Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

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

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or different health professionals need an individual's explicit consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a jail term if they violate the law.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide technique that runs until 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this yr.

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"There have been some false treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his mother and father could supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Obviously these therapies not solely are usually not a remedy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a approach that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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