Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

A huge rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during a homosexual satisfaction 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 geared toward suppressing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community worldwide, in addition to well being specialists, have condemned as harmful.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorized, psychologists or other well being professionals want a person's explicit consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the law.

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

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"There were some false remedies that stated that when a minor has chosen a unique sexual orientation, his dad and mom might supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this child to 'return to normality'", Health Minister Thanos Plevris instructed parliament this week.

"Obviously these treatments not solely should not a remedy however they don't seem to be supported scientifically," the minister stated.

The invoice additionally bans promoting such practices.

Plevris added that Greece also plans to ban surgeries 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 feminine.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Modifying by Bill Berkrot

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