Subscribe to the CT4F Newsletter to stay informed!
Conversion Therapy Bans Around the World: Where the United States Now Stands
More than a dozen countries, including Malta, Germany, Canada, France, and New Zealand, have banned conversion therapy nationwide.
More than a dozen countries have passed nationwide bans on conversion therapy. The United States has not. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia protect minors from these practices, while close to half of all states do not. In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's protection for minors must face the toughest legal test because it limits what a counselor can say. The justices did not decide that conversion therapy works or that it is safe. They sent the law back to a lower court, leaving many U.S. families with fewer protections than families abroad.
Quick Takeaways
More than a dozen countries, including Malta, Germany, Canada, France, and New Zealand, have banned conversion therapy nationwide.
The United States has no national ban. Twenty-two states and D.C. protect minors; close to half of all states do not.
In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's law must meet strict scrutiny.
The justices did not rule that these practices work or are safe. The case turned on a free speech question.
A World That Keeps Moving to Protect Children
Over the past decade, country after country has decided that children should not be pressured to change who they are attracted to or how they see themselves. Malta became the first country in Europe to ban conversion therapy in 2016. Germany followed in 2020, then Canada, France, and New Zealand in 2022, and Spain and Iceland in 2023. The Netherlands passed its own national ban in 2026. More than a dozen countries now prohibit these practices outright, and several others limit them through medical rules.
These bans did not come from one political party or one faith tradition. They came from a shared finding that pressuring a child to change, however gently, does not work and leaves lasting harm.
Where the United States Stands
The United States looks different because it has no national law. Protection depends on where a family lives. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia bar licensed providers from subjecting minors to these practices. A few more place partial limits, and close to half of all states offer no statewide protection. For how the map breaks down today, families can review the conversion therapy laws by state. The result is a patchwork, where a child protected in one state can cross a border and lose that protection.
What Chiles v. Salazar Changed
That patchwork grew less certain in 2026. In Chiles v. Salazar, a licensed counselor challenged Colorado's law protecting minors, arguing it violated her free speech. On March 31, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed, 8 to 1, that the law must meet the toughest constitutional test, strict scrutiny, because it limits what a counselor may say. The Court reversed the earlier rulings and returned the case to a lower court to apply that standard.
The justices did not rule that conversion therapy works or that it is safe. They decided on a narrow speech question. Even so, protections in more than twenty states now rest on less settled ground than the national bans abroad, which never faced this kind of challenge.
What This Means for Christian Families
For parents weighing all of this, the map matters less than the reason behind it. The worldwide move to protect children did not grow out of politics. It grew out of a plain finding that these programs sell a result they cannot deliver, and that a solution which divides a family is no solution at all. Anyone promising to change your child, for a fee, is making a claim the evidence does not support.
Your family does not need a court or a country to know your child is worth protecting. Whatever your state allows, you can choose support that keeps your family whole, and faith and protecting your child have never been in conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many countries have banned conversion therapy?
A: More than a dozen countries have passed nationwide bans, including Malta, Germany, Canada, France, New Zealand, Spain, and, most recently, the Netherlands in 2026. Others restrict it through medical regulations.
Q: Is conversion therapy legal in the United States?
A: There is no national ban. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia prohibit licensed providers from subjecting minors to it, a few more limit it, and the rest have no statewide protection. Whether it is legal depends on where you live.
Q: What did the Supreme Court decide in Chiles v. Salazar?
A: On March 31, 2026, the Court ruled 8 to 1 that Colorado's law protecting minors must meet strict scrutiny because it restricts a counselor's speech. It reversed the lower courts and returned the case for another look, without ruling that these practices work or are safe.
Q: Does the ruling ban states from protecting minors?
A: No. It did not strike down every state law. It raised the standard those laws must meet and sent Colorado's law back for reconsideration. Many protections remain in place while courts sort out what the ruling means.
Q: Where can Christian parents find support that is not conversion therapy?
A: Many churches and counselors now offer support that does not promise to change a child, including pastoral care and licensed help aimed at nameable struggles like diagnosed anxiety.
Sources and Further Reading
How the World Has Acted
Malta Bans Conversion Therapy, a First for Europe -- TIME -- Reporting on Malta's 2016 law, the first national ban in Europe.
Ban Conversion Therapy Factsheet -- Global Equality Caucus -- A summary of which countries have national bans and which restrict the practice through medical rules.
Where the United States Stands
Conversion "Therapy" Laws -- Movement Advancement Project -- A current map showing which states protect minors from these practices and which do not.
The Supreme Court Ruling
Chiles v. Salazar opinion -- Supreme Court of the United States -- The full March 31, 2026 decision.
Chiles v. Salazar -- SCOTUSblog case page -- Case history, filings, and analysis of the ruling.
