Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in front of the parliament constructing 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 id and which the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and trans neighborhood worldwide, in addition to well being consultants, have condemned as harmful.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or different well being professionals need a person's explicit consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a prison term in the event that they violate the legislation.

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

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

"Obviously these treatments not solely aren't a therapy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The invoice additionally bans advertising such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries on intersex infants and infants 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 feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Invoice Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.