Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing throughout a gay 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 follow aimed toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, as well as well being experts, have condemned as harmful.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or different health professionals need a person's express consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a prison term if they violate the regulation.

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 therapy earlier this year.

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"There were some false therapies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his dad and mom could supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not only will not be a remedy however they aren't supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill also bans promoting such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

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