Portugal Colonial - EU wants to crack down on 'conversion therapy'

More than a million people signed a petition in May calling on the EU to prohibit "conversion" practices.

"We can't (ban) because that would be stepping on member states' competence," said the EU commissioner in charge of equality issues, Hadja Lahbib.

Lahbib, due to unveil a plan to tackle discrimination against the LGBTQ community on Wednesday, has however vowed to launch a data collection effort across the 27 EU countries to combat these practices.

"We are going to gather all the data we have on these practices, which are often disguised as psychological support," she said.

So-called conversion practices imply methods aimed at changing the sexual orientation or gender identity or expression of gay, lesbians, queer and trans people.

The United Nations has called for a global ban, describing such practices -- based on the erroneous belief that homosexuality is a disorder -- as discriminatory, humiliating and a violation of bodily integrity.

Lahbib made her stance clear. "Obviously, all 27 must ban them," she said.

In order to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, the EU is also considering to put forward a proposal combatting hate speech online.

L.Henrique--PC