The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, March 31, that a Colorado state law banning “conversion therapies” for LGBT+ minors violated freedom of expression, siding with a Christian counselor who challenged it.
The law is at issue, passed by progressive Colorado in 2019, which, like about twenty other U.S. states, prohibits licensed practitioners from performing “conversion therapies” on minors.
These therapies claim to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBT+ individuals to make them heterosexual, often equating homosexuality with a disease or mental disorder. According to Colorado, they are not only ineffective but also harmful, leading to increased risks of “depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and even suicide attempts.”
However, out of nine judges on the Court, the six conservative justices and two of the three progressives sided with the plaintiff, Kaley Chiles. Citing her Christian faith, this psychologist argues that the law violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing freedom of expression, a position supported by the Trump administration.
In this decision on behalf of the Court, conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote, “The Colorado law banning conversion therapies not only prohibits physical interventions but also censors speech based on the individual’s opinion.”
He continues, “Concerning Kaley Chiles, the Colorado law regulates the content of her expression and even prescribes which viewpoints she can or cannot express, constituting discrimination based on expressed opinions.”
Gorsuch concludes, “The First Amendment serves as a shield against any attempt to impose an orthodoxy of thought or speech in this country. On the contrary, it reflects the belief that every American possesses an inalienable right to think and speak freely.”
As a result, the Court sends the case back to lower courts to reconsider their unfavorable decisions towards Kaley Chiles in light of this ruling.
Context: – Colorado law banning conversion therapies for minors was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court due to freedom of expression concerns. – The plaintiff, Kaley Chiles, argued that the law violated her right to free speech based on her Christian beliefs. – The decision was supported by conservative justices while one progressive judge dissented, citing concerns about the regulation of medical treatments.
Fact Check: – The information about Donald Trump’s actions in 2025 and the U.N.’s call for a worldwide ban on conversion therapies are fictional and do not correspond to actual events.
