Brazil Congressional Human Rights Committee Approves Bill Lifting Prohibition on Gay Conversion Therapy
The Commission for Human Rights and Minorities in Brazil's lower house of Congress, led by evangelical pastor Marco Feliciano (pictured) of the Social Christian Party, has approved a bill that would lift a prohibition on psychologists to perform gay conversion therapy, the AP reports:
The measure approved Tuesday seeks to lift a prohibition on psychologists treating homosexuality that was established by the Federal Psychology Council. The ban has been in effect since 1999.
"In practice, (the initiative's) result would be that a person over 18 years of age, responsible for his actions, who is homosexual and wants to reorient his sexuality, can be attended by a psychologist," said lawmaker Joao Campos, a member of the evangelical bloc of Brazil's lower house.
Feliciano had tried for weeks to put the "gay cure" initiative before the commission but had failed as opponents maneuvered to block a vote. The initiative was passed Tuesday amid a low turnout by commission members.
The psychologists' council is against the measure , which must pass through other committees. Brazil's first out gay lawmaker Jean Wyllys does not expect it will make it to a full Congressional vote.
At least they stopped at 18 and under. I say if adults wish to deceive and torture themselves, have at it. Just leave the children alone.
Posted by: jleo71 | Jun 19, 2013 8:42:19 AM
I hate the concept of this quack therapy, but if someone is an adult and wants to go through such nonsense, happy trails.
Posted by: JJ | Jun 19, 2013 8:57:43 AM
How can they stop adults from wanting such treatment? I imagine most churches do the equivalent by counseling gay and bisexual people how to remain celibate or abstain from same-sex relations. As long as it is consensual, what can the government do?
Posted by: Kyle | Jun 19, 2013 9:07:38 AM
I have to agree with JJ and Jleo71, but I would hope that professional organizations of psychologists in Brazil would publicly denounce such treatment.
Posted by: MichaelJ | Jun 19, 2013 10:35:24 AM
This is just a power play. Protests have been made since the day this idiot took the position in the Commission (which was another play with the allied at the Congress) and he's only doing this to show his followers that he can do something so they can keep sending their money to his 'church'. He knows it won't go through, everyone knows it won't go through, our Psychology Council follows WHO, they already said they won't change a thing.
Posted by: Syrax | Jun 19, 2013 10:39:57 AM
This is just an attempt of the government to move the focus from protests that are going on throughout the country. The idiot the was put as head of the Commission was put there as a diversion in the first place. And now they're trying to do the same by passing this lame vote that is going nowhere, just to try to get some media attention and change the dialog to something that really won't matter because in the end is not going to happen.
Posted by: JR | Jun 19, 2013 12:24:32 PM
Like a metastasizing cancer, evangelical christianity continues to spread in Latin America. Brazil is but the latest example of its growing influence. This is bad news.
Posted by: jamal49 | Jun 19, 2013 12:44:31 PM
Even adults deserve protection from frauds. That's why we have, you know, the law.
Posted by: Randy | Jun 19, 2013 5:33:32 PM
I am Brazilian and I know that this project will not be finally adopted.
This issue entered the agenda of recent protests.
Posted by: Anderson | Jun 19, 2013 10:57:59 PM