Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing throughout a gay pride 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 observe aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or other health professionals want a person's specific consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a prison term if they violate the regulation.

The government has drafted a nationwide technique that runs till 2025 on reforms selling 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 have been some false remedies that said that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not only are usually not a therapy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister said.

The bill additionally bans advertising such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.