CT4F Resources for Families
Publicaciones recientes
Conversion Therapy Bans Around the World: Where the United States Now Stands
More than a dozen countries, including Malta, Germany, Canada, France, and New Zealand, have banned conversion therapy nationwide.
More than a dozen countries have passed nationwide bans on conversion therapy. The United States has not. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia protect minors from these practices, while close to half of all states do not. In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's protection for minors must face the toughest legal test because it limits what a counselor can say. The justices did not decide that conversion therapy works or that it is safe. They sent the law back to a lower court, leaving many U.S. families with fewer protections than families abroad.
Quick Takeaways
More than a dozen countries, including Malta, Germany, Canada, France, and New Zealand, have banned conversion therapy nationwide.
The United States has no national ban. Twenty-two states and D.C. protect minors; close to half of all states do not.
In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's law must meet strict scrutiny.
The justices did not rule that these practices work or are safe. The case turned on a free speech question.
A World That Keeps Moving to Protect Children
Over the past decade, country after country has decided that children should not be pressured to change who they are attracted to or how they see themselves. Malta became the first country in Europe to ban conversion therapy in 2016. Germany followed in 2020, then Canada, France, and New Zealand in 2022, and Spain and Iceland in 2023. The Netherlands passed its own national ban in 2026. More than a dozen countries now prohibit these practices outright, and several others limit them through medical rules.
These bans did not come from one political party or one faith tradition. They came from a shared finding that pressuring a child to change, however gently, does not work and leaves lasting harm.
Where the United States Stands
The United States looks different because it has no national law. Protection depends on where a family lives. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia bar licensed providers from subjecting minors to these practices. A few more place partial limits, and close to half of all states offer no statewide protection. For how the map breaks down today, families can review the conversion therapy laws by state. The result is a patchwork, where a child protected in one state can cross a border and lose that protection.
What Chiles v. Salazar Changed
That patchwork grew less certain in 2026. In Chiles v. Salazar, a licensed counselor challenged Colorado's law protecting minors, arguing it violated her free speech. On March 31, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed, 8 to 1, that the law must meet the toughest constitutional test, strict scrutiny, because it limits what a counselor may say. The Court reversed the earlier rulings and returned the case to a lower court to apply that standard.
The justices did not rule that conversion therapy works or that it is safe. They decided on a narrow speech question. Even so, protections in more than twenty states now rest on less settled ground than the national bans abroad, which never faced this kind of challenge.
What This Means for Christian Families
For parents weighing all of this, the map matters less than the reason behind it. The worldwide move to protect children did not grow out of politics. It grew out of a plain finding that these programs sell a result they cannot deliver, and that a solution which divides a family is no solution at all. Anyone promising to change your child, for a fee, is making a claim the evidence does not support.
Your family does not need a court or a country to know your child is worth protecting. Whatever your state allows, you can choose support that keeps your family whole, and faith and protecting your child have never been in conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many countries have banned conversion therapy?
A: More than a dozen countries have passed nationwide bans, including Malta, Germany, Canada, France, New Zealand, Spain, and, most recently, the Netherlands in 2026. Others restrict it through medical regulations.
Q: Is conversion therapy legal in the United States?
A: There is no national ban. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia prohibit licensed providers from subjecting minors to it, a few more limit it, and the rest have no statewide protection. Whether it is legal depends on where you live.
Q: What did the Supreme Court decide in Chiles v. Salazar?
A: On March 31, 2026, the Court ruled 8 to 1 that Colorado's law protecting minors must meet strict scrutiny because it restricts a counselor's speech. It reversed the lower courts and returned the case for another look, without ruling that these practices work or are safe.
Q: Does the ruling ban states from protecting minors?
A: No. It did not strike down every state law. It raised the standard those laws must meet and sent Colorado's law back for reconsideration. Many protections remain in place while courts sort out what the ruling means.
Q: Where can Christian parents find support that is not conversion therapy?
A: Many churches and counselors now offer support that does not promise to change a child, including pastoral care and licensed help aimed at nameable struggles like diagnosed anxiety.
Sources and Further Reading
How the World Has Acted
Malta Bans Conversion Therapy, a First for Europe -- TIME -- Reporting on Malta's 2016 law, the first national ban in Europe.
Ban Conversion Therapy Factsheet -- Global Equality Caucus -- A summary of which countries have national bans and which restrict the practice through medical rules.
Where the United States Stands
Conversion "Therapy" Laws -- Movement Advancement Project -- A current map showing which states protect minors from these practices and which do not.
The Supreme Court Ruling
Chiles v. Salazar opinion -- Supreme Court of the United States -- The full March 31, 2026 decision.
Chiles v. Salazar -- SCOTUSblog case page -- Case history, filings, and analysis of the ruling.
