Supreme Court Affirms Free Speech but Therapists Remain Liable for Harmful Conversion Therapy Practices

We Must Arm LGBTQ Youth With the Truth Protections Still Exist Against Harmful Conversion Therapy #SCOTUS

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, April 1, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Stonewall Democratic Club wants to make sure our community understands what the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Chiles v. Salazar actually means, especially for LGBTQ youth and their families.

We know that many people are feeling scared or confused after hearing about this ruling. That reaction is completely understandable. But it is important to slow down and look at what the Court really said, and just as importantly, what it did not say.

The Supreme Court did not say that conversion therapy is safe. It did not say that it is good practice. And it did not say that therapists can harm young people without consequences. What the Court focused on was a narrow legal question about free speech. The justices said that when therapy is only talking, the government has limits on how it can restrict what a therapist says, especially if the law treats one viewpoint differently from another.

That is a legal rule about the Constitution. It is not a statement about medicine, ethics, or what is best for young people.

It is also critical to understand that this decision does not remove protections for LGBTQ minors. Those protections still exist in several important ways.

First, every major medical organization, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association, agrees that conversion therapy is harmful. That medical consensus has not changed.

Second, therapists are still required to follow professional standards of care. These standards are what guide how licensed professionals are supposed to treat patients. If a therapist ignores those standards and causes harm, they can face serious consequences.

For example, if a therapist uses talk therapy to shame a young person, pressure them, or cause emotional distress, that therapist can still be sued for malpractice. Malpractice means a professional failed to do their job safely and caused harm as a result. Courts can hold them accountable, and families can seek justice.

In addition, licensing boards can investigate complaints against therapists. If a provider is found to have acted unethically or harmed a patient, they can be disciplined, suspended, or even lose their license to practice.

So while this decision changes how states can write certain laws, it does not take away the tools we have to protect young people. Therapists do not have a free pass to do whatever they want. They are still responsible for the impact of their actions.

Think of it this way. The Court said the government has to be careful about how it limits speech. But it did not say that harmful behavior is allowed. If someone causes harm, there are still consequences.

This is why it is so important that our community stays informed. We need to arm our youth with the truth, not fear. LGBTQ young people should know that they are still protected, that harmful practices are still recognized as harmful, and that there are still ways to hold people accountable.

The Stonewall Democratic Club remains committed to protecting LGBTQ youth, supporting families, and making sure no one is left without resources or support. We will continue to advocate for safe, affirming care and to stand up against any practice that causes harm.

To every young person reading this, you are not alone. You are valued, you are supported, and your safety and well-being still matter.

Renay Grace Rodriguez
Stonewall Democratic Club
+1 818-554-9922
email us here

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