Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

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ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a apply geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, in addition to health specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or different health professionals need an individual's express consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term if they violate the legislation.

The government has drafted a nationwide strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms promoting 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 stated that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his parents could supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not solely should not a remedy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister said.

The bill additionally bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants 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.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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