Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) issued an executive orderessentially banning conversion therapy in his state and criticizing state Republicans who opposed a legislative ban on the practice. But then Republican lawmakers undid his executive order by passing a law protecting counselors who engage in the practice.Andy Beshears battle against conversion therapy exemplifies the larger legal and cultural war over the widely debunked and harmful pseudoscientific form of psychological torture that seeks to change a persons sexual orientation or gender identity. The Supreme Court will soon hear a case over similar bans, and its implications for LGBTQ+ minors and Christian conservatives will have long-reaching and fatal consequences. Related Heres what scientific studies on conversion therapy say Andy Beshears conversion therapy executive order, explainedIn September 2024, Gov. Beshear signed an executive order forbidding the use of state or federal funds to provide conversion therapy on minors and giving state licensing boards the authority to take disciplinary action against licensees found to have practiced conversion therapy on minors. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science, and it can cause significant long-term harm to our kids, including increased rates of suicide and depression, Beshear said upon signing the order. This is about protecting our youth from an inhumane practice that hurts them.The Kentucky Mental Health Coalition, the Kentucky Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers Kentucky chapter (NASW-KY), and the Fairness Campaign (Kentuckys leading LGBTQ+ organization) all applauded Beshears order, with NASW-KY Executive Director Brenda Rosen calling conversion therapy nothing more than physical, mental, and emotional torture. Why did Andy Beshear sign a conversion therapy executive order?In a press release about his executive order, Beshear noted that at least 23 states and the District of Columbia have prohibited the use of conversion therapy with minors in some way, either through executive orders or bipartisan legislation. About 21% of LGBTQ+ youth in Kentucky say theyve been threatened with or subjected to conversion therapy, according to the Trevor Project.He also noted that the nations leading medical and mental health organizations oppose conversion therapy, including the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association,and many others. These organizations call the practice harmful, ineffective, and say it actually increases peoples mental distress and suicidal ideation. The order also followed several other pro-LGBTQ+ stances that Beshear has taken as governor. He was Kentuckys first sitting governor to participate in the Statewide Fairness Rally, a lobbying meetup and demonstration at the states capitol. In 2021, he proclaimed June as Pride Month for the first time in the states gubernatorial history.He also vetoed bills banning access to gender-affirming health care, restricting bathroom access for trans and nonbinary people, and forbidding classroom instruction on LGBTQ+ issues (though Republican supermajorities in both of Kentuckys legislative chambers voted to override his veto).Some political observers have suggested that Beshears actions also seek to enhance his reputation among supporters of LGBTQ+ equality ahead of a possible 2028 campaign for president. Why did Republicans overturn Andy Beshears conversion therapy executive order?Kentucky State Rep. David Hale (R) speaks during a subcommittee hearing about the statewide school mask mandate due to COVID-19. | Matt Stone/Courier Journal via Imagn Images Content Services, LLCIn March 2025, state Republican legislators passed a bill overturning Beshears executive order.The bills lead sponsor, state Rep. David Hale (R),said his bill would protect counselors, therapists, and pastors providing therapy to minors from discriminatory actions by the government. He said his bill would specifically protect mental health care professionals, institutions, and ordained ministries from state-sanctioned discrimination and empower parents to help seek whatever kind of therapy to help best relieve their children of discomfort or distress caused by romantic or sexual attraction.David Walls, executive director of the far-right Family Foundation, applauded Hales bill as a needed pushback against Beshears executive action, which Walls labeled an attack on both religious freedom and free speech.During a hearing on the bill, Hale said he had found no evidence in his research reflecting the personal experiences of his bills opponents, who opposed conversion therapy as harmful. While Beshear sought to veto the bill, Republican supermajorities in Kentuckys legislatures approved the bill with enough support to override any veto attempts.In response to the Republican bill, Beshear said, We should not be allowing [conversion therapy] to happen here in the Commonwealth. [LGBTQ+ youth who are victims of the practice] are children of God that deserve our protection.Is Andy Beshears conversion therapy ban headed to the Supreme Court?No. But while his executive order and the Republicans law overturning it arent headed to the nations highest court, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear Chiles v. Salazar, a case that could overturn the bans on conversion therapy for minors currently in place in 23 states.The case, filed by the anti-LGBTQ+ Christian nationalist legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), involves Kaley Chiles a Christian licensed professional counselor in Colorado Springs, Colorado who says that the states conversion therapy ban prohibits her from advising clients with unwanted same-sex attractions or gender identity confusion who prioritize their faith above their feelings.Chiles challenged the law in 2022 as a violation of her First Amendment right to free speech. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit upheld Colorados ban, saying that it regulated professional conduct rather than speech. The ADF appealed the decision to the nations highest court. The law firm claims that conversion therapy bans allow counselors to steer young people towards gender identities that differ from the sex they were assigned at birth, while punishing counselors for conversations that aim to help [young patients] return to comfort with their sex when they desire that. However, the ADFs claim mischaracterizes the bans.The bans allow counselors to address individuals discomfort with their LGBTQ+ identities, and many counselors will encourage people to safely explore their sexuality or gender to see if certain identities feel right for them or not. Counselors are not required to steer patients into accepting an LGBTQ+ identity.In a statement about the Supreme Courts decision to hear the case, Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said, The Supreme Courts decision to take up this case isnt just about so-called conversion therapy its about whether extremists can use our courts to push their dangerous agenda, in an effort to erase LGBTQ+ people and gut protections that keep our kids safe. Theres no debate: so-called conversion therapy is a dangerous practice, not therapy, and it has no place in our communities. These bans exist to protect LGBTQ+ children from harmperiod.Because of the Courts 6-3 conservative majority and its habit of favoring Christian religious liberties, its very possible that the Court will vote to overturn bans on conversion therapy. Why do Andy Beshears conversion therapy ban and the Supreme Court matter?Over 1,320 conversion therapistsremain active across the U.S., including in states with bans in place, according toa report from the LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention organization The Trevor Project.With the Supreme Court likely to overturn state bans on conversion therapy, its important to note that conservatives will likely continue to erode pro-LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination protections under the guise of free speech and religious liberty.Numerous studies show that conversion therapy is ineffective and severely threatens peoples mental well-being. As such, the overturning of bans will threaten the lives of young people who are subjected to the practice.Despite this, depending on how the court rules, some states may still be able to oppose the practice under state regulatory business statutes that forbid using false advertising to market their services (especially since all major medical and psychological associations say that conversion therapy worsens its patients mental health and do nothing to change their LGBTQ+ identities, which dont require curing to begin with).Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.