Wisconsin Christian counselors challenged a state rule that requires them not to offer certain therapies to gender-confused children, which might violate a March Supreme Court ruling.
In May, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed suit against Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ administration on behalf of counselors Terri Koschnick and Joy Buchman. The conservative legal group argues that Wisconsin’s rule is just like a similar Colorado law the Supreme Court ruled against in March.
Just weeks earlier in Chiles v. Salazar, the Court sided 8-1 with Colorado Christian counselor Kaley Chiles, holding that the blue state’s law curtailing her work was “regulating speech based on viewpoint.” Chiles was forced by state law to affirm transgender-identifying children even if they had requested help to embrace their biological sex.
“The government shouldn’t be dictating which viewpoints are acceptable for counselors to express in private, voluntary talk therapy sessions with clients who specifically seek out their faith based advice,” WILL Deputy Counsel Rebecca Furdek told Daily Caller News Foundation.
“The Wisconsin administrative rule bans counselors from offering certain perspectives in private, voluntary talk therapy sessions with the clients who specifically seek out their faith-based advice. This amounts to viewpoint discrimination, which the U.S. Supreme Court has deemed the ‘most blatant’ type of First Amendment violation,” Furdek continued.
Under Wisconsin’s rule, counselors may not provide talk therapy to clients that are struggling with their relationship with their biological sex, but can only counsel clients towards sex changes and other harmful behavior, WILL argues.
Evers declined to repeal his state’s rule despite the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Colorado’s law, according to the group.
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
Back in 2025, the Wisconsin legislature passed Senate Bill 324 prohibiting mental health providers from conversion therapy with minors.
“Conversion therapy is defined under the bill to mean any intervention or method that has the purpose of attempting to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, the legislation reads. “Including any intervention or method that attempts to change behaviors or expression of self or to reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender.”
(DCNF)
