Greece bans LGBTQ conversion remedy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament building throughout a homosexual 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 observe aimed toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans group worldwide, as well as well being experts, have condemned as dangerous.

Beneath the bill, which Greece's parliament accredited, psychologists or different health professionals need a person's express consent to perform such remedy and face fines and a jail time period if they violate the regulation.

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 year.

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"There have been some false treatments that said that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his parents could supposedly proceed with 'therapies' for this baby to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Obviously these treatments not only should not a remedy but they aren't supported scientifically," the minister said.

The bill additionally bans advertising 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 method that doesn't fit with the normative definition of male or female.

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Invoice Berkrot

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