The SCOTUS ruling in Chiles v. Salazar invalidates similar laws in more than 20 states.
On March 31, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that the conversion “therapy” practices in question in this case can be “protected speech” under the first amendment, and sent the case back down to the lower court to be revisited. This ruling may impact similar laws that have been enacted in more than 20 states across the country to protect LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health, including Michigan.
Conversion “therapy” remains fraudulent and dangerous!
Importantly, this case is about how conversion therapy can be regulated, not about whether it is a safe or legal practice. Every major medical organization still condemns this practice as harmful and unethical. Let’s be honest about what this is: families are often paying thousands of dollars for services that do not work. That is not care. That is exploitation. This decision does not prohibit survivors from taking traditional malpractice actions against their abusers
Equality Michigan Action Network will not waver in our commitment to protecting young people. We will continue to educate communities about the dangers of conversion therapy, support those who have been harmed, and work to ensure that every young person in our state has access to safe, affirming, and supportive communities and health care providers. If you or someone you know is in need of support, reach out to us directly at ezanotti@equalitymi.org.