Supreme Court Hears Colorado LGBTQ Conversion Therapy Ban Challenge

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a case challenging Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors, with arguments focusing on whether the law infringes on a therapist's First Amendment rights by prohibiting efforts to change a child's sexual orientation or gender identity. This case marks the third LGBTQ+ related issue from Colorado before the Court in recent years, reflecting ongoing national debates around religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. Meanwhile, prominent LGBTQ+ broadcaster Karel Bouley highlights a surge in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, misinformation, and political backlash, emphasizing the importance of visibility and resilience in defending rights. On another front, the Liberty Counsel, a far-right Christian legal group labeled as an anti-LGBTQIA+ hate group, continues its long campaign against LGBTQ+ rights, including efforts to overturn the landmark 2015 Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide. Additionally, religious organizations including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have filed a Supreme Court brief opposing legal protections for transgender individuals, arguing such protections threaten religious freedoms, a stance contested by LGBTQ+ advocates. These developments illustrate the complex and contentious landscape of LGBTQ+ rights in the United States today.