Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing throughout a homosexual pleasure 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 observe aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to well being experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other health professionals want a person's express consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the legislation.

The government has drafted a national strategy 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 year.

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"There have been some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom could supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Obviously these therapies not only should not a remedy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister said.

The bill also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a method that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

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