Harder’s vote denies people the right to live their own identity

By Letter to the Editor on June 25, 2021.

Editor:
I’m finding it difficult to believe that Rachael Harder, Conservative MP for Lethbridge, has voted against the federal bill to ban conversion therapy.
In doing so, she aligned herself with those who believe that sexual orientation is a choice and can be changed, or that it is evil and must be driven out.
Instead, she has declared herself to be against the positions taken by The American Psychiatric Association (publisher of the DSM), the Surgeon General of the United States, and most medical, scientific, and governmental organizations across the world, that conversion therapy is ineffective at best and often dangerous.
In choosing to vote as she did, she has denied the right of my grandson, my niece, my nephew, several of my friends, and anyone else who identifies as LGBTQ2s to acknowledge and live their non-binary identity.
It doesn’t matter if she really believes in conversion therapy or if she is trying to placate a specific group of voters. She has a responsibility to represent everyone in her constituency.
Shame on her for taking this thoughtless, outmoded, outdated, and ultimately harmful position on this vote.
Ian Hepher
Lethbridge