Law banning harmful and debunked conversion therapy in Washington is upheld by appeals court panel

Washington became the first state of 2018 to ban so-called conversion therapy, a widely discredited and abusive practice that purports to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. In passing the legislation, Sen. Marko Liias, a lead sponsor for the bill, said it sent “a loud and unequivocal message to LGBTQ youth” that “there is nothing wrong with you.”

But last year, a therapist who is a pro-conversion proponent sued the state over the law, “claiming the law violated his rights to free speech and religious liberty under the U.S. Constitution,” the Advocate reported. But certain actors have used “religious liberty” as a cover for stomping on LGBTQ progress. The outlet said Brian Tingley’s lawsuit was dismissed last year. This week, Tingley lost again when a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel again upheld the law.

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