CONSIDERAÇÕES JURÍDICAS SOBRE A TERAPIA DE REORIENTAÇÃO SEXUAL: UMA ANÁLISE À LUZ DO PRINCÍPIO DA DIGNIDADE HUMANA

Abstract

This article aims to promote a detailed study about Sexual Reorientation Therapies, from a perspective of the Principle of Human Dignity. As a basic principle of the Democratic Rule of Law, the dignity of the human person must be protected and promoted in its diverse conceptions and contexts. Thus, a scientific analysis of Sexual Reorientation Therapies - psychotherapies focused on the conversion of homosexuality to heterosexuality, was necessary. This is because the defense of its viability and effectiveness easily coincides with the culturally valid homophobic and heteronormative ideal, which treats homosexuality as pathology, as deviance, something wrong, and abnormal. For the purpose of research and theoretical reference, scientific works developed on related topics were used. Research has shown that both psychology and psychiatry have criticized reorienting therapies and have recognized homosexuality as a natural expression of sexuality, as well as identifying prejudice that is rooted in society as the cause of much of the mental disorders associated with homosexuality. The defense of the viability of these therapies, therefore, shows itself exactly as a way of perpetuating the homophobic prejudice rooted in society, since its foundations have no scientific and ethical basis, and have, as a starting point, the belief of homosexuality as something abnormal / pathological. Such discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation constitutes a direct offense against the principle of human dignity, which is the source value of the entire legal order of the country.