Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building during 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 therapy for minors, a follow aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans group worldwide, as well as well being experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Underneath the bill, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or other health professionals want an individual's specific consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term if they violate the regulation.

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

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

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

The bill additionally bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece additionally plans to ban surgical procedures on intersex infants and infants born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a manner that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Invoice Berkrot

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