Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

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

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ATHENS, Could 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a observe aimed at suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to health specialists, have condemned as harmful.

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

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

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"There have been some false treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his parents might supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these therapies not only aren't a therapy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister said.

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 doesn't match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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