A majority of Americans (59%) support banning conversion therapy, according to a new YouGov/Economist poll — even as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could strike down existing state bans on the discredited practice.
The poll, conducted 10–13 October, asked respondents if they supported banning therapy “to change a person’s sexual orientation from gay to straight.” While the question didn’t reference gender identity, such practices are also used to target transgender and gender-diverse people under claims of “realignment” with their assigned sex at birth.
Public Opinion Snapshot
- 59% of Americans support conversion therapy bans
- 20% oppose them
- 22% are unsure
Support for bans cuts across party lines: 60% of Republicans, 59% of Democrats, and 57% of independents back keeping bans in place.
Even so, public understanding remains conflicted:
- Only 11% believe conversion therapy works
- Yet 27% still believe “someone who is homosexual can change their sexual orientation if they choose to do so”
- 17% think gay people should try to change their sexuality
That gap suggests roughly one in six Americans rejects conversion therapy itself while still accepting the myth that sexuality is changeable through willpower.
Global Context: Where Conversion Practices Stand
While the U.S. remains split, other countries have moved decisively to outlaw conversion therapy:
| Country | Status of Ban |
|---|---|
| New Zealand: | Fully banned since Feb 2022 (criminal penalties for all ages) |
| Canada: | Nationwide ban since Jan 2022, no “consent” defence |
| France: | Outlawed since Jan 2022, with fines and prison terms |
| Germany: | Banned for minors since 2020, limited for adults |
| Australia: | State bans in Victoria (2021) and Queensland (2020); national action in progress |
| United Kingdom: | Ban promised since 2018, yet to be enacted nationally |
By contrast, only 22 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., currently ban conversion therapy for minors. That could soon change depending on the outcome of Chiles v. Salazar, a case now before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court Case: Chiles v. Salazar
The case involves Kaley Chiles, a Colorado therapis,t arguing that her state’s ban violates her free speech and religious freedom. She claims she should be allowed to offer “biblically consistent” counselling aimed at making LGBTQ+ youth heterosexual and cisgender.
Every major medical organisation — including the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association — has condemned conversion therapy as ineffective, unethical, and psychologically harmful, linking it to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
If the Supreme Court rules in Chiles’ favour, it could invalidate all state-level bans, effectively allowing conversion practices to re-emerge across the U.S.
Advocates Warn of Hypocrisy
LGBTQ+ legal advocates say such a ruling would directly contradict last year’s decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, where the Court upheld state bans on gender-affirming care for minors.
“It would be so hypocritical for the Court to say states can ban health care for transgender youth, but they can’t restrict conversion therapy for young people,” said Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
The Court’s decision, expected in early 2026, could determine whether states retain the power to protect LGBTQ+ youth — or whether a pseudoscientific practice long condemned by experts will regain legal footing.
