March 31, New Delhi – The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a Colorado state law banning conversion therapy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) minors, in a ruling that emphasizes the importance of free speech protections.
In an 8-1 decision, the top court sided with licensed therapist Kaley Chiles, who challenged the 2019 state law on religious and constitutional grounds.
Writing for the majority, Justice Neil Gorsuch said the Colorado statute amounted to viewpoint-based censorship, arguing that it restricted speech rather than regulating professional conduct.
The law had prohibited licensed practitioners from engaging in so-called "conversion therapy" for minors – practices that claim to alter a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
The ruling comes despite widespread opposition to conversion therapy from leading medical bodies, including the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association.
The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications, as similar bans are currently in place in more than 20 U.S. states and parts of Europe.