Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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

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ATHENS, Might 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a follow aimed toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as health experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Underneath the bill, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or other health professionals want a person's express consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a jail time period in the event that 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 year.

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"There were some false remedies that stated that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not only will not be a therapy but they are not 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 affect their reproductive anatomy in a approach that does not fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

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