Equality Utah director resigns from governor's Suicide Prevention Task Force
Two people resigned from Governor Herbert’s Suicide Prevention Task Force, including Equality Utah director Troy Williams, a day after a substitute bill advanced to outlaw conversion therapy for minors. (Photo: KUTV)
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Two people resigned from Gov. Herbert’s Suicide Prevention Task Force, including Equality Utah director Troy Williams, a day after a substitute bill advanced to outlaw conversion therapy for minors.
Williams, and suicide prevention advocate Taryn Hiatt — who also stepped down — were opposed to the new language.
In his resignation letter, Williams accused the governor of turning his back on LGBTQ youth.
“Gov. Herbert came to us and said, ‘Please bring me policy proposals,’” Williams told 2News. “Everything we have proposed...has been shut down.“
In a letter of his own, the governor expressed sorrow at Williams’ resignation, said he respects him, and that suicide prevention should be “our primary focus and objective,” while ensuring “these precious youth are loved and accepted for who they are.”
Williams called it “platitudes” and “empty rhetoric.”
Two weeks ago, a bill to ban conversion therapy for minors that had been promoted by Equality Utah, seemed to have momentum.
But then, some raised concerns— including at least one mental health therapist—the measure would have stopped therapists from talking to teens about sexuality.
With those concerns in mind, Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, R-Clearfield, offered a substitute bill.
“There is more than one way to ban a bad practice,“ she said. “And there are more than the words that were in the original bill that do that, and that’s what we passed [out of committee]”
The new version would ban therapy that claims it “will result in a complete and permanent reversal in...sexual orientation,” asserts that such a change “is necessary,” or subjects a minor to “physical discomfort.”
It would still allow therapists to discuss “moral and religious beliefs” with minors, and provide “acceptance, understanding, and support” of them — and it could be neutral on the issue of sexual orientation and identification.
The bill did clear a panel, but the original sponsor said the new version was unacceptable, and it has been sent back the House Rules Committee where it will almost surely die this session.
