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Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to State's Ban on 'Gay Conversion' Therapy

KQED News Staff
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The Supreme Court of the United States. (Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)
The Supreme Court of the United States. (Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images) ((Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images))

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to California's law that bars mental counseling aimed at turning gay minors straight.

The justices on Monday let stand without comment a 2013 appeals court ruling that said the state's ban on so-called conversion therapy for minors doesn't violate the free speech rights of licensed counselors and patients seeking treatment.

The law, SB1172, was sponsored by state Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and enacted in 2012.

Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal aid group, had challenged the law along with other supporters of the therapy. They argue that lawmakers have no scientific proof the therapy does harm.

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The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that California lawmakers properly showed that efforts to change sexual orientation were outside the scientific mainstream and have been rejected for good reason.

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