Organizations for the defense of gay rights today welcomed the decision of the governing body of psychologists in Albania to ban so-called conversion therapy, which attempts to change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
In the press release of the organization "Pink Embassy" in Albania, the main LGBT organization in that country, it is stated that this decision puts the organization of psychologists in Albania at the head of institutions that respect LGBTI rights, thus bringing Albania to the sixth position among European countries that apply such a ban. after Spain, Switzerland, Malta, Britain and Germany.
All registered therapists in Albania must be members of the Order of Albanian Psychologists.
"That move is very significant for LGBTI adolescents whose parents often force them to go to conversion therapy in the hope that they will thereby change their sexual orientation or gender identity," the Pink Embassy organization stated.
A day earlier, LGBT organizations held a virtual pride parade Tirana Pride 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a separate activity, they distributed multicolored flags to ministries and other leading public institutions as part of their motto "Be proud, raise the flag".
Albania adopted an anti-discrimination law in 2010 that gives rights to homosexuals but does not allow same-sex marriage.
Prejudice and discrimination are still widespread in the country, and there are reports of violence against members of the gay population and their families, even though there have been no attacks during pride parades.
"Social attitudes towards the LGBT community are generally negative and among the most unfavorable at the European level," the Pink Embassy press release states.
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