Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building during a gay pride 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 follow aimed toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or other health professionals want an individual's specific consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a prison term if they violate the law.

The government has drafted a national strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this year.

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"There were some false treatments that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his parents might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not solely are not a therapy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice also bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a means that does not fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Invoice Berkrot

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