A lawsuit filed by Catholic Charities against Michigan's ban on conversion therapy for minors has been dismissed by a court. The law, which prohibits licensed mental health professionals from engaging in practices that aim to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity, was enacted in February 2024 and allows for counseling that provides acceptance, support, or understanding as long as it does not seek to change an individual's identity. Catholic Charities claims the law infringes on their right to free speech and forces them to abandon their religious beliefs about human sexuality. The court ruled that while the organization may face minimal harm from enforcement of the law, there is no need for immediate action as the case remains unresolved. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office argued that the state has a legitimate interest in safeguarding the psychological wellbeing of minors and that numerous studies have found conversion therapy to be ineffective and harmful.
https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2025/01/bid-to-stop-enforcement-of-michigans-conversion-therapy-ban-rejected-by-court.html