Colorado Conversion Therapy Ban Should Stand, Groups Tell SCOTUS

Health-law scholars, mental-health professionals, and LGBTQ+ youth support groups are urging the US Supreme Court to uphold a Colorado law that prohibits licensed therapists from engaging in conversion therapy with minors.

The groups were among several filing friend-of-court briefs Monday and Tuesday supporting Colorado’s defense of a provision banning mental-health counselors from attempting to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity against a licensed therapist’s First Amendment free-speech challenge. The top court granted review in March and will hear oral arguments Oct. 7.

This is the first time the top court will consider the constitutionality of a state’s restrictions ...