Supreme Court Scrutiny Intensifies Debate Over Conversion Therapy Bans and Transgender Youth Care

Washington D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court has recently engaged with two pivotal cases concerning LGBTQ+ rights, intensifying a national debate over the legality of conversion therapy and access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. These legal battles highlight deeply divided perspectives, including a contentious claim circulating in conservative circles that conversion therapy is no longer a prevalent issue.On October 7, 2025, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Chiles v. Salazar, a case challenging Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors. Conservative justices appeared skeptical of the state's authority to prohibit the practice, with some questioning whether the ban infringes upon free speech rights. Christian licensed counselor Kaley Chiles, supported by the Alliance Defending Freedom, argues the 2019 statute unlawfully censors her communications with clients, while Colorado maintains the law regulates harmful conduct, not speech.This hearing follows a significant ruling on June 18, 2025, in US v. Skrmetti, where the Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. This 6-3 decision, a setback for LGBTQ+ rights advocates, effectively restricts access to puberty blockers and hormone therapy for thousands of transgender youth in over two dozen states. Critics argue this decision allows states to ban medically necessary care for transgender youth while simultaneously questioning bans on conversion therapy.The Trump administration has actively supported challenges to conversion therapy bans and advocated for "therapy-only" approaches for transgender youth, which many medical and LGBTQ+ organizations equate to conversion therapy. Major medical associations consistently condemn conversion therapy, citing research that links it to severe psychological harm, including increased rates of suicide attempts among those subjected to it. Despite state-level prohibitions in 23 states and Washington D.C., a 2023 report by The Trevor Project found over 1,300 conversion therapy practitioners still active across the U.S., often operating in religious or less regulated capacities.The ongoing legal challenges and differing judicial interpretations underscore the complex and evolving landscape of LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. The outcomes of these cases are expected to have profound implications for both the regulation of therapeutic practices and the healthcare access of transgender youth nationwide.