Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a gay delight 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 apply aimed at suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Under the bill, which Greece's parliament approved, psychologists or different well being professionals need a person's explicit consent to carry out such treatment and face fines and a prison time period in the event that they violate the regulation.

The federal government has drafted a national strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms promoting gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion therapy 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 dad and mom may supposedly proceed with 'remedies' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris informed parliament this week.

"Obviously these remedies not only will not be a remedy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

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