Supreme Court to Decide on Colorado's Ban on Conversion Therapy
A new CDC survey reveals that one in four American high schoolers identifies as LGBTQ+, with 3% identifying as transgender. Meanwhile, a Colorado therapist, Kaley Chiles, is challenging her state's ban on conversion therapy at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Colorado's law, enacted in 2019, prohibits licensed therapists from attempting to change a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity. This aligns with major mental health and medical organizations that oppose conversion therapy due to its harmful effects. Erin Lee's daughter, Chloe, struggled to find a supportive counselor due to this law.
Kaley Chiles, a licensed therapist, argues that the ban infringes on her free speech. She is represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in the case Chiles v. Salazar. However, the Tenth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the law, deeming it a legitimate regulation of professional conduct. Mathew Shurka, a survivor of conversion therapy, testified in support of the ban in 2018.
Half of U.S. states have now outlawed conversion therapy, recognizing its ineffectiveness and harm.
The Supreme Court will now decide whether Colorado's ban on conversion therapy violates therapists' free speech rights. The outcome could impact similar laws in other states and the broader conversation around LGBTQ+ rights and protections.
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