Pedro Pierluisi assures that he is “against conversion therapies”

Governor Pedro Pierluisi confirmed this Monday that he is against so-called “conversion therapies” and that he is preparing to ban them by law in Puerto Rico if a measure banning them reaches his office in La Fortaleza.

“I’ve been known against conversion therapies for a long time,” stressed the CEO.

The so-called conversion therapy 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 as “discriminatory, cruel, inhuman and degrading”. Likewise, the major professional organizations of psychology, psychiatry, and social work have repeated and scientifically demonstrated that these methods are harmful, in their various forms, putting their victims, mainly children and young people, at potential risk for emotional and physical harm.

“Based on all that information and more, including the language of our own constitution, I am against conversion therapies and that has always been my position, it has not changed”Pierluisi repeated in response to The new day, at a press conference at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.

“I will have to see what is happening in the legislative process and if a measure reaches my office, I am promoting something that is already well known, that I am against running conversion therapies in Puerto Rico,” he said.

Currently, Senate Bill 184, which aims to ban conversion therapies on the island, is under discussion in the legislature. This medium on Saturday published testimonials proving this practice at the local level, with stories added via social networks.

In the same vein, the designated Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Carlos Mellado, confirmed his position against this practice on the island.

“Anything that is harmful to the physical and mental health of a human being must be opposed to the Ministry of Health”, he pointed.