France's parliament has voted to ban gay 'conversion' practices

France has now joined a number of other countries that have passed legislation that either partially or fully outlaws 'conversion' therapy.

People participating in the march against LGBTI phobias and for LGBTI rights in Paris, France, on January 31, 2021. Source: Getty Images

France's parliament has voted to ban so-called conversion therapy, joining a handful of countries that have taken steps to outlaw practices that seek to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Under the French legislation, people offering LGBTIQ+ conversion therapy could be jailed for up to two years and fined 30,000 euros ($47,500 AUD), with even tougher sentences if under-18s or vulnerable adults were involved.

The bill, which must be signed by French President Emmanuel Macron before becoming law, was passed days after a similar ban was signed into law in Canada.

Brazil, Ecuador, Malta, Albania and Germany have also passed legislation that either partially or fully outlaws the practice, which has been condemned by medical professionals.

"Very happy with this agreement," French Equalities Minister Elisabeth Moreno said on Twitter. "No, being yourself is not a crime."

European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune, who is gay, tweeted that he was "proud of this agreement".

From injections to electric shocks, prayer to rape, the myriad methods used to try to change or suppress the sexual desire or gender identity of LGBTIQ+ people have been condemned as harmful and ineffective by numerous medical groups globally.