Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing during a homosexual delight 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 follow 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 experts, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the bill, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other health professionals want an individual's express consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term if they violate the regulation.

The 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 have been some false therapies that said that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not solely are not a remedy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister said.

The invoice additionally bans advertising 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 approach that does not fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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