95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

SCOTUS ruling strikes down Michigan conversion therapy ban

Supreme Court of the United States of America
U.S. Supreme Court
/
supremecourt.gov
Supreme Court of the United States of America

Michigan has an LGBTQ conversion therapy ban on the books that is similar to one struck down Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court. It forbids professional counseling that seeks to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of minors.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who signed the law three years ago, says the state is considering its next steps.

Jay Kaplan is an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. He says some restrictions in the law appear to remain enforceable. The Supreme Court decision applies to talk therapy. But Kaplan says Michigan also bars physical aversion therapy and using drugs in an effort change the sexual orientation or gender identity of minors.

“That was not addressed in this opinion and any statute that prohibits those sort of things, nothing has changed with regards to that.”

Kaplan says civil actions such as claims of medical malpractice or infliction of emotional distress still remain options. Michigan’s law does not forbid religious counseling regarding sexual orientation or gender identity.