Attorney General Bonta Helps Colorado Legislation Banning Conversion Therapy for Minors at U.S. Supreme Court | State of California – Division of Justice

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Bonta immediately joined a coalition of 21 attorneys normal in submitting an amicus temporary with the U.S. Supreme Court defending a Colorado regulation that prohibits licensed well being professionals from working towards conversion “therapy” on minors. Conversion “therapy,” additionally known as sexual orientation or gender identification change efforts, are dangerous and ineffective practices that try to vary an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identification. Colorado’s regulation prohibits licensed well being professionals from working towards conversion remedy on kids and youth. The statute was challenged in federal court docket by a licensed counselor who helps conversion remedy. Most not too long ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit dominated that Colorado is entitled to control skilled conduct, notably the place there may be proof of hurt. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument on this case on October 7, 2025.

“In 2012, California became the first state to enact legislation — SB 1172 — banning conversion therapy on anyone under 18 years of age. Because conversion therapy doesn’t work; because it’s harmful to our youth; and because it’s fundamentally wrong,” stated Attorney General Bonta. “With this important case now before the U.S. Supreme Court, we are proud to once again stand on the right side of history. We urge the justices to uphold Colorado’s law.”  

In the amicus temporary, the attorneys normal assist Colorado’s ban on conversion remedy as a result of it isn’t a protected or efficient therapy for any situation, places youth liable to severe harms, together with elevated dangers of suicide and despair, and falls under the usual of take care of psychological well being practitioners. California is one in all over 25 states that bans or restricts conversion remedy. The observe is repudiated by all main medical and psychological skilled organizations, together with the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychiatric Association.

The temporary outlines why the court docket ought to reject the arguments towards Colorado’s ban on the observe:

• The First Amendment doesn’t defend harmful and ineffective psychological well being practices from regulation, nor does it enable licensed suppliers to function under a sure normal of care.
• Such bans are in keeping with states’ lengthy historical past of building and regulating skilled requirements of care.
• Striking down such a ban may create profound unintended penalties for states’ authority to control skilled practices inside their borders as they’ve all through a lot of the nation’s historical past.

In submitting the amicus temporary, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys normal of: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. Attorney General Bonta additionally filed an amicus temporary in assist of the Colorado regulation when it was pending on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.  

A duplicate of the amicus temporary might be discovered right here. 

HOW TO GET HELP

If you establish as a member of the LGBTQ+ group and are fascinated about suicide or struggling along with your emotional well being, we encourage you to succeed in out to a number of of the next assets and assist providers:

Trevor Project Lifeline: (866) 488-7386

The Trevor Lifeline supplies assist to LGBTQ+ youths and allies in disaster or in want of a protected and judgment-free place to speak.

Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860

Trans Lifeline supplies peer assist for the transgender group, and is run by and for trans individuals.

LGBT National Help Center

A nationwide useful resource that gives LGBTQ+ group with free & confidential assist and referral assets through cellphone, textual content, and chat.

Colors Youth

This non-profit group supplies free and limitless psychological well being providers for LGBTQ-identified youths ages 25 and youthful.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) LGBTQ+ Page

This web page highlights the distinctive psychological well being wants of the LGBTQ+ group and contains hotlines and assets to assist deal with these wants.