Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a homosexual pleasure 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 geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's explicit consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the regulation.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide technique 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 treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his parents could supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not only should not a therapy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill additionally bans advertising 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 approach that does not fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

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