A law in Maryland meant to ban conversion therapy is on shaky ground following a Supreme Court ruling. Officials now grapple with how to move forward.

The Supreme Court issued an 8-1 ruling that a Colorado law banning conversion therapy violates the free-speech rights of a therapist in the state. Maryland is one of nearly two dozen states and Washington, D.C.with laws that ban conversion therapy on the books.

Angela Dallara, director of rapid response and campaigns for GLAAD, an LGBTQ civil rights group, said the ruling wasn’t a verdict on if the practice is helpful.

"It wasn’t a verdict on whether so-called conversion therapy is safe or effective, because it’s not," she said. "Conversion practices are proven to be dangerous and have been discredited for decades, not only because they’re ineffective, but because those who undergo it suffer devastating harm."

Supporters of conversion therapy argue there is more than one way to provide care to LGBTQ individuals, and that state laws have served as a de facto gag order that limits the freedoms of mental-health providers and patients.

Major medical associations such as the American Psychological Association oppose conversion therapy, arguing it violates medical professionals’ oaths to do no harm to patients. Dallara said young people should be supported, not ridiculed, for their identity.

"Young people should be met with support and best-practice health care when they access mental-health services," she said, "not fear or shame from so-called providers who want to force them to change who they are."

Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement that he was reviewing the ruling with the state attorney general to understand the implications for Maryland’s law.

Source: Public News Service