Colorado’s state legislature passed a new bill aimed at strengthening protections for LGBTQ+ youth against conversion therapy after the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year raised constitutional concerns about the state’s previous ban.
HB26-1322 It passed the Colorado General Assembly on May 7 and now heads to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk. The law follows a March Supreme Court ruling in Colorado that renews a long-standing ban on conversion therapy. Chiles v. Salazarwhile also expanding legal protections for survivors seeking accountability.
The move comes as a national battle over conversion therapy laws intensifies, with LGBTQ+ advocates warning that challenges to state protections could put vulnerable young people at greater risk.
What will the new law change?
Advocates for the bill say the Supreme Court’s decision Chiles v. Salazar He did not support conversion therapy or challenge the overwhelming medical consensus about its harms. Rather, the court argued that Colorado’s previous law raised First Amendment concerns because it restricted viewpoint-based speech in talk therapy settings.
HB26-1322 seeks to solve this problem by rewriting the statute to focus on predetermined outcomes rather than specific identities.
Under the updated language, licensed mental health professionals are prohibited from steering minors toward certain consequences related to sexual orientation or gender identity. This restriction applies regardless of direction, making the law perspective neutral under the framework established by the court.
Supporters say the changes preserve Colorado’s existing protections while making the law more resilient to future constitutional challenges.
The legislation also expands the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims involving conversion therapy. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have argued that survivors often take years to process the trauma associated with these experiences before filing lawsuits.
Advocates say their lives are on the line.
LGBTQ+ rights groups cast the bill as an emergency response to the continuing mental health risks facing queer and trans youth.
trevor project Casey Pick, senior director of legal policy, praised lawmakers for acting quickly in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“When we said in the wake of Chile v. Salazar that the fight to end conversion therapy in this country is far from over, we meant it,” Pick said in a statement. “This new law modifies Colorado’s existing protections to address criticisms highlighted by the Supreme Court’s recent decision, which importantly declares that mental health professionals who abuse the sacred trust given to mental health professionals will not be protected from medical malpractice claims due to the years of shame and silence caused by conversion therapy.”
Pick also pointed to data from The Trevor Project’s 2024 50 States Report, which found: 41% of LGBTQ+ youth A Colorado man seriously considered suicide last year. Research cited in the release states that LGBTQ+ youth undergoing conversion therapy are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide.
“There’s no clearer data than this. Stopping this junk will save young lives,” Pick added.
Colorado responds quickly to Supreme Court ruling
The bill passed the state Legislature just weeks after the Supreme Court issued its March 31 decision.
Supporters behind the bill said the Colorado Legislature will work closely with legal experts to reform the ordinance before additional lawsuits weaken enforcement of the state’s protections.
National Center for LGBTQ Rights Attorney General Shannon Minter said the court’s opinion effectively provided states with a roadmap for how to maintain their bans on conversion therapy.
“At the end of March, the U.S. Supreme Court provided concrete guidance on how to reform conversion therapy law in a viewpoint-neutral way that preserves these protections and protects youth before they are harmed,” Minter said.
He added that the updated law also gives survivors more time to pursue medical malpractice claims related to conversion therapy.
meanwhile, one colorado Executive Director Nadine Bridges explained that the bill is part of a broader effort to make Colorado safer for LGBTQ+ residents.
“HB26-1322 strengthens protections for survivors of conversion therapy by recognizing the lasting harm these practices cause and expanding pathways to justice,” Bridges said.
Medical groups continue to condemn conversion therapy
All major medical and mental health associations in the United States continue to oppose conversion therapy. american medical association, American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association.
Studies cited by advocacy groups have linked conversion therapy to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma reactions, and suicidal thoughts.
The Trevor Project reported that in 2023, there are still more than 1,300 active conversion therapy practitioners operating across the United States.
A poll cited in the release found that most Americans support banning this practice against minors.
Colorado’s latest law, if signed by Gov. Polis, could serve as an early model for other states looking to uphold LGBTQ+ protections after the Supreme Court’s ruling. Chiles v. Salazar.
Source: Gayety – gayety.com
