Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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

Register

ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a observe geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or different well being professionals need an individual's explicit consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a prison time period in the event that they violate the law.

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

Register

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

"Obviously these therapies not solely will not be a therapy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice also bans promoting 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 means that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

Register

Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.