Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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, Might 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a apply geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the bill, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or different well being professionals need a person's explicit consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a prison time period in the event that they violate the law.

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

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"There were some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his mother and father might supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this child 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 don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill 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 affect their reproductive anatomy in a way that does not fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Invoice Berkrot

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