Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during 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 practice aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as health specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's specific consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a jail term if they violate the legislation.

The federal government has drafted a national strategy that runs until 2025 on reforms selling 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 have been some false remedies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom could supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not only will not be a therapy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Invoice Berkrot

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