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Supreme Court overturns Colorado ban on conversion therapy
Summary
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Colorado’s law banning conversion therapy in an 8-1 decision, and the author reports that major medical groups say the practice is harmful and linked to higher suicide risk among LGBTQ youth.
Content
The Supreme Court recently struck down a Colorado law that banned conversion therapy, issuing an 8-1 decision. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented and warned the ruling could affect states' ability to regulate medical care. Conversion therapy aims to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and has been rejected by major medical and mental health organizations. The author, a licensed therapist, describes a family member's traumatic experience with the practice and cites research linking it to increased suicide risk.
Key facts:
- The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy in an 8-1 decision, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson filing the lone dissent.
- Conversion therapy seeks to change sexual orientation or gender identity and is described in the article as rejected by major medical and mental health organizations for causing harm.
- The article cites a 2020 Williams Institute finding that people who underwent conversion therapy were almost twice as likely to attempt suicide and includes a personal account of trauma and increased suicidal thoughts.
Summary:
The author and professional groups report that the practice causes measurable psychological harm and is associated with higher suicide risk among LGBTQ youth. The Supreme Court decision removed the Colorado law that prohibited the practice. Undetermined at this time.
