French Parliament approved a new law against the gender change operations of the LGBTQ community. The new law bans gender conversion therapies; practitioners who attempt nefarious activities such as gender change operations or changing sexual orientation will be punished with heavy fines or imprisonment.
The National Assembly approved the new law unanimously, with a vast majority of 142-0.
Criminal penalties would conduct against the people caught committing or trying to covert LGBTQ people to heterosexuality or traditional gender expectations.
The new law empowered those victims who are hesitant or unable to alert the police regarding the wrongdoing they have gone through also opened the possibility for campaigners to file a civil suit on behalf of victims.
The French legislature Laurence Vanceunebrock, who helped
to drive the passage of the law through Parliament, said it would target “all people who equated an identity or sexual orientation with Sickness.” she further added, “There is nothing to cure.”
All members of the French National Assembly has supported this law; many of them have appreciated it by various means.
The French government’s equalities and diversity minister, Elisabeth Moreno, named these so-called conversion therapies as “barbaric”. She also talked about the impact on victims and told it hit them mentally and the sufferings they afflict ” very often leaves permanent marks on bodies and minds”, she added.
The new law aims to modify or reproach sexual orientation or gender identity. Practitioners are punishable by up to two years in jail and 30,000 euros ($34,000) in fines.
The punishment will be rigorous for those who involve minors or weak people; imprisonment will extend to three years and fines of 45,000 euros ($50,000).
Conversion therapies are also banned in multiple U.S states and the U.S Caribbean territory of Puerto Rico.
The law will enforce with the sign of president Emmanuel Macron. President also supported the law by posting on social media and said, “Let’s be proud of it Because being oneself is not a crime.”
