A federal judge in Michigan has ruled against a preliminary injunction that would have halted the state's ban on conversion therapy. In an announcement by the Michigan Attorney General's office, Judge Jane M. Beckering of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan issued the ruling, saying the state acted "rationally" to shield minors from the controversial practice.
Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale Counties, along with a psychologist, are the plaintiffs challenging the Michigan legislature's decision, which falls under changes made to the Michigan Mental Health Code. These were enacted in 2023 and implemented as of February 2024, as reported by the Michigan Attorney General's office, Attorney General Nessel filed a brief last August defending the law, and states the importance of protecting kids from "treatments proven to cause devastating harm."
"The harms of conversion therapy on our children are well known and documented, which is why Governor Whitmer and health officials took action to protect their mental health," in a statement issued by the Attorney General's office, affirming the state's position on the matter. The plaintiffs argue that the ban infringes on their due process, free speech, and free exercise rights, a stance Attorney General Nessel firmly rejects.
While Judge Beckering ruled that the plaintiffs have standing to bring their claims to court, she also noted that their arguments regarding violations of due process, free speech, and free exercise rights are unlikely to succeed, "The Michigan legislature acted rationally when it decided to protect the psychological wellbeing of its minors by preventing state-licensed health care providers from engaging in conversion therapy with them," as the essence of her judgment – it's a protection that the state considers crucial and unyielding for the wellbeing of its youth, according to the Michigan Attorney General's office.
