The "illness" of being lesbian. LGBT and women's rights groups in Ecuador have discovered over 200 illegal clinics that are holding young women captive to be raped, tortured, starved and beaten by so-called "health care professionals."

Why? To cure them of the "illness" of being lesbian.

Voters in Ecuador recently approved a progressive constitution supporting gays rights -- including federal civil unions for same sex couples. The country also has strong laws to punish violence against women. But despite the legal protections on the books, these dangerous clinics are falling through the cracks.

YOU CAN HELP SHUT DOWN THIS CLINICS!

Sign this urgent letter to Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa, a leader who has staked his reputation on a series of progressive positions, asking him to SHUT DOWN these illegal, and dangerous "clinics" once and for all. Our friends in Ecuador will deliver it directly to the president's office. http://www.allout.org/en/actions/ecuadorclinics

Image: Activists in Ecuador highlighting the abusive, and illegal, clinics that claim to "cure" young gay and lesbian men and women.