Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to state’s “conversion therapy” ban

A Washington state law banning minors from receiving so-called conversion therapy will remain in effect after the Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a case challenging it. The state law bars minors from psychotherapy or other treatments that attempt to change their believed sexual orientation or gender identity. Christian therapist Brian Tingley sued Washington in 2021, arguing the statute violates his First Amendment right to free speech. The state has argued it is regulating professional conduct rather than personal speech. The Supreme Court voted 6-3 against hearing the case.

Who argued it should have been heard? Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh voted to hear the case. Thomas penned a dissenting opinion, saying that “licensed counselors cannot voice anything other than the state-approved opinion on minors with gender dysphoria.” Alito also wrote a dissenting opinion, saying the law restricts speech and asserting that “all restrictions on speech merit careful scrutiny.” Unlicensed religious counselors are not bound to the state’s laws on therapy and are therefore not required to support a minor’s gender beliefs.

Dig deeper: Read Joseph Backholm’s column in WORLD Opinions on a similar law passed in Michigan.