Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building throughout a homosexual satisfaction 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 geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to health consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's specific consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a prison time period if they violate the regulation.

The government has drafted a national technique that runs until 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this year.

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"There have been some false treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his mother and father could supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Obviously these therapies not solely are not a therapy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a approach that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Invoice Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.