Congressman Mauricio Toro, was challenged for being part of the LGBTI community, he presented the project to prohibit the so-called ‘conversion therapies’.
Colombia News.
Congressman Mauricio Toro, denounced that the recusal that was made to him when he was going to start the debate for the bill he presented to “prohibit the torture committed against LGBTI people, called ‘conversion therapies'”, is discriminatory and homophobic .
A letter sent by Jhonatan Stiven Silva requested the recusal, arguing, among other things, that Toro “identifies himself within the LGBTI community.”
“Today homophobia walked through the Congress of the Republic,” replied Toro.
Outraged, he pointed out that: “Never in Congress has a woman, Afro or peasant been recused for defending her community. Only today in this homophobic act a gay man is recused.
The first reason for the recusal.
Mauricio Toro explained the other reasons for the recusal, in which he points out that “the Project only prohibits therapies against LGBTI, but does not prohibit SOSIEG for heterosexual people when they try to convert them into homosexual people.”
To which the congressmen replied: “This is absurd! There are no complaints of heteros subjected to torture to be LGBTI.
A reason that has generated controversy.
In addition, Silva stated in the letter that: “The Project (which seeks to prohibit torture) favors his sexual diversity in fear of sexual orientations different from his (from those of Congressman Mauricio Toro)”.
Given this, Toro responded that with this argument, Silva “is unaware that the rights of LGBTI people are being violated today and we require protection. Living is not a “benefit, it is a right”.
The request for recusal.
During his speech in the Chamber on Tuesday, Toro pointed out that: “We are not demanding more rights than you, but rather that ours be respected.”
He indicated that he was recommended to request “to suspend the debate, since participating in a debate with an impediment can generate serious legal consequences such as loss of investiture.”
“Although the arguments are clearly homophobic, the Ethics Commission must decide in substance,” he said.
The project itself has already generated a strong debate and controversy, between those who support it and those who do not.
Even some citizens have asked that some details of the project be reviewed and resubmitted.
Today homophobia walked through the Congress of the Republic
In the debate of our Project that seeks to prohibit the torture committed against LGBTI people, called “conversion therapies”, they filed a challenge against me with homophobic and discriminatory arguments pic.twitter.com/74I4OnOd85
– Mauricio Toro (@MauroToroO) June 7, 2022
