A ruling from the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Tuesday could open the door to stripping protections away from LGBTQ+ youth in the country. SCOTUS ruled 8-1 that Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy on youth under the age of 18 violates the free speech rights of the Christian therapist challenging this law.
Therapist Kaley Chiles wrongfully argued that Colorado’s law, which prohibits a licensed physician specializing in psychiatry or a licensed, certified, or registered mental health care provider from engaging in conversion therapy with a patient under 18 years of age, violated her First Amendment rights.
The decision in favor of Chiles could make Colorado’s law, and similar laws in more than 20 other states, unenforceable. The case now returns to the lower courts.
The below statement can be attributed to Olivia Mendoza, ACLU of Colorado Executive Director:
“The Supreme Court’s decision in this case is a major blow to the rights of LGBTQ+ youth not only in Colorado, but across our country. The practice of conversion therapy is dangerous and has been widely discredited by medical organizations like the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“The ACLU of Colorado supported this legislation when it was going through the process of becoming law in the state legislature in 2018. Conversion therapy has no place in our country. Attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression causes severe, lasting psychological harm to LGBTQ+ youth.
“This law protects Colorado youth from this harmful, and torturous practice. It is about regulating licensed medical and mental health professionals, not religious or pastoral counseling. This is a matter of maintaining public health and professional ethical standards, not a matter of protected speech.
“The ACLU of Colorado remains ready to fight for Colorado’s LGBTQ+ youth and push back against any attempts to rollback protections for their civil rights and civil liberties.”