Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing during a gay satisfaction 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 observe aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the bill, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or different well being professionals want a person's explicit consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the legislation.

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

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"There have been some false therapies that stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not only will not be a remedy 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 surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a way that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.