Petitioner Kaley Chiles Speaks After Supreme Court Hears Colorado Conversion‑Therapy Challenge
Petitioner Kaley Chiles, a licensed Christian therapist from Colorado Springs who says she provides “faith‑informed” counseling and believes people “flourish when they live consistently with God’s design, including their biological sex,” gave an on‑camera CBS News interview describing how Colorado’s 2019 conversion‑therapy ban has affected her patients. Her challenge—backed by the U.S. Department of Justice and argued by Alliance Defending Freedom—was heard by the Supreme Court over whether faith‑based counseling on gender identity is protected speech; Colorado says the law regulates professional conduct, not private speech, and allows fines up to $5,000 and potential license suspension or revocation, while Chiles’ lawyers say she faces a credible threat of enforcement and investigation.
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📌 Key Facts
- Kaley Chiles is a licensed Christian therapist in Colorado Springs who provides "faith‑informed" counseling; her lawyers say she believes people "flourish when they live consistently with God’s design, including their biological sex."
- The U.S. Department of Justice is backing Chiles in the litigation, and she is represented by Alliance Defending Freedom.
- CBS News conducted an on‑camera interview with Chiles — chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford interviewed her and broadcasted direct quotes and personal testimony from the petitioner.
- The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the challenge to Colorado's conversion‑therapy ban (enacted 2019); live coverage summarized positions advanced by counsel for both sides.
- Colorado defended the law in court, with Attorney General Phil Weiser calling the 2019 statute a protection for children from "inhumane and abusive" conversion therapy, and the state telling the Court it has not disciplined Chiles and that the law regulates professional conduct rather than private speech.
- Chiles' counsel told the Court she faces an ongoing "credible threat of enforcement," saying the state was "actively investigating" her.
- The 2019 Colorado law authorizes fines up to $5,000 and potential license suspension or revocation for licensed providers; more than 20 states have enacted similar bans.
- Coverage situates the case alongside the Supreme Court's 2023 Lorie Smith decision, signaling its potential implications for related First Amendment and professional‑regulation disputes.
📰 Sources (4)
Listen Live: Supreme Court hears arguments on Colorado "conversion therapy" ban
New information:
- Real‑time summary of the oral arguments at the Supreme Court including positions advanced by counsel for both sides.
- State argued it has not disciplined Chiles and that the law regulates professional conduct rather than private speech.
- Chiles' counsel asserted an ongoing 'credible threat of enforcement' and claimed the state was 'actively investigating' her.
- Article reiterates law details: enacted 2019, allows fines up to $5,000 and potential license suspension or revocation, and notes more than 20 states have similar bans.
Counselor at center conversion therapy ban case headed to Supreme Court speaks out
New information:
- CBS News conducted an on‑camera interview with petitioner Kaley Chiles in which she discusses how Colorado's conversion‑therapy ban affected her patients.
- The segment features CBS chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford interviewing Chiles, providing direct quotes and personal testimony from the petitioner.
Supreme Court to decide if faith-based counseling on gender identity is protected speech
New information:
- Identifies Kaley Chiles as a licensed Christian therapist from Colorado Springs who provides 'faith‑informed' counseling and quotes her lawyers describing her belief that people 'flourish when they live consistently with God’s design, including their biological sex.'
- Notes that the U.S. Department of Justice is backing Chiles in the litigation and that Alliance Defending Freedom represents her.
- Includes Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser's quoted defense of the 2019 law as protecting children from 'inhumane and abusive' so‑called conversion therapy.
- Reminds readers that about two dozen states have similar bans and situates the case alongside the 2023 Supreme Court Lorie Smith decision.