Originally published in The Washington Blade on 19/02/2016. Available at: https://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/02/19/chilean-officials-conversion-therapy-is-a-grave-threat/
Chilean health officials on Thursday for the first time expressed their opposition to so-called conversion therapy.Agence France-Presse reported the Chilean Ministry of Health made the statement to the Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, an LGBT advocacy group in the South American country.
“We consider that the practices known as ‘reparative therapies’ or ‘conversion’ of homosexuality represent a grave threat to health and well-being, including the life, of the people who are affected,” said the Chilean Ministry of Health, according to Agence France-Presse.
The Movement for Homosexual Integration and Liberation, which is known by the Spanish acronym Movilh, welcomed the position.
“The message is clear to those who directly or indirectly promote these therapies,” said Movilh in a press release. “Procedures for conversion of homosexuality are intolerable because they endanger people’s lives.”
Fundación Iguales, another Chilean LGBT advocacy group, also welcomed the Chilean Ministry of Health’s opposition to conversion therapy.
“Good that the Ministry of Health found that ‘reparative therapies’ are a threat, but we must continue working,” said Fundación Iguales on its Twitter page.
The Pan-American Health Organization, the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association are among the organizations that oppose conversion therapy.