Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building throughout 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 therapy for minors, a observe aimed toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, as well as health consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Below the invoice, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other well being professionals want an individual's specific consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the law.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide strategy 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 12 months.

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

"Obviously these treatments not solely aren't a therapy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister said.

The invoice also bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that affect their reproductive anatomy in a manner that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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