Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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

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ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a observe aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the bill, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other well being professionals need an individual's specific consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a jail time period in the event that they violate the regulation.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this 12 months.

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"There were some false remedies that said that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not solely aren't a therapy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a means that does not fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.