Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

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

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or different well being professionals need an individual's express consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a prison term in the event that they violate the regulation.

The government has drafted a nationwide strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this 12 months.

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"There were some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his mother and father could supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not only are not a therapy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill also bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a way that does not match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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