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Christians in the US are trying to make conversion therapy legal again
In a new twist on the religious battlefield, the Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee and Hillsdale Counties, along with licensed therapist Emily McJones, have filed a lawsuit aiming to overturn Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy for minors. This controversial legal battle pits the rights of religious freedom and free speech against the protection of LGBTQ+ youth from a practice widely condemned by medical professionals.
Signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2023, Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy was a landmark decision aimed at protecting vulnerable LGBTQ+ minors from what many consider a harmful and discredited practice. Major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, and the American Psychological Association, have long opposed conversion therapy, citing evidence of its detrimental effects, including a significantly higher risk of suicide attempts among those subjected to it.
The plaintiffs in this lawsuit – Catholic Charities and therapist Emily McJones – argue that the ban infringes upon their constitutional rights to free speech and religious freedom. They claim an “ethical and religious duty” to assist clients who seek to change their gender identity or sexual orientation to align with their…
