An opposition member of Ontario’s legislature will table a bill Wednesday that would bar any medical therapy aimed at preventing young people from growing up to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or trans.
The private member’s bill, to be introduced by Parkdale-High Park NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo, would also de-list any such therapies from the province’s public health insurance program.
Ms DiNovo’s initiative comes amid growing controversy over treatments that force children to conform to traditional gender roles.
“Most people in Ontario would be shocked to know that there are psychiatrists who are trying to turn queer kids straight and that taxpayers are paying for it,” Ms DiNovo said in an interview. “This is who these children are if they are trans, or gay, or lesbian and forcing them to go to someone who thinks that that’s a disease is tantamount to abuse.”
Ms DiNovo’s bill would require the support of the ruling Liberal party to become law. Ontario’s premier Kathleen Wynne and her cabinet colleagues have yet to indicate whether they will support it.
DiNovo acknowledged that bills from third place parties rarely make it to a second reading, let alone become law. But she is optimistic. “I have probably passed more private members’ bills than anyone else in government”, she said.
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Ontario NDPer wants to block taxpayer funding for therapies ‘trying to turn queer kids straight’ | National Post
The private member’s bill, to be introduced by Parkdale-High Park NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo, would also de-list any such therapies from the province’s public health insurance program.
Ms DiNovo’s initiative comes amid growing controversy over treatments that force children to conform to traditional gender roles.
“Most people in Ontario would be shocked to know that there are psychiatrists who are trying to turn queer kids straight and that taxpayers are paying for it,” Ms DiNovo said in an interview. “This is who these children are if they are trans, or gay, or lesbian and forcing them to go to someone who thinks that that’s a disease is tantamount to abuse.”
Ms DiNovo’s bill would require the support of the ruling Liberal party to become law. Ontario’s premier Kathleen Wynne and her cabinet colleagues have yet to indicate whether they will support it.
DiNovo acknowledged that bills from third place parties rarely make it to a second reading, let alone become law. But she is optimistic. “I have probably passed more private members’ bills than anyone else in government”, she said.
more
Ontario NDPer wants to block taxpayer funding for therapies ‘trying to turn queer kids straight’ | National Post
