Supreme Court case could upend local Ohio bans on anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A U.S. Supreme Court case that could strike down bans on anti-LGBTQ+ conversion therapy is drawing concern in Ohio, where more than a dozen cities and a county have passed local prohibitions against the discredited practice.

During arguments on Oct. 7 in Chiles v. Salazar, several justices signaled skepticism toward state laws that prohibit licensed therapists from offering conversion therapy to minors, according to reporting by the Associated Press. Watch a previous NBC4 “Out in Ohio” episode on conversion therapy in the video player above.

Kaley Chiles, a Christian counselor from Colorado, is challenging her state’s 2019 law that bans conversion therapy for youth, arguing it violates her First Amendment right to free speech and religious expression. Colorado officials counter that the measure regulates health care and protects children from psychological harm.

Ohio does not have a statewide law prohibiting conversion therapy. Still, if the justices side with Chiles, the ruling could invalidate local ordinances across 15 cities in the Buckeye State. Among them are Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Athens, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Whitehall and Lorain. Cuyahoga became the first county in the state to enact a ban last month.

The bans generally apply to licensed mental health professionals who perform conversion therapy on minors and carry civil penalties or disciplinary action through professional licensing boards.

LGBTQ+ organizations that pushed for those local measures say the potential loss of legal protections would put vulnerable youth at risk. Brandon West, the advocate who led campaigns to ban conversion therapy in several of those Ohio municipalities and at the county level in Cuyahoga, said the case underscores what’s at stake.

“These bans are not about politics; they are about preventing trauma and saving lives,” he said. “If this ruling overturns local protections, it will not erase the moral truth that conversion therapy is dangerous, discredited, and deeply harmful. It will only strengthen the resolve of communities, advocates, and local leaders across Ohio to find new ways to protect our youth.”

“If the Supreme Court does rule against the bans in June of next year, my team and I have a legal way to fight back and fight back we will because we’ll do everything possible to protect LGBTQIA+ youth, to ensure survivors know they are not alone, and to create positive, lasting, and kind change across Ohio,” West continued.

Conversion therapy, a practice widely condemned by major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Research has linked the practice to higher rates of depression and suicide among LGBTQ+ youth.

The justices are expected to issue a decision before the court’s term ends in late June.