Illinois Conversion Therapy Ban Remains Intact After Supreme Court Ruling

Advocates remain wary of future legal challenges despite court's decision to send Colorado case back for further review.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 12:03am

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The Supreme Court recently ruled against a law banning 'conversion therapy' for LGBTQ+ kids in Colorado, one of 23 states - including Illinois - that have banned the discredited practice. While the Illinois ban remains untouched for now, the decision has raised concerns about potential future challenges to the state's law.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court's ruling raises questions about the future of conversion therapy bans in states like Illinois, which have sought to protect LGBTQ+ youth from the harmful practice. Advocates worry the decision could embolden others to mount legal challenges, even though Illinois' law has previously withstood similar First Amendment claims.

The details

In its 8-1 ruling, the Supreme Court sided with a Christian counselor who argued the Colorado law banning talk therapy violates the First Amendment. The justices agreed the law raises free speech concerns and sent it back to a lower court to decide if it meets a legal standard that few laws pass, though it left other bans intact. The decision was immediately condemned by healthcare provider organizations who said the practice 'causes documented psychological damage'.

  • The Supreme Court ruling was issued on April 5, 2026.
  • Illinois' conversion therapy ban has been in place since 2015.

The players

Curtis Lopez-Galloway

A 31-year-old gay man from Benton, Illinois who was forced to undergo conversion therapy as a teenager and has since founded the Conversion Therapy Survivor Network.

Kelly Cassidy

An Illinois state representative who sponsored the state's conversion therapy ban that was signed into law in 2015.

Kara Ingelhart

A clinical assistant professor of law and director of Northwestern's LGBTQI+ Rights Clinic, who said the Supreme Court decision will make it harder for states to protect LGBTQ+ children from harmful practices.

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What they’re saying

“It was the darkest time of my life. There's always going to be a permanent scar on my relationship with my parents … it's always there in the background.”

— Curtis Lopez-Galloway, Conversion Therapy Survivor

“No ethical social worker or mental health clinician should be engaging in this practice, full stop, regardless of what any court decides.”

— Kyle Hillman, Director of Legislative Affairs, Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers

“While the timing of the decision being released on Transgender Day of Visibility is a cruel one, this decision is a technical one, essentially instructing the Colorado courts to reexamine the case under a more intense legal analysis.”

— Kelly Cassidy, Illinois State Representative

What’s next

Illinois lawmakers have introduced a bill that would prohibit state funds from going to conversion therapy, and advocates are working closely with the state's attorney general's office to prepare for the possibility of future legal challenges to the state's ban.

The takeaway

The Supreme Court's ruling has raised concerns about the future of conversion therapy bans in states like Illinois, but advocates remain committed to defending these laws and protecting LGBTQ+ youth from the harmful practice. The fight to end conversion therapy is far from over, and Illinois' ban continues to stand as a model for other states seeking to safeguard the rights and wellbeing of their LGBTQ+ communities.