Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

An enormous rainbow flag is seen in entrance of the parliament constructing during 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 therapy for minors, a follow geared toward suppressing a person's sexual orientation or gender identification and which the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans group worldwide, as well as well being experts, have condemned as harmful.

Beneath the invoice, which Greece's parliament authorised, psychologists or other well being professionals want an individual's express consent to perform such therapy and face fines and a jail term in the event that they violate the regulation.

The government has drafted a nationwide 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 12 months.

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"There were some false remedies that acknowledged that when a minor has chosen a special sexual orientation, his parents may supposedly proceed with 'treatments' for this child to 'return to normality'", Well being Minister Thanos Plevris told parliament this week.

"Clearly these remedies not only will not be a therapy but they are not supported scientifically," the minister mentioned.

The invoice additionally bans advertising such practices.

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

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Reporting by Renee Maltezou Enhancing by Bill Berkrot

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Trust Ideas.