Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous 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 apply geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the bill, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or different health professionals need a person's express consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the regulation.

The federal government has drafted a national technique that runs until 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this 12 months.

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"There were some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his parents may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Obviously these therapies not solely will not be a therapy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a means that does not match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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