Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing throughout a homosexual pride 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 observe aimed toward suppressing a person'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 harmful.

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's explicit consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a prison term in the event that they violate the legislation.

The government has drafted a national strategy 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 year.

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"There were some false therapies that said that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his mother and father could supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Obviously these treatments not solely should not a therapy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill also bans promoting such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

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