Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building during a homosexual 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 observe aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as health consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or different health professionals need an individual's express consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term if they violate the law.

The federal government has drafted a national technique that runs until 2025 on reforms selling 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 therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not solely should not a therapy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister said.

The bill also bans advertising such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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