Supreme Court Hears Landmark Arguments on Colorado’s Conversion Therapy Ban
Supreme Court Hears Landmark Arguments on Colorado’s Conversion Therapy Ban
The Supreme Court is set to hear pivotal arguments today on a six-year-old Colorado law that bans licensed counselors from practicing conversion therapy on minors. This high-profile case will scrutinize the delicate balance between a state’s power to protect vulnerable youth and claims of First Amendment speech protections for professionals.
At the center of the legal challenge is counselor Kaley Chiles, who asserts that her ‘faith-informed counseling’ is protected speech and that the Colorado law infringes upon her clients’ autonomy to pursue their own goals. Chiles, who faces potential fines and license revocation, rejects the term ‘conversion therapy,’ describing her work as helping clients find peace with their identity.
Opposing this view, Colorado argues the ban is a vital protection against a discredited practice widely condemned by leading medical organizations. Conversion therapy survivor Matt Salmon, who endured traumatic experiences as a teenager, has submitted briefs in support of Colorado’s law. Salmon, now a psychiatrist, emphasizes that professional licenses do not grant ‘carte blanche free speech to psychologically abuse children.’
The court’s decision carries significant weight, especially considering its recent engagement with other cases impacting LGBTQ+ youth, including a Tennessee law on gender-affirming care and upcoming arguments on transgender athletes. A key aspect of the deliberation will be the interpretation of ‘professional speech’ under the First Amendment, an area where the court has previously taken an expansive view.
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