Last week, Conservative MP Tamara Jansen of Cloverdale-Langley BC, used the word “unclean” while debating a ban of conversion therapy in Canada. Jansen, when speaking out against the ban on conversion therapy cited a bible verse

“I’m going to invoke the words of the Apostle Matthew — Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees. You hypocrites! You’re like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”

Liberal MP Rob Oliphant, who Jansen was debating with, found the verse to be extremely offensive.

Regardless of what context Jansen was using this verse, it is extremely offensive to members of the LGBTQIA2+ community. The bill would criminalize conversion therapy and make it illegal to force a minor to undergo conversion therapy or travel abroad for conversion therapy. Jansen argues that the ban would prevent LGBTQ+ youth from seeking counseling about their sexuality; which is completely inaccurate. 

Someone of this platform and power should be held accountable for their blatantly homophobic action. Attempting to justify it as a biblical verse is still problematic. Queer people have traditionally been called “dirty”, “unclean”,  “abominations” amongst other offensive terms. Tamara Jansen NEEDS to be held accountable and that is why we, the undersigned, call for her resignation or removal from public office.