A new Canadian law called C-4 outlaws so-called “conversion therapy,” which is defined in the law as any counseling or advising against transgender or nonbinary identity or non-heterosexual sexuality — even if the young person or adult requests it.
“The new Canadian law, C-4, bans any counseling that advocates for the Christian standard that sex is reserved for one man and one woman within marriage,” The Daily Wire’s Morning Wire reported this weekend. “It also potentially criminalizes any instruction confirming that human beings are created as wholly male or female from birth.”
Here’s how the text of the law defines “conversion therapy”:
In sections 320.102 to 320.104, conversion therapy means a practice, treatment or service designed to
(a) change a person’s sexual orientation to heterosexual;(b) change a person’s gender identity to cisgender;(c) change a person’s gender expression so that it conforms to the sex assigned to the person at birth;(d) repress or reduce non-heterosexual attraction or sexual behaviour;(e) repress a person’s non-cisgender gender identity; or(f) repress or reduce a person’s gender expression that does not conform to the sex assigned to the person at birth.
Notably, influencing a person’s sexuality or gender identity is only considered “conversion therapy” when it falls inline with biblical teachings; influencing a minor or adult to be gay, nonbinary, or transgender, is acceptable.
“For greater certainty, this definition does not include a practice, treatment or service that relates to the exploration or development of an integrated personal identity — such as a practice, treatment or service that relates to a person’s gender transition — and that is not based on an assumption that a particular sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression is to be preferred over another,” the legislation emphasizes.
Those who disobey the law could face up to five years in prison.
“Everyone who knowingly causes another person to undergo conversion therapy — including by providing conversion therapy to that other person — is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years; or guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction,” the law states.
As highlighted by Morning Wire, prominent Canadian pastor James Coates said the law essentially “criminalize[s] evangelism.”
The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh showcased the law via social media, sparking outrage from conservatives.
“Canada’s new law declares that you are guilty of ‘conversion therapy’ and subject to five years in prison if you counsel your biological male child to accept his male identity,” he posted, captioning a portion of the legislation.
Canada's new law declares that you are guilty of "conversion therapy" and subject to five years in prison if you counsel your biological male child to accept his male identity pic.twitter.com/lqapqWK3TZ
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) January 17, 2022
“Authoritarian, child-destroying lunacy,” Ben Shapiro commented.
Authoritarian, child-destroying lunacy. https://t.co/nHQ3Rtg9N1
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 17, 2022
“It’s legal under this law to convert children to LGBT. People always said that would happen. They were called crazy people using the slippery slope fallacy. Well here we are. At the bottom of that slope,” politico Mike Cernovich reacted.
It’s legal under this law to convert children to LGBT. People always said that would happen. They were called crazy people using the slippery slope fallacy.
Well here we are.
At the bottom of that slope 👇 https://t.co/k53F2mmZVg
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) January 17, 2022
“So if your kid feels insecure or confused with their gender or sexuality, you can only get ‘therapy’ if they convert to the identity that is anything BUT the biological norm,” posted advocate Landon Starbuck. “That’s not therapy, that’s conversion coercion.”
So if your kid feels insecure or confused with their gender or sexuality, you can only get "therapy" if they convert to the identity that is anything BUT the biological norm. That’s not therapy, that’s conversion coercion. https://t.co/sZABTJqfIC
— Landon Starbuck (@LandonStarbuck) January 17, 2022