Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a gay pride 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 follow aimed toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to health consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or different health professionals want an individual's explicit consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a prison time period in the event that they violate the law.

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

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"There were some false remedies that stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his parents could supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not only will not be a remedy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill also bans promoting 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 approach that does not match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

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