Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing during a gay pleasure 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 community worldwide, in addition to well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or other health professionals want an individual's express consent to perform such remedy and face fines and a jail time period in the event that they violate the legislation.

The government has drafted a nationwide technique that runs until 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this year.

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"There have been some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his parents may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Obviously these treatments not solely aren't a therapy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice additionally bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a manner that does not 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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