Dear CATA-ACAT members,

We are pleased to learn that the federal government has passed Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), a legislation that bans conversion practices and makes them criminal offenses in Canada. Conversion practices have been discredited globally by leading human rights and mental health organizations and regulatory bodies. We stand in solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, creative arts therapists and students who are part of the communities, and human rights organizations who advocate for the abolishment of this discriminatory and dehumanizing practice that is profoundly detrimental to individuals’ rights and wellbeing. Conversion practices contravene the CATA-ACAT Standards of Practice and our commitment to anti-oppressive practices, and it is not condoned by our association.

The CATA-ACAT Anti-Oppressive Practice (AOP) Working Group welcomes feedback from and collaborations with creative arts therapists and students from the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities on how the association can better support and uplift their perspectives, practices, and knowledges in creative arts therapies, in conjunction with anti-colonial, anti-racist, and disability justice aims. The Working Group can be involved in event/conference planning, association policy review, or other suggestions that communities may have. To get in touch please email aopworkinggroup@canadianarttherapy.org.

To learn more about Bill C-4 and the longtime advocacy efforts of 2SLGBTQ+ groups, the following links may offer helpful starting points:

https://www.noconversioncanada.com/what-we-do-1

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-justice/news/2021/11/government-introduces-legislation-to-ban-conversion-therapy-practices-in-canada.html#FreeToBeMe%20%23LGTBQ2

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/senate-passes-bill-to-ban-conversion-therapy-1.5697507

Sincerely,

CATA-ACAT Board of Directors