Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a homosexual delight parade in Athens, Greece June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

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ATHENS, May 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a observe aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or other health professionals want a person's express consent to perform such treatment 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 yr.

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

"Clearly these therapies not only aren't a therapy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The invoice additionally bans advertising such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Rules.