freckles make me strong.

I just signed the Fundacion Causana’spetition addressed to the Ecuador Minister of Health. I sincerely hope you will join me.

Close fake “clinics” that torture LGBT in order to “cure” them

Join Fundacion Causana and a coalition of other Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender groups in calling on Ecuador’s Minister of Health to immediately investigate and close the 200 “ex- gay clinics” that still remain open despite public support for their closing and reported accounts of torture and abuse. Ecuador is home to over 200 “ex- gay” clinics that starve, abuse, and torture patients in an effort to make them straight.

Although over 30 “ex- gay clinics” have been closed this year, hundreds still remain open. These clinics which claim to “cure” homosexuality have decreased in popularity in recent years yet still remain a horrific reality for many. Escaping patients report cases of physical and psychological abuse including verbal threats, shackling, days without food, sexual abuse, and physical torture. Paula Ziritti, 24, spent two years in one such facility and for three months was shackled in handcuffs while guards threw water and urine on her. She describes numerous accounts of physical and sexual abuse. Ziritti says, “The closure of the first clinics by the government is good, but not good enough. Why is the clinic where I suffered still open?”

Since Zirittu’s public disclosure, many others have been inspired to step forward and file formal complaints against these treatment centers. Please join Ecuadorian activists groups in calling on the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health to launch a serious investigation into the degrading and illegal abuses and close all clinics.

There is an article from the advocate here.