For the second time this year in a major controversy over treatment for LGBTQ youths, Supreme Court justices revealed their reluctance to accept a medical consensus.
Conservatives on Tuesday challenged the view – at the core of two dozen state laws – that it is dangerous for mental health counselors to encourage gay and trans teens to change their sexual orientation or gender identity.
During the 90-minute session of arguments, the court appeared ready to side with a licensed mental health counselor in Colorado who contends the state is violating her right to free speech with its ban on “conversion therapy.”
More broadly, the justices revealed their distrust of mental health authorities in this area of the law, reinforced the Trump administration’s suspicion of medical expertise and demonstrated how polarized gay and trans interests have become.
“The medical consensus is usually very reasonable and it’s very important,” Justice Samuel Alito asserted at one point before challenging the Colorado official defending the regulation, “But have there been times when the medical consensus has been politicized, has been taken over by ideology
Continue Reading on CNN
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.