Utah’s Conversion Therapy Ban Could Cause Further Harm

The state’s House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass House Bill 228, which would ban standard conversion therapy practices. If signed into law, HB 228 would codify protections against conversion therapy established via an executive order in 2020. But if a republican sponsored conversion therapy ban from an egregiously anti-LGBTQ state smells fishy to you, you may be on to something.

The bill defines conversion therapy as “a practice or treatment by which a health care professional intends to change a minor client’s sexual orientation or gender identity or to impose a different sexual orientation or gender identity upon a minor client,” and outlines several of the harmful practices often associated with conversion therapy. The bill also provides an exception for religious advisors and/or parents/guardians who are healthcare providers. The vagueness of the language used in HB 228 is anything but accidental.

LGBTQ activist group Equality Utah was initially against HB 228 but got on board after compromise language was agreed upon by the organization and the bill sponsor Rep. Mike Petersen (R). Initially, the bill noted that “verbal or written communication by itself does not fall within the definition of conversion therapy,” which Equality Utah blasted as an attempt to legalize the discredited practice.

“We’ve had important dialogue and have shared our concerns openly, and for that we are grateful.” Equality Utah said the revision “continues to prohibit the very dangerous practice of conversion therapy for minors, while providing greater clarification for Utah therapists, and accordingly, we support the advancement of HB 228 as amended.”

The move comes just two weeks after Utah Governor Cox signed a bill banning transition-related health care for trans youth. Could the language in HB 228 actually allow healthcare professionals to sway minor patients against transitioning? For Republican backers of the bill, this is the very reason they support it.

Goud Maragani, president of the Utah Log Cabin Republicans, said this regarding the bill: “We are supporting HB 228 because we believe it will allow health professionals to talk about all options with children suffering from gender dysphoria including the benefits of staying in your birth gender which include sexual function, fertility, and no need for a lifetime of hormones and multiple surgeries.”

“It also will allow them to talk to children about how they may become comfortable over time in their birth gender and introduce them to de-transitioners.”

Marisa McPeck-Stringham, a mental health therapist in Layton, Utah, noticed an unsettling pattern after the state put a ban on transition-related healthcare for minors. Six of her clients, all transgender teenagers, said they were experiencing suicidal ideation, which they attributed to the new legislation.

“If one trans child takes their life because of this bill, the blood is on your hands Governor,” McPeck-Stringham tweeted.

How many more will be affected by HB 228, which claims to ban conversion therapy, while also allowing healthcare professionals to dissuade trans youth from transition-related healthcare?

If you or a loved one are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.