By Chad Ingram

The organizers of Minden Pride are calling on the community to support Bill C-6, which would outlaw conversion therapy.

Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MP Jamie Schmale is holding a constituency referendum regarding his support of the bill. That is, Schmale is asking constituents to vote on the issue, and will then cast his vote in the House of Commons based on those results.

In a mail-out to constituents from the MP’s office, conversion therapy is defined as “practices, treatment or services designed to change an individual’s sexual orientation to heterosexual or gender identify to cisgender or to reduce non-heterosexual sexual attraction or sexual behaviour.”

“Let me be clear that it is my belief that conversion therapy is wrong,” Schmale writes in that correspondence. “ … In the case of this bill, I will honour the results of the referendum but with one exception. That voluntary conversations between individuals and their teachers, school counsellors, pastoral counsellors, faith leaders, doctors, mental health professionals, friends and family members are not criminalized and the bill is amended to clarify that position.”

“Minden Pride is speaking directly to MP Schmale and will strongly advocate that he vote yes,” a press release from the organizers of Minden Pride reads. “This is critical to upholding all Canadians’ human rights.”

Each registered voter in each household may vote once, and those names will be reviewed against the Elections Canada voters’ list.

For more information on the referendum, visit https://jamieschmale.ca/billc-6