Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a homosexual delight 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 an individual's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, in addition to well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Below the bill, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or other well being professionals want an individual's express consent to carry out such remedy and face fines and a jail term if they violate the legislation.

The federal government has drafted a nationwide strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative nation. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this 12 months.

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"There have been some false treatments that stated that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his mother and father might supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this youngster to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not solely will not be a remedy but 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 infants born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a way that doesn't match with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.