Equality Utah

Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling against Colorado, Utah’s ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ people could be safe from future legal action, say experts.

Estoy especialmente orgulloso de los habitantes de Utah que son conservadores y religiosos y que están dispuestos a sentarse a conversar y realmente ayudarnos a encontrar puntos en común, dijo Troy Williams, el director ejecutivo saliente de Equality Utah.

"I'm most proud of Utahns who are conservative and religious and who are willing to come to the table and actually help us find common ground," said Troy Williams, the outgoing executive director of Equality Utah.

In a party-line vote, the House sent a bill to the Senate that restricts housing for incarcerated transgender minors and also bans gender-affirming care for transgender adults.

After approval from the Legislature, HB257 now heads to Gov. Spencer Cox’s desk for consideration.

The bill continues to restrict transgender kids in public K-12 schools from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.

The are worries that gender-affirming care bans, and a sweep of other trans legislation nationwide, are driving people “back into the closet for safety.”

While their motivations are different, the political polar opposites were able to both agree to support a bill that codifies a ban on conversion talk therapy.

The Republican state senator believes parental rights trump a student’s right to privacy.

The House bill passed on Jan. 26 is different from what passed through the Senate earlier in the session, so another vote is needed there.

Similar legislation in other GOP-led states is tied up in legal battles.

The bill will need Republican support and at least 60 votes to defeat a filibuster in the Senate.