- The evangelical pastor Miguel Ortigoza promotes a popular initiative for the Penal Code to treat certain public displays of affection in front of minors as child abuse.
- The proposal would add a new clause to the article 135 of the Penal Code. Its proponents claim to have more than 48,600 certified signatures out of the 50,000 needed.
- They want to submit it to the Congress on October 21. It is not yet a bill in process and the penalties it proposes are still unknown.
In Paraguay, displays of affection between same-sex individuals in public spaces are under scrutiny due to a popular initiative. It is led by evangelical pastor Miguel Ortigoza, with the support of pro-life organizations and parent federations. The goal is to modify the Penal Code and submit the proposal to Congress on October 21.
What exactly does the initiative propose?
The initiative proposes to classify as child abuse the behaviors of adult individuals who, “through acts or teachings” in public spaces, expose minors to manifestations that, according to its promoters, “confuse their sexual identity”. To achieve this, it wants to incorporate a new clause into article 135 of the Paraguayan Penal Code.
According to El Nacional, the aim is to “restrict displays of affection between same-sex individuals in public spaces”. So far, it has not been made public what sanctions it would include: the media explains that they will be known when the text is formally presented.
The “Kissathon” in Asunción, the trigger
Ortigoza places the origin of the proposal in public events like the “Kissathon” held in Asunción. According to his account, there were minors who witnessed the displays of affection and repeated them. The promoters reported it to the Prosecutor’s Office, but the complaint did not progress: “We made the corresponding complaints and the Prosecutor’s Office found nothing, it was not classified”, he explains. After that, a group of lawyers drafted the modification.
What does pastor Miguel Ortigoza argue?
Ortigoza asserts that he does not want to persecute what happens in private life, but rather what occurs in front of minors in public spaces. In statements to radio 780 AM reported by HOY, he said: “We have no problem with any person privately assuming a sexual behavior or a sexual preference. In fact, we understand that this is a private matter, but we do have a very big concern that they alter the identity of our children, that they confuse them”.
According to its proponents, these public demonstrations interfere with the “harmonious development” of girls and boys and promote what they call gender ideology, and for this reason, they believe that criminal law should intervene.
What is the status of the proposal?
The proposal has not yet reached Congress: it is a popular initiative that is finishing gathering signatures. According to HOY and Extra, it has more than 48,600 certified signatures and needs 50,000 to be presented on October 21. El Nacional, on the other hand, claims that the group has already obtained the necessary signatures.
If registered, the project will first have to go through parliamentary committees. Ortigoza himself acknowledges the real scope of the mechanism: “That goes to Congress and Congress is obliged to address the project. It does not mean that it is obliged to approve it”.
A context of persistent stigma
The initiative coincides with the National Day of LGTBI Memory, which Paraguay commemorates every September 30. On this date, the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture has warned that “from various sectors, in Paraguay, the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community continue to be stigmatized and denied”.
According to this institution, this social resistance “historically prevented, for example, the adoption of a law against all forms of discrimination” in the country. That is to say, Paraguay still does not have a general law against discrimination, and now a group wants to bring the displays of affection of same-sex couples into the Penal Code.
Frequently asked questions
Has Paraguay prohibited displays of affection between same-sex individuals?
No. It is a popular initiative that has not yet been presented in Congress nor approved.
Who is promoting the proposal?
Evangelical pastor Miguel Ortigoza, along with pro-life organizations and parent federations.
Which article of the Penal Code does it want to modify?
Article 135, to which it would add a new clause to treat those behaviors as child abuse.
When will it be presented?
Its promoters want to submit it to Congress on October 21, 2026.
