The Congress of Deputies has given the green light to the bill promoted by the PSOE to punish LGTBI+ conversion practices through criminal law, which now goes to the Senate to continue its processing. The initiative was approved with 178 votes in favor (PSOE and its allies), 138 abstentions from the PP, and 32 votes against from Vox.
During the session, socialist deputy Víctor Gutiérrez stressed that these interventions cannot be considered therapies, but rather "a form of torture," and specified that the future law will set penalties of between six months and two years in prison for those who carry them out, regardless of whether there is consent from the affected person, insisting that "torture" remains so even if accepted under pressure from one's environment.
Gutiérrez reproached the PP and Vox for placing themselves on the "wrong side of history," criticizing both their amendments and the regional cuts in diversity policies. He concluded his speech with a message to the victims, defending that true freedom means being oneself "without fear, guilt, or violence."
On behalf of the PP, Jaime de los Santos defended that the regulation of conversion therapies is essential because they constitute an "unacceptable" crime against human dignity, and argued that these practices must face "the full force of the law" through the Penal Code, and not just with administrative sanctions. Nevertheless, he accused the left of "sectarianism" and "instrumentalization" of the LGTBI+ community.
De los Santos also vindicated the PP's track record in defending diversity in the territories where it governs. "I am from the PP, I am gay, and I am very proud of both things and of everything that men and women have done for me," he concluded.
From Sumar, Tesh Sidi expressed discomfort with the increase in punitive measures, but endorsed the criminal route, considering that economic sanctions alone are insufficient. However, his group regretted that, although the reform represents progress by acting against aggressors, it does not guarantee "effective" reparation for victims, and stressed that they will continue working to achieve it.
By Vox, María de la Cabeza Ruiz has frontally rejected the text, which she has described as an "absolute absurdity" and a direct attack "on individual freedom", accusing the left of wanting to "impose" its ideology "by force of the Penal Code". "This bill is about imprisoning those who do not think like you, those who do not want to act like you," she stated.
Debate on the scope of the norm and victim protection
Representing Junts, Pilar Calvo emphasized that the word "therapy" is inappropriate because it suggests an underlying pathology. The deputy argued that it is essential to clearly define what is understood by conversion practice to avoid confusion with legitimate psychological support.
From ERC, Teresa Jordà expressed partial satisfaction: she acknowledged that the law represents a step forward, but warned that it falls short by not providing financial support or housing solutions for those who have suffered these practices. "And we also know that justice does not consist only in punishing those who do wrong. It also consists in ensuring that victims can rebuild their lives. And we have not achieved that, ladies and gentlemen. Today we have not achieved that," she pointed out.
For her part, Isabel Pozueta stressed that "prohibiting these practices is not just about sanctioning, it is about recognizing the harm, ensuring that it does not happen again, and building a social framework that does not reproduce discrimination." She added that "there is no consent when a person is immersed in an environment that tells them that their way of being is a mistake or an illness."
The PNV deputy Maribel Vaquero also argued that "conversion therapies start from a premise incompatible with human dignity, sexual orientation or a person's gender identity, constituting a deviation that must be corrected." In her opinion, "the harm lies not only in the methods used, but in the very message they convey."
On behalf of Podemos, Noemí Santana celebrated that the new norm pursues and sanctions those who practice the violence of "conversion therapies", understanding it as an advance in rights, although she warned that the text "falls short". As she explained, the law errs by focusing on punishment and does not incorporate a solid system of comprehensive support and protection for victims. "We expected something more from the Socialist Party," she acknowledged.
For Compromís, Àgueda Micó has reproached the PSOE for not having allowed the inclusion of specific housing and economic support plans for those affected in the articles. "Is it so difficult to understand that victims need economic and housing security to be able to safeguard their right to report?", she asked, while appealing to the memory of Pedro Zerolo to question what position he would have taken on this vote.
Redondo speaks of a "historic morning" and claims Spain's leadership
After the vote, the Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, took the floor and described the approval of the law as a "historic morning". She has described conversion practices as "torture, violence, and inhuman or degrading treatment" contrary to Article 15 of the Constitution. In her speech, she paid tribute to key figures in LGTBI+ activism such as Pedro Zerolo or Manolita Chen, and thanked the involvement of the groups that have defended that "dignity and rights have no limits".
Redondo also claimed Spain's position on LGTBI+ rights. "Today we are recognized as the country in the world where an LGTBI person can develop, can be happy, can love whomever they want to love and be who they are. And that has been our contribution to history. I believe it is a historic moment," she concluded.