CT4F Resources for Families
Publicaciones recientes
Conversion Therapy Bans Around the World: Where the United States Now Stands
More than a dozen countries, including Malta, Germany, Canada, France, and New Zealand, have banned conversion therapy nationwide.
More than a dozen countries have passed nationwide bans on conversion therapy. The United States has not. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia protect minors from these practices, while close to half of all states do not. In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's protection for minors must face the toughest legal test because it limits what a counselor can say. The justices did not decide that conversion therapy works or that it is safe. They sent the law back to a lower court, leaving many U.S. families with fewer protections than families abroad.
Quick Takeaways
More than a dozen countries, including Malta, Germany, Canada, France, and New Zealand, have banned conversion therapy nationwide.
The United States has no national ban. Twenty-two states and D.C. protect minors; close to half of all states do not.
In March 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 in Chiles v. Salazar that Colorado's law must meet strict scrutiny.
The justices did not rule that these practices work or are safe. The case turned on a free speech question.
A World That Keeps Moving to Protect Children
Over the past decade, country after country has decided that children should not be pressured to change who they are attracted to or how they see themselves. Malta became the first country in Europe to ban conversion therapy in 2016. Germany followed in 2020, then Canada, France, and New Zealand in 2022, and Spain and Iceland in 2023. The Netherlands passed its own national ban in 2026. More than a dozen countries now prohibit these practices outright, and several others limit them through medical rules.
These bans did not come from one political party or one faith tradition. They came from a shared finding that pressuring a child to change, however gently, does not work and leaves lasting harm.
Where the United States Stands
The United States looks different because it has no national law. Protection depends on where a family lives. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia bar licensed providers from subjecting minors to these practices. A few more place partial limits, and close to half of all states offer no statewide protection. For how the map breaks down today, families can review the conversion therapy laws by state. The result is a patchwork, where a child protected in one state can cross a border and lose that protection.
What Chiles v. Salazar Changed
That patchwork grew less certain in 2026. In Chiles v. Salazar, a licensed counselor challenged Colorado's law protecting minors, arguing it violated her free speech. On March 31, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed, 8 to 1, that the law must meet the toughest constitutional test, strict scrutiny, because it limits what a counselor may say. The Court reversed the earlier rulings and returned the case to a lower court to apply that standard.
The justices did not rule that conversion therapy works or that it is safe. They decided on a narrow speech question. Even so, protections in more than twenty states now rest on less settled ground than the national bans abroad, which never faced this kind of challenge.
What This Means for Christian Families
For parents weighing all of this, the map matters less than the reason behind it. The worldwide move to protect children did not grow out of politics. It grew out of a plain finding that these programs sell a result they cannot deliver, and that a solution which divides a family is no solution at all. Anyone promising to change your child, for a fee, is making a claim the evidence does not support.
Your family does not need a court or a country to know your child is worth protecting. Whatever your state allows, you can choose support that keeps your family whole, and faith and protecting your child have never been in conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many countries have banned conversion therapy?
A: More than a dozen countries have passed nationwide bans, including Malta, Germany, Canada, France, New Zealand, Spain, and, most recently, the Netherlands in 2026. Others restrict it through medical regulations.
Q: Is conversion therapy legal in the United States?
A: There is no national ban. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia prohibit licensed providers from subjecting minors to it, a few more limit it, and the rest have no statewide protection. Whether it is legal depends on where you live.
Q: What did the Supreme Court decide in Chiles v. Salazar?
A: On March 31, 2026, the Court ruled 8 to 1 that Colorado's law protecting minors must meet strict scrutiny because it restricts a counselor's speech. It reversed the lower courts and returned the case for another look, without ruling that these practices work or are safe.
Q: Does the ruling ban states from protecting minors?
A: No. It did not strike down every state law. It raised the standard those laws must meet and sent Colorado's law back for reconsideration. Many protections remain in place while courts sort out what the ruling means.
Q: Where can Christian parents find support that is not conversion therapy?
A: Many churches and counselors now offer support that does not promise to change a child, including pastoral care and licensed help aimed at nameable struggles like diagnosed anxiety.
Sources and Further Reading
How the World Has Acted
Malta Bans Conversion Therapy, a First for Europe -- TIME -- Reporting on Malta's 2016 law, the first national ban in Europe.
Ban Conversion Therapy Factsheet -- Global Equality Caucus -- A summary of which countries have national bans and which restrict the practice through medical rules.
Where the United States Stands
Conversion "Therapy" Laws -- Movement Advancement Project -- A current map showing which states protect minors from these practices and which do not.
The Supreme Court Ruling
Chiles v. Salazar opinion -- Supreme Court of the United States -- The full March 31, 2026 decision.
Chiles v. Salazar -- SCOTUSblog case page -- Case history, filings, and analysis of the ruling.