LANSING, Mich., March 31, 2026 — Today, the Supreme Court ruled against a Colorado law that bans conversion therapy for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The 8-1 decision was based on free speech concerns that the law censored speech based on a viewpoint. Conversion therapy is widely discredited and many states have laws on the books protecting LGBTQIA+ individuals from the harmful practice. In the past, the Supreme Court has allowed previous anti-conversion therapy laws to stay in place.
In response to the ruling, State Rep. Emily Dievendorf (D-Lansing) released the following statement:
“Research has shown that conversion therapy is both ineffectual and harmful to LGBTQIA+ individuals, especially young people. Asking people to reject who they are is cruel and should never be considered legitimate science or health care.
“This decision is wildly irresponsible. One can now imagine a world where harmful conversion therapy practices are unable to be regulated on the basis that regulation might infringe on another individual’s free speech rights. If that sounds convoluted, it’s because it is. But that is exactly the kind of world this ruling could create — a world where illegitimate and harmful so-called ‘health care’ is allowed in the name of free speech.
“At a time when the conservative-leaning Supreme Court and Republican-led federal government are hell-bent on stripping away civil liberties and rights from a myriad of underrepresented communities, I will do all I can to safeguard civil rights for all people. Hate and fear have no place in science and they certainly have no place in health care. To the LGBTQIA+ community, I stand with you, and I will never stop fighting to protect your right to exist.”
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