Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building 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 apply aimed toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to well being experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or different well being professionals want an individual's specific consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the regulation.

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

Register

"There have been some false therapies that stated that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his parents may supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Obviously these therapies not only should not a therapy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a means that does not match with the normative definition of male or female.

Register

Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.