From The Guardian: Experts say Alliance Defending Freedom, arguing to revive ‘conversion therapy’, is ‘profoundly misrepres’ their work in case threatening trans and queer youth
Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear Chiles v Salazar. Chiles, an evangelical Christian counselor, is represented by ADF, a group advocating the practice of “conversion therapy” a Clockwork Orange approach to LGBTQ. The group sees alternate sexualities as a sin and the children, teens adults as dirty, and in need of fixing. Tuesday’s case originated with Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor who argued Colorado’s conversion therapy ban infringed on her free speech rights to discuss her Christian faith and beliefs about “biological sex” with patients.
On Tuesday, a Christian legal group will urge the US supreme court to overturn a ban on anti-LGBTQ+ “conversion therapy” in a case that could erode protections for transgender and queer youth across the country.
The “Christian” group, (Alliance Defending Freedom) ADF’s petition in the case, Chiles v Salazar, cited several scholars to support its argument that conversion practices should once again be permitted. Two of those experts, however, told the Guardian that ADF had “profoundly” misrepresented their research, which discussed the “psychological damage” of conversion therapy.
“This is the most upsetting use of my scholarship that has ever happened in my career,” said Clifford Rosky, a University of Utah professor of constitutional law and civil rights. He has worked to ban conversion practices, but ADF nonetheless cited his research on sexual orientation and LGBTQ+ rights, co-authored with renowned sexuality researcher Dr Lisa Diamond, to bolster its petition. “It’s upsetting because this is lethally dangerous to LGBTQ+ kids,” he said.
Conversion practices, sometimes called “reparative” therapy or “sexual orientation change efforts,” can take the form of “pray the gay away” religious counseling, therapy aimed at suppressing patients’ behaviors and expression, or outdated techniques such as electrical shocks. The practice is condemned by the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association and other major groups, which note links to increased depression and suicide attempts.