Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a homosexual delight 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 toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or different health professionals want an individual's explicit consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a prison time period if they violate the legislation.

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 therapy earlier this yr.

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"There have been some false therapies that said that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his parents may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Clearly these remedies not solely aren't a therapy however they are not 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 means that does not fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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