Conversion therapy ban under review

NAYONIKAA SINGHAAL
STAFF WRITER

3/24/2025

The Colorado law banning conversion therapy was passed in May 2019, prohibiting licensed mental health professionals from performing conversion therapy on individuals under the age of 18.  

Supporters argue that the law is a necessary measure to protect vulnerable youth from a practice that has been linked to severe mental health issues, including depression and suicidal ideation. Major medical groups, such as the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association, have repeatedly denounced conversion therapy as both scientifically unsound and ethically problematic. 

However, opponents, including religious and conservative advocacy groups, contend that the law infringes upon First Amendment rights by restricting what therapists can say and how they counsel patients. This law prevents licensed mental health professionals from performing conversion therapy but does not prevent unlicensed individuals, like religious groups, from providing guidance on sexual orientation or gender identity. 

“It is very harmful that an unlicensed individual can go about providing conversion therapy, but not a professional who has been trained to do so,” said Nishant Khairnar (’25), a student at Alma College. 

The law was challenged by Kaley Chiles, a licensed therapist, who claimed that her patients voluntarily seek services for conversion therapy. According to USA Today, Chiles made it clear that she has no intention of “curing” same-sex attraction or “changing” sexual orientation, but rather providing counselling services to individuals who seek guidance on the subject. 

In July 2023, Michigan adopted a similar law, joining 26 other states in banning conversion therapy for minors. According to The Trevor Project, over 15% of LGBTQ+ minors in Michigan have been threatened with conversion therapy.  

Michigan lawmakers emphasized the urgent need for protections, arguing that conversion therapy increases risks of depression and suicidal behaviour among LGBTQ+ youth.  

“No child should ever be told that who they are is wrong or in need of fixing,” said Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, when signing the bill into law. 

At Alma College, a small liberal arts school in Michigan, discussions about LGBTQ+ rights and mental health continue to be relevant. The college has various student organizations, which advocate for LGBTQ+ students and provides a safe space for discussions on identity and mental well-being.  

Many students and faculty at Alma have supported Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy, seeing it as a step toward ensuring the mental health and safety of LGBTQ+ youth. 

“College should be a place where students feel safe to be themselves, not a place where they fear discrimination or harmful practices,” said Bryce Birchmeier (‘27), a student at Alma College. 

However, some conservative voices at Alma and in the broader Michigan community argue that the law may interfere with religious freedoms and parental rights.  

“It’s important that we allow families and individuals to seek guidance that aligns with their beliefs,” said an anonymous student at Alma College. 

The Supreme Court’s decision to review Colorado’s law has sparked renewed national debate, and its ruling could have far-reaching implications for similar bans across the country, including in Michigan. If the Court rules against Colorado’s law, it may open the door for challenges to Michigan’s ban, potentially reversing protections for LGBTQ+ youth. Conversely, a ruling in favor of the law could strengthen existing bans and reinforce state authority to regulate mental health practices. 

As the legal battle unfolds, students and faculty at Alma College, like many across the nation, will be closely watching the Supreme Court’s decision, knowing that its outcome could shape the future of LGBTQ+ rights and mental health protections in Michigan and beyond.