Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing during 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 apply 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 consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or other health professionals need a person's specific consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a prison time period in the event that they violate the legislation.

The federal government has drafted a national strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this year.

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

"Obviously these therapies not only will not be a therapy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

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 have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a manner that does not match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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