Draft conversion therapy bylaw “too broad”

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The definition of conversion therapy included in the proposed prohibited business bylaw for Strathmore is too broad, according to three residents who spoke during a public hearing.

Town council passed first reading of a proposed prohibited business bylaw on Feb. 17. But on March 17, three people attended the town’s public hearing, all saying the bylaw could be detrimental to residents because the definitions it contains are too broad.

Under the proposed bylaw, conversion therapy is defined as “a practice, treatment or service designed to change, repress or discourage a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or to repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour.”

Melissa Langmaid, a Strathmore resident who described herself as an ally of the gender and sexually diverse community, said conversion therapy is wrong. 

“The practice of conversion therapy, telling an LGBTQIA2S+ person that something is wrong with them, and that it needs fixing is psychologically harmful – especially when that person is a child,” she said.

But the bylaw should consider consent, said Langmaid, adding adults who are fully informed and consent have the right to seek whatever treatment they feel they need.

“The idea that an adult who is capable of forming consent and who knows inside that they’re having thoughts and feelings that are troubling for them should be able to seek religious guidance,” she said. “I think that it is their right.”

Langmaid said she supports a ban on the practice for children, who cannot consent and need protection. “We need to protect our vulnerable youth, especially in schools and religious institutions,” she said.

Colette Aikema, an associate speaker with Faith Beyond Belief, a Christian advocacy group from southern Alberta, said the bylaw would ban therapies that she said have helped people, including herself.

“The legislation is reported to be about affirmation, love and finding your authentic self, and making sure that people are not tortured for finding their authentic selves, but it ignores the darker side of sexuality that’s understood by victims like me,” said Aikema.

Aikema, a survivor of sexual assault, said the broad definition of conversion therapy included in the bylaw would include practices that helped her in the past.

“It includes the phrase, ‘any service or tactic used to reduce a person’s non-heterosexual behaviours or attractions’, and that’s what I needed,” she said. “I had thoughts and feelings, and I was not interested in exploring my identity or exploring my sexual formation. I was only interested in reducing the non-heterosexual attractions and behaviours I was experiencing because I knew where they came from, and they were forced upon me against my will.”

There are valid reasons why someone may want to reduce their non-heterosexual attractions or behaviours, added Aikema. 

“That’s my choice, as a patient and as a rape victim,” she said. “I would not have recovered if this bylaw was in place at the time.”

Outside of Canada, no other municipality uses such a broad definition. 

“Why use such a poorly supported definition that not only discriminates against people like me? It’s also not used anywhere else in the world, or even by any other professional body,” noted Aikema, who added she wants council to support a conversion therapy ban, but not as it is currently written. “You can support a good conversion therapy ban that actually protects individuals.”

Jonathan Taylor, a Strathmore-area resident, commended council for their good motivations to protect vulnerable people through the bylaw. But unless amended, it will do more harm than good, he said.

The proposed bylaw mirrors Calgary’s prohibited business bylaw passed in May 2020. According to Taylor, the sponsors of the Calgary bylaw admitted they were not only trying to stop abusive and harmful practices, but also trying to change the way society thinks. 

“They specifically called out Christians and referred to our beliefs about sexuality and gender, and stated, ‘we have to adjust beliefs we hold if they don’t comport with reality,’” said Taylor. “It is not only trying to stop true conversion therapy, it is trying to change belief.”

As a Christian, Taylor said he would feel threatened by the proposed bylaw, given a government body has suggested his religious views are harmful, promotes prejudice and discrimination, and must change. “When the same body points to legislation that includes severe financial penalties and jail terms as a means to affect this change, I am justifiably alarmed,” he said.

Since the bylaw passed first reading, the town engaged the public through an online survey, with 27 respondents. The survey noted that 17 people were in favour of the bylaw and one was against.

Town council was scheduled to vote on the second (and possible third) reading of the bylaw later that night. But Mayor Pat Fule said with numerous other items on the agenda, he was concerned there was not enough time remaining to discuss the bylaw thoroughly and suggested postponing it until April 21, 2021.

“I think we all agree we want to make sure we do the right thing here in Strathmore (and) come up with something good for our community,” he said.

Councillor Jason Montgomery proposed a motion directing administration to bring the conversion therapy definition back for review at an upcoming committee of the whole meeting in April, which passed unanimously.