Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building during a gay delight 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 observe geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as well being consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or different health professionals need a person's express consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a prison term in the event that they violate the law.

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

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"There have been some false therapies that said that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his mother and father could supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not only should not a therapy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister said.

The invoice also bans promoting 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 doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

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