Government recognizes Transgender Day of Remembrance; Gender Protection Bill Passes

Government marked Transgender Day of Remembrance by renewing its support for trans, two-spirit, non-binary, and gender diverse Islanders. 

“All people deserve respect, equality and protection from discrimination and violence. We recognize the importance of this day and, as a Government, we continue to work towards elevating equality and human rights here on Prince Edward Island. As Islanders we care about each other and it is important that we come together to support one another.”

-  Health and Wellness Minister James Aylward

Today, legislation ensuring gender protection by prohibiting the use of conversion therapy on Prince Edward Island passed with the full support of all members of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Protection Health Care Act will:

• Prohibit regulated health professionals from providing conversion therapy to people under 18 years of age;
• Prohibit people giving consent for conversion therapy on a vulnerable person; and
• Prohibit the use of public funds for conversion therapy. 

“Conversion therapy is an unethical practice that should not be happening anywhere in the world. We are pleased that, through collaboration with other parties and various community groups, we have brought this issue to the forefront and swiftly put a ban on this practice in PEI. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has advocated so strongly for this,” added Minister Aylward. 

Conversion therapy is a practice that aims to change an individual's sexual orientation to heterosexual or gender identity to cisgender, which means identifying with the sex assigned to them at birth. The practice uses a variety of shaming, emotionally traumatic or physically painful stimuli in an attempt to associate the individual with their LGBTQ2S+ identity.

On November 20, 2019, the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island passed a unanimous motion prohibiting the provision of conversion therapy by regulated health professionals in PEI and further prohibiting the use of public funds for such treatment. 

Media contact:
Samantha Hughes
Senior Communications Officer
Health and Wellness
(902) 368-5610
shughes@gov.pe.ca