10 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS
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ISSUE 308 | January 23, 2020
Utah Rep. Brad Daw to run bill outlawing TEA of Utah hires a paid director hormone therapy, surgery for trans youth executive Transgender Education Advocates of Utah Rep. Brad Daw has agreed to sponsor a Utah Eagle Forum-proposed bill that would make it illegal for a doctor to prescribe hormone therapy or perform gender reassignment surgery to transgender minors. The bill is still being drafted. Daw did say that the bill would allow puberty blockers — medications that temporarily put puberty on hold. However, Transgender Education Advocates of Utah leaders are concerned about the bill. “We are alarmed by the impact it could have on our community as well as the unintended consequences that may arise when legislators get between patients and their providers,” TEA released in a statement. “Transgender and intersex children and their families already face significant barriers to receiving the treatment they need, and medical and mental health guidelines for standards of care already exist.” The group said issues such as medical care for the transgender population are widely misunderstood, and the legislation surrounding it often is used as a wedge issue. “TEA looks forward to this opportunity to educate our neighbors about the vast body of research that has already been done to ensure the safety of children in our community.”
UTAH FAMILY Such a bill is terrifying to a Roy, Utah family, who said that their child was withdrawn and angry before they came out as transgender at the age of 12. Working with doctors and a counselor, Dex began wearing their hair shorter and clothes generally aligned with boys. Doctors prescribed puberty blockers and, over time, testosterone. “As parents we were completely thrown, to say the least,” mother Robyn Rumsey told the Associated Press. “It wasn’t a decision that was taken lightly.” Dex had considered suicide before coming out, Robyn said, and if he didn’t have access to hormones she worries those thoughts would return. Now Dex is 15, happy and thriving, Robyn said. She also said they are considering surgery later this year. “We have seen this child completely
turn around,” Robyn said. “I know that it would be a life or death situation for my son. We would be desperate to find help and medication for him.” Dex told AP that the blockers and testosterone have changed their life. “I was never comfortable under my own skin. I always felt wrong, disgusting and I hated myself. These hormones have allowed me to feel comfortable with who I am. It’s allowed me to be happier. I don’t hate myself, I’m not depressed, I don’t feel suicidal anymore,” they said. Equality Utah stated, “These reckless bills endanger youth and deny them access to life-saving care. We will need all of you to contact your representative to demand that these extreme anti-transgender bills never see Governor Herbert’s desk. We will stand united to protect transgender youth.” Dex Rumsey said if such a bill were to pass in Utah, they’d want to leave the state. “I don’t think they realize the damage these types of things are causing,” he said. Q
Utah announced that Candice Metzler will be the first out transgender person in a paid executive director position for a Utah non-profit organization. “The transgender community performs advocacy in the form of free labor in most of its efforts. Today we start to change that with TEA of Utah’s first paid executive director, whose presence will assist in making our voices more prevalent,” said Sue Robbins, Board Chair for 2019. “The board of directors recognizes this incredible milestone and will build upon this in growing TEA of Utah as a key voice in the Utah transgender community.” Metzler holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and is a doctoral candidate at the University of Utah. Q
Utah becomes 19th state to ban conversion therapy On Jan. 22, Utah became the 19th state in the nation to protect minors from the practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” The new rules were formally published on Dec. 15 in the Utah State Bulletin, which marked the start of a 30-day public comment period. Now, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing and Gov. Gary Herbert have adopted these new rules to effectively regulate the practice. These new rules prohibit any state-licensed therapist from practicing conversion therapy with minors. This means they will not be allowed to encourage a child to change their sexual orientation or gender identity in any way or give the child hope they can change themselves. Equality Utah, the Utah Psychological Association, Rep. Craig Hall and conversion therapy survivors gathered at the Capitol’s Copper Room to celebrate the adoption of this new rule. University of Utah law professor Clifford Rosky, who worked on drafting the approved language, stated: “Although Utah is a predominately conservative
state, protecting children from conversion therapy is not a partisan project. It’s about preventing youth suicide — a goal that is widely shared by progressives and conservatives. Utah adopted this measure to prevent children from dying by suicide.” Hall, the original sponsor of HB 399, said: “I am thrilled by the adoption of the administrative rule which ends conversion therapy once and for all in this State. Thanks to everyone who helped develop language that both prohibits conversion therapy and also protects the legitimate interests of healthcare professionals, patients and families. This measure will truly save lives.” A recent study by found that minors subjected to conversion therapy were twice as likely to experience depression (52 percent) and nearly three times more likely to attempt suicide (63 percent). A new study from JAMA Psychiatry on transgender clients in conversion therapy experience “severe psychological distress” and “increased odds of lifetime suicide attempts.” Q
