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Protesters supporting trans rights gather outside the Supreme Court on Jan. 13, 2026 in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
Heather Diehl<\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday<\/a> that a Colorado ban on conversion therapy violates the First Amendment, potentially invalidating other state laws like California\u2019s that have long prohibited the practice as junk science.<\/p>\n Christian therapist Kaley Chiles and the anti-LGBTQ legal group Alliance Defending Freedom challenged Colorado\u2019s 2019 ban on conversion therapy, a scientifically discredited practice claiming one\u2019s sexual orientation or gender identity can be changed through talk therapy or other interventions.<\/p>\n Mainstream industry groups like the American Psychiatric Association<\/a> and American Psychological Association<\/a> say conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy, is ineffective and scientifically baseless because sexual orientation and gender identity are not mental illnesses.<\/p>\n In an 8-1 ruling, the Supreme Court agreed with Chiles and the ADF\u2019s argument that the Colorado ban was unconstitutional because it prevented her from counseling her clients on \u201cefforts to change behaviors or gender expressions\u201d while allowing \u201cconversations that provide acceptance, support, and understanding for identity exploration and development, including assistance to a person undergoing gender transition.\u201d<\/p>\n California was the first state to ban conversion therapy for minors in 2012 after Sen. Ted Lieu, now a congressman, led a successful effort to end what he called \u201cquackery\u201d and a form of \u201cpsychological child abuse.\u201d Some 30 states now have laws regulating or banning the practice, according to Saint Louis University legal researchers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only judge to dissent. She noted that the 2019 Colorado law only applied to minors: \u201cColorado\u2019s law does not target or prohibit the expression of such views by anyone in any form \u2014 including by licensed healthcare providers in discussions with patients and their families. … This means that, while Chiles can freely promote conversion therapy and vociferously decry the State\u2019s prohibition, she cannot practice that therapy without being subject to professional discipline under Colorado law. \u201c<\/p>\n The Supreme Court\u2019s decision could imperil California\u2019s ban because it has now taken the stance that government cannot regulate medical professionals\u2019 viewpoints, according to Leslie Gielow Jacobs, a constitutional law expert at McGeorge School of Law.<\/p>\n \u201cThe principle is that….states can regulate flat-out false speech about health or health products,\u201d Jacobs said. \u201cBut if the treatment here is itself talk (therapy), the court says, \u2018no, the government can\u2019t take a position on what\u2019s false with regard to sexuality.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The decision is one of several in recent years where a majority of Supreme Court justices have sided with people claiming that efforts to expand protections for LGBTQ people or protect reproductive health care infringe upon their religious beliefs or freedom of speech. Earlier this month, the court paused a California law banning teachers<\/a> from being forced to out students questioning their gender to their parents.<\/p>\n The state is currently battling the Trump administration over whether a decade-old state law<\/a> protecting transgender athletes from discrimination violates federal anti-discrimination law.<\/p>\n Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted the Supreme Court justices\u2019 ruling in online statements and noted that the ruling fell on Transgender Day of Visibility: \u201cConversion therapy is discredited junk science that inflicts harm on LGBTQ youth. The Supreme Court\u2019s decision is disappointing and puts vulnerable kids at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, called attention to his recent legislation that would expand ex-conversion therapy victims\u2019 ability to sue for malpractice: \u201cIn light of the Supreme Court\u2019s horrific ruling invalidating bans on youth conversion therapy, we must create new strategies to protect LGBTQ youth. …Survivors struggle with deep scars from this treatment for years and years, and they deserve the right to justice for what has been done to them.\u201d<\/p>\n California Family Council president Jonathan Keller applauded the ruling, and said he expected a lawsuit soon challenging California\u2019s conversion ban: \u201cCalifornia\u2019s attempt to dictate which viewpoints are allowed in the counseling room is ideological control, not protection.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2019 Colorado law only applied to people under the age of 18 and did not apply to religious therapists<\/a> like Chiles, who described herself as a \u201cpracticing Christian\u201d who believes that \u201cpeople flourish when they live consistently with God\u2019s design, including their biological sex.\u201d<\/p>\n The ADF has campaigned for years to negatively influence public opinion on protections for LGBTQ people, curb abortion access and force public school districts to fund religious charter schools.<\/p>\n In a video statement<\/a>, a spokesperson called the ruling a victory for \u201cfree speech, families and common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis ruling allows (Chiles\u2019) ability to affirm biological reality, and conversations about gender and sexuality.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published March 31, 2026 at 1:03 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
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