A majority of Supreme Court justices seem to be leaning in favor of a Christian counselor who is challenging bans on LGBTQ+ "conversion therapy" for kids as a violation of her First Amendment rights. Her lawyers argued Tuesday that the laws passed in about half of U.S. states wrongly restrict voluntary, faith-based therapy. President Donald Trump's administration is backing her challenge to Colorado's law. The state argues the measure simply regulates licensed therapists by barring a practice that's been scientifically discredited and linked to serious harm. But the conservative-majority court seemed unconvinced that states can restrict talk therapy aimed at changing feelings or behavior while allowing counseling that affirms kids identifying as gay or transgender.

 The Trump administration says California must change its policies allowing transgender girls to compete on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The U.S. Education Department says the policies violate a federal law banning sex discrimination in education. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon says California could lose federal funding if it does not comply. But the state says all students should have the opportunity to play. The issue garnered renewed attention in California after a trans athlete recently participated in the state high school track and field championship. The sports governing body running the meet allowed more girls to participate and medal in events in which the trans athlete was competing.

When he first ran for office, Donald Trump seemed like he could be a new kind of Republican when it came to LGBTQ+ rights. Years earlier, he overturned the rules of his own Miss Universe pageant to allow a transgender contestant to compete. He said Caitlyn Jenner could use any bathroom at Trump Tower that she wanted. And he was the first president to name an openly gay person to a Cabinet-level position. But since returning to office, Trump has engaged in what advocates say is an unprecedented assault on LGBTQ+ rights. The contrast will be on display this weekend during World Pride celebrations in Washington.

A unanimous Supreme Court has made it easier to bring lawsuits over so-called reverse discrimination, siding with an Ohio woman who claims she didn't get a job and was demoted because she's straight. The justices' decision Thursday affects lawsuits in 20 states and the District of Columbia where, until now, courts had set a higher bar when members of a majority group, including those who are white and heterosexual, sue for discrimination under federal law. The court ruled in an appeal from Marlean Ames, who's worked for the Ohio Department of Youth Services for years. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says federal civil rights law draws no distinction between members of majority and minority groups.

LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. see lower social acceptance for transgender people than those who are lesbian, gay or bisexual, a new Pew Research Center poll found. The survey found that most LGBTQ+ adults believe there is a great deal or fair amount of acceptance for lesbian and gay people. But about half said that's not true for transgender and nonbinary Americans. The survey was conducted in January. That was just before President Donald Trump returned to office and started rolling out a series of policies aimed at transgender people, including a ban from the military and some sports competitions, as well as blocking federal spending on gender-affirming health care for those under 19.