Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing throughout a homosexual delight 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 toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, in addition to health experts, have condemned as harmful.

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

The federal government has drafted a national technique that runs till 2025 on reforms selling 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 therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his parents may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not solely are usually not a therapy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister said.

The invoice also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a way that doesn't 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 Principles.