Michigan Agrees Not to Enforce Ban on Conversion Therapy for Minors
Michigan has recently agreed not to enforce its state ban on conversion therapy for minors, a practice aimed at changing their sexual orientation or gender identity. This decision comes after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a similar law in Colorado.
According to a spokesperson for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the state had to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision. Public Information Director Kimberly Bush expressed concerns about the potential impact on Michigan’s children, stating, “We remain deeply disappointed in this decision and have grave concerns for the implications this could bring for the safety and welfare of Michigan’s children.”
The case in Michigan was brought by Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale Counties and had been on hold awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision. The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals had previously ruled that the law violated counselors’ First Amendment rights.
Attorney Luke Goodrich from the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty commented on the decision, stating, “Michigan is acknowledging that its law is unconstitutional. It is illegal for Michigan to muzzle these counselors and deprive children of the help they need.”
Conversion therapy is widely discredited by professional organizations for its harmful effects on children’s psychological well-being. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the law banning conversion therapy three years ago, joining about 20 other states with similar bans.
There are suggestions for alternative avenues to challenge conversion therapy, such as pursuing civil litigation or issuing a formal opinion that it violates Michigan’s consumer protection law. LGBTQ rights attorney Jay Kaplan emphasized the fraudulent and discredited nature of conversion therapy, advocating for stronger measures against it.
