AG Kaul Joins Amicus Brief at SCOTUS in Support of Colorado Law Banning Conversion ‘Therapy’ for Minors
MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a multistate amicus brief at the U.S. Supreme Court defending a Colorado law that prohibits licensed health professionals from practicing conversion “therapy” on minors.
Conversion “therapy,” also called sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts, is a harmful and ineffective practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
“States should be able to protect kids from being subjected to conversion ‘therapy,’” said AG Kaul. “They shouldn’t have to allow this discredited practice that puts kids at risk.”
Colorado’s law prohibits licensed health professionals from practicing conversion therapy on children and youth. The statute was challenged in federal court by a licensed counselor who supports conversion therapy. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that Colorado is entitled to regulate professional conduct, particularly where there is evidence of harm. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument in this case on October 7, 2025.
The amicus brief supports Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy because it is not a safe or effective treatment for any condition, puts youth at risk of serious harms, including increased risks of suicide and depression, and falls below the standard of care for mental health practitioners.
Wisconsin is one of over 25 states that bans or restricts conversion therapy. The practice has been repudiated by all leading medical and mental professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychiatric Association.
The brief outlines why the court should reject the arguments against Colorado’s ban on the practice:
- The First Amendment does not shield dangerous and ineffective mental health practices from regulation, nor does it allow licensed providers to operate below a certain standard of care.
- Such bans are consistent with states’ long history of establishing and regulating professional standards of care.
- Striking down such a ban would likely create profound unintended consequences for states’ authority to regulate professional practices within their borders as they have throughout most of the nation’s history.
Joining AG Kaul in filing the amicus brief are the attorneys general of Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
A copy of the amicus brief is available here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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