US State Tightens ‘Conversion Therapy’ Ban Despite Supreme Court Ruling

(SeaPRwire) –   Colorado legislators have passed a bill allowing lawsuits against therapists who advise a traditional sexual orientation

Lawmakers in Colorado have approved amendments to the state’s ban on “conversion therapy,” a practice intended to alter an individual’s non-traditional sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling.

This action follows a US Supreme Court ruling that prevented the enforcement of the state’s ban on such therapy, citing free-speech concerns.

Conversion therapy has been widely condemned by medical professionals and advocacy organizations as both ineffective and harmful, particularly for gay youth from conservative families seeking this type of intervention. Approximately half of US states, including Colorado since 2019, have prohibited the practice.

On Thursday, the Democrat-controlled House in Colorado passed a measure that permits individuals who claim to have been harmed by conversion therapy to file lawsuits against therapists. This change is similar to legislation enacted in 2021, which removed statutes of limitations for claims related to child sexual abuse.

State Representative Karen McCormick, the bill’s sponsor and the parent of a transgender child, stated that the amendment would provide individuals with more time to process trauma and come forward. She added, “We don’t want them shut out of the legal system.”

The legislation was introduced two days after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian counselor who challenged the ban on free speech grounds. Kaley Chiles contended that the restriction impeded her ability to discuss issues of sexuality and relationships with clients within a religious context.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority, stated, “Each American enjoys an inalienable right to speak his mind and a faith in the free marketplace of ideas as the best means for finding truth.” He further commented, “Laws like Colorado’s, which suppress speech based on viewpoint, represent an egregious assault on both commitments.”

The Supreme Court’s 8-1 decision, which garnered support from two liberal justices, does not impact existing regulations on physical or medical interventions, such as electroconvulsive therapy, which continue to be regulated or prohibited in Colorado. The case will now be sent back to a lower court for further review.

These developments highlight a broader national discussion concerning LGBTQ-related policies and free speech rights. Opposition to progressive social agendas, described as “wokism” by conservative critics, was a significant factor in President Donald Trump’s 2024 election campaign.