Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during 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 practice aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, as well as health experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Underneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or other health professionals need a person's express consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a jail term if they violate the regulation.

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

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"There have been some false treatments that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his parents might supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not solely are usually not a therapy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a approach that does not match with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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