Republican lawmakers push to ban gay conversion therapy in Utah

[jamestroll]

Utah is actually not as conservative as you would think. It is just another example of tribal voting. Mormons will vote for a rattlesnake if there was a (R) next to the name in the ballot box.

Utah passed an anti-discrimination bill through its legislature that Gary Herbert signed. The state also has an impressive mass transit system for being anchored by a notoriously spread metropolitan area. Plus many of its state level politicians are rather moderate on state issues but have this MUH LOCAL CONTROL attitude.

Salt Lake County still votes more far more Republican compared to what demographics would suggest due to the LDS tribal vote.

[PSOL]

Why didn’t the LDS church shut down the bill? I have no doubt that they don’t like this and they have enough sway to order any Mormon legislator to vote it down or face excommunication.

[pbrower2a]

Why didn’t the LDS church shut down the bill? I have no doubt that they don’t like this and they have enough sway to order any Mormon legislator to vote it down or face excommunication.

My suspicion: the LDS Church has enough trouble keeping people who would leave if they could not be Mormons if homosexual. People can choose their religious affiliation, but they do not choose being straight or homosexual.

Conversion therapy is psychological and medical malpractice. Mormonism is considered a cult in some parts of American life, and Mormons probably think that the sort of conversion therapy used against gays and lesbians could be used against someone who becomes a Mormon elsewhere.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Well, there it is. Trump-era Republicans are actually getting a thumbs up from me today. It feels dirty saying that.

This. It’s feel weird for Republicans to be doing anything that actually helps people.

[GP270watch]

 Gay conversion therapy is torture for minors. No hyperbole either, it's a form of torture and nothing else really.

[TDAS04]

Excellent news.

[Bojack Horseman]

Mormons are having to deal with homosexuality. It may be that conservative, traditionalist people are better able to deal with something that goes mainstream. When the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in Utah, the government told public officials that they might not have to sign marriage licenses for same-sex marriages, but that they would have to find someone who would. Would they rather have gays among them or break up extended families?

If anything, it is homophobia that presents itself as a cause for 'conversion therapy'.  Violent homophobia is dangerous to potential targets (and one does not need be a homosexual to be at risk) and a great risk for criminal conduct.

Does anyone know what causes homosexuality, anyway?

This is a good Ted Talk on the subject. The theory is that pretty much everybody carries the gay gene, but it's epigenetics that cause it to be used in certain people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Khn_z9FPmU