FreeState Justice expresses deep concern following the recent ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States in a case involving a Colorado law impacting protections against LGBTQ+ conversion therapy. In an 8–1 decision, the Court held that a lower court applied the incorrect legal standard when evaluating a law that banned conversion therapy in Colorado. While the Court did not strike down the law, it sent the case back to a lower court for reconsideration, with LGBTQ+ organizations recognizing that this most likely only delays a complete dissolution of the legislation. “Today’s decision, issued on International Transgender Day of Visibility, makes clear what is on the line. At FreeState Justice, our Community Impact work is rooted in direct service, legal advocacy, and policy change, and we see the harm of conversion therapy up close,” said Ronnie L. Taylor, Community Impact Director at FreeState Justice . “This ruling does not change that harm, but it does increase risk by opening the door to challenges against state protections. That cannot be ignored. We are not stepping back. Survivors still have legal pathways. States still have tools. Our focus is unchanged. Protect young people, enforce the law, and close the gap between policy and real access to safety. We will keep showing up.” Conversion therapy has been decried by every major medical and mental health organization for decades. Still, due to persistent discrimination and stigma, certain people continue to subject LGBTQ+ individuals—particularly minors—to these harmful practices. Research has shown that conversion therapy is linked to serious harms, including depression, anxiety, substance use, homelessness, and increased risk of suicide. FreeState Justice has long been a leader in advocating against conversion therapy in Maryland, supporting legislation to ban the practice and continuing to champion policies that protect LGBTQ+ youth. Our team of professionals see firsthand the deeply harmful effects of this abuse and have spent many hours getting survivors the support they need. It’s because of this that we denounce this decision and what it potentially means for similar anti-conversion therapy laws across the United States. "This decision raises serious concerns that we could see these practices reemerge—not just in Maryland, but in nearby states—creating a pipeline of harm that is increasingly normalized and harder to regulate,” said Phillip Westry, Esq., Executive Director at FreeState Justice. “It’s a stark reminder that the protections LGBTQ+ communities have built over decades can be quickly undermined by the courts. At the same time, the need for support is growing. Federal funding is limited, state resources are stretched, and our phones keep ringing. We’re calling on supporters to invest in local LGBTQ+ organizations that are on the front lines providing care, legal services, and protection.” This decision does not impact Maryland’s existing laws safeguarding against conversion therapy, but it does open the door for similar attacks nationwide. FreeState Justice urges courts and policymakers to prioritize the health, safety, and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals, and to take decisive actions that protect communities from harmful and discredited practices like conversion therapy.

FreeState Justice is proud to announce that it has been awarded a Black Abundance Collective Grant from the Meyer Foundation — the largest single grant in the organization’s history. This investment was bestowed in recognition of FreeState Justice’s trailblazing advocacy providing pro bono legal services for LGBTQ+ Marylanders. With over a decade of history fighting for marginalized populations, this grant marks a pivotal step in our fight to advance the liberation of Black LGBTQ+ people everywhere. “Black queer people have always shaped the direction of the LGBTQ+ movement,” said Phillip Westry, Esq., Executive Director of FreeState Justice. “This moment is about ensuring that our leadership is matched with sustained investment, institutional power, and structural change.” Black LGBTQ+ Marylanders navigate intersecting systems of racial inequity, economic marginalization, and anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination — and even within advocacy spaces, their leadership and lived experience are not consistently centered in policy strategy, funding priorities, or institutional decision-making. In Maryland, a state often viewed as progressive on LGBTQ+ issues, these disparities in power and representation remain very visible. This grant is an investment in shifting that power. Under the leadership of Westry, Legal Director Lauren Pruitt, Esq., and Community Impact Director Ronnie L. Taylor, FreeState Justice will utilize these funds to: Expand affirming legal services that prioritize Black LGBTQ+ Marylanders Advance policy solutions that address race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and economic justice together Build leadership pathways for Black LGBTQ+ advocates statewide Strengthen the long-term infrastructure of Black-led movement institutions “This historic grant is not just a funding milestone for FreeState—it is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to uplifting Black LGBTQ+ communities in our legal advocacy,” said Pruitt. “We are grateful for this investment and energized to use it to confront inequity, break down barriers to justice, and help build a future in which every Black LGBTQ+ Marylander can thrive. The award reflects years of disciplined strategic planning, governance strengthening, and statewide expansion. It positions this organization to move beyond reactive advocacy and toward proactive, community-rooted systems of transformation. FreeState Justice is grateful to the Meyer Foundation for recognizing that investing in Black abundance strengthens the entire movement for LGBTQ+ equity in Maryland. “This is not symbolic funding. It is a structural investment,” said Taylor. “Black queer people in Maryland have carried movements on our backs while being locked out of power and long-term resources. This grant enables us to build the infrastructure our communities deserve. It allows us to lead without apology and without scarcity shaping our vision. Black abundance is not just a slogan — it is a mandate to shift who holds power, who sets priorities, and who benefits from the work. At FreeState Justice, we are ready to meet that mandate." Black LGBTQ+ voices will not simply be included — they will define the agenda.