Takeaways from the Supreme Court decision on Colorado law banning ‘conversion therapy’ for trans and gay minors | CNN Politics

The Supreme Court on Tuesday endorsed a religious counselor’s challenge to Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” for gay and transgender minors, saying it likely violates the First Amendment, handing the LGBTQ community another setback in a decision that will reverberate in nearly half the country. The 8-1 decision, which had conservative and liberal justices in the majority, does not technically strike down the law, but means lower courts will now review it again and apply the highest form of judicial scrutiny. That means Colorado’s law, and others like it, will almost certainly be struck down by lower courts. Supreme Court backs challenge to ‘conversion therapy’ ban Colorado enacted its law in 2019 to protect gay and transgender youth subjected to the scientifically discredited practice of attempting to “convert” their sexual orientation or gender identity. Advocacy groups say roughly half of US states have banned the therapy for minors. Here are takeaways from the Supreme Court’s decision: The case largely broke down along a question of whether therapy is more like a medical practice, which the government can and does regulate, or whether what goes on in a s