A majority of Americans – 59% – support conversion therapy bans, a poll from YouGov/Economist found. The poll comes as the Supreme Court is considering forcing states to end their conversion therapy bans to allow the practice associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation to flourish again.

The survey was conducted from October 10 to 13 and asked U.S. adults specifically about conversion therapy “to change a person’s sexual orientation from gay to straight.” Conversion therapy is also practiced with regard to gender identity to turn trans people cis, but that was not asked about in this poll.

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Only 20% of respondents said they oppose conversion therapy bans, and 22% said they weren’t sure. Majorities of Republicans (60%), Democrats (59%), and independents (57%) all supported the bans.

While most people across the political spectrum were supportive of such bans, Democrats (75%) and independents (55%) were much more likely to say that they don’t believe conversion therapy can actually change someone’s sexual orientation compared to Republicans (45%).

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Only 11% of respondents said they thought conversion therapy could work, but 27% of respondents said they believed that “someone who is homosexual can change their sexual orientation if they choose to do so.” This means that at least 16% of Americans believe that gay people can somehow turn straight if they choose, but that conversion therapy does not help people make that change.

The poll also asked if gay people should attempt to change their sexual orientation. Only 17% of respondents said they should. Democrats were more likely to say they should not compared to Republicans.

The Supreme Court case, Chiles v. Salazar, involves a licensed therapist in Colorado, Kaley Chiles, who says that she wants to try to turn LGBTQ+ youth straight and cis, but can’t because of the state’s ban on conversion therapy for minors. She says that it impedes her free speech and that she’s a Christian who should be allowed to help minors “live a life consistent” with the Bible.

Professional health organizations like the American Psychological Association and the American Medical Association all oppose conversion therapy because the research shows not only that it doesn’t work, but that it’s harmful to its victims. Since the science doesn’t support the practice, Chiles and her lawyers at the anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) have been misrepresenting research to make it seem like conversion therapy can change someone’s sexual orientation.

Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights pointed out that the Supreme Court might rule in a contradictory fashion to its ruling last year in U.S. v. Skrmetti, where the Court upheld state bans on gender affirming care for minors.

“It would be so hypocritical for the Court to say states can ban health care for transgender youth, but they can’t restrict conversion therapy for young people,” Minter said. “It would be very distressing and disturbing to see that blatant type of inconsistency.”

Currently, 22 states and D.C. ban conversion therapy. The Supreme Court’s ruling could lift protections for LGBTQ+ youth in all those areas.

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