The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined to hear a case challenging Washington state’s ban on conversion therapy of minors. In doing so, the court left standing a lower court decision that upheld the state’s ban on a therapy that the American Medical Association says “is not based on medical and scientific evidence.”
The Washington passed law, enacted in 2018, allows the state to revoke the licenses of therapists who try to change a minor’s sexual orientation. Brian Tingley, a family counselor and advocate for conversion therapy, challenged the law in court, represented by the anti-LGBTQ Alliance Defending Freedom. He claimed that the law violates his First Amendment right to free speech.
Two lower courts upheld the law.
Read this story now for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletter and get unlimited access to WABE.org
You can select your preferences for news and local content. We will never share your email address. Learn how your newsletter sign-up will support WABE and Public Media
