FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
West Hollywood, CA. 17 March 2025 – The Conversion Therapy Survivor Network (CTSN) strongly opposes the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear a challenge to Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy. This harmful and discredited practice has been repeatedly condemned by medical and psychological professionals as ineffective and dangerous. Its prohibition is a crucial safeguard for LGBTQ+ youth.
“Banning conversion therapy is not about free speech, it is about protecting vulnerable minors from a practice that has caused deep and lasting harm. Additionally, conversion therapy has already been found to violate the ethical standards of mental health boards across the country,” said Curtis Lopez-Galloway, President & Founder of CTSN. “Allowing conversion therapy under the guise of professional counseling is a step backward in the fight for the dignity and safety of LGBTQ+ individuals.”
Colorado is one of over 20 states that have enacted laws banning conversion therapy for minors by licensed professionals, recognizing the overwhelming evidence of its psychological harm. Each ban has been supported by survivors, family members, doctors, therapists, and even former proponents of the practice.
By taking up this case, the Supreme Court risks undermining protections for minors in states where conversion therapy bans are in place and legitimizing a practice denounced by every major psychological organization, including the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the National Association of Social Workers, and the World Health Organization. CTSN urges the Court to uphold Colorado’s ban—and by extension, all bans on conversion therapy—to reaffirm the right of LGBTQ+ youth to live free from coercion and psychological abuse.
“Subjecting children and adults alike to physical, mental, and emotional abuse through conversion therapy is morally wrong, inhumane, and has long-term psychological repercussions. As survivors of these abhorrent conditions, we stand united to declare this abuse to violate basic human rights and psychological safety,” said a member of the Conversion Therapy Survivor community.
The Conversion Therapy Survivor Network calls on lawmakers, mental health professionals, and the public to oppose any attempts to weaken protections against conversion therapy and to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth.
The Conversion Therapy Survivor Network, founded in 2019, is dedicated to supporting survivors of conversion therapy through advocacy, education, and community-building. We provide resources, peer support, and amplify survivor voices to combat harmful practices. Our work has been recognized for driving awareness and policy change, partnering with leading organizations to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from conversion efforts.
Media Contact:
Curtis Lopez-Galloway
President & Founder
Conversion Therapy Survivor Network
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