The President of Ecuador has appointed a lesbian as the
country's next official Health Minister.
American-born Carina Vance, who was born in California but
schooled in Ecuador, was announced by Rafael Correa (pictured),
last week.
She was a major campaigning figure behind the fight to close
so-called gay-cure clinics there, which gathered pace in 2008.
The appointment comes after the resignation of previous health
minister, David Chiriboga.
He resigned after claims he'd failed to sufficiently modernize
the South American nation's health system.
Vance's arrival comes with a promise that she will shut down all
remaining 'gay cure' clinics.
Estimates predict that there could be up to 200 such clinics,
with many posing as schools or English Language centres.
According to the Box Turtle Bulletin, one client, Paula Ziritt,
said she was held for two years at one such facility in Guayaqui -
the largest and the most populous city in
Ecuador - which included three months in handcuffs while
guards threw urine and iced water on her.
The Republic of Ecuador has reportedly closed down thirty clinics
in recent months.
