Young People in Utah Want a Representative in Their State to Apologize Given Her Gay Conversion Therapy Bill Rhett Wilkinson Follow Mar 12, 2019 · 2 min read

Joining at least a dozen young folks, Andrew Pollock said, who protested just outside the doors to the floor of the Utah House of Representatives, Pollock stood in opposition to a bill from Republican Utah Rep. Karianne Lisonbee’s substitute Utah House Bill 399. It does not include efforts to alter a child’s gender identity from the definition of conversion therapy. Additionally, it allows counselors to perform talk therapy with the intent of altering a child’s sexual orientation. Pollock told Beehive Blunders that the ralliers wanted Lisonbee to resign before the organizers changed their request March 10 to an apology.

The ralliers also wanted “both Democrats and Republicans to condemn homophobic and transphobic statements,” Pollock said.

“The fact that we have representatives like Rep. Lisonbee just making these homophobic remarks and denying even basic protection for sexual minorities, that’s really just, it’s like a slap in the face,” said Pollock, 25.

Many in the group protested for two-and-a-half hours, and many of Pollock’s friends are members of the LGBTQ+ community, Pollock said.

Democratic Utah Rep. Angela Romero and GOP Utah Rep. Karianne Lisonbee talked on the House floor while young people protested changes Lisonbee made to a bill that not include efforts to alter a child’s gender identity from the definition of conversion therapy and additionally allows counselors to perform talk therapy with the intent of altering a child’s sexual orientation. (Julia Ritchey)

Democratic Utah Rep. Angela Romero and Lisonbee talked on the House floor while the young people protested, led by Ermiya Fanaeian. Pollock didn’t know if Lisonbee ever spoke with the advocates.

Ermiya Fanaeian and a young man who identified as “Code” called GOP Utah Rep. Karianne Lisonbee over changes she made to a bill that does not include efforts to alter a child’s gender identity from the definition of conversion therapy and additionally allows counselors to perform talk therapy with the intent of altering a child’s sexual orientation. (Kel Lyons)

Fanaeian and an advocate who identified as “Code” called Lisonbee, but her voicemail was full, City Weekly reporter Kel Lyons tweeted.

What bothers Pollock most about gay conversion therapy is that contributes to an increased risk of youth suicide, he said.

“It’s just an attack on who you are,” Pollock said. “I don’t even view it as a political issue. This is just a human issue; human rights. So really, both sides should be able to be on this.”

Lisonbee made social media posts that were reported by the Associated Press that Pollock said he found “disheartening,” “insulting” and “kind of disgusting.”

Pollock did not know if the young folks had additional advocacy plans.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert expressed support for Lisonbee’s changes to a bill that would have banned conversion therapy in the right-leaning state. The alterations were quickly followed by the end of any possible passage of the original legislation, aside from the substitute bill.

Equality Utah Executive Director Troy Williams criticized the governor’s support and resigned from Herbert’s suicide-prevention task force.

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