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 remedy for minors, a practice aimed toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's explicit consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a prison time period if they violate the law.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide technique that runs until 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this 12 months.

Register

"There have been some false remedies that stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this child to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Obviously these therapies not solely are not a therapy 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 surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on 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 Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.