Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

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ATHENS, Might 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a practice geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to health experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or other health professionals want a person's specific consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a jail time period in the event that 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 yr.

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"There were some false treatments that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his dad and mom may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not solely are not a therapy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a manner that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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