The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children. The case, brought by Kaley Chiles, a Christian therapist, argues that the ban violates free speech rights under the First Amendment. Conversion therapy aims to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and is banned in more than 20 states.
Chiles’ legal team, from the conservative advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom, claims the ban limits counseling options for minors seeking to align their lives with their faith. They argue that the law has “devastating real world consequences,” particularly for “detransitioners,” who wish to revert to their birth-assigned gender. The Colorado law was upheld by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, but the Supreme Court’s decision to take the case comes after it previously declined similar challenges, most recently in December 2023.
Colorado officials maintain that the law regulates professional conduct, not speech, and is necessary to protect minors from harmful practices. The case will be argued in the court’s next term, beginning in October and ending in June 2026. The outcome could have significant implications for similar laws across the United States.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case comes amid broader discussions on LGBTQ+ rights, including recent actions by President Donald Trump targeting transgender individuals. The court’s ruling will address whether state bans on conversion therapy infringe upon the constitutional rights of counselors.
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