FIREwire — October 24, 2025
SCOTUS mulls conversion therapy, millions join No Kings protest, and Indiana U. bans student paper
“The right to speak and publish freely is at the very heart of our democracy – it’s a freedom that needs to be cherished and extolled by us all.”
– Richard Kaplan, president of the Media Institute, at Free Speech Week
Supreme Court considers Colorado’s ban on ‘conversion therapy’
Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Chiles v. Salazar, a First Amendment challenge to Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” — that is, counseling intended to change their gender identity or attraction to someone of the same sex.
As Will Creeley wrote, “It’s too easy to imagine a red-and-blue patchwork of state bans barring counselors from either conversion therapy, on one side, or gender affirmation, on the other. Same for conversations about abortion — or vaccines, or marijuana, or assisted suicide, or any number of culture war flashpoints.”
Millions turn out for protests
On Oct. 18, millions of people joined protests at more than 2,700 rallies in this year’s No Kings protest.
FIRE commented on social media:
Let’s be clear: This is America. You can support and participate in the causes that matter to you. But if you are silenced, disciplined, or detained for your constitutionally protected speech, FIRE is here to help.
Indiana U. bans student paper for reporting its free speech ranking
Indiana University banned its student newspaper from printing just days before homecoming weekend — after firing the paper’s advisor when he refused to censor the student paper for reporting on FIRE’s ranking Indiana University as the worst public university for free speech.
As Sean Stevens explained, “The school’s response to the news that they are bad at free speech . . . is to censor the news. It’s ironic — and not just in the Alanis Morissette sense — that these actions will likely push its overall ranking even lower next year. At least we can’t fault them for consistency.”
Below the fold
This year’s Free Speech Week, running from Oct. 20-26, focuses on the “speech war” taking place in America today.
Authorities in Birmingham, England, banned fans of Israeli soccer team Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending an upcoming match in the city, citing security.
VICTORY: West Caldwell, NJ has officially withdrawn its proposal requiring protesters to get a permit 30 days in advance and carry $2 million in insurance, thanks to FIRE advocacy and community pushback.
In the frame
Don’t Look Now: A Defense of Free Expression, at the Nathalie Karg Gallery in Lower Manhattan through Oct. 25, focuses on art impacted by President Trump’s crackdown on DEI, anti-Palestine sentiment, and other forms of expression.
By the numbers
It may seem logical that people with similar ideologies would be more tolerant of each other, but it turns out male students are more tolerant of their political enemies than female students are of their own allies. Liberals are not more or less tolerant than conservatives. It’s being a man, whether liberal or conservative, that makes the difference. And it’s a big difference.
Great article as usual. I have a free speech policly in my home. My wife constantly chatters about things whilst i am trying to watch the football or want to go asleep. I think thats fair. So how do i deal with this. I listen for the gaps. Then i give a little grumble or say yes or go on. This indicates to her i have been listening. This makes her happy. And we all know a happy wife makes for a happy life. Thanks
So yes i support free speech.