Key Takeaways:

• A Christian legal group is asking the Supreme Court to overturn a Colorado ban on conversion therapy.
• The law they’re challenging prohibits licensed therapists from trying to change a minor’s sexual orientation.
• The case could impact LGBTQ+ rights for youth across America.
• It could also set a legal precedent that weakens future LGBTQ+ protections.

What Is Conversion Therapy?

Conversion therapy is a controversial practice. It involves trying to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. For example, it might try to make a gay teen act straight or convince a transgender youth that they’re not trans. While some people still support these practices, many health groups—including the American Psychiatric Association—say they are harmful and dangerous.

This therapy often uses pressure, guilt, or fear to get someone to change who they are. It can cause serious emotional and psychological stress. That’s why many states, including Colorado, have banned it—at least for minors.

Now, though, the Supreme Court may get involved.

What’s Happening With the Supreme Court and Conversion Therapy?

On Tuesday, lawyers from a group called Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take a fresh look at the issue of conversion therapy. They’re doing this on behalf of a Christian therapist from Colorado. She believes the state’s law, which bans licensed professionals from offering conversion therapy to minors, violates her freedom of speech and religion.

ADF argues that the law stops therapists from saying certain things during counseling sessions. They claim that’s not fair because it controls what people can say based on their views.

Colorado passed the law back in 2019, like many other states working to protect LGBTQ+ youth. But if the Supreme Court agrees with ADF, that law—and others like it—could be overturned.

That would be a big deal not just for Colorado, but for the rest of the country.

Why This Case Could Affect LGBTQ+ Youth Everywhere

If the Supreme Court decides that banning conversion therapy is illegal, it would impact laws in over 20 states. These states currently prevent licensed professionals from using conversion therapy on minors. Many of those laws are based on expert advice, warning that these efforts cause fear, anxiety, depression, and even self-harm.

Without these protections, LGBTQ+ youth could be more exposed to harmful practices. More young people might be forced into therapy sessions that try to change who they naturally are.

This case isn’t only about conversion therapy. It also tests how far freedom of speech and religious freedom can go, especially when they clash with the rights of others.

Who Is Alliance Defending Freedom?

The Alliance Defending Freedom is a Christian legal organization. You’ve probably heard about them before, maybe in the news. They’ve fought against abortion rights and LGBTQ+ protections in courts across the United States.

In this case, they’re supporting a Christian counselor who wants to talk to her young clients about sexuality and gender the way her religion teaches. She believes the law limits her ability to help these clients—or, more specifically, to guide them toward what she sees as the “right” path.

ADF argues that since talking is part of therapy, stopping someone from talking about religious values is censorship. But opponents of this view say that therapy should be based on science, not religion or personal beliefs—especially when it impacts mental health.

What Could Happen Next?

The Supreme Court has a choice. They might decide not to take the case, which means Colorado’s law would stay in place just as it is. But if they do take the case—and they rule in favor of the therapist—it could erase many protections for LGBTQ+ youth.

We’ve seen the current Supreme Court shift to more conservative decisions in recent years. That has many LGBTQ+ advocates concerned about what’s next.

It’s also not just about this one law. The final ruling could be used in future challenges to other LGBTQ+ rights, including laws about transgender healthcare, bathroom access, and school support programs.

What Do Health Experts Say About Conversion Therapy?

Almost every major medical group agrees: conversion therapy is harmful.

Here’s what experts say it can lead to:

• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Anxiety
• Suicidal thoughts or actions

Most experts believe that people should be encouraged to accept who they are—not be forced to change. Helping someone feel safe and loved is always considered better for their mental health.

That’s why bans on conversion therapy are seen by many as life-saving protections.

Can This Really Be About Free Speech?

This is the big question behind the case. Should people be allowed to say anything, even if it harms others? And when does “saying something” in therapy count as professional action?

ADF says the Colorado law unfairly stops people from sharing their beliefs. But LGBTQ+ advocates and mental health professionals argue that therapy is not just talking—it’s a licensed medical practice. They believe it should follow strict rules to keep people safe, especially minors.

What Can Youth Do to Stay Informed and Protected?

At the heart of this case are young people—teens trying to figure out who they are in a world that doesn’t always accept them.

If you’re a teen who identifies as gay, bi, trans, queer, or questioning, it’s important to know:

• You are not broken.
• You deserve support.
• Help from trained and affirming professionals is out there.

It also helps to stay engaged. Learn what your state laws are and talk to trusted adults about your rights. If this case goes forward, it may take months before there’s a final outcome—but its effects could last for years.

For now, the debate continues, and the nation watches what the Supreme Court will do next.

FAQs

What is conversion therapy?

Conversion therapy is a practice aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, often through counseling techniques. Experts widely consider it harmful.

Why are people trying to ban it?

Because major medical and mental health organizations agree that it causes emotional harm, especially to LGBTQ+ youth. These bans aim to protect teens from abuse.

Is it banned everywhere in the U.S.?

No, it’s banned in about 20 states for minors, but not nationwide. Some places still allow it or are fighting over whether it should be legal.

How can this case affect other LGBTQ+ rights?

If the court rules that bans on conversion therapy violate free speech, it might open the door for other laws protecting LGBTQ+ people to be challenged in court.