Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

Register

ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a follow aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as well being experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the bill, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other well being professionals want a person's explicit consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a prison time period if they violate the regulation.

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

Register

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

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

The bill also bans advertising such practices.

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

Register

Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.