Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building during 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 practice geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender id and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, as well as well being specialists, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament accepted, psychologists or other health professionals want a person's express consent to carry out such therapy and face fines and a prison term in the event that they violate the legislation.

The government has drafted a national strategy that runs till 2025 on reforms selling gender equality in Greece, a largely conservative country. Canada, New Zealand and France criminalized conversion remedy earlier this year.

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"There have been some false remedies that stated that when a minor has chosen a distinct sexual orientation, his mother and father might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these treatments not only are usually not a remedy however they are not supported scientifically," the minister said.

The invoice additionally bans promoting such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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