The nation’s highest court has overturned Colorado’s prohibition on conversion therapy, dealing a significant blow to efforts aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ youth from the controversial practice.
In their decision, the justices determined that Colorado’s legislation constituted viewpoint-based speech regulation, effectively striking down the state’s attempt to ban the disputed therapeutic approach.
The ruling represents a major legal setback for advocates who have pushed for similar protective measures across multiple states, arguing that conversion therapy can cause psychological harm to minors.
Colorado had joined numerous other states in attempting to restrict mental health professionals from engaging in practices designed to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
The court’s decision is expected to influence similar legislative efforts in other jurisdictions and may prompt renewed legal challenges to existing conversion therapy bans nationwide.
