If you’ve been following the news, you may have seen headlines about a recent Supreme Court decision involving Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy. It’s understandable if the coverage left you with more questions than answers.
This article is meant to clarify what actually happened, what it means for LGBTQIA+ people seeking care in Denver, and what genuinely affirming mental health treatment looks like in practice.
What Is Conversion Therapy?
Conversion therapy is a broad term for practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These approaches are based on the premise that being LGBTQIA+ is something to be corrected. [1]
Every major medical and mental health organization in the United States, including the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, has rejected conversion therapy as both ineffective and harmful. [2] Research consistently links these practices to increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicidality, and post-traumatic stress, particularly in young people. [3]
LGBTQIA+ identity is not a disorder. It is not a symptom. It is not something that needs treatment.
Colorado’s 2019 Ban and What It Covered
In 2019, Colorado enacted a law prohibiting licensed mental health professionals from performing conversion therapy on clients under the age of 18. The law was part of a broader national movement, with many states passing similar protections for minors during this period. [4]
The Colorado ban reflected the medical consensus: that attempting to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity causes measurable psychological harm and has no credible therapeutic basis.
What the 2026 Supreme Court Ruling Changed
In March 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Chiles v. Salazar, a case brought by a Colorado-licensed counselor who argued that the state’s ban violated her First Amendment rights as applied to the talk therapy she provides. [5]
The Court did not strike down Colorado’s law outright. Instead, it ruled that the lower courts had applied the wrong legal standard and sent the case back for further review under a more stringent test. Colorado has indicated it is reviewing the ruling and evaluating next steps. [5]
What this means right now is legal uncertainty. Colorado’s ban has not been repealed, but its enforceability is being reconsidered. The situation may continue to evolve as the case moves through the lower courts.
What This Means for LGBTQIA+ People Seeking Care in Denver
The practical impact of this ruling is still unfolding, and this article isn’t the right place for legal advice. What it does highlight is something many LGBTQIA+ people already understand from experience: access to care is not the same as access to safe care.
Who provides your treatment and what values guide that treatment matter. When evaluating any mental health or addiction provider, it’s reasonable to ask directly how they approach LGBTQIA+ identity, what training their clinicians have, and what affirming care means in their day-to-day practice.
What Affirming Mental Health Care Actually Looks Like
Affirming care isn’t just the absence of conversion therapy. It’s an active clinical commitment to meeting you where you are, with your identity as a given rather than a variable to be managed.
At a genuinely affirming treatment center, care is structured around your mental health and recovery goals. Your identity is the context for your experience, not the target of intervention.
In practice, this means:
- Clinicians with training in LGBTQIA+ experiences, including minority stress, identity development, and trauma related to rejection or discrimination
- Evidence-based clinical approaches such as EMDR, somatic therapy, CBT, DBT, and IFS applied with cultural competence
- Group spaces built for queer and trans people, not adapted as an afterthought
- No expectation to present, identify, or behave in any particular way as a condition of care
Chroma Wellness Center in Denver was built specifically for the LGBTQIA+ community. Our PHP and IOP programs offer structured mental health and addiction treatment in an environment where your identity is never the problem and never in question.
If you’re navigating mental health challenges, substance use, or both, you deserve care that starts from the premise that you are whole.
Learn More About Affirming Care At Chroma
If you’re looking for LGBTQIA+-affirming mental health or addiction treatment in Denver, we’d love to connect. Our t us at (720) 410-5569 or verify your insurance to learn more about our programs.
FAQs
Is conversion therapy legal in Colorado now?
Colorado’s 2019 ban on conversion therapy for minors has not been formally repealed, but its enforceability is in legal question following the U.S. Supreme Court’s March 2026 ruling in Chiles v. Salazar. The case was sent back to lower courts rather than definitively resolved, and the legal situation may continue to evolve. [5]
What is conversion therapy?
Conversion therapy refers to practices that attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Major medical and mental health organizations in the U.S., including the APA and AMA, consider these practices both ineffective and harmful, particularly for young people. [2]
What should I look for in an LGBTQIA+-affirming therapist or treatment center?
Look for providers who can clearly describe what affirming care means in their clinical practice, not just in their marketing. Ask whether clinicians have specific training in LGBTQIA+ experiences, minority stress, and identity-related trauma. A provider’s values should be reflected in how they communicate with you from the very first contact.
How is affirming care different from conversion therapy?
Affirming care treats your identity as a given and focuses on your mental health and recovery goals. Conversion therapy attempts to change who you are. These are not variations on the same approach; they are fundamentally different in their assumptions, methods, and documented outcomes. [1]
Sources
[1] American Psychological Association. Opposing Conversion Therapy. APA Services. https://www.apaservices.org/advocacy/news/opposing-conversion-therapy
[2] National Institutes of Health / NCBI. LGBTQ+ Cultural Sensitivity Training for Mental Health Professionals in the USA. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12011892/
[3] The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project Publishes New Journal Article on the Dangers of Conversion Therapy. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/blog/the-trevor-project-publishes-new-journal-article-on-the-dangers-of-conversion-therapy/
[4] Colorado General Assembly. HB19-1129: Prohibit Conversion Therapy for a Minor. https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb19-1129
[5] SCOTUSblog. Supreme Court sides with therapist in challenge to Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy.” Amy Howe. March 31, 2026. https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/03/supreme-court-sides-with-therapist-in-challenge-to-colorados-ban-on-conversion-therapy/