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Utah governor signs conversion therapy ban into law Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed into law a bill prohibiting therapists from subjecting youth to conversion therapy, a dangerous practice that seeks to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Cox’s signature follows historic votes in the Utah House and Senate, which marked the first time that both chambers of a state legislature have voted unanimously in favor of a bill prohibiting conversion therapy for minors. In 2020, the Utah Division of Professional Licensing adopted a policy barring conversion therapy for minors. The Utah Legislature has now taken action to codify that prohibition in state law, as 19 other states and the District of Columbia have also done. “Utah has shown again
that LGBTQ advocates and political conservatives can work together to protect families from proven harm,”
said Mathew Shurka, a conversion therapy survivor and co-founder of Born Perfect. “Conversion therapy tore my own family apart when conversion therapists – as they so often do — taught me to blame my parents for my orientation. Utah’s law protecting LGBTQ youth recognizes that LGBTQ youth and their families are part of every community. We believe every child is born perfect.” “Utah’s leadership as the most conservative state to address this issue shows how rapidly attitudes toward LGBTQ youth are changing,” said National Center for Lesbian Rights Legal
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MAY, 2023
Director Shannon Minter. “People from all walks of life recognize that public officials have a responsibility to protect vulnerable youth from this life-threatening harm. We are grateful to Equality Utah for their unwavering commitment to this issue, and to Utah lawmakers for their leadership.” Conversion therapy has been rejected as unnecessary, ineffective, and harmful by every major medical and mental health organization in the country, including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Q
National softball tournament to be held in Salt Lake City May 26–28 Salt Lake City was selected by the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance to host its annual LGBTQ+ softball tournament. The games will take place from May 26–28, at the Valley Regional Complex in Taylorsville and the Larry H Miller Softball Complex in Millcreek. Teams from NAGAAA organizations across the United States and Canada will compete in the elite A and B divisions to determine the NAGAAA Cup Champions. In addition to the tournament, teams will also have the opportunity to qualify for the
Gay Softball World Series. The public is invited to attend and show support for the participating teams. A big party will be held to bring the community together in support and unity. Salt Lake City was chosen as the host city due to its natural beauty and the warm welcome extended by the entire culture. NAGAAA Commissioner John Deffee expressed his surprise at the friendliness and acceptance shown by Salt Lake City’s residents. With more than 80 percent of NAGAAA’s teams located on the West Coast, attendance
is expected to be robust, with an estimated 1,100 attendees. The tournament is anticipated to have an estimated economic impact of more than $1 million on the community. Clay Partain, managing director of Sports Salt Lake, highlighted the city’s inclusive culture, which embraces differences and encourages new perspectives. Tanya Hawkins, Co-CEO at the Utah Pride Center, emphasized the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in athletics to create a safe and welcoming place at sporting events. Q
NY lawmaker calls for travel ban to Utah, other states for anti-trans laws New York State Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell urged Gov. Kathy Hochul to prohibit all non-essential travel to six states that have recently passed bills targeting transgender individuals and the broader LGBTQ+ community. O’Donnell, who played a leading role in the campaign to pass marriage equality in New Rep. Daniel O’Donnell, Manhattan York State, wrote a letter
to the governor requesting an executive order to ban non-essential state travel to Arkansas, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. The states have enacted legislation that limits gender-affirming care for youth, curtails drag shows, and gives individuals the right to discriminate based on religious beliefs, among other things. O’Donnell argued that these laws pose a clear threat to New York State residents visiting these states and send a message that LGBTQ+ people are not welcome or safe.
New York has taken similar steps in the past, such as when it barred travel to Mississippi in 2016 due to an anti-marriage equality law and restricted travel to North Carolina in response to the state’s transphobic bathroom bill. In response to O’Donnell’s letter, a spokesperson for Hochul said that the governor “is an ally and steadfast supporter of the trans community, and we will review the letter.” Q
