Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing during a homosexual pleasure parade in Athens, Greece June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

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ATHENS, May 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion remedy for minors, a observe aimed toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to well being experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or other well being professionals need an individual's explicit consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a jail time period in the event that they violate the legislation.

The government has drafted a nationwide 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 stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not only will not be a therapy but they are not 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 babies born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a manner that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.