Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other well being professionals want a person's explicit consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail time period in the event that they violate the law.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide technique 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 12 months.

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"There were some false remedies that stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Obviously these treatments not only aren't a remedy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The invoice also bans advertising such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

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