Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a homosexual satisfaction 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 observe aimed toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as health experts, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the bill, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or different health professionals need an individual's specific consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a prison term if they violate the law.

The government has drafted a national strategy that runs until 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this 12 months.

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"There were some false treatments that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a special 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.

"Obviously these remedies not solely are not a therapy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill additionally bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a approach that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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