08/29/2025
The US Joint Statement Against Conversion Efforts (USJS) is poised to play a crucial supportive role in a legal challenge during the US Supreme Court's upcoming 2025-26 session. This statement forms the foundation of an amicus brief filed on August 25, 2025, in the Chiles v Salazar case, which presents a significant legal challenge to a Colorado law prohibiting licensed mental health professionals from performing conversion therapy on minors. In this case, the plaintiff, Kaley Chiles, a licensed professional counselor, argues that the Colorado law infringes upon her First Amendment rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion. She asserts that her Christian faith guides her counseling approach, which includes assisting clients in aligning with their biological s*x and exploring methods to reduce or eliminate same-s*x attractions or gender identity conflicts.
As detailed on Gaylesta's website https://gaylesta.org/us-joint-statement, the USJS is a declaration endorsed by major medical and mental health professional associations across the United States. A total of 29 associations, representing over 1.3 million healthcare providers, have signed this joint statement. The USJS declares that all healthcare providers should support the development of the full range of s*xual orientations and gender identities in their patients without imposing ideological constraints. It also advocates for collaboration among healthcare professionals to promote LGBTQ+ health and well-being.
Lower courts have consistently upheld similar challenges in other states, classifying these laws as regulations of professional conduct rather than speech. These courts have maintained the legitimacy of state bans, citing an interest in protecting minors from discredited and potentially harmful conversion practices. In March 2025, the Chiles v Salazar case was granted certiorari by the Supreme Court, indicating their intent to address critical questions concerning the regulation of professional speech, the balance between state regulatory power and free speech rights, and the potential implications for therapeutic practices. A decision is anticipated by the end of June 2026, and it is likely to impact the viability of laws in 27 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., which ban licensed mental health professionals from providing s*xual orientation change efforts (SOCE) or gender identity change efforts (GICE) to minors.
The USJS was established over 10 years ago by two Gaylestans, Guy Albert PhD and Jim Walker LMFT. Despite neither having previously organized a national health policy initiative, their persistence and collaborative efforts enabled them to unite all major U.S. mental health and medical associations in a joint endorsement rejecting conversion efforts. The official website for the USJS can be found here, and its creation was made possible through generous funding from Gaylesta.
Gaylesta is the Psychotherapist Association for Gender and Sexual Diversity. We provide mental health services including therapist referrals, education and consultation.
