Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout 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 practice aimed at suppressing a person'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 harmful.

Underneath the bill, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or other well being professionals need an individual's explicit consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a prison term if they violate the law.

The government has drafted a nationwide strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this year.

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

"Clearly these remedies not only are usually not a remedy but they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice also bans advertising such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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