Practices aimed at forcibly changing sexual orientation or gender identity will be banned and criminalized by the bills of the Socialist Party, PAN, Livre and Bloco de Esquerda, which will be discussed on Wednesday.
Parliament will discuss eight bills on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender characteristics, sponsored by the Socialist Party (PS), People-Animals-Natureza (PAN), Livre, Bloco de Esquerda (BE) and Chega.
Among those eight, there are four bills that would ban and criminalize so-called “conversion therapy”, which aims to correct perceived abnormalities such as homosexuality or transsexuality.
PS, PAN, Livre and BE will advocate for a ban on these acts, pointing out that such cases continue to be reported and that these acts are based on methods that cause physical and psychological suffering and injury through medical or religious approaches, and urging attention that “there is nothing to treat.”
The four parties are proposing to ban any practice aimed at forcibly changing sexual orientation, identity or gender expression, criminalizing the act and those who engage in the practice of gender change without consent.
With regard to criminalization and related penalties, the bills are different, as the OP proposes a sentence of up to two years in prison for “who practices, facilitates or encourages actions with the intent to change or suppress a sexual orientation, identity, or the expression of another’s sexual orientation.” gender, including conducting or encouraging medical-surgical procedures, practices using pharmacological, psychotherapeutic or other psychological or behavioral resources.”
PAN accompanies PS, but only if the practice is in the medical field, otherwise it carries a penalty of up to one year in prison or a fine.
Bloco de Esquerda and Livre are proposing jail sentences of up to three years, and all parties, with the exception of PS, also want to be barred from performing functions for anyone practicing transformation methods, whatever the activity and regardless of whether it is in the public or private sector for a period of two to twenty years.
The parties propose increased penalties if the crimes are committed by more than one person, if the victim is under 16 years of age, under 14 years of age, or if they are a particularly vulnerable person, or if this resulted in severe physical harm, danger to life or suicide, among other situations.
Livre also suggests that anyone convicted of these crimes could be sentenced to be barred from entering into the trust of a minor, whether by adoption, foster care, civil sponsorship, or other form of guardianship, for between two and twenty years.
PAN also proposes that the practice be examined and recommends that, within three months of the entry into force of the new law, the government, in conjunction with the Commission on Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG), conduct a study on the impact of physical and psychological abuse on victims and a survey of the number of people subjected to such practices in throughout the country.
Chega’s bill places great emphasis on the issue of shared bathrooms and changing rooms, arguing that “the creation of specific, defined and properly defined spaces respects the privacy of all those who wish to share a bathroom of their gender and also protects individuals.” with gender dysphoria or in the process of social transition.”
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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