Today, the Supreme Court waded back into the war on trans kids, this time with a case that could greenlight so-called conversion therapy around the country, despite the unequivocal science showing that such "treatments" are ineffective and dangerous.
If that sounds ominous, that's because it is. As Henry Carnell and Madison Pauly wrote in a curtain-raiser ahead of today's arguments, the case is a matter of life and death, with Chiles v. Salazar having the potential to "overturn restrictions on conversion therapy in 23 states, greenlighting a practice shown through decades of research to put individuals at higher risk for suicidality and depression."
So, what's the outlook? Grim. As expected, conservative justices this morning sure seemed ready to rule in favor of the Christian therapist challenging a Colorado law that bans licensed mental health professionals from trying to change a minor’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
The national implications of this are clear. But one thing I want to underscore is that although conversion therapy, to many of us, seems like a relic, it never truly went away. For more, read our investigation into the rise of anti-trans politics that led to this exact moment.
—Inae Oh
