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"I was shocked"

Support for conversion therapy ban in Rocky

Jan 8, 2020 | 2:39 PM

The Town of Rocky Mountain House may become one of the few municipalities in Alberta to ban conversion therapy.

It was on the August 20 of last year that council requested that the business license bylaw be brought forward with an amendment banning conversion therapy.

Administration continues to further amend the Bylaw based on information contained in the City of Edmonton’s bylaw banning conversion therapy.

Once it is presented to them, council will vote whether to move forward.

Council has shown that this is something they want for Rocky Mountain House and are willing to stand behind, but are worried about entering uncharted waters.

Council members including Mayor Tammy Burke have stated on multiple occasions that they do not want to scare individuals that wish to seek help, and who are looking for someone to talk to.

Their goal, they say, is to try and stop the unwanted, unwilling, and sometimes harmful practice of trying to change someone’s sexual orientation.

Individuals both locally and across the province who are a part the LGBTQ+ community have sent in letters of support for the bylaw amendment. One person wrote saying they know many young people who have left the community because it did not feel safe or inclusive to them.

The Red Deer Queer Community Association wrote in a letter to council “LGBTQIA+ people have been around since the dawn of humanity. Now, as we approach 2020, make the decision to ban conversion therapy and show your support for people who are just trying to live their lives, just the same as you.”

Some locals admitted that they were shocked that conversion therapy was something that still happened in a first-world country like Canada, let alone in their community.

“My hope is that we can continue to raise awareness and that Rocky will continue to become a safe, supportive community for ALL, regardless of our individual uniqueness,” another person wrote regarding their desire for Rocky’s future.