US Supreme Court faces backlash after overturning Colorado anti-conversion practice law

The US Supreme Court has ruled against a Colorado state law banning conversion practices for LGBTQ+ minors with an overwhelming majority vote.

With eight to one in favour of overturning the anti-conversion practice law, the court claimed it violated the First Amendment to the US Constitution’s free speech protections.

Conversion practices attempt to force attraction of gay, bi and lesbian people to the opposite sex, or force trans people to identify with their recorded birth sex.

Who filed the US Supreme Court lawsuit against Colorado law banning conversion practices?

The lawsuit was filed by Kaley Chiles, a Christian licensed counsellor, in 2025. She argued the law unconstitutionally restricted what therapists can say to clients, even if a minor wants to seek professional help to change their identity or sense of attraction.

The decision was written by associate US Supreme Court justice Neil Gorsuch, saying Colorado’s law “censors speech based on viewpoint”.

“The First Amendment stands as a bulwark against any effort to prescribe an orthodoxy of views, reflecting a belief that each American enjoys an inalienable right to speak his mind and a faith in the free marketplace of ideas as the best means for finding truth,” the opinion reads.

“It ultimately risks grave harm to Americans’ health and wellbeing” – objector to the lawsuit, Ketanji Brown Jackson, condemning conversion practices

The court left open the possibility that states can still regulate certain practices, especially physical or aversive treatments.

Supreme Court justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only objector. She wrote: “It threatens to impair States’s ability to regulate the provision of medical care in any respect. It extends the Constitution into uncharted territory in an utterly irrational fashion. And it ultimately risks grave harm to Americans’ health and wellbeing.”

The ruling has been met by a wave of backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates and Colorado attorney general Phil Weiser, who offered their support for young people in the community.

“You are valued, you are worthy, and your health and dignity matter” – Colorado attorney general Phil Weiser offering support to LGBTQ+ youth

Weiser described today’s Supreme Court decision as a “setback”, saying he disagreed with the ruling in a statement via CNN.

“To LGBTQ youth in this state and beyond: you are valued, you are worthy, and your health and dignity matter,” Weiser said. “We will continue to stand up for care grounded in science and for the rights of all children to grow up safe, supported, and respected.”

The Trevor Project’s CEO, Jaymes Black, released a statement condemning the pro-conversion practice lawsuit: “These efforts, no matter what proponents call them, no matter what any court says, are still proven to cause lasting psychological harm.”

Describing the ruling as “painful”, “dangerous” and “malpractice”, they added: “To LGBTQ+ young people everywhere, please know this: Regardless of today’s decision, or any other headlines you read, you belong. You are worthy, you are loved, and there is nothing wrong with being who you are.”