Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing throughout a homosexual pleasure 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 apply aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as health specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or different health professionals want an individual's explicit consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a prison term if they violate the law.

The 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 therapy earlier this 12 months.

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"There have been some false remedies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this child to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not solely are usually not a remedy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister said.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally 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 female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.