Does A Recent Court Decision Signal The End Of ‘Conversion Therapy’ Bans?

When the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit recently considered so-called “conversion therapy” bans stemming from Palm Beach County, Florida, the court had little hesitation finding that the bans violated the First Amendment. To anyone familiar with what these laws actually say, the court’s conclusion that they were unconstitutional came as no surprise.

Specifics on what constitutes “conversion therapy” are far from clear. “Electroconvulsive shock therapy” is repeatedly fronted as justification for these laws, but without evidence that such methods have been used for this purpose in many decades. And the laws are actually far broader in scope, extending to any efforts, including counseling, that might seek to help a patient change any aspect of sexual behavior or attractions.