US Supreme Court may overturn ban on “conversion therapy”

The court may give legal basis to dangerous practice of “correcting” LGBTQI+ teenagers

A law in Colorado, as well as in more than two dozen other US states, prohibits practices aimed at “correcting” the sexual orientation or gender identity of minors. Now this ban may be overturned.

Christian therapist Kaley Chiles appealed to the court, saying that this law violates her right to free speech. According to her, she only conducts “talk therapy” and does not perform medical procedures, therefore she believes that “the state is interfering with her personal beliefs and expression of opinions.”

Representatives of the state of Colorado say that this is not censorship, but professional regulation — that is, the main goal is to prevent harmful practices that are considered dangerous by leading medical organizations and protect teenagers.

The American Medical Association, the Psychological Association, and the Academy of Pediatrics have long called “conversion therapy” ineffective and traumatic. Studies show that attempts to “correct” young people increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

However, since six of the nine members of the Supreme Court hold conservative views, most of them were skeptical of the arguments of the Colorado representatives.

If the court rules in favor of Chiles, “conversion therapy” will be legal again in the United States. Lawyers warn that such a decision could weaken legal protections for LGBTQI+ teens and effectively legalize practices considered medically dangerous.

The decision in the case is expected to be announced in 2026.

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