Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing throughout a homosexual delight 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 a person's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other health professionals want a person's explicit consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the law.

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

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

"Clearly these remedies not only should not a remedy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice 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 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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