Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

An enormous 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, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a apply aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as health consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's express 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 country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this 12 months.

Register

"There were some false therapies that stated that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his dad and mom could supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not solely should not a remedy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a approach that does not fit with the normative definition of male or female.

Register

Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Belief Principles.