Today Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert issued a letter directing the state’s Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing to have the state Psychologist Licensing Board “ethically regulate psychological interventions for minor children regarding their sexual orientation or gender identity” consistent with the best available science. The governor also expressed his intention that these conversion therapy regulations become a model for regulations for all of Utah’s licensed medical and mental health professionals, thus setting the stage for Utah to join the 18 states which have implemented similar legal protections for minors from conversion therapy.
“Responsible mental health professionals know that the practice of conversion therapy is dangerous, scientifically unsound, and should never be practiced on anybody, especially minors. We are grateful to Governor Herbert for taking action to place this issue before the Psychologist Licensing Board, who we are confident will enact durable statewide protections from conversion therapy for all of Utah’s youth, setting a clear standard for all of Utah’s licensed professionals and beyond. At The Trevor Project, we hear directly from youth in Utah who have suffered because of the threat of conversion therapy. We are proud to stand with Equality Utah and others in working toward a variety of solutions to end the discredited practice.”
