Colorado passes new conversion therapy bill just after Supreme Court ruled against its ban - LGBTQ Nation

"The bill, H.B. 26-1322, or the Civil Actions for Conversion Therapy Survivors Act, would allow conversion therapy survivors to sue therapists for damages if they tried to change their sexual orientation or gender identity."

"The bill defines conversion therapy as treatment provided by a licensed mental health professional with the "predetermined outcome" of changing someone's gender identity or sexual orientation. This effectively keeps the bill from applying to members of the clergy or lay ministries - most conversion therapy in the U.S. is performed by religious organizations, not licensed therapists - and creates an exemption for discussions of LGBTQ+ identities that come up in therapy, a matter of contention in a recent Supreme Court case."

"The legislation passed the state senate last week in a party-line vote after already passing the Colorado House of Representatives. The state senate amended the bill so it had to pass the state house again, which happened late last week, the Colorado Daily Camera reports."

"The bill was introduced as the Supreme Court considered a challenge to Colorado's previous ban on conversion therapy, passed in 2019. That ban on conversion therapy has never been enforced in the state, but a Christian therapist sued, saying that it violated her freedom of speech."

Colorado’s legislature passed H.B. 26-1322, the Civil Actions for Conversion Therapy Survivors Act, which now goes to Gov. Jared Polis for approval. The bill would allow conversion therapy survivors to sue therapists for damages when treatment is provided by a licensed mental health professional with a predetermined outcome of changing someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The definition limits the bill’s reach by excluding clergy and lay ministries, since most conversion therapy in the U.S. is conducted by religious organizations rather than licensed therapists. The bill also creates an exemption for discussions of LGBTQ+ identities that arise in therapy. The measure followed prior Colorado action in 2019 that was challenged in court, with a Christian therapist arguing it violated her freedom of speech.

Read at LGBTQ Nation