Supreme Court overturns Colorado ban on conversion therapy
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Washington — The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled 8-1 in favor of a Colorado counselor challenging the state's law banning conversion therapy for minors, finding the statute, as applied, regulated speech based on viewpoint and sending the case back to a lower court for stricter First Amendment review.
The decision, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting, immediately raises questions about similar bans in more than two dozen states; lower courts must now reassess whether such laws survive heightened constitutional scrutiny, and advocates on both sides signaled plans for further legal action this week.
More context
Timeline
- 1. 2019: Colorado enacts a law banning conversion therapy for minors, signed by Gov. Jared Polis.
- 2. April 2024: Wisconsin licensing board classifies conversion therapy as unprofessional conduct.
- 3. Lower courts, including the 10th Circuit, review and initially uphold Colorado's law.
- 4. March 31, 2026: U.S. Supreme Court issues an 8-1 decision siding with counselor Kaley Chiles.
- 5. Post-decision: Lower courts are instructed to apply stricter First Amendment scrutiny to similar statutes.
Why it matters
This ruling could affect laws in over two dozen states with similar bans on conversion therapy for minors. If you're a parent or work with youth, it's worth keeping an eye on how this unfolds in your state.
Sources
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