Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a gay pride 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 practice aimed toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, in addition to health experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or other health professionals need a person's specific consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a jail time period in the event that they violate the regulation.

The government has drafted a nationwide strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms selling 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 have been some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Obviously these therapies not only aren't a therapy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill additionally bans advertising such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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