Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other health professionals want an individual's express consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the law.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide 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 year.

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"There were some false treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not solely are not a therapy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister said.

The invoice also bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a means that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

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