The Mormon Church is working together with LGBTQ advocates to ban conversion therapy in the state of Utah.
Last month, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued a statement announcing its opposition to the statewide banning of Conversion Therapy. This was initially seen as a massive blow to the fight against the practice, as two-thirds of the state’s residents and almost every state lawmaker are recorded as members of the church. The opposition was shared despite the fact that conversion therapy has been rejected by all official health departments.
That said, we come with good news today. LGBTQ advocates have lobbied with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and gotten them to change their position. Last night, Governor Gary Herbert announced a deal made between LGBTQ advocates, politicians, and the Mormon Church.
Breaking news out of my office tonight as we have reached an agreement with multiple stakeholders on a rule that will ban conversion therapy on minors in the state of Utah. #utpol pic.twitter.com/hMkGUQmMrD
— Gary R. Herbert (@GovHerbert) November 27, 2019
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Troy Williams, executive director of Equality Utah, says he looks forward to Utah becoming the 19th state in the nation to approve a conversion therapy ban.
In a longer statement, shared through Twitter, Williams said:
“We are profoundly grateful to the Psychologist Licensing Board and the Herbert Administration for the thoughtful and meticulous manner in which they have worked to protect LGBTQ youth. Their actions today will no doubt save lives.”
He then adds:
“What happens next? Since this is an administrative rule change, we must again go through a thirty-day public comment period with Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). The last time this happened, a staggering 90% of the 2,500 comments came from you!”
The human rights advocate then shared that if all goes well, “conversion therapy will be banned for minors by January 2020!”
A major breakthrough on conversion therapy in Utah! pic.twitter.com/fDYqk7hcby
— Equality Utah (@EqualityUtah) November 27, 2019
Source: The Salt Lake Tribune
