A bill to codify Utah's conversion therapy ban while also clarifying concerning language for therapists has won final legislative approval.
ban while also clarifying concerning language for therapists has won final legislative approval.on Friday, after the House also voted unanimously to approve it last week. The bill now goes to Gov. Spencer Cox."We're very pleased with the outcome on HB228," Cox said. "The unanimous vote shows a commitment by the various parties to find common ground and we look forward to signing the bill.
The bill is widely supported by both LGBTQ advocates and therapists for enshrining Utah's existing conversion therapy ban, previously approved through a 2020 administrative rule by the state Division of Professional Licensing, while also clarifying language that created ambiguity and concerns for Utah therapists, counselors and professionals.
Conversion therapy is a widely discredited practice that's intended to change someone's sexual orientation or gender identity. However, Rep. Mike Petersen, R-North Logan, who is also a former counselor, sponsored HB228 to address concerns of therapists who "stopped treating minors because of ambiguity in the DOPL rule and fear of reprisal if they were to say something nonaffirming to their minor patients.
An earlier draft of HB223 would have loosened the 2020 ban by stating "verbal or written communication by itself does not fall within the definition of conversion therapy." Advocates, including Equality Utah, opposed that version of the bill, concerned it would allow "talk therapy" forms of conversion therapy for minors.
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