Supreme Court weighs bans on conversion therapy' for LGBTQ+ kids. Live coverage. Maureen Groppe, Bart Jansen, Aysha Bagchi and Christopher Cann, USA TODAY October 7, 2025 at 6:05 AM 0 WASHINGTON − The Supreme Court is diving back into the culture wars, debating whether states can block licensed ther...
- - Supreme Court weighs bans on `conversion therapy' for LGBTQ+ kids. Live coverage.
Maureen Groppe, Bart Jansen, Aysha Bagchi and Christopher Cann, USA TODAY October 7, 2025 at 6:05 AM
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WASHINGTON − The Supreme Court is diving back into the culture wars, debating whether states can block licensed therapists from attempting to change a young person's sexuality or gender identity.
The court on Oct. 7 is considering a Christian counselor's claim that Colorado's ban on "conversion therapy" violates her free speech rights.
Colorado officials argue the state's 2019 law − which is similar to restrictions in about half the states − is needed because of "overwhelming evidence" that conversion therapy harms young people, including by increasing the risk of depression and suicide.
Supreme Court weighs conversion therapy: What's at stake for kids
The case comes months after the high court ruled in June that states can ban gender affirming care for minors. And the justices will consider later this term whether states can prevent transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams.
Follow along for updates of today's arguments.
Court sidestepped issue two years ago
In 2023, the Supreme Court rejected a similar challenge to Washington state's law brought by a Christian marriage and family counselor.
Three conservative justices, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh, said they would have granted that appeal. It takes four justices to agree to hear a case.
Thomas said the state's law "is viewpoint-based and content-based discrimination in its purest form."
From 'hate state' to pioneer: Colorado has another LGBTQ+ case at Supreme Court
Who is defending Colorado's `conversion therapy' ban?
Shannon W. Stevenson, Colorado's chief appellate lawyer, is defending the state's ban.
She was appointed solicitor general in 2023 by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who is running for governor.
More: The future of LGBTQ+ conversion therapy may depend on this Supreme Court case. What to know
Colorado licensed counselor Kaley ChilesWho is arguing against Colorado's `conversion therapy' ban?
Jim Campbell, the chief legal counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, is representing Kaley Chiles, the Colorado counselor challenging the state's conversion therapy ban.
Alliance Defending Freedom is a conservative legal organization that has appeared frequently at the court in recent years in cases involving high-profile social issues. Those included a successful 2023 case brought by a Colorado web designer who said having to create websites for same-sex weddings would violate her free speech rights.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court debates 'conversion therapy' bans. Live coverage.
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