Conversion therapy isn’t illegal in Saskatoon and that was the topic of a presentation to the Governance and Priorities committee earlier this week.
Conversion therapy is the discredited practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Charlie Klassen is a bisexual, non-binary person who hasn’t been through conversion therapy, but understands what it’s like when people say what you are is wrong and sinful.
Klassen has been afraid to be his true self because of what some members of society and a few members of his biological family have said.
There is a high incidence of suicide attempts among conversion therapy victims.
The suggestion from Klassen is that Vancouver banned conversion therapy from a business perspective where businesses were banned from providing or advertising the practice, so something similar could be considered in Saskatoon.
Grosvenor Park United Church also wrote a letter requesting a ban on the practice, that was presented to the committee.
It was voted unanimously that administration would report back as quickly as possible on what role the city can play to ensure conversion therapy is prohibited here.