Helping LGBT People is Not a Crime!

Petition to Justice Minister Lametti and Senator Joyal

 

Helping LGBT People is Not a Crime!

Helping LGBT People is Not a Crime!

020,000
  11,620
 
11,620 have signed. Let's get to 20,000!
CitizenGO CAstarted this petition toHon. David Lametti - 08/19/2019
There is a new political push to criminalize so-called "conversion therapy" (change therapy) in Canada. Politicians backed by the LGBT lobby at every government level - including federal, provincial and municipal - are moving towards an all-out ban.
 
On April 9th, Senator Serge Joyal introduced Bill S-260, which would ban "conversion therapy". The Bill explains that this includes "any practice, treatment or service designed to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity or to eliminate or reduce sexual attraction or sexual behaviour between persons of the same sex". It does not matter if the practice, treatment, or service is provided by a professional counsellor for a fee, or by a church support group for free.
 
On August 15th, Edmonton Centre MP Randy Boissonnault, a special adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on LGBT Issues, confirmed that Justice Minister David Lametti has pledged to make "conversion therapy" a criminal offence. “Minister Monsef and I were with Minister Lametti at the roundtable earlier today, and he is committed to seeing us criminalize these behaviours.”
 
This is a very dangerous and totalitarian proposal, as it would remove the right of LGBT individuals to pursue change in terms of their lifestyle, behaviour, or identity. It would also remove the right of non-LGBT people to counsel or help them - including doctors, psychologists, pastors, spiritual counsellors, or lay people. It is an intrusive and unnecessary political interference in matters related to science, medicine, health, spirituality, and personal autonomy.
 
This enormous danger is highlighted in a statement by Kristopher Wells. Mr. Wells is the Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at MacEwan University. He is advising the government on the "conversion therapy" ban. He said, “The federal government also spoke about the possibility of revoking charitable status...For example, churches [and] faith communities that continue to use or promote conversion therapy. I think all of these tools are really important... The ultimate goal is to ensure that conversion therapy is put into the Criminal Code of Canada, so no matter where you practise it, and if you are practising it, whether that’s in a basement or in a church, you’re going to go to jail because of this.”
 
To be fair, some of the practices used in "conversion therapy" in the past have been highly questionable. Some doctors have used electro-shock therapy or vomit-inducing chemicals to create a psychological aversion to homosexual impulses. Some have advocated forced "conversion therapy". We are not advocating any of these techniques or ideas, and would agree that they should be restricted.
 
However, we are advocating for the freedom of LGBT people who are struggling with unwanted desires, feelings, or behaviours to seek and receive the help they want and need. We are advocating for the freedom of doctors, counsellors, pastors, and lay people to help those in need.
 
We are advocating for the freedom to preach the Bible, which speaks about the reality that LGBT people can experience change: "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
 
This is very urgent, so please sign and pass along this petition. The "conversion therapy" ban is moving forward quickly.
 
Please also contact your representatives at all government levels and urge them to stop this loss of freedom for a very vulnerable group of people who are our friends, neighbours, and loved ones - those who seek change.
 
 
VIDEO TESTIMONY
 
Dr. Ann Gillies on Change Therapy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4J6cn9dOsQ
 
 
FOR FURTHER READING
 
According to the American Psychological Association, one’s sexual orientation is not something purely genetic or “hard-wired” like many in the LGBT lobby claim. They write: “There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors.” Link: https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=PV19E09
 
Recent studies show that change is not only possible, but also very natural among LGBT people. “Of the 7.5% of men and 8.7% of women who chose a nonheterosexual descriptor at ages 18 to 21, 43% of the men and 46% of the women chose a different category by age 23. Among the same-sex-attracted youth who changed, 57% of the men’s changes and 62% of the women’s changes involved switching to completely heterosexual.” Lisa M. Diamond and Clifford J. Rosky, “Scrutinizing Immutability: Research on Sexual Orientation and U.S. Legal Advocacy for Sexual Minorities,” The Journal of Sex Research 53 (2016). Link: https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF19C38.pdf
 
 
Global News Article on Upcoming "Conversion Therapy" Ban: https://globalnews.ca/news/5772786/federal-roundtable-edmonton-conversion-therapy/

Dr. Ann Gillies

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Helping LGBT people who want help is not a crime!

