The Spanish Evangelical Alliance (AEE) has come out swinging over a proposed bill that would lead to jail time for pastors and counselors who assist individuals seeking to leave or alleviate their homosexuality and align their gender identity with their biological sex.
Introduced by the Socialist Parliamentary Group (GPS) and supported by multiple parties by a vote 311-33, Spain’s lower house passed the initial stage of a legislative amendment that would “penalize conversion therapies aimed at eliminating or denying sexual orientation, sexual identity or gender expression” by imposing prison terms of six months to two years for those found providing such services. According to Assigned Media:
In Spain, conversion therapy is defined as “the promotion or practice of aversion, conversion, or counterconditioning methods, programs, or therapies, whether psychological, physical, or drug-based, that aim to modify the sexual orientation, sexual identity, or gender expression of people, regardless of the consent they or their legal representatives may have given.” Right now it constitutes an administrative offense, which has financial repercussions, not a criminal offense, which would have penal repercussions.
The GPS says that they proposed heightening punitive measures to the level of criminal offense because they “are not facing isolated cases but rather one of the most serious forms of attack and denigration of the LGBTI community, especially due to the emergence of new forms of dissemination of these so-called therapies, such as web platforms, social networks, etc.,” and clarifies that this change would elevate the punishment for practicing conversion therapy to the same sort of punishments issued for crimes relating to torture.
The bill is remarkably similar to one that passed in Canada in 2021, which made it a crime to offer conversion therapy services with punishments up to five years in prison.
The AEE contends that the bill mischaracterizes genuine pastoral care and personal guidance as harmful “conversion therapy,” with one commenter noting the hypocrisy of progressives insisting that everything is fluid- sex, gender, identity-until that fluidity goes the other way. Others wondered what support would be available for de-transitioners and whether pastors offering support would be charged as they progress.
6 responses to “Spanish House Votes 311-33 To Jail Pastors For Counseling Against Homosexuality”
hellow
hy
Use this law to sue the media for pushing gay propaganda. That’s an attempt at changing people’s “sexual orientation.” Sue the pron companies using this law as well.
nice
The Spanish Inquisition in reverse.
It’s concerning that 311 legislators could think something like this is okay. I doubt even Franco would have done such a thing.