Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing during a homosexual 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 observe geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as health consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's express consent to perform such remedy and face fines and a jail term if they violate the regulation.

The government has drafted a nationwide strategy that runs until 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this yr.

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"There were some false treatments that said that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his parents may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not solely are usually not a remedy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The invoice additionally bans promoting 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 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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