SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Protesters have called on Utah state leaders to denounce homophobia and transphobia after the collapse of a measure banning LGBTQ conversion therapy.
The Deseret News reports the Monday protest was organized by University of Utah students who sent letters to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the house.
The group sent a different letter to Republican Rep. Karianne Lisonbee asking her to apologize for past Facebook comments and for sponsoring revisions to the conversion therapy ban that advocates said gutted the measure.
Lisonbee briefly met with protest organizers, expressed regret and said she wants to continue discussing the issue.
Lisonbee has come under scrutiny for 2013 Facebook posts connecting a “homosexual lifestyle” with suicide risk and suggesting people should have access to therapy aimed at overcoming “same-sex attraction.”
