Today's case is also part of a broader effort by Wisconsin's Democratic governor, Tony Evers, who has vetoed Republican bills aimed at keeping males from competing in female sports, to rein in the power of the GOP-controlled Legislature.
In broad terms, conversion therapy allows for counselling people who may have chosen the homosexual lifestyle.
Advocates seeking to ban the practice want to forbid mental health professionals in the state from counseling clients with the goal of changing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Fair Wisconsin, the only statewide LGBTQ activist group, has heard about “conversion therapy” happening across the state, said the group's executive director Abigail Swetz.
However, accurate data about how often it is happening is hard to come by, she said. There would be some data if the ban is enacted and the state is able to take action against licensed practitioners, but that wouldn't include attempts at “conversion therapy” made by religious institutions, Swetz said.
The “conversion therapy” ban is one of several rules that have been blocked by the legislative committee. Others pertain to environmental regulations, vaccine requirements and public health protections.
Evers argues in the lawsuit that the panel has effectively been exercising an unconstitutional “legislative veto.”
The court, controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, hears arguments from both sides on Thursday and will issue a written ruling in the coming months.
