'Conversion therapy’ banned in Ontario as groundbreaking NDP bill passes final reading

QUEEN’S PARK - Ontario NDP LGBTQ critic Cheri DiNovo’s groundbreaking bill banning the abusive practice of ‘conversion therapy’ for LGBT children passed third reading and became law in Ontario today. 

Ontario is the first province to pass a law banning conversion therapy. 

“Ontario will no longer allow vulnerable LGBTQ children to be subject to unethical, abusive so-called ‘conversion therapies'. Today our province is leading the way not only in Canada but internationally,” said DiNovo. 

DiNovo dedicated the bill to Leelah Alcorn, the 17-year-old Ohio young trans woman who left a suicide note detailing the abuse of therapists who tried to “fix” her.

“For too long we’ve allowed our LGBTQ kids to be subject to abusive 'conversion therapies' — in fact, we’ve been paying for it. Today that ends. Today we affirm and celebrate our LGBTQ kids,” said DiNovo.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath praised the final passage of the bill. 

“Today is a proud day for Ontario and a proud day for all New Democrats. From GSA protections, to Toby’s Law, to today’s ban on ‘conversion therapies’ New Democrats have a proud history of spear-heading efforts to protect Ontarians from discrimination,” said Horwath. 

DiNovo added that she’s excited to celebrate the historic passage of the bill this summer at Pride events across the province.