I am opposed to all government efforts to criminalize so-called "conversion therapy" (including Bill S-260).

It is wrong to deny LGBT people the option of pursuing "conversion therapy" (change therapy), if they so choose. If a person is experiencing unwanted same-sex attractions or gender dysphoria, he/she should have the freedom to seek medical, psychological, or spiritual counsel and/or treatment in order to obtain personal healing and wellness.

Recent studies show that change is not only possible, but also very natural among LGBT people. “Of the 7.5% of men and 8.7% of women who chose a nonheterosexual descriptor at ages 18 to 21, 43% of the men and 46% of the women chose a different category by age 23. Among the same-sex-attracted youth who changed, 57% of the men’s changes and 62% of the women’s changes involved switching to completely heterosexual.” (Diamond and Rosky, “Scrutinizing Immutability: Research on Sexual Orientation and U.S. Legal Advocacy for Sexual Minorities,” The Journal of Sex Research 53).

LGBT people have the right to change their lifestyle, behaviour, and identity, if they are so inclined. If they choose to do so, they should not be denied assistance from those who are willing, qualified, and trained to help them.

A ban on "conversion therapy" represents a dangerous and unprecedented political intrusion into matters related to science, medicine, health, spirituality, and personal autonomy. The government has no business telling people who want to experience change that they are not allowed to do so.

The government has no business telling qualified and licensed medical professionals that they cannot help their patients. The government has no business telling churches and spiritual counsellors that they cannot help their adherents.

According to Kristopher Wells, a professor at MacEwan University, who has advised the government on banning "conversion therapy", "The ultimate goal is to ensure that conversion therapy is put into the Criminal Code of Canada, so no matter where you practise it, and if you are practising it, whether that’s in a basement or in a church, you’re going to go to jail because of this."

I do not believe anyone should go to jail for helping someone overcome unwanted same-sex attractions or gender dysphoria. It is absurd and totalitarian for any government to attempt to do so. It is also a violation of the fundamental human rights of those who want to change.

[Your Name]

Helping LGBT people who want help is not a crime!

I am opposed to all government efforts to criminalize so-called "conversion therapy" (including Bill S-260).

It is wrong to deny LGBT people the option of pursuing "conversion therapy" (change therapy), if they so choose. If a person is experiencing unwanted same-sex attractions or gender dysphoria, he/she should have the freedom to seek medical, psychological, or spiritual counsel and/or treatment in order to obtain personal healing and wellness.

Recent studies show that change is not only possible, but also very natural among LGBT people. “Of the 7.5% of men and 8.7% of women who chose a nonheterosexual descriptor at ages 18 to 21, 43% of the men and 46% of the women chose a different category by age 23. Among the same-sex-attracted youth who changed, 57% of the men’s changes and 62% of the women’s changes involved switching to completely heterosexual.” (Diamond and Rosky, “Scrutinizing Immutability: Research on Sexual Orientation and U.S. Legal Advocacy for Sexual Minorities,” The Journal of Sex Research 53).

LGBT people have the right to change their lifestyle, behaviour, and identity, if they are so inclined. If they choose to do so, they should not be denied assistance from those who are willing, qualified, and trained to help them.

A ban on "conversion therapy" represents a dangerous and unprecedented political intrusion into matters related to science, medicine, health, spirituality, and personal autonomy. The government has no business telling people who want to experience change that they are not allowed to do so.

The government has no business telling qualified and licensed medical professionals that they cannot help their patients. The government has no business telling churches and spiritual counsellors that they cannot help their adherents.

According to Kristopher Wells, a professor at MacEwan University, who has advised the government on banning "conversion therapy", "The ultimate goal is to ensure that conversion therapy is put into the Criminal Code of Canada, so no matter where you practise it, and if you are practising it, whether that’s in a basement or in a church, you’re going to go to jail because of this."

I do not believe anyone should go to jail for helping someone overcome unwanted same-sex attractions or gender dysphoria. It is absurd and totalitarian for any government to attempt to do so. It is also a violation of the fundamental human rights of those who want to change.

[Your Name]