Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building throughout a homosexual satisfaction parade in Athens, Greece June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

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ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a follow aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or other health professionals want an individual's express consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the legislation.

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

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"There were some false treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Obviously these treatments not solely aren't a therapy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice also bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a manner that does not fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

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