Trending Now - Supreme Court Decision on Conversion Therapy Sparks Free Speech Debate
WHO:
Fast Company - Kasey Chiles, a talk therapist from Colorado, challenged the state's law.
Fast Company - Justice Neil M. Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion for the Supreme Court.
Fast Company - Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented in the ruling.
Fast Company - Justice Elena Kagan and Justice Sonia Sotomayor sided with the majority.
Truthout - The president of the Human Rights Campaign commented on the ruling.
WHAT:
CNN - The Supreme Court's decision does not technically strike down Colorado's ban on conversion therapy but directs a lower court to review it again with the highest level of judicial scrutiny.
Truthout - The president of the Human Rights Campaign stated, "The court’s reckless decision means more American kids will suffer."
Fast Company - The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 to strike down Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors.
Fast Company - The ruling could undermine similar laws in 23 states and the District of Columbia.
Fast Company - The American Psychological Association recognizes that conversion therapy is linked to mental health issues.
Fast Company - A UCLA study found LGB individuals who experienced conversion therapy had 92% greater odds of lifetime suicidal ideation.
Fast Company - The Human Rights Campaign stated that the court's decision means more American kids will suffer.
WHERE:
Fast Company - The ruling pertains to Colorado's law prohibiting conversion therapy for minors.
Fast Company - The Supreme Court is located in Washington, D.C.
WHEN:
Fast Company - The Supreme Court ruling occurred on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026.
Fast Company - Colorado adopted the law prohibiting conversion therapy in 2019.
Fast Company - The Supreme Court's decision contrasts with a ruling from June 2025 regarding laws on "gender affirming" treatments.
WHY:
Fast Company - Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned in her dissent that “the fallout could be catastrophic” for medical care in America, emphasizing that the Constitution does not prevent reasonable regulation of harmful medical treatments.
Fast Company - Justice Gorsuch justified the decision by citing the First Amendment and the right to free speech.
Fast Company - The dissenting opinion warned that the ruling could have catastrophic effects on medical care in America.
HOW:
Fast Company - The Supreme Court's decision was based on the interpretation of the First Amendment as a protection against government censorship of speech.
(UPDATED April 2, 2026 01:23 UTC)
The Supreme Court has directed a lower court to review Colorado's ban on conversion therapy with heightened scrutiny, rather than outright striking it down. The president of the Human Rights Campaign expressed concern, stating that this decision could lead to more suffering for American kids. In her dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned that the implications could be catastrophic for medical care in the country, highlighting that the Constitution allows for reasonable regulation of harmful medical treatments.
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(UPDATED April 1, 2026 21:14 UTC)
on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled eight to one to strike down Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors, a decision written by Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, with Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor joining the majority, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. This ruling could potentially undermine similar laws in 23 states and the District of Columbia, as the Human Rights Campaign warned that it means more American kids will suffer, given the American Psychological Association's recognition of the mental health risks associated with conversion therapy. Gorsuch justified the decision by citing the First Amendment and the right to free speech, contrasting with a previous ruling from June 20th25 regarding "gender affirming" treatments.