In an 8-1 ruling, the court sided with therapist Kaley Chiles, who argued the law restricted her First Amendment rights|Kjetil Ree|CC BY-SA 3.0
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors.
The high court sided with a conservative Christian counselor who argued that the 2019 ban may infringe her First Amendment free speech rights.
In an 8-1 decision written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the court ruled that the Colorado law targets “speech based on viewpoint,” meaning it must be evaluated under “strict scrutiny.” The case is sent back to a lower court to apply that standard and decide if the law is constitutional.
The decision could affect similar bans in over 20 states.
Colorado officials warned the ruling weakens protections for children.
Major medical groups, including the American Medical Association, say conversion therapy is ineffective and harmful, with studies linking it to higher suicide risk.