Over 180 Democrats Urge Supreme Court to Uphold Colorado Conversion Therapy Ban

More than 180 congressional Democrats, including prominent lawmakers such as Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Ted Lieu, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, have filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors, a practice widely discredited and condemned by major medical organizations. The Court is set to hear oral arguments in October in the case brought by licensed counselor Kaley Chiles, who claims that the law violates her First Amendment free speech and religious rights by preventing her from counseling minors seeking to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. However, supporters of the ban argue that the law regulates professional conduct, not speech, and is designed to protect LGBTQ youth from the harmful and unethical practice of conversion therapy, which has been linked to increased risks of depression, PTSD, and suicide. The amicus briefs emphasize that religious freedom and free speech do not exempt licensed professionals from adherence to established standards of care that safeguard minors. Advocates from diverse backgrounds, including religious organizations, highlight that conversion therapy is abusive and contrary to ethical and faith-based principles of loving and protecting children. The outcome of this case will have significant implications for states' ability to regulate therapeutic practices and protect vulnerable youth from harmful treatments.