Family therapist Brian Tingley has asked the United States Supreme Court to review Washington state’s censorship of sexual orientation counseling for minors.

In 2018, Washington state passed SB 5722, a law that prohibits specific conversations between counselors and minors about gender identity, sexual behavior and sexual orientation that are not in line with the state’s views.

This has caused Tingley, a counselor who has had his own practice in the community of Fircrest, Washington, since 2002, to be restricted in what he can and cannot say to his younger clients.

The licensed counselor is a Christian and says his “faith informs [his] views concerning human nature, healthy relationships, and what paths and ways of thinking will enable [his] clients to achieve comfort with themselves and live happy and satisfied lives.”

Tingley’s attorneys say the Washington law violates his First Amendment rights to share his religious beliefs, such as a Biblical view of biology with clients under the age of 18, including those who are Christian.

His conversations involve normal counseling methods of listening and supporting children, adults, and couples as they navigate family and marital conflicts, stress management, depression, and sexual-orientation or gender-identity.

If Tingley chooses to disobey the law and practice conversion therapy by helping clients be more comfortable with their gender or lessen undesired feelings of same-sex attraction, he faces a $5,000 penalty per violation and could even lose his license. However, the law does allow Tingley to push the state’s agenda by encouraging youth to pursue treatments and procedures that could cause permanent sterilization.

On Monday, March 27, Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, who are representing Tingley, asked the Supreme Court to hear the case in hopes of reversing the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit’s September decision to side with the state. The ruling declared that Washington’s law only regulated the conduct of conversations, not the speech itself.

“The government can’t control a counselor’s speech. Washington’s counseling censorship law violates freedom of speech and harms counselors as well as clients,” said John Bursch, ADF senior counsel and vice president of appellate advocacy.

“Brian has counseled all types of people for more than 20 years, and those conversations are private—certainly not open for the government to censor. The government has no business dictating what personal goals a client can pursue in counseling. We hope the Supreme Court will agree to hear this case and halt the unlawful attempt of Washington state officials to ban someone’s speech simply because they disagree with the viewpoints expressed.

Editor’s Note: Why Is This News Biblically Relevant?

Ken Ham, Founder and CEO of Answers In Genesis, has long warned that “conversion therapy” bans are a trojan horse that “pave[s] the way for the bridling of free speech and the criminalization of those who believe and act on biblical principles.”

“LGBT activists claim that if you don’t fully embrace, support, and celebrate an LGBT lifestyle or identity, then that’s hate speech and harming someone because that person is more likely to commit suicide since you did not affirm them,” Ham explained. “In their minds and by their flawed logic, those who hold to the biblical belief that an LGBT identity and lifestyle are sinful are hurting other people and driving them to suicide; therefore such people (Christians specifically) don’t deserve to be able to speak their views.”

“Many politicians are viewing this matter now as a civil rights issue—but it’s not. It’s a moral issue,” he underscored.

“As believers, we must be prepared to continue sharing biblical truth regardless of what the culture around us says or threatens. Teaching God’s Word is not abusive or dangerous—the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). It is the gospel and the truth of God’s Word, with the power of the Holy Spirit, that free us from our slavery to sin (Romans 6:6) and makes us a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17),” he described. “The time is coming when speaking biblical truth regarding sexuality will be illegal. But we must love people enough to continue to contend for the faith (Jude 1:3), making disciples (Matthew 28:19), as we do the King’s business until he returns (Luke 19:13). Are we courageous enough to boldly state as Peter and the apostles did: We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29)?”

Conversion Therapy Bans have become law in multiple countries, essentially criminalizing talk of Biblical sexuality from counselors, pastors, parents, and others. While many have firmly rejected the idea of these laws being used to persecute believers, earlier this year, a man from Malta was the first person to be arrested under the ban for sharing his testimony during an online media interview. Matthew Grech, who left the gay lifestyle to follow Jesus Christ, now faces prison time for sharing the story of his repentance and salvation.

“The outlet I appeared on is a very small and emerging free-speech platform in Malta, and I didn’t think it would be treated so seriously by the Malta Gay Rights Movement to the extent that I could be criminalised for telling my Christian testimony,” Grech recalled. “It shows how determined they are to stamp out any debate or voice on these issues. I was worried for myself and what my family would think, as nothing like this has happened to me before.”

“I am determined however, to raise awareness on the danger and harm that ‘conversion therapy’ bans are and will cause, not just to churches and society in Malta, but all around the world,” he stressed. “I am committed to keep sharing my testimony because I don’t want other men and women to go through what I went through in my upbringing and adolescence. I don’t want them to be victims of unwanted sexual feelings. I don’t want them to be robbed of the biblical side of the story around sex, sexuality and marriage. I don’t want the masses to believe ‘born gay, cannot change’, and allow that to go unchallenged.”

“If we don’t act now, more countries will introduce such bans as if they were a charitable noble cause that is saving lives and works for the common good, when they are tyrannical, draconian and will achieve the opposite of what they set out to,” Grech implored.