Regina's conversion therapy ban bylaw to face final vote on Aug. 11

It will be another month until all conversion therapy practices can be banned in the City of Regina. 

Regina city council debated a conversion therapy ban on Wednesday evening. The ban would make it illegal for people to counsel others with the intent of changing their sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Councillors voted after hearing from several delegations. Bylaws need three readings and votes to come into effect. All three can be done in one meeting if it is unanimous, however council voted 10-1 on the bylaw in the first two votes, so a final vote will have to happen on Aug. 11. 

There will be no delegations or speakers allowed on Aug. 11, as it's simply a vote on the third reading of the bylaw. 

Councillor Landon Mohl was the only one voting against. 

Mohl had requested changes to the bylaw allowing for some therapies to repress or reduce sexual attraction for a purpose unrelated to a desire to be heterosexual, such as for sexual addictions or celibacy.

Mohl said while he is against coercive and manipulative practices regarding conversion therapy, he does not agree with the definition being used in Regina's bylaw. He said there were some speakers who told council they sought out therapy to reduce unwanted same-sex attractions. 

Only councillors Landon Mohl and Lori Bresciani voted for the proposed changes, which were defeated 9-2. Councillor Bob Hawkins said there is nothing in the bylaw that prevents counselling that doesn't aim to try to change a person's sexual orientation. 

"We must not drive a stake into the ban on conversion by pounding exceptions into it," Hawkins said. "We must not betray the hope and the trust that the LGBTQ community has placed into us, placed in us, it is time to draw this debate to a close."

Twenty-nine delegations addressed council, either through written statements or by appearing remotely from Regina, Calgary, Edmonton and Ontario. A majority of the people from Regina were supportive of the bylaw ban. Councillor Cheryl Stadnichuk said she saw a three to one ratio of people being supportive. 

"We've also heard from counselors and faith leaders who have said this will not affect their ability to counsel people. They do not see this by in any way. So we have heard that from people who actually do that counselling. And I'm going to take their word for it," Stanichuk said. 

Councillor Dan LeBlanc pointed to Pride Week in Regina, where councillors wore 'I love Regina' Pride t-shirts.

"I think that means we're standing as allies with that community. I want to suggest that signify in being an ally in June 9 doesn't mean very much. This is where the rubber hits the road," LeBlanc said. "Will you vote with the community who we've heard from or not?"

Regina residents show support for the bylaw ban through chalk

A group of Regina residents showed their support for the bylaw ban before the meeting started. At about 12 p.m. CST, the group met outside Regina city hall with chalk. 

Organizers with Queen City for All say they wanted to see the bylaw pass without being changed or watered down. Tria Donaldson, one of the organizers, said she wanted to show her support as there have been out-of-province speakers trying to change council's mind. 

"We really just wanted to show the fact that the people that are in Regina stand by our queer and trans community and want to see a conversion therapy ban passed," Donaldson said. 

Donaldson said it was beautiful to see people, from small children to older folks, come together to show their support. She said it was particularly meaningful as a queer person to see members of religious communities in the city take part.

Donaldson said this was also important as the federal ban has not passed the Senate. 

"Thirteen out of 14 members of parliament in Saskatchewan voted against a conversion therapy ban. The provincial government has been silent on this issue. So I'm really looking as a Regina resident, I want to see my city council take leadership on this, because all other levels of government, are failing to protect us right now." 

The day after the meeting, Mayor Sandra Masters said the bylaw has been brought forward relatively quickly and thanked people for their patience. 

"The council clearly supports banning any form of abuse of a course of conversion therapy to the point where we don't believe businesses should practise in the city that offer it in any form," Masters told guest host Ted Deller on The Morning Edition.