Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building 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 remedy for minors, a follow aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans community worldwide, in addition to well being specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the bill, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other health professionals want an individual's express consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the law.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide technique that runs until 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this yr.

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"There have been some false treatments that said that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his mother and father might supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Clearly these remedies not only are usually 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 also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a way 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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