Town passes prohibited business bylaw banning conversion therapy

By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter

Following the introduction of two amendments, Strathmore Town Council has unanimously passed their prohibited business bylaw, which has been in the works since October 2020.

The bylaw now classifies conversion therapy, abridgedly defined as practice, treatment or services designed to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity, as a prohibited business and bans its practice in the town.

Mayor Pat Fule said council was very unified in passing the bylaw, once concerns with the wording in prior drafts had been addressed.

“We’re just glad that we have a solid bylaw that’s been passed, and we can be one of those communities that are going to be seen as doing the right thing for all its residents,” he said.

“This group of residents are people that we need to look after too and ensure they’re safe and healthy and happy.”

Fule explained the final amendments were to address concerns raised regarding building ownership and liabilities, ensuring definitions were explicitly specific, and the penalty should an organization commit an offence under the bylaw.

The amendment also allows someone to continue counselling or support services to reduce unwanted non-heterosexual behavior, as long as such counsel is not designed to change their orientation or identity. 

The town specified in a release to having received testimony from individuals during the public hearing who were from the LGBTQ2 community who receive such counselling to reduce undesired behaviors. 

Town council had also delayed the passing of the bill in early July due to a similar bill being introduced in the House of Commons, which would have superseded the municipal bylaw. 

“We know that it went through the House of Commons, but it’s been stalled in the Senate, so we’re very happy that we can be one more municipal voice to send that message to Ottawa that we need to do this, we need to get this done for all our residents, and people need to be protected,” said Fule.

“Seeing that it went through a certain part of the process but stalled, it kind of energized us again that we need to get involved for our own residents.” 

Strathmore is the tenth municipality in Alberta to pass a bylaw banning the practice of conversion therapy.

Town of Strathmore Manager of Communications, Marketing and Economic Development, Geoff Person, said part of the reasoning for the extended timeline taken to develop the bylaw is because it was taken through two rounds of public feedback before ultimately coming to town council.

“The first round of feedback helped us to develop the bylaw; it helped us to see what the support was, what the concerns were, pieces like that,” he said. “The second round of feedback actually shared what the proposed bylaw was, so then people would be able to provide their feedback on the specific bylaw.”

Due to the bylaw having already been through public engagement twice, how recently it has been implemented, and a lack of advertising to date, council has yet to receive a surplus of additional feedback following its passing.