Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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

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ATHENS, Might 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 community worldwide, as well as health specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the bill, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or different health professionals need a person's explicit consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the legislation.

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

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"There have been some false therapies that said that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his mother and father could supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Clearly these remedies not solely aren't a remedy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister said.

The bill also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that affect 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 Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

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