Supreme Court Strikes Down Colorado Conversion Therapy Ban

Ruling protects counselors' free speech rights, but raises concerns over LGBTQ youth protections

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:26am

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In an 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court ruled against Colorado's 2019 law banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth, siding with a Colorado Springs counselor who argued the law prevented her from having conversations with patients struggling with gender and sexual identity. The ruling was praised by the counselor's legal team but drew concern from the law's original sponsors, who say it opens the door for states to also ban gender-affirming therapy.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court's ruling has significant implications for LGBTQ rights and mental health care in Colorado and across the country. It overturns the state's efforts to protect vulnerable youth from the discredited and harmful practice of conversion therapy, which has been linked to increased depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among LGBTQ individuals.

The details

The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Colorado Springs counselor Kaley Chiles, who argued the state's 2019 conversion therapy ban prevented her from having open conversations with patients about gender and sexuality. The Supreme Court sided with Chiles, ruling that the law amounted to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. The ruling does not immediately end the Colorado law, but sends the case back to a lower court to apply a stricter legal standard.

  • Colorado passed its ban on conversion therapy for minors in 2019.
  • The Supreme Court issued its 8-1 ruling against the law on April 1, 2026.

The players

Kaley Chiles

A Colorado Springs counselor who filed a lawsuit challenging Colorado's conversion therapy ban, arguing it prevented her from having open conversations with patients about gender and sexuality.

Daneya Esgar

A state representative from Pueblo who was a prime sponsor of the 2019 law banning conversion therapy for minors in Colorado.

Jim Campbell

Chief Legal Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, the organization that represented Kaley Chiles in the lawsuit.

Kentanji Brown Jackson

The lone dissenting Supreme Court justice in the 8-1 ruling against Colorado's conversion therapy ban.

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What they’re saying

“I am overjoyed that today's decisive win for free speech, families, and common sense will protect counselors like me. Families must have counseling options, including options that allow kids to genuinely talk about experiencing discomfort with their bodies without the state dictating an outcome.”

— Kaley Chiles, Colorado Springs Counselor

“When I initially heard about the ruling today I was really distraught and saddened. We specifically made sure that the law did not ban conversations, conversations could take place. It's when the actual act of conversion therapy came into the picture we wanted to stop that dangerous practice.”

— Daneya Esgar, Colorado State Representative

“There's a lot of different reasons people voted the way they did, and I think it's telling of the world we're living in right now, today. I think it's telling of the rhetoric that's the on national stage, the rhetoric that's even locally in politics versus really doing what's best for kids.”

— Daneya Esgar, Colorado State Representative

What’s next

The case will now go back to a lower court where the Supreme Court has asked the court to apply 'strict scrutiny', a stronger standard of reviewing the Colorado law.

The takeaway

The Supreme Court's ruling is a significant setback for LGBTQ rights and mental health protections in Colorado, overturning the state's efforts to ban the discredited and harmful practice of conversion therapy. While the ruling protects counselors' free speech rights, it raises concerns that it could also open the door for states to ban gender-affirming therapy for transgender and non-binary youth.