Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a gay delight 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 group worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other well being professionals want an individual's express consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the law.

The government has drafted a nationwide strategy that runs until 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this 12 months.

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"There have been some false treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Clearly these remedies not solely are not a therapy but they don't seem to be 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 have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a method that does not match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.