Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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

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ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a observe geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, in addition to well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's specific consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the legislation.

The government has drafted a nationwide technique that runs till 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this year.

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"There were some false therapies that said that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not solely usually are not a remedy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill also 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 way that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

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