Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia says he is “against conversion therapies”

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Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia said Monday that he is against so-called “conversion therapies” and is preparing to ban them by law in Puerto Rico, if a measure that bans them comes to his desk in La Fortalesa.

“I have a long-standing record against conversion therapies,” the chief executive stressed.

So-called conversion or reparative therapy is defined as any attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The United Nations (UN) has recognized so-called conversion therapies as forms of torture, as well as “discriminatory, cruel, inhuman and degrading.” Likewise, the main professional organizations of psychology, psychiatry and social work have reiterated and scientifically demonstrated that these methods are harmful, in their various forms, placing in potential danger of emotional and physical harm to their victims, mainly children and teens.

“Based on all this information and more, including the language of our own Constitution, I am against conversion therapies and this has been my position consistently, it has not changed.”, Pierluisi reiterated in response to The New Day, During a press conference at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

“I will have to see what happens in the legislative process and if a measure comes to my office, I am advancing something that is already public knowledge, that I am against converting conversion therapies in Puerto Rico,” he said. sentenced.

Currently, the Senate Bill 184 is being discussed in the Legislature, which seeks to ban conversion therapies on the island. This medium published on Saturday testimonies that show this practice at the local level, to which have been added stories through social networks.

In the same direction, the designated secretary of the Department of Health, Carlos Mellado, stated his position against this practice on the island.

“Anything that is detrimental to the physical and mental health of any human being, the Department of Health must be against,” he pointed out.

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