Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building throughout a gay satisfaction parade in Athens, Greece June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

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ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a follow aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Below the bill, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other well being professionals need an individual's explicit consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term if they violate the regulation.

The government has drafted a national strategy that runs till 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 were some false treatments that said that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his parents might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not only are usually not a remedy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

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