Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

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

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

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

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"There have been some false remedies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not only usually are not a therapy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and infants 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 Modifying by Invoice Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.