Colorado Ban on Conversion Therapy for Minors Survives Challenge

A Colorado law that prevents mental health professionals from providing conversion therapy to minors doesn’t violate the First Amendment, the Tenth Circuit said Thursday.

The law regulates conduct, only incidentally burdens speech, and is rationally related to Colorado’s interest in protecting minors from “ineffective and harmful therapeutic modalities,” the opinion by Judge Veronica S. Rossman said for the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

The Colorado law defines conversion therapy as “any practice or treatment” that tries to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Kaley Chiles, who’s a mental health professional and practicing Christian, argued that ...