Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing throughout 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 geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to health experts, have condemned as harmful.

Beneath the bill, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or different well being professionals need an individual's explicit consent to perform such remedy and face fines and a jail term 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 yr.

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"There have been some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom may supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Obviously these therapies not solely should not a remedy however 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 approach that does not match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Rules.