Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a gay delight 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 practice aimed toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to health consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or different well being professionals want an individual's express consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the law.

The 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 yr.

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"There were some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his mother and father might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Obviously these treatments not solely are usually not a remedy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister said.

The invoice also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally 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 match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

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