Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

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

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ATHENS, Might 10 (Reuters) - Greece on Wednesday banned conversion therapy for minors, a practice geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Below the bill, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or other health professionals need an individual's express consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the legislation.

The federal 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 year.

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"There were some false therapies that stated that when a minor has chosen a different sexual orientation, his dad and mom may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not solely will not be a therapy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The invoice 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 method that does not match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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