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Hello and welcome

Conversion therapy continues to be a big talking point around the world.

And whilst the UK still awaits an introduction of legislation banning such practices, which has been dubbed as ‘dangerous’ and ‘unethical’ by activists in the past, we have received some pretty concerning news from across the pond.

It’s been reported this week that parts of the US could be looking at overturning laws based on banning conversion therapy. For example, Colorado has had such a ban in place regarding those under the age of 18 since 2019 but a legal battle could now see that reversed.

It was argued during a lengthy 90-minute hearing in court, in front of conservative justices, that the ban on conversion therapy could be seen as an ‘unconstitutional regulation of speech’. The landmark hearing came following a request from licensed counsellor Kaley Chiles, who said the law violated her First Amendment rights.

The counsellor said that some of her minor clients had actively wanted to engage in such therapies, but could not because of the laws forbidding medical professionals conducting conversion therapy. In the state, anyone who breaches the ban could face a ban of up to $5,000 as well as a number of suspensions.

A majority of the justices apparently sided with the idea that ‘talk therapy’ should not be regulated in the same way as medical conduct, and that it could even be considered a ‘prior restraint’ on a therapist’s speech.

Let’s remember that there is no evidence that conversion therapy works. It’s been described as not only ineffective, but also harmful. It can have severe long-lasting mental and physical impacts.

“People have been trying to do conversion therapy for 100 years with no record of success,” Colorado Solicitor General Shannon W. Stevenson told the justices, according to The Washington Post.

It will now go before the Supreme Court, who are said to be expected to make a decision by next summer. But those agreeing with the laws warn that, if it goes overturned, that it ‘would destabilise longstanding health care regulation’ and could also impact the ability for professionals to adhere to a standard level of care.

And then there’s the precedent this can set. We’ve already seen how things like this can begin a ripple effect. It could start with conversion therapy in one state in the US, but could quickly spread across the rest of the country (there are 20 states in the US, including Colorado, which currently ban conversion therapy).

It could then also weaken the arguments for banning the process elsewhere in the world.

A study six years ago found that trans people who have experienced conversion therapy-style sessions based on their gender identity were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide than those who had other types of therapies. Trans people were also 1.5 times more likely to experience ‘severe psychological distress’ too.

It’s unbelievable, in my opinion, that we’re still at this point - in 2025 - where conversion therapy is still being defended and is not a thing of the past. The fact that lawmakers, the people thought to be in charge of our rights, believe there is enough reason to keep things like this going is just exhausting.

Speaking to ABC News this week, emergency psychologist Dr. Adjoa Smalls-Mantey said that such practices are ‘not helpful’ and could in fact be ‘detrimental to people’. Dr Smalls-Mantey said those who take part in the practices could also experience shame and guilt as a result.

“From all of our evidence, this has not worked in changing people’s identity or sexual orientation,” she told the American news outlet. “So if it is a therapy, it’s not effective.”

The doctor ultimately said that there is no argument that therapy and counselling shouldn’t be allowed, but that there should be a ‘stop in trying to change the essence of who people are’.