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Spain's Congress of Deputies has approved a law that makes conversion therapy a crime punishable by six months to two years in prison, with the support of 178 votes in favor, 138 abstentions (from the conservative Partido Popular), and 32 votes against (from far-right Vox) Source: ABC, La Vanguardia. The initiative, introduced by the Socialist Party (PSOE), adds a new article to the Penal Code, applying regardless of the victim's consent, and includes aggravating factors such as when the victim is a minor or the perpetrator belongs to an organization Source: Infobae.
Socialist deputy Víctor Gutiérrez called these practices "a form of torture" Source: El Mundo. PP deputy Jaime de los Santos declared, "I am from the PP, I am gay, and I am very proud of both things," while denouncing what he called the left's "sectarianism" Source: El Mundo. Vox deputy María Ruiz Solas rejected the law as an "absolute nonsense" and an attack on individual liberty Source: ABC. Partners of the government—including Sumar, ERC, and Podemos—criticized the law for lacking measures to provide reparations, such as housing or financial aid for victims Source: Infobae, El País.
The bill now proceeds to the Senate for further debate. The law builds on an existing administrative prohibition from 2023, which had resulted in no fines despite 23 complaints received by the Ministry of Equality Source: El País. Victim Xavi Martínez Cal, who suffered these practices for four years, said the criminalization was necessary because "despite the fines, these people kept acting" Source: El País.
“el diputado del PSOE Víctor Gutiérrez ha dicho que estas prácticas no son terapias, sino «una forma de tortura»”
“«Soy del PP, soy maricón y me siento muy orgulloso de ambas cosas»”
“la diputada de Vox, María Ruiz Solas, ha defendido la continuidad de estas prácticas y ha acusado al Ejecutivo de «encarcelar» a quienes no piensan como ellos.”
“Xavi Martínez Cal... ha detallado que la jerarquía de la Iglesia en España ha fomentado estas prácticas.”
“La proposición de ley establece penas de entre seis meses y dos años de cárcel para estas prácticas, que vulneran los derechos del colectivo LGTBI+ y han sido calificadas por la ONU como una forma de "tortura".”
“El Congreso ha aprobado la proposición de ley del PSOE para castigar penalmente las llamadas terapias de conversión, que inicia ahora su trámite en el Senado.”
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