Supreme Court Expected to Decide on Colorado Conversion Therapy Ban's Free Speech Implications

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear Chiles v. Salazar, a pivotal case challenging Colorado's 2019 law banning licensed health professionals from providing conversion therapy to minors, arguing it violates free speech rights by restricting counselors like Kaley Chiles from discussing attempts to change a child's sexual orientation or gender identity. Colorado defends the law as a regulation of professional conduct aimed at protecting minors from a practice widely discredited by major health organizations for causing harm, including depression and suicidality. The case raises complex issues about whether the ban constitutes unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination or a permissible regulation to prevent harm, with conservative advocates framing it as a First Amendment battle while opponents emphasize the scientific consensus against conversion therapy's efficacy and safety. The law allows counseling focused on identity exploration and social support but prohibits treatments seeking to alter a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity, with exemptions for religious ministry outside licensed mental health practice. Previous court decisions have upheld the ban as a valid health regulation, though dissenting opinions question the scientific consensus and the restriction on speech. This case reflects a broader national debate over the balance between religious freedoms, free speech, and protections for LGBTQ+ youth.