Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

Register

ATHENS, May 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a observe aimed toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or different well being professionals want a person's express consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the legislation.

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 12 months.

Register

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

"Clearly these remedies not only aren't a remedy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a manner 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 Trust Principles.