Supreme Court Overturns Colorado's LGBT Conversion Therapy Ban

Ruling allows psychotherapists to continue controversial practice despite state law

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:01pm

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The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a Colorado law that prohibited licensed psychotherapists from engaging in 'conversion therapy' aimed at changing a patient's sexual orientation or gender identity. The 6-3 ruling determined the state's ban violated the First Amendment rights of mental health professionals.

Why it matters

The decision is a setback for LGBTQ+ advocacy groups that have pushed for bans on conversion therapy, which is widely discredited by medical associations as ineffective and potentially harmful. It also highlights the ongoing legal battles over the balance between professional speech regulations and free expression.

The details

In its ruling, the Supreme Court majority argued that Colorado's law amounted to unconstitutional content-based restrictions on the speech of licensed therapists. The state had defended the ban as necessary to protect vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth from the harms of conversion therapy, but the court found that the law was too broad and did not adequately consider the rights of therapists.

  • The Supreme Court issued its ruling on April 1, 2026.

The players

U.S. Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States, which has the final say on the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

Colorado

A state in the western United States that had passed a law banning licensed therapists from practicing conversion therapy on LGBTQ+ individuals.

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What they’re saying

“This ruling is a devastating blow to LGBTQ+ youth who deserve to be protected from the harms of conversion therapy, not exposed to it.”

— Sam Brinton, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Affairs, The Trevor Project

“The court has rightly recognized that the government cannot censor the speech of mental health professionals based on the views they express.”

— Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman, Liberty Counsel

What’s next

The ruling is expected to prompt other states with similar conversion therapy bans to re-evaluate their laws in light of the Supreme Court's decision.

The takeaway

This Supreme Court decision underscores the ongoing tensions between LGBTQ+ rights, professional regulations, and free speech protections. It will likely embolden opponents of conversion therapy bans to challenge similar laws in other states.