[Curtis M. Wong | HuffPost] Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló signed an executive order on Wednesday banning the medically denounced practice of “gay conversion” therapy for minors across the island.
“Today we take a step forward to raise awareness among the people about this type of practice that causes pain and suffering,” Rosselló said, adding that the ban would help “protect children.”
“Love and respect should always prevail without distinction of sexual orientation, race, color or religion,” he added.
The executive order takes effect immediately, according to the Human Rights Campaign. It requires Puerto Rico’s secretary of health, its secretary of economic development and trade, and the administrator of the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration to issue regulations within 90 days restricting licensed health care facilities and workers from engaging in conversion therapy with minors.
Among those to praise the news was the Trevor Project’s head of advocacy and government affairs, Sam Brinton, who said in an email to HuffPost that the organization was grateful to Rosselló for “taking decisive action to protect LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy.”
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[Editor’s Note: This article was written by Curtis M. Wong and originally published at HuffPost. Title changed by P&P.]
