Colorado House advances conversion therapy lawsuit bill; GOP lawmaker calls it ‘slap in the face’ to SCOTUS
The Democratic-controlled Colorado House passed a bill Thursday allowing people harmed by conversion therapy to sue therapists, just days after the Supreme Court blocked enforcement of the state’s ban on...
By Fox News · Fox News
The Democratic-controlled Colorado House passed a bill Thursday allowing people harmed by conversion therapy to sue therapists, just days after the Supreme Court blocked enforcement of the state’s ban on the method. HB26-1322 would establish a pathway for Coloradans to bring civil claims against licensed mental health professionals accused of causing harm through efforts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill also allows people to seek legal action against the entities that hired and supervised a professional who conducted conversion therapy. The bill now heads to the state Senate, which is also controlled by Democrats, for consideration. The measure could open the door to lawsuits years after therapy takes place and expose providers to significant financial liability. KAGAN TURNS ON LIBERAL ALLY JACKSON WITH FOOTNOTE JAB OVER FREE SPEECH The legislation was advanced just days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Colorado cannot enforce its conversion therapy ban regarding conversations between therapists and LGBTQ+ minors, arguing the law likely violates the First Amendment by allowing some viewpoints but not others. In an 8-1 decision Tuesday , the court said the law favors one viewpoint by allowing therapists to affirm a minor's gender identity or sexual orientation, but not help them change it if they want to. Matt Soper, a Republican in the Colorado House , told Fox News Digital that the new bill pushed by Democrats is a "slap in the face" to the Supreme Court. SUPREME COURT RULING ON SECRETIVE CALIFORNIA GENDER POLICY COULD RESHAPE PARENT RIGHTS FIGHTS NATIONWIDE "We have a bill that’s designed to be a de facto ban on conversion therapy moving forward," Soper said. "That just hits at the heartstrings of the average American, that the Supreme Court can’t even have a ruling be hot off the press before you have a legislature already pushing to undo what the Supreme Court just ruled," he continued. "At the bottom line, there’s not…