Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a gay 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 apply aimed toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other well being professionals need a person's specific consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a prison time period if they violate the law.

The government has drafted a national technique that runs until 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this 12 months.

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

"Clearly these therapies not only usually are not a therapy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice also bans advertising 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 female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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