Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a gay pride parade in Athens, Greece June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Register

ATHENS, May 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a follow geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as health consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or different well being professionals need a person's express consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the law.

The government has drafted a nationwide technique that runs till 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this yr.

Register

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

"Clearly these remedies not solely are not a therapy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill additionally bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a method that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or feminine.

Register

Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Invoice Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.