France bans conversion therapies
France has joined the ranks of countries around the world to finally ban gay conversion therapy. For a long time, the practice was thought to be successful in changing someone’s sexual orientation or “othered” gender identity. It is a cruel and dehumanizing practice that has been disproven time and time again.
France’s bill was passed without objection on January 25, 2022. The use of conversion therapy techniques now comes with harsh consequences including up to two years in prison and a fine of 30,000 Euros. If the subjects involved are minors, harsher penalties likely will occur.
The French President tweeted about the issue, stating “The law prohibiting conversion therapy is adopted unanimously! Let’s be proud, these unworthy practices have no place in the Republic. Because being yourself is not a crime, because there is nothing to be cured.”
Of the countries practicing conversion therapy techniques, Brazil was the first country to make the practice illegal back in 1999. Norway followed soon after in 2000. With France joining the ranks, there are now fourteen countries that have instituted some kind of conversion therapy ban.
Among these include Samoa, Argentina, Fiji, Taiwan, Uruguay, Albania, Switzerland, Ecuador, Malta, India, Chile, and Canada. Provinces and states in other countries like Australia, Mexico, the United States, and Spain have also enacted bans.
Conversion therapy was essentially ‘founded’ in 1899 by a man called Albert von Schrenck-Notzing. He claimed that through hypnosis (a total of approximately 45 sessions) he was successful in manipulating a man’s sexual impulses and diverting them away from men in favor of women.
While he may not have known it at the time, the man set forth a movement that would encroach on the basic human rights of millions of people worldwide as the heterosexual world attempted to force the queer community to adhere to societal expectations of relationships and sexual interactions.
As it evolved and spread through the world, this hypnosis technique was also often coupled with electroshock therapies that destroyed lives everywhere. Despite its extensive use around the globe, the practice proved unsuccessful. The world slept on this inhumane practice against the LGBTQ community for way too long. We hope to see more countries join the list of those who have already stepped up to ban this barbaric practice.
