Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing during a gay delight parade in Athens, Greece June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

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ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a apply geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as health specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or other well being professionals need an individual's explicit consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the regulation.

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

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"There were some false treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his dad and mom could supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

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

The bill also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on 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

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.