Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a homosexual pleasure 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 follow aimed toward suppressing an individual'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.

Underneath the bill, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or other well being professionals want a person's express consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a jail term if they violate the legislation.

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

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"There have been some false remedies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not solely aren't a remedy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister said.

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 have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a approach that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

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