Victor Szymanski went through conversion therapy when he was in high school, and he said it almost killed him. (Danielle McCreadie)
Saint John could become the first city in Atlantic Canada to ban conversion therapy.
The controversial practice attempts to change the sexual orientation of LGBTQ folks to heterosexual through therapy, but the practice has no basis in science.
Three cities and two municipalities in Canada have enacted bylaws banning conversion therapy: Vancouver, Edmonton and St. Albert; and Wood Buffalo and Sherwood in Alberta.
Victor Szymanski knows all too well the damage conversion therapy can cause. He was put through it when he was in high school and says it almost killed him.
“It does happen in New Brunswick, and it happened to me,” he said.
“We know that this is a dangerous practice. This kills people, and it almost killed me and it almost killed a lot of people that I know. It’s ruined relationships, it’s torn apart families, and it is hinged on this pathologization of LGBTQ identities that needs to stop.”
David Hickey brought forward a motion Monday night asking council to create a bylaw similar to one passed recently in Edmonton, which includes a $10,000 fine on businesses who have or do practice conversion therapy.
He says a bylaw would send the message that conversion therapy is not welcome in Saint John.
“Whether its parents, whether its young people, whoever it is, if you’re being impacted by conversion therapy, or that’s happening to you or you’re putting someone in that position, you need to know that it’s not okay in our community,” he said in an interview.
Saint John council has directed the City Manager to find ways to “eliminate or curtail” the practice of conversion therapy in Saint John.
A report is expected to come back to council sometime in the fall of 2020.
The city will also send letters to both the provincial and federal governments asking for action at their levels.
Szymanski says he is also working closely with Sackville MLA Megan Mitton to enact provincial legislation.
Hickey says Szymanski’s story is what inspired him to bring forward the motion.
“Victor is actually a good friend of mine, we went to high school together. (His story) was one that hit home for me because I knew him at the time, and I didn’t know that that was something he was going through. I didn’t expect, as many other Saint Johners, that something like this can happen in our city,” he said.
“Personally I want this practice stopped,” said Mayor Don Darling “Provincial legislation needs to protect the health, well-being, safety, rights and diversity of all individuals.”
While some councillors raised concerns about the city’s ability to take on the creation of such a bylaw, given its current workload, others say the issue of conversion therapy should be made a priority.
“At the end of the day, wrong is wrong,” said Councillor Gary Sullivan during the meeting.
“This is very important. I look at this as a priority because this involves people,” said Councillor Donna Reardon.
Szymanski commends those councillors who spoke up against the practice and hopes the city can set an example for the provincial government to follow.
Szymanski says having the support of the city sends a message that people like him deserve to be protected and cared for.
“It’s quite humbling to think of myself in high school just down the street here, going through conversion therapy at Saint John High. It’s remarkable to think that a city councillor would bring that forward as a priority that we should be looking at,” he said.
“I agree that there’s a heavy workload on city council, and this will take time, but that’s not to say you can’t legislate a bylaw to protect people like me, walking throughout the halls of Saint John High School contemplating whether or not I deserved to breathe the same air as anybody else.”
