Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing throughout a homosexual pride parade in Athens, Greece June 10, 2017. REUTERS/Costas Baltas

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ATHENS, May 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a practice aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Beneath the bill, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other well being professionals want a person's explicit consent to perform such remedy and face fines and a prison term if they violate the law.

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

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"There were some false therapies that stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his dad and mom could supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not only will not be a therapy but they don't seem to be 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 infants born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a method that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.