Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a gay satisfaction 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 apply aimed toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to health specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Below the bill, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or different health professionals need an individual's specific consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the law.

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

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

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

The bill also bans advertising such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

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