Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing throughout a gay 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 apply aimed toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans group worldwide, as well as health consultants, have condemned as dangerous.

Under the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or different well being professionals need an individual's explicit consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a prison time period if they violate the law.

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

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"There were some false therapies that stated that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his mother and father may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this little one to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris advised parliament this week.

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

The bill additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and babies born with atypical chromosomes that have an effect on their reproductive anatomy in a method that does not fit with the normative definition of male or feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.