Kelowna-Lake Country MP Tracy Gray has been banned from all Kelowna Pride events after she voted against a bill that would ban conversion therapy federally.

Kelowna Pride Society has requested that Gray stays away to ensure that Pride remains a safe space for LGBTQ2S+ community members. The call comes after the Kelowna Task Force to Ban Conversion Therapy submitted a letter to the society after Gray voted against Bill C-6, a federal bill that would ban conversion therapy across the country. Conversion therapy is an umbrella term for discounted practices that aim to change someonesa国际传媒檚 sexual orientation or gender identity. It is a traumatic and hurtful practice.

sa国际传媒淲e agree with the Kelowna Task Force to Ban Conversion Therapy sa国际传媒� MP Graysa国际传媒檚 decision to vote against Bill C-6 shows a disregard for the 2S-LGBTQIA+ community and demonstrates that she is not an ally,sa国际传媒� wrote Kelowna Pride Society in an emailed statement.

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The society is also calling on Gray to issue a full and sincere apology for the vote. Gray, however, refused to apologize and instead accused Kelowna Pride Society of playing sa国际传媒減artisan politics.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚t is sad Kelowna Pride is choosing to engage in partisan politics rather than actually discuss the fact that Bill C-6 did not pass immediately in the Senate with concerns cited over broadness in the legislation. It has been sent to a Senate Committee to be studied,sa国际传媒� said Gray in an emailed statement to Black Press Media.

Gray also called Bill C-6 a sa国际传媒渇lawed legislationsa国际传媒� and claimed that many members of the LGBTQ2S+ community have reached out to her expressing her support. She said that activists group such as the task force do not represent everyone in the community.

sa国际传媒淭he question is if Kelowna Pride will ban the federal Liberals if an election is called by the Prime Minister which subsequently will stop Bill C-6 from becoming law,sa国际传媒� said Gray. sa国际传媒淚 will not apologize for voting against flawed legislation and once again state that I am against conversion therapy.sa国际传媒�

Kelowna Pride Society disagreed. sa国际传媒淢P Gray has demonstrated through her actions that she is no ally of the 2S-LGBTQIA+ community and therefore she is not welcome at upcoming Kelowna Pride events,sa国际传媒� it said.

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