Title: U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Conversion Therapy Case, Leaves States with Enforcing Power
In a significant decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has chosen not to hear a case that revolved around laws prohibiting conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ children. The court’s ruling on the matter implies that state and local governments possess the authority to enforce such bans.
Despite facing opposition from three conservative justices, the high court took a stance by refusing to intervene. Among those advocating for considering the case were Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, who contended that the Supreme Court should have addressed it due to conflicting decisions from appellate courts. Another conservative justice, Brett Kavanaugh, also voted in favor of taking on the case.
Conversion therapy, an attempt to change an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity, remains prohibited in approximately half of the U.S. states. Advocates argue that the therapy is harmful and fails to recognize LGBTQ+ individuals’ innate identities.
The lawsuit in question centered on Brian Tingley, a family counselor from Washington state, who claimed that the state’s law infringed upon his freedom of speech. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reached a split decision, upholding Washington’s law and affirming its constitutionality.
It is worth noting that the Supreme Court had previously rejected challenges to state bans on conversion therapy, but those cases were decided before a landmark 2018 ruling that favored California’s anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers.
In a separate development, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently struck down local bans on conversion therapy in Florida, adding to the ongoing debate surrounding the controversial practice.
With the Supreme Court’s decision to abstain from this conversion therapy case, it now rests on individual state legislatures and local governments to assert their authority in prohibiting the practice. Activists and LGBTQ+ rights organizations continue to push for consistent nationwide bans on conversion therapy, highlighting the potential for severe harm it poses to vulnerable individuals.
As the conversation on LGBTQ+ rights and mental healthcare continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how states will use their newfound responsibility to protect LGBTQ+ children from the dangers of conversion therapy.
