Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

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ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a apply aimed toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or different health professionals want a person's explicit consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a prison time period if they violate the regulation.

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

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"There were some false remedies that said that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his dad and mom could supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Obviously these treatments not solely are not a therapy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a means that does not match with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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