Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing throughout a gay pride parade in Athens, Greece June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Register

ATHENS, Might 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a observe geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as health consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or different health professionals want an individual's express consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the regulation.

The government has drafted a national strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this year.

Register

"There were some false remedies that stated that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not only usually are not a therapy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a way that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or female.

Register

Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Invoice Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.