One hundred eighty-seven Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Ted Lieu, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Chiles v. Salazar challenging efforts to overturn Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors. The case originated from counselor Kaley Chiles, who argues the ban violates free-speech rights by preventing therapy aimed at changing minors' sexual orientation or gender identity. Colorado defends the ban as a regulation of professional conduct designed to protect minors from harmful, discredited practices. Supporters emphasize medical consensus against conversion therapy and note that over 20 states have enacted similar protections.
"Conversion therapy practices hurt kids, are widely discredited, and have no place in our modern medicine," Takano said in a statement. "More than 20 states across our nation have already taken action to protect young LGBTQI+ people from the very real harms of so-called 'conversion therapy.' The Supreme Court must uphold these states' laws and allow them to continue protecting young LGBTQI+ people from harmful and cruel practices that are opposed by every major medical association."
Lieu, who authored the nation's first ban on conversion therapy for minors as a California state senator, added, "This case is not about free speech; it is about scammers who pose as health professionals that use fake science to hurt kids. ... These bans save lives - they must be upheld."
Merkley called the practice "fraudulent" and "damaging," noting, "The Court must reject this divisive effort by MAGA extremists to roll back safeguards against it. Let'
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