It’s known by several different names such as conversion therapy or reparative therapy. Whatever you call it, experts agree it’s a harmful practice.

One of them is hoping Alberta will follow in the steps of Ontario which became the first Canadian province to ban the practice of curing or fixing the homosexual.

Faculty Director for the Institute of Sexual Minority Studies at the University of Alberta, Dr. Kristopher Wells, believes it’s still happening here in more rural parts of the province and very quietly.

Wells says religious groups are still conducting it and he’s calling on the provincial government to take a stand.

The long-time advocate says if these governments are going to walk in Pride Parades, they need to oppose these harmful issues.

“There’s no scientific evidence anywhere in the world that supports this kind of therapy, all the research shows that it does great harm to an individual,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a municipal issue as much as a provincial issue. For the most part it’s not happening in our major metropolitan cities (Calgary and Edmonton).”

Seattle became the third major U.S. major city to ban the practice this week.