Story perspectives

Supreme Court Strikes Down Colorado's Conversion Therapy Ban

4/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 on March 31, 2026, that Colorado's conversion therapy ban violates the First Amendment.
The court sided with Kaley Chiles (counselor), saying the law regulates speech by viewpoint and requires strict scrutiny.
Justice Neil Gorsuch argued the First Amendment protects against government efforts to enforce orthodoxy.
The ruling could affect similar laws in over 20 states and raise concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates about youth harm.

History

Historical Context

The 1971 Supreme Court case Cohen v. California established that the First Amendment protects provocative speech, ruling 5-4 against the conviction of Paul Cohen for wearing a jacket that read "Fuck the Draft." This landmark decision emphasized that offensive speech cannot be restricted without severe justification, influencing subsequent cases, including recent laws like Colorado's conversion therapy ban, which may affect LGBTQ+ youth across over 20 states.

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Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 on March 31, 2026, that Colorado's conversion therapy ban violates the First Amendment.
The court sided with Kaley Chiles (counselor), saying the law regulates speech by viewpoint and requires strict scrutiny.
Justice Neil Gorsuch argued the First Amendment protects against government efforts to enforce orthodoxy.
The ruling could affect similar laws in over 20 states and raise concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates about youth harm.

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