Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building throughout a gay pleasure 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 geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or different health professionals need a person's specific consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the law.

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

Register

"There have been some false treatments that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not only should not a therapy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister said.

The invoice also bans advertising such practices.

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

Register

Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.