Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing during a gay pride 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 toward suppressing a person'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.

Beneath the bill, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other health professionals need a person's specific consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a jail time period in the event that they violate the law.

The government has drafted a nationwide 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 12 months.

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"There were some false treatments that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his dad and mom could supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not solely are not a therapy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill also bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a means that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Invoice Berkrot

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