Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a homosexual pleasure 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 practice geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other well being professionals want an individual's explicit consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the legislation.

The federal government has drafted a national strategy that runs until 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this 12 months.

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"There were some false remedies that stated that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his parents might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Obviously these therapies not solely are not a remedy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister said.

The bill additionally bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a method that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

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