Conversion therapy was described by the Senate as a violation of the human rights of the LGBT+ community
The Senate of Mexico approved last Thursday, the 25th, a bill that prohibits the use of sexual conversion therapy throughout the country. This form of treatment, sought by some families in the hope of “curing” or “correcting” an LGBT+ loved one, has been labeled as “pseudoscientific” by Mexican movement organizations.
The measure was approved with a significant margin of 77 votes in favor, 4 against and 15 abstentions, according to a statement from the Senate released on its official Twitter account. According to the post, the Senate emphasized the importance of protecting the sexual orientation and gender identity of each individual, especially vulnerable groups such as minors, the elderly and people with disabilities.
“The Senate approved the sanction of therapies that prevent or nullify a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity,” he declared, adding that “there are aggravating factors when practices are carried out with minors, the elderly and people with disabilities.”
Conversion therapy was described by the Senate as a violation of the human rights of the LGBT+ community and was therefore officially sanctioned. This is not the first time that the Mexican Senate has tried to ban this practice, having made a previous attempt in 2022 that was not approved by the Chamber of Deputies.
Citizen Movement senator Patricia Mercado, one of the project’s proponents since 2018, reiterated that there is nothing to be “cured” or “corrected” in relation to sexual orientation or gender identity. She denounced such treatments as cruel and inhumane, causing significant harm.
The methods employed by conversion therapy advocates range from psychological counseling to religious practices and even shock therapy, provoking a strong negative reaction from the LGBT+ community around the world.
Providers of this therapy will now face up to five years in prison, with harsher penalties for those who subject minors to this practice. As for the position of the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, it is still unclear whether he supports the ban or not, according to a report in the Washington Blade, the oldest LGBT+ newspaper in the United States.
In addition to Mexico, other countries such as Canada, Brazil, Belgium, Germany, France and New Zealand also ban conversion therapy. In the United States, jurisdictions such as Virginia, California and DC have already banned this practice for minors.
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.