Last night, I hosted an impromptu discussion on the Supreme Court decision that was just released for the case Chiles v. Salazar. The Court held that conversion therapy bans such as that in Colorado must meet the exacting requirements of strict scrutiny review, putting conversion therapy bans across the country at significant risk.

In this discussion, I’m joined by a diverse group of Catholics and ex-Catholics, including:

• the orthodox Catholic psychologist Julia Sadusky who submitted an amicus brief in the case,

• conversion therapy survivor and Dear Alana podcast producer Simon Fung,

• leader of the Catholic ministry Empty Chairs Justin Telthorst, and

• ex-Catholic and co-host of the Leave Laugh Love podcast Veronica Novotny.

We explore what the decision means, how it impacts our relationship to the Church, what we hope for the future, and much more!

00:00 Introduction to the Case and Participants

06:48 Supreme Court Ruling on Conversion Therapy

13:57 Understanding the Law and Its Implications

21:06 The Role of Therapy and Misconceptions

27:56 Personal Reflections and Broader Impacts

30:16 Understanding Amicus Briefs and Catholic Perspectives

33:03 The Role of Personal Faith in Public Discourse

35:39 Conversion Therapy: Personal Experiences and Church Teachings

38:36 The Impact of Healing Narratives in the Church

42:04 Legal Perspectives on Conversion Therapy and Religious Freedom

46:07 Building Bridges: Reaching Religious Communities

52:47 The Importance of Dialogue and Understanding in Faith Communities

57:37 Future Directions: Advocacy and Education on Conversion Therapy