Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a gay 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 at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to health experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or other health professionals need a person's express consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a prison term in the event that they violate the legislation.

The federal government has drafted a national strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms selling 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 treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his mother and father might supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not only should not a therapy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The invoice also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a means that does not fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

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