Understanding Conversion Therapy and Its Harmful Impact
Conversion therapy, the practice of attempting to alter someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity through various methods, has long been discredited by scientists, doctors, and survivors as dangerous and deceptive. Many states, including 23 U.S. states and Washington, DC, have implemented bans on using this practice on minors. However, a recent case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court could potentially invalidate these bans, putting countless young people at risk.
The case, known as Chiles v. Salazar, centers around Colorado’s conversion therapy ban. Despite its name, the practice has no basis in therapeutic medicine and has been condemned by the medical community for years. Organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have consistently opposed it. The practice reinforces stigma and shame around LGBTQI+ identities, leading many who have experienced it to report high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
The Push for a Federal Ban and Conservative Opposition
A decade ago, advocates pushed for a federal ban on conversion therapy, supported by scientific evidence. However, conservative legal groups, such as the Alliance Defending Freedom, have fought to rebrand conversion therapy. These groups often claim that regulating mental health professionals violates the First Amendment, despite the fact that numerous major medical and mental health associations oppose conversion therapy.
Former leaders of the “ex-gay” movement have also spoken out about the harm caused by these practices. The Trevor Project has identified over 1,300 active conversion therapy practitioners who use ambiguous messages to disguise their true intentions, often resorting to euphemisms like “sexual wholeness.”
Legal Double Standards and Contrasting Cases
There is a clear legal double standard at play when comparing the fight against conversion therapy with other cases involving transgender youth. In 2024, the Supreme Court heard the case United States v. Skrmetti regarding access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Conservatives often argue that society and doctors are “pushing” gender-affirming care onto young people and their families, which is ironic given the contrast between the two practices.
Unlike gender-affirming care, which involves months of therapy and discussion with patients and families, conversion therapy pressures young people to change who they are to fit the practitioner’s idea of who they should be.
The Role of Scientific Evidence and Misinformation
Underlying these attacks on LGBTQI+ people is a consistent refusal to take scientific, medical, and historical evidence seriously. In the decision for Skrmetti, Chief Justice John Roberts cited the United Kingdom’s heavily criticized Cass Review, while Justice Clarence Thomas cast doubt on the guidance of medical experts and organizations as ideologically motivated.
Evidence shows that anti-trans critics rely on pseudoscience and misinformation to undermine transgender rights. The most powerful arbiters of law in our nation are perpetuating this issue. The federal government has taken the side of conversion therapists, with U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer arguing against Colorado’s ban, claiming the law suppresses views rather than protects young people.
The Broader Implications for Health Care and Policy
This rejection of scientific evidence has become a defining feature of the second Trump administration. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spread questionable information about nutrition, autism, and vaccine safety. Similar to those cases, the administration’s support for conversion therapy will have immediate, devastating impacts on young people’s health.
Chiles v. Salazar makes it clear that the fight for LGBTQI+ rights cannot be separated from other health care fights. With the largest defunding of Medicaid in history, more people will face impossible choices when it comes to putting food on the table or paying for health insurance.
A Call to Action
To secure a truly healthy America, we need to fight back against these disinformation campaigns and reject the junk science being peddled by this administration. Haley Norris, an analyst for LGBTQI+ policy at the Center for American Progress, emphasizes the importance of standing up for trans people and promoting inclusive policies.
