Ann Rostow: Rocky Mountain High - San Francisco Bay Times

"Rocky Mountain High This week the U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether or not Colorado, and, by implication, another couple dozen states, have the right to outlaw conversion therapy-the type of intervention that aims to switch gay kids into heterosexuals. The process is widely discredited, but championed by groups like the antigay Alliance Defending Freedom and its client, evangelical Christian therapist Kaley Chiles."

"Conversion therapy, as you must know, leads to years of "depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient," said the American Psychiatric Association years ago. Basically, it doesn't work, it makes the kids miserable, and miserable kids are more likely to kill themselves, drink, take drugs, or undermine their near-term future in other ways."

"At issue, legally, is whether or not the Colorado law steps on the Free Speech rights of therapists, or whether the law merely restricts medical practice. You may recall from earlier this year that the Supreme Court has no problem with laws that restrict how medical practitioners can treat minors because the Court said Tennessee and other states can continue to ban treatment for transgender youth. No problem!"

The U.S. Supreme Court is evaluating whether Colorado and similar states can prohibit conversion therapy aimed at changing gay minors into heterosexuals. Conversion therapy is widely discredited and promoted by groups such as the Alliance Defending Freedom and therapist Kaley Chiles. The American Psychiatric Association links conversion therapy to depression, anxiety, self-destructive behavior, and increased risks including suicide and substance abuse. The legal question centers on whether Colorado's law infringes therapists' Free Speech rights or instead legitimately regulates medical practice, with the outcome potentially hinging on whether strict scrutiny applies.

Read at San Francisco Bay Times