Rocky could be next in line to ban conversion therapy

Aug 8, 2019 | 9:40 PM

During Tuesday’s town council meeting in Rocky Mountain House, Councillor Merrin Fraser ended it with a bang by bringing up the topic of possibly banning conversion therapy.

Fraser intends to take the same route as St. Albert when they voted to block businesses from obtaining a license if they perform conversion therapy, and to fine anyone if caught advertising or offering those services to minors.

“I know that a lot of municipalities kind of took it into their own hands to look at doing something on a local level if the provincial level wasn’t going to be dealing with it,” stated Fraser.

Conversion therapy is a program intended to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, which is usually targeted towards youths.

Councillor Fraser wants to focus on minors, believing anyone 18 or older has the right to make their own decisions.

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“I know there’s been some discussion federally about banning the practice because it’s not backed up by science, it’s psychologically very damaging and it something that’s targeted at youth and making you not feel safe and not feel like they belong in a community.”

Fraser says she doesn’t want to make this ruling to pressure other municipalities in any way, but would like others to look at it and to get people thinking whether or not it’s something they should do.

“It may be a wakeup call for some of these programs to be like, you know, it’s not okay, and if it makes just one kid feel safer, then I would say I was a success.”

by Adam Ophus

Rocky could be next in line to ban conversion therapy

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