By Tiffany Williams –
The Supreme Court on Tuesday seemed receptive to arguments from Christian counselor Kaley Chiles that Colorado’s ban on youth conversion therapy violates her First Amendment right to free speech. Chiles, represented by the conservative group Alliance Defending Freedom, contends that the law restricts her ability to counsel minors seeking to change sexual orientation or gender identity in line with their religious beliefs.
ADF argued that Colorado failed to consider less-restrictive alternatives and cannot prove that conversion therapy counseling causes harm. Justice Samuel Alito questioned whether scientific and medical consensus could be swayed by ideology, highlighting the tension between professional standards and protected speech.
Colorado’s solicitor general, Shannon Stevenson, told the justices that the law does not target speech itself but regulates professional conduct. She emphasized that licensed health providers must meet a standard of care and cannot freely provide counseling that contradicts established medical guidelines.
This case follows earlier Supreme Court decisions involving similar issues. Earlier this year, the Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, framing it as a regulation of medical treatment rather than a restriction on speech. In 2018, the Court struck down a California law requiring anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers to provide information about abortion services, holding that states could regulate health providers’ conduct but not compel speech that violated First Amendment protections.
A ruling in Chiles’ favor could prompt more than 20 states with conversion therapy bans to re-examine their laws, potentially setting the stage for a nationwide debate over free speech, religious rights, and medical ethics. The Court’s final decision is expected later this year.