Canada bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

Canada approved legislation Wednesday banning conversion therapy practices throughout the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday.

Why it matters: The measure makes promoting and profiting off of conversion therapy a criminal offense, according to Canada's Justice Department. The bill also authorizes courts to order the removal of conversion therapy advertisements.

• The legislation further prohibits removing individuals from Canada to subject them to conversion therapy abroad, per the department.
• The text of the bill defines conversion therapy as any practice intended to "change an individual’s sexual orientation to heterosexual, change a person’s gender identity to cisgender or change their gender expression to conform to the sex assigned to the person at birth."

What they're saying: "Our government's legislation banning the despicable and degrading practice of conversion therapy has received Royal Assent," the prime minister wrote in a tweet.

• "LGBTQ2 Canadians, we’ll always stand up for you and your rights," he added.