Michigan was one of the first states to see its conversion therapy ban blocked in court — and last week, the U.S. Supreme Court made things worse.

In 2023, Michigan's Democratic-led legislature passed a law protecting LGBTQ+ youth from conversion therapy, the widely discredited practice of attempting to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. Medical experts, including the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association, have condemned the practice as ineffective and harmful — linking it to depression, anxiety, and increased suicide risk in young people.

But before the law ever took effect, Catholic Charities filed suit, arguing it violated First Amendment free speech protections. In December, a federal appeals court agreed and blocked the law entirely. Then, last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 8-1 against a similar ban in Colorado — and explicitly cited the Michigan case in its decision. Michigan didn't just lose a battle. It became the blueprint for dismantling these protections nationwide.

A US District Court is now set to take up the Michigan case within weeks. The window to act is not months away. It is now.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the Supreme Court ruling "disappointing." Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office is reviewing next steps. Disappointment is understandable. But Michigan's LGBTQ+ youth — who face higher rates of depression and suicide attempts than their peers — need more than a statement. They need action.

We are calling on Governor Whitmer and Attorney General Nessel to fight aggressively in the upcoming district court proceedings to restore Michigan's protections. We are calling on the Michigan Legislature to draft new, constitutionally sound legislation that can withstand legal challenge. And we are calling on state leaders to explore civil liability pathways so survivors of conversion therapy can hold harmful practitioners accountable.

Michigan's kids cannot wait for the next ruling to go the wrong way. Sign this petition to demand that Governor Whitmer, Attorney General Nessel, and the Michigan Legislature act now.