Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

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ATHENS, May 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a apply aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's express consent to perform such remedy and face fines and a prison term if they violate the regulation.

The federal government has drafted a national strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this yr.

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"There have been some false remedies that said that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his parents may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not only aren't a therapy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister stated.

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 way that does not fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

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