Finally. A final unanimous vote of the 142 deputies present this Tuesday in the hemicycle ratified the bill brought by the deputy walker Laurence Vanceunebrock, which targets “conversion therapies”, these practices aimed at imposing heterosexuality on lesbians, gays , bi and trans (LGBT).
The text carried by the presidential majority, in the wake of LREM MP Laurence Vanceunebrock, creates a new offense in the criminal code punishing these practices with two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 30,000 euros. The penalties may increase to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros in the event of aggravating circumstances.
Theoretically, “conversion therapies” are already punishable via a large number of offences: moral harassment, violence or illegal practice of medicine… The supporters of the bill, which had a broad consensus, however argue that this new offense will raise awareness of the illegality of these practices. It is also supposed to provide a stronger legal basis for prosecution.
The text therefore had the unreserved support of the government which sees, in “conversion therapy”, “the antithesis of our republican values”, as affirmed by Elisabeth Moreno, Minister Delegate for Equality between Women and Men.
French deputies and senators had reached an agreement on the text. But if at first reading, it had been the subject of a unanimous vote in the National Assembly on October 6, it had not been the same in the Senate, dominated by the right. However, the vote was largely favorable to the upper house: 305 senators voted in favor of the bill, 28 against, all from the Les Républicains group, including their leader Bruno Retailleau.
Committed artists
“Conversion therapy”, often sectarian or inspired by religion, particularly Catholic, can take the form of exorcism sessions, courses or even electroshock, among a myriad of abuses that have lasting psychological or even physical repercussions on people, often young people, who are victims.
According to a report by Laurence Vanceunebrock, co-authored with her rebellious colleague Bastien Lachaud, the expression “conversion therapies” was born in America in the 1950s. They have no scientific or medical basis. There is no national survey in France to assess the extent of the phenomenon. In 2019, parliamentarians mentioned around a hundred cases “recent”.
Several reports or testimonies have recently been the subject of strong media coverage, and artists such as Eddy de Pretto or Hoshi have urged politicians to put the fight against these practices on the parliamentary agenda.
By adopting this text, French parliamentarians are following in the footsteps of a European movement since countries such as Germany, Malta and Spanish regions have already legislated on the subject, soon to be joined by Belgium, the Netherlands or Great Britain.