"The case was brought to the Supreme Court in March after Christian mental-health counsellor Kaley Chiles, who is backed by president Donald Trump's administration in the dispute and represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, sued the state of Colorado over the protective law, claiming it violated her right to free speech. Chiles has said she "believes that people flourish when they live consistently with God's design, including their biological sex"."
"Colorado's 2019 law states that therapists licensed by the state are not allowed to "eliminate or reduce" same-sex attraction or change a person's "behaviours or gender expression," with each violation punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and potential loss of license. The law adds that therapists may provide "acceptance, support, and understanding.""
"On Tuesday (7 October), the US Supreme Court, where conservative justices hold a 6-3 majority, appeared ready to rule against Colorado's protective law. As reported by Reuters, conservative justices signalled sympathy toward Chiles, but liberal justices stood their ground in arguing that Colorado has a duty to ban a healthcare practice it considers "unsafe" and "ineffective"."
"Colorado solicitor general Shannon Stevenson, who highlighted that the practice has "no record of success", told justices that the law regulates conduct, not speech, arguing that the power to regulate safety in healthcare should not be changed "just because they are using words"."
Colorado's 2019 law prohibits therapists licensed by the state from attempting to "eliminate or reduce" same-sex attraction or change a person's "behaviours or gender expression," penalizing violations with fines up to $5,000 and possible license loss while allowing "acceptance, support, and understanding." Chiles vs Salazar will decide the legality of state and federal bans on conversion therapy for people under 18. Kaley Chiles sued Colorado claiming a free-speech violation and is backed by the Trump administration and the Alliance Defending Freedom. Conservative justices signalled sympathy toward Chiles while liberal justices defended Colorado's duty to ban a healthcare practice viewed as unsafe and ineffective.
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