To get Xtra Weekly in your inbox, subscribe here.

WEEKLY DEBRIEF

A new bill that makes it illegal to advertise conversion therapy to children was introduced in Senate last month.

But first . . . what is conversion therapy? Conversion therapy claims to change the sexual orientation of LGBTQ2 people through prayer and talk therapy. However, there’s no scientific research that supports this practice at all.

In 2015, the Canadian Psychological Association denounced the practice and said that it can result in damaging outcomes for individuals such as depression, negative self-image and a feeling of personal failure.

What is this bill? Liberal senator Serge Joyal tabled Bill S-260 in April. The bill aims to amend the Criminal Code of Canada and make it an offence to advertise conversion therapy to anyone under the age of 18.

The move is the result of an online petition that called on the federal government to ban the practice geared toward Canadian children. In February, NDP MP Sheri Benson presented the petition to the House of Commons.

In March, the government responded, calling conversion therapies “immoral” and maintaining that those practices don’t reflect the government’s — or Canadian — values. However, since conversion therapy can be carried out by members of the health profession, the government says that it’s largely a provincial and territorial issue because it could be addressed through existing sections of the Criminal Code. This means that when a person is forced to undergo conversion therapy, criminal charges like kidnapping, assault and forcible confinement may apply.

In a statement to Huffpost Canada, Benson says she’s pleased to see Joyal continue to fight to get rid of conversion therapy in Canada. Currently the country has no national ban on the practice, but Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and the City of Vancouver have placed restrictions on the so-called “treatment.”

So why is conversion therapy still legal in Canada? Here’s a powerful piece by journalist Megan Jones that explores the issue.

WORLD AT A GLANCE

🌎 The Mormon church opposes an LGBTQ2 nondiscrimination bill in the US. Joining the Roman Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention, the Utah-based faith says the bill is not fair, and that it interferes with religious freedom protections. 👀

🌎 Cuban LGBTQ2 activists defied the country’s government and held an independent pride parade in Havana. 🌈

🌎 An LGBTQ2 charity in Michigan was scammed by people pretending to be Mariah Carey’s promoters. The charity was swindled out of $100,000. It’s truly got them feeling emotions.

🌎 France is seeing a rise in anti-LGBTQ2 attacks. According to the French Interior Ministry, it registered more than 1000 attacks based on sexual orientation last year; that’s a 34 percent increase from the year before.

🌎A win for LGBTQ2 folks! Taiwan just became the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. 🌈💞❤️️🎉 #LoveIsLove

QUEER CONTENT ROUNDUP