ICOY Statement on Supreme Court’s Verdict in Chiles v Salazar

The Illinois Collaboration on Youth condemns yesterday’s Supreme Court decision in Chiles v Salazar, which will result at best to the harm and detriment of, and at worst to the death of LGBTQ+ children and youth who are forced to undergo so-called conversion therapy in the misguided belief that it will somehow “cure” them of a queer sexual orientation or gender identity. The United Nations has classified conversion therapy as torture. Instead of helping children and youth, research into conversion therapy practices shows that they are strongly linked to depression, trauma, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide completion. In recognition of the fact that conversion therapy is not evidence based and thus, not only does not work, but in fact causes harm, conversion therapy in Illinois has been banned for more than a decade.

For anyone who needs support at this time, we recommend the following organizations and resources.

• Human Rights Campaign
• The Trevor Project
• 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline
• National Center for LGBTQ Rights

Finally, ICOY will host a LGBTQ+ Learning Community Event on Monday, April 6, from 11 a.m. – noon. Registration information is available here.