Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front 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 remedy for minors, a observe aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as health specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's specific consent to perform such remedy and face fines and a prison time period in the event that they violate the legislation.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide technique that runs till 2025 on reforms selling 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 treatments that said that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his mother and father could supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not solely are usually not a therapy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice also bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a approach that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.