Portugal will sanction from March 1, acts of forced sexual conversion against people from the LGTB+ groupmarking progress in the protection of the rights of this community.
(Read more: LGTBI centers you can attend to receive support for exclusion and violation).
The new legislation, which was published in the 'Diario de la República', establishes prison sentences of up to three years for those who seek to forcibly alter the sexual orientation, identity or gender expression of another person.
Acts of forced sexual conversion may encompass a wide range of practices, from surgical interventions to medications and psychological therapies.
Those treatments that result in irreversible changes in the body and sexual characteristics of the victim can carry prison sentences of up to five years.
(Read more: Exile and transformation: the story of Lux, Pedro Pascal's sister).
In particular, the new law pays special attention to the protection of minors. In addition to prison sentences, the possibility of professional disqualification is provided for those who subject a child or adolescent to forced conversion.
It is important to highlight that the law clearly establishes that the procedures applied in the context of self-determination of gender identity and expression will not be punishable.
(You may be interested in: Pedro Pascal and Kristen Stewart: the stars in the 40 years of Sundance).
This legislation was proposed by several political forces, including the Left Bloc, Livre (left), the PAN Animalist Party and the Socialist Party, and was approved in the Portuguese Parliament in December.
Its entry into force starting in March represents a significant step towards protecting rights and the dignity of LGTB+ people in Portugal.
(You can see: Who is 'La Divaza', the influencer who kissed Alfredo Adame in 'La Casa de los Famosos'?).
A study carried out by the Ispa-University Institute, led by researcher Pedro Alexandre Costa, provided alarming data on conversion practices in Portugal.
According to this study, 22 percent of LGBT+ people surveyed stated that they had been subjected to these practices in religious, medical and psychotherapeutic contexts between 2021 and 2023. 52 percent of victims felt compelled to begin the conversion process, and 35 percent said they were pressured.
The youngest person to undergo such a process was 12 years old, while the age of the majority ranged between 14 and 19.
More news
– 'I am black, I am gay, I am a priest': the church that welcomes homosexual devotees
– Christian Chávez, from RBD, talked about his outfits on tour: 'I did it wanting to be me'
– Vatican clarifies that the blessing of homosexual couples will not be 'liturgical'
*This content was made with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from La Nación (GDA), and was reviewed by the journalist and an editor.
#Portugal #sanction #acts #forced #sexual #conversion #starting #March