada have united in support of a “Community Call to Action” to call on Parliament to ban conversion practices and support survivors. If introduced, federal legislation to ban conversion practices would be the fourth piece of legislation brought forward to outlaw this abuse following the failed attempts of bills S-260, C-8 and C-6.

Developed in collaboration with Canadian survivors and civil society experts, the Community Call to Action calls on Parliament to take immediate action to prohibit all forms of conversion practices, develop accompanying policies to support survivor healing and create public education and awareness programs. The document compiles peer-reviewed research, lived experience and best practices from other jurisdictions as a roadmap for officials to develop comprehensive legislation and supporting measures, and keep 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians safe. 

“I’m proud to see communities come together with this Community Call to Action and send such a clear message. We need all levels of government - federal, provincial and municipal - to ensure that conversion practices are banned so that no one of any age, orientation or gender identity is subjected to the harm they cause” said Mark Hartburg, Kitchener-based survivor and advocate.

"Survivors of conversion practices, such as myself, and all Canadians, deserve protection from all kinds of coercive, traumatic and damaging conversion practices that seek to alter or end our LGBTQ2S+ identities. That’s why I support this Community Call to Action” said Erika Muse, survivor and trans advocate.

The memorandum has 106 signatories from across 10 provinces and territories, with support ranging from national organizations, to Prides festivals, to grassroots community groups. Included within this diverse range of support is Egale Canada, Rainbow Railroad, Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Association of Social Workers, Canadian Teachers’ Federation, Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals, Canadian Union of Public Employees, LGBT Purge Fund, National Association of Women and the Law and the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children's Health, among many others.

“From research conducted with people in Canada with lived experience of conversion practices, we know that there is no magic bullet to fully eradicate these ongoing and traumatic practices. Rather, we need multiple policies, laws, and educational efforts at all levels of government, to ensure that future generations of Canadians are able to affirm their diverse identities, expressions, and authentic selves, as 2SLGBTQI+ people. This broad coalition is echoing a call for more comprehensive action by the federal government—this is our opportunity to do more” says Dr. Travis Salway, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University.

Conversion “therapy” or conversion practices (also known as “reparative therapy”, “reintegrative therapy” or “aversion therapy”) are any treatment, practice, or sustained effort that has the effect of denying, repressing, discouraging or changing a person’s non-heterosexual sexual orientation, non-cisgender gender identity or gender expression, or any behaviours associated with a gender other than the person’s sex assigned at birth. 

Conversion practices have 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, 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.

Data from June 2021 shows that as many as one in ten (10%) gay, bi, trans, and queer men and Two-Spirit and non-binary people (GBT2Q) in Canada have experienced conversion practices. Of particular concern, the data shows that 67% experienced conversion “therapy” practices in religious/faith-based settings, and 72% started conversion “therapy” practices before the age of 20.

Download the Community Call to Action on Conversion Practices Legislation
(English)

Télécharger l’Appel à l’action communautaire : Législation relative aux pratiques de conversion (Français)

Does your organization support comprehensive efforts to ban conversion practices and support survivors? Download these shareables for Twitter/Facebook and Instagram to share your support online!



Additional Resources and Research

New Resources Launched to End Conversion Therapy in Canada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa (October 12, 2020) – Earlier this month, Bill C-6 An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy) was re-introduced to the House of Commons as one of the first orders of business by the Federal Government. Today, to mark International Coming Out Day (Oct 11), which is recognized around the world to celebrate the visibility, strength, and resiliency of LGBTQ2+ people, we are proud to launch several new resources to support legislative action against conversion therapy in Canada.

(1) A new national report, which is entitled “Conversion Therapy in Canada: A Guide for Legislative Action”, which features research, Charter analysis, legislative recommendations, and new stories and voices from Canadian survivors of conversion therapy. This guide is authored by Dr. Kristopher Wells, Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth, and endorsed by 15 prominent national organizations, including the Canadian Psychological Association, Canadian Association of Social Workers, Canadian Teachers’ Federation, Canadian Auto Workers, Canadian Labour Congress, United Church of Canada, and many others:
https://www.noconversioncanada.com

(2) A new open letter supporting the research consensus against conversion therapy, which has been signed by 120 Canadian academics, including 16 distinguished research chairs of which 12 are notable Canada Research Chairs. The letter is available in French and English: https://www.noconversioncanada.com/legislation-support 



(3) A new open letter by trans activist and conversion therapy survivor, Erika Muse, the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, the Community-Based Research Centre and the Enchanté Network, which has been signed by over 75 independent Canadian organizations and hundreds of Canadians, in support of a federal ban and calling for amendments to strengthen current legislation to prevent all forms of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression change efforts. The letter is available in French and English: http://cgshe.ca/open-letter-bill-c-8-excludes-conversion-therapy-practices-that-target-trans-people/

(4) An interactive online map which tracks the current status of conversion therapy laws in Canada, which includes information on bylaws, legislation, and policies that have been passed or are in progress by municipalities, provinces/territories, and the Federal Government and Senate of Canada. This map is the definitive source on the status of conversion therapy laws and legislation in Canada: https://www.noconversioncanada.com/legislation-map

(5) A new infographic and video, which are designed to help the public understand why legislative action against conversion therapy is necessary and critical: https://www.noconversioncanada.com

It is expected that Bill C-6 will soon be presented for 2nd reading in the House of Commons, after which it will be sent to the Justice Committee for public hearings. We hope the above new resources will help to support amendments that are designed to strengthen Bill C-6 in an effort to create the definitive and most comprehensive conversion therapy prohibition legislation in the world. Bill C-6 is not only a matter of national importance, but it also has the opportunity to help impact the global fight against conversion therapy and save hundreds of thousands of lives from the abuse and torture of conversion therapy and its associated practices.

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No Conversion Canada is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit and grassroots organization dedicated solely to banning conversion therapy in Canada. No Conversion Canada works directly with conversion therapy survivors, LGBTQ2+ activists, civil society organizations, academics and Parliamentarians to raise awareness about conversion therapy in Canada and develop comprehensive, federal legislation to criminalize and outlaw this form of abuse. More information about the organization can be found on our website: www.noconversioncanada.com.

To read the report, click here.


Media Contacts:

Nicholas Schiavo
Executive Director, No Conversion Canada
Tele: 613-323-0205
Email: noconversioncanada@gmail.com
Twitter: @NoConversionCA

Dr. Kristopher Wells
Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth, MacEwan University
Tele: 587-987-1068
Email: Kristopher.Wells@MacEwan.ca
Twitter: @KristopherWells