Next Week: Supreme Court to consider bans on counseling for kids struggling with their biological sex Colorado outlaws counseling that helps children embrace their biological sex

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court will hear a case brought by Alliance Defending Freedom next week involving a Colorado law that bans compassionate counseling for children struggling with their biological sex. In Chiles v. Salazar, licensed counselor Kaley Chiles is asking the Court to protect her ability to talk with children about the underlying causes of their discomfort without being forced to push them towards harmful, irreversible medical interventions. Becket filed a friend-of-the-court brief in favor of Chiles, explaining that Colorado’s law disproportionately harms religious youth who want to receive compassionate, cautious, scientifically backed talk therapy that helps them accept their God-given bodies. Read more about the cases Becket is watching at the Court this term here.

Recent years have seen an explosion in the number of children who are struggling with their biological sex. Many of these children have been led down a path of “gender transition”—enduring a regime of drugs, hormones, and surgeries—which often results in profound regret and permanent health harms. The harms are so significant that 26 states and several European countries have banned or strictly limited medical gender transitions for children, advocating instead for compassionate counseling to alleviate their gender-related distress. Unfortunately, Colorado bans this compassionate approach, forcing therapists like Kaley Chiles to turn away children who want her help accepting their bodies or risk losing her license and suffering crippling fines. Meanwhile, Colorado Medicaid will pay for minors to have cross-sex hormones, mastectomies, and even genital surgeries—permanently stripping young girls of the opportunity to ever bear or nurse children. 

Faith-based counselors nationwide, including Becket’s clients in Catholic Charities v. Whitmer, help youth experiencing gender-related distress by using a cautious approach. They talk with children to address the underlying causes of their discomfort, alleviate their distress, and, if possible, help them to accept their bodies without resorting to irreversible, life-altering medical intervention. This approach is supported by the best available scientific evidence and reflected in recently enacted laws in dozens of states and several European countries. Becket is urging the Court to protect counselors who want to help children work through the underlying causes of their distress without rushing into irreversible medical procedures. 

What:   
Oral Argument in Chiles v. Salazar
   
When:   
Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET   
   
Where:   
The Supreme Court of the United States 
1 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20543 

Listen to the livestream audio: https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/live.aspx 

For more information or to arrange an interview with a Becket attorney, contact Ryan Colby at [email protected] or 202-349-7219.