Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a homosexual satisfaction 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 apply geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to well being specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or other well being professionals need an individual's explicit consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a prison time period in the event that they violate the regulation.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide strategy that runs until 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this year.

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"There have been some false remedies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his parents may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not solely are usually not a remedy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice additionally bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a means that doesn't match 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 Principles.