Today’s Supreme Court Ruling is a Betrayal of LGBTQ+ Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
PRESS CONTACT: press@ncjw.org

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Christian counselor challenging Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors — a decision that threatens to unravel similar protections for LGBTQ+ youth in more than 20 states.

In response, Darcy Hirsh, vice president of government relations and advocacy at National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) — the nation’s leading Jewish feminist civil rights organization, representing 250,000 changemakers across the United States and Israel — released the following statement:

“Today, the Supreme Court made it harder to protect LGBTQ+ kids from harm. Conversion therapy is a practice proven to cause depression, anxiety, and suicide. It is a lie that tells young people that they are broken and need to be fixed. Every major medical association in this country has said so. And today, this Court sided with ideology over the safety of children.

“Our tradition teaches that every person is created b’tzelem Elohim — in the image of the Divine. That means every LGBTQ+ child is made exactly as they are supposed to be, and should be cherished for who they are.

“In ruling after ruling, this Court’s majority has chipped away at the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ people. Today’s decision sends a devastating message to LGBTQ+ youth: that their lives matter less than someone else’s religious beliefs.

“NCJW’s 250,000 advocates will fight for a safer future for LGBTQ+ youth with everything we have — in statehouses, in Congress, and in every community where a young person needs to know they are loved and they belong.”

###

National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a 133-year-old Jewish feminist civil rights organization working for equity and justice for women, children, and families in the United States and Israel. Through the efforts of our 250,000 grassroots advocates and 46 local sections, NCJW combines education, direct service, and advocacy to effect lasting social change at the local, state, and national levels. We approach our work through the intersections of gender, economic, and racial justice to center those most impacted in a uniquely Jewish way. Learn more at NCJW.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.