The Supreme Court ruled against a Colorado law that prevented youth from being exposed to dangerous conversion therapy practices. In response, Haley Norris, policy analyst for LGBTQI+ Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
“Today, the Supreme Court ruled against protecting the mental health of young Americans. While it was a narrower decision than some had feared, it will have an enormous impact on young people across the country.
“There is overwhelming evidence that conversion practices, including “talk therapy,” are dangerous and ineffective. Today’s decision not only harms LGBTQI+ youth, it could expose countless Americans — including those seeking reproductive care — to misleading medical information. It will make it nearly impossible to hold bad actors accountable and could weaken the ability to enforce safety regulations in all areas of health care.
“Laws banning conversion practices have been on the books for more than a decade and are widely supported. Once again, the court is playing politics and ignoring medical consensus in order to further the far right’s cruel anti-transgender ideology. Every young American deserves to grow up in a world that respects who they are and protects them from harm.”
Kelley Robinson, president and CEO of the Human Rights Campaign, said, ““To undermine protections that keep kids and families safe from these abusive practices is shocking — and our children deserve better.
“This ruling undermines critical protections for youth in 23 States and the District of Columbia against so-called conversion therapy, leaving children vulnerable to abusive and ineffective practices that harm families and devastate mental health outcomes.”
— David Taffet