The Congress has approved on Tuesday the taking into consideration of the proposal of law to penalize the false sexual conversion therapies for people LGTBIQ+. The motion, raised by the PSOE, has come forward with 311 votes in favor, including those of the PP; an abstention (of UPN); and the rejection of the 33 deputies of extreme right of Vox. Now a period of 15 days is opened for the presentation of “partial amendments or the totality – before definitively approveing the law.
“. Be physically or psychologically tortured to start your orientation or identity,” said the socialist deputy Víctor Gutiérrez, who has defended the proposal. In addition, he stressed that the PSOE was the only party that had in its program the criminalization of these practices.
The PSOE proposal proposes to modify the Criminal Code ―INTRODUCING Article 173.bis – to establish prison convictions between six months and two years to which they “apply or practice” false therapies that seek “modify, repress, eliminate or deny sexual orientation, sexual identity or gender expression” of another person. False conversion therapies have been illegal in Spain for two years (as established by Law 4/2023 for the real and effective equality of trans people and for the guarantee of the rights of LGTBI people, known as ley trans). They were considered an infraction that was only punished with fines (up to 150,000 euros).
Despite being administratively sanctioned since 2023, no fines have been imposed. In January of this year, and promoted by the organization is not therapy, the Ministry of Equality opened the first file (Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Getafe, Alcalá de Henares, Sigüenza-Guadalajara and Malaga), accused of promoting and organizing them.
“Today there are still families, priests, sect shepherds, or coaches They sell the lie that sexual and gender diversity can be removed with sessions of prayers, electrical discharges, medications or threats. What to be as one is, it is a disease that should be treated. And they do it unpunished. The time has come to say: Enough already! ”, Said Gutiérrez, who also serves as secretary of LGTBI+ policies of the PSOE.
Already, which was endorsed by adding, Podemos, IU, ERC, Compromís, BNG, more Madrid, Junts, Comuns and Bildu. Then, the PSOE did not join the initiative. “That proposition of the law was more complete. Because in addition to criminal measures, which are the ones that you raise, there were others of accompaniment,” said Marije Fullaondo, of EH Bildu, in Congress. According to the socialist Gutiérrez, his party did not join “not because of lack of conviction, but rather, in form.”
The opinion that the PSOE proposal is “decaffeinated” is shared by the rest of the formations proposed in February the criminal punishment of these false therapies, to add Podemos, through the BNG. All of them have said they will present amendments.
Tribute for Zapatero and Zerolo
In addition, on Tuesday the Council of Ministers has approved to grant the former socialist president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and the activist and also politician of the PSOE Pedro Zerolo the Great Cross of the Order of San Raimundo de Peñafort for “value diversity in Spain”. Zerolo was “a tireless fighter for civil rights” and Zapatero, “the architect of equal marriage,” said Executive’s spokeswoman Pilar Alegría.
The decorations of the Order of the Cross of San Raimundo de Peñafort, established in 1944, celebrate the merits in the branch of justice and law, according to the Ministry of Justice on its website.
For its part, the Socialist Parliamentary Group has also given a small tribute to Zerolo, putting its name to one of the PSOE units in Congress. “: ‘Rights do not fall from heaven. “We, with a small humble and simple act, want to recognize all these people who brought us here with their effort and their social commitment,” he added.
Telephone 028 serves the victims of LGTbifobia 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Also known as rainbow telephone, it is an information and care service for victims of hate crimes and anonymous, free, confidential and accessible discrimination. In addition, you can contact by email (028-online@igualdad.gob.es) or
