Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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

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ATHENS, Might 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a practice aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans group worldwide, as well as health consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or different health professionals need a person's explicit consent to perform such therapy 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 remedy earlier this yr.

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

"Obviously these remedies not only will not be a remedy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill 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 affect their reproductive anatomy in a manner that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

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