Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a gay satisfaction 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 apply aimed toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as well being consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the bill, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or other health professionals want an individual's explicit consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a prison time period in the event that they violate the law.

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

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

"Obviously these remedies not solely are usually not a therapy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister said.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a way that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

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