Ontario politicians have voted this week in favour of creating a law banning therapy to “convert” gay children and youth.
The bill was proposed by provincial New Democratic Party member of the provincial parliament (MPP) Cheri DiNovo.
Conversion “therapy” purports to turn gays into heterosexual, or at least deny their homosexual tendencies.
Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, the province’s first openly-gay premier, led her party’s debate on the bill.
“It’s so important that we make it clear that people have the right to be who they are in Ontario,” Wynne said. “There is no place in Ontario for conversion therapy.”
The proposed law would also prevent any publicly funded medical coverage (Ontario Health Insurance Plan- OHIP) for “conversion” therapy. There is no specific OHIP fee for conversion therapy, but the proposed law would make it illegal to bill the public for such treatment.
Ontario medical guidelines currently do not support treatment aimed at altering sexual orientation or gender identity, but the Ontario Health Minister, Eric Hoskins, says a letter will be sent to the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, and other concerned groups, to make the point clear.
Known as Bill 77, it received all-party support and moves to committee for further study.
Although the vote was unanimous, more than half of the 107 MPP’s were absent for the vote.
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.