TWO Blasts Backwardness of U.S. Supreme Court’s Recent Ruling by Comparison
Delray Beach, FL — Truth Wins Out (TWO) issued a statement today praising the European Parliament’s landmark April 30, 2026, vote to ban conversion “therapy” across the European Union. In a powerful move for public health and human rights, the Parliament called for binding legislation to prohibit these discredited practices, which attempt to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
This forward-thinking European action stands in stark contrast to the recent March 31, 2026, ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Chiles v. Salazar. In an 8-1 decision, the Court struck down a Colorado law protecting LGBTQ youth, effectively prioritizing the “free speech” of practitioners over the medical safety and well-being of children.
“The European Parliament has demonstrated true leadership by recognizing that conversion therapy is not a form of ‘speech’ or ‘therapy’—it is a form of quackery defined by consumer fraud and psychological torture,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Europe is choosing to protect its citizens and ensuring the integrity of the medical profession. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court has committed a profound moral and logical failure by confusing harmful medical malpractice with protected expression.”
The European Parliament’s initiative, backed by a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) with over 1.2 million signatures, classifies conversion practices as a violation of fundamental human rights. The Parliament has urged the European Commission to implement criminal and administrative penalties for those who offer or advertise these harmful interventions. This move aligns with the EU’s LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026–2030, aiming for uniform protection across all 27 member states.
Conversely, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar has opened a “can of worms” for LGBTQ rights in America. By framing “talk therapy” intended to change a minor’s identity as protected viewpoint-based speech, the Court has undermined the standard of care that medical professionals are bound to uphold.
“By siding with extremists who treat LGBTQ identities as illnesses, the U.S. Supreme Court is playing with fire,” Besen continued. “The Court has essentially ruled that a licensed professional’s right to promote debunked pseudoscience outweighs a child’s right to grow up free from psychological abuse. Europe is looking toward a future of authenticity and medical integrity, while our own Court is dragging us back into a dark age of professionalized prejudice”.
Despite the setback in the U.S., Truth Wins Out continues to argue that legislative bans are only one part of the solution. Besen noted that many American bans were already “symbolic” and riddled with loopholes that allowed unlicensed religious counselors to continue their work.
“Laws are vital, but they are not enough. We need a multifaceted approach that includes public education, exposing charlatan ‘ex-gay’ leaders, and survivor advocacy,” said Besen. “While the European Parliament’s vote is a monumental step toward institutionalizing the truth, we will continue to fight the ‘ex-gay’ industry globally. No court ruling can change the fundamental reality that these programs fail 100% of the time and leave a trail of trauma in their wake”.
Truth Wins Out urges the European Commission to act swiftly on the Parliament’s recommendation and calls on American advocates to double down on efforts to expose the cranks and cons who continue to profit from anti-LGBTQ+ disinformation. For a history of the “ex-gay” conversion industry, read Wayne Besen’s book, “Lies with a Straight Face” (2023)—100% of the profits go towards funding Truth Wins Out’s vital work.
About Truth Wins Out
Truth Wins Out is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to advance liberty and democracy, protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people and other minorities, and combat religious extremism and disinformation. For more information, visit TruthWinsOut.org.
Contact:
Wayne Besen, Executive Director
wbesen@truthwinsout.org
