Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament building during 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 remedy for minors, a observe geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Underneath the bill, which Greece's parliament permitted, psychologists or different well being professionals need a person's specific consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail time period in the event that they violate the law.

The federal government has drafted a national technique that runs until 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy earlier this yr.

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"There have been some false remedies that stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his parents could supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not only are usually not a remedy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The bill also 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 way that does not fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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