Yahoo News 
Malta becomes first country in Europe to outlaw controversial 'gay cure' therapy
Malta has become the first country in Europe to ban conversion therapy, the controversial practice that claims to be able to ‘cure’ gay people.
The bill, which was passed earlier this week by a unanimous verdict, states that any medical professional who prescribes the ‘gay cure’ therapy will be sent to prison or face a fine.
It stipulates that any attempt to ‘change, repress or eliminate a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression’, is now considered to be a criminal offence.
But while the law is applicable to all citizens on the Mediterranean island, doctors will be most heavily punished – and risk a fine of up to 10,000 Euros (£8,450) or a year in prison.
In 2015, Malta was named as the best European country for LGBT rights by advocacy group ILGA-Europe.
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Welcoming the move in a joint statement, The Malta Chamber of Psychologists, the Maltese Association of Psychiatry, the Malta Association of Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, and the Malta Association for the Counselling Profession said: ‘[We] openly disapprove of practices are which are harmful to people in our community.
‘Not only does [gay conversion therapy] reject a group of individuals on the basis of unfound prejudice and lack of tolerance for diversity, but also because it impinges on the international recognition of LGBTIQ rights.
‘As a body we promote respect and equality for all persons, and are determined to continue working towards ensuring our clients can enjoy as safe a therapeutic experience as they deserve.’
The practice is still legal in the UK – but was slammed two years ago by NHS England and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, who labelled it: ‘potentially harmful and unethical.’
