SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says concerns from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about a perceived lack of safeguards for religious beliefs in a proposed Utah ban on so-called conversion therapy raise legitimate questions.
But the Republican governor said Thursday at his monthly news conference on KUED-TV that they can be worked out and that he's still hopeful a ban will be in place soon.
Herbert, a member of the church, in June called on state regulators to craft a rule after a state legislative proposal failed.
Church government affairs director Marty Stephens said this week the faith wants a ban, but that exemptions for religious leaders and parents and grandparents who are mental health therapists need to be added to the rule. They were in the legislative proposal, which the church didn't oppose.
