Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a gay pleasure 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 practice geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as health experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Underneath the bill, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or different health professionals want an individual's express consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a prison time period if they violate the legislation.

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

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"There have been some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his dad and mom may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not solely aren't a remedy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a way 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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