Add popular votes to the measure to ban conversion therapies

Popular senators Joan Zaragoza and Migdalia González stated this Sunday that they will vote in favor of the Senate Bill 184 to ban conversion therapies in Puerto Rico, a practice considered by mental health experts to be harmful against those who are victims of them. .

They are the first two members of the Democratic People’s Party (PPD) delegation in the Senate to take a public stand in favor of the measure, recognizing that major mental health organizations in the United States have reiterated that the various modalities of conversion therapies attack the well-being of individuals, both mentally and physically.

“I am in favor of the measure because what conversion therapies do is cause harm to people who undergo this process, understand minors, who are the people we seek to protect,” said Gonzalez, a senator from the PPD by accumulation, in statements to El Nou Dia.

So-called conversion or reparative therapy is defined as any attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

González pointed out that individuals subjected to these practices “not only suffer from the rejection of families, many times, but when they receive this type of therapy they consider that they have failed their families and society.”

For its part, Zaragoza argued that its vote would be in favor of Project 184. “So far it is a yes. I am in favor of banning conversion therapies,” he said, adding that precisely today he was reading in detail the measure to be discussed in public hearings on March 24 and 26.

“For me this kind of therapies leads to abuse. I am a father, I have a daughter. I would never subject any of my sons to any kind of conversion therapy,” the senator said for Accumulation. The New Day publish Saturday testimonials from victims of conversion therapies in Puerto Rico.

Both lawmakers argued that Bill 184 has not been discussed in the caucus of the popular majority in the Senate, but said they were prepared to argue in favor of banning conversion therapies at the time it is being discussed.

For her part, Senator for the Humacao District, Rosamar Trujillo, argued that “as a social worker I do not believe in conversion therapies” and said she was in favor of the 184 project. However, she was not categorical in answering what vote would be. The senator has indicated that she was analyzing changes proposed by the measure in the Law for the Safety, Welfare and Protection of Minors, “to also submit recommendations.”

Meanwhile, for the second day in a row, Senate President José Luis Dalmau was not available to answer questions from this medium around the proposed ban on conversion therapies. Marially González, who is a psychologist and senator vice president, was also unavailable. The American Psychological Association, the leading organization in the profession in the United States, opposes conversion therapies. Other lawmakers have not responded since yesterday.

About three popular senators on Saturday opposed the 184 bill, alleging that conversion therapies do not exist on the island, despite testimonies from members of the LGBTTIQ community who have been victims of conversion therapies in Puerto Rico. This is the senator for Guayama, Albert Torres Berríos; the senator for Aguadilla-Mayagüez, Ada García Montes; and the senator for Arecibo, Rubén Soto.

Human rights activist Pedro Julio Serrano urged the popular delegation in the Senate “to educate-” on what conversion therapies are and their effects on the victims of the practice in all its forms. Serrano reiterated that these are “harmful, cruel and inhumane” practices.

“It seems untrue that three popular senators have spoken out against banning conversion therapies, especially when they use the false arguments of fundamentalist groups. These therapies threaten the health, well-being and safety of children and youth in Puerto Rico.” , sentenced the activist. “People must be on the right side of history and vote to ban this child abuse,” Serrano said.