SALT LAKE CITY — A bill that would conduct a study on transgender youth has passed out of a House committee.
Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, acknowledged he originally proposed a ban on hormone therapy for transgender youth, but changed it significantly. He told the House Health and Human Services Committee he welcomed good data and information first.
"We're trying to get all sides here," Rep. Daw said.
House Bill 449 now would have the Utah Department of Health find someone to conduct a study on the effects of hormone therapies for transgender youth. Public comment on the proposed study was not really in opposition to it.
Maryann Christensen, the executive director of the Utah Eagle Forum, said her group originally put a ban as her highest priority, but would support a study.
"It's heartbreaking to me that we are not moving forward to ban the practice," she testified.
Candice Metzler of Transgender Education Advocates of Utah urged the legislature to put more resources into helping transgender people instead of politicizing them.
The bill passed unanimously out of committee.
