General Discussion

US Supreme Court strikes down Colorado law banning conversion therapy for gay, transgender minors

https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/31/conversion-therapy-supreme-court-ruling/

A Colorado law banning so-called conversion therapy to “cure” minors of being gay or transgender was struck down Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court, which determined that the law violates the First Amendment.

“Consider a hypothetical law that is the mirror image of Colorado’s. Instead of barring talk therapy designed to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity, this law bars therapy affirming those things,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a concurring opinion. “Because the State has suppressed one side of a debate, while aiding the other, the constitutional issue is straightforward.”

Only one of the justices, Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented. The court has a 6-3 conservative-majority. Justice Neil Gorsuch, formerly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit based in Denver, wrote the majority opinion.

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During the October hearing, liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor noted that Colorado, six years since passing the law and three years since the legal challenge was filed, had not enforced it, and questioned whether the type of talk therapy Chiles provides would even be prohibited by the state ban. In response, Chiles’ attorney said Colorado was investigating anonymous allegations against Chiles’ practice. Sotomayor joined in Tuesday’s majority decision overturning the ban.

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https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-539_fd9g.pdf