8 | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | NEWS
Qsaltlake.com |
Issue 294 | FEBRUARY 14, 2019
First lesbian United Methodist Church bishop speaks in Salt Lake
Jenny Wilson elected Salt Lake County Mayor Delegates of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party met Saturday morning to elect a county mayor among four candidates to replace nowRep. Ben McAdams. Jenny Wilson received the most votes and was elected Salt Lake County Mayor. Wilson has a long history of working towards LGBT rights. In 2009, QSaltLake Magazine named her, along with then-Salt Lake City Council members Deeda Seed and Jill Remington Love, People of the Decade. Wilson worked tirelessly while on the Salt Lake County Council 20 years ago to provide benefits for partners of gay and transgender county employees. The County Council, freshly under Democratic majority, voted 6–3 for such benefits in February, 2009. She also was instrumental in securing protections for LGBT people in hiring and housing in the County, among the first few municipalities in the state to do so. Most recently, Wilson ran for the United States Senate against Mitt Romney.
Wilson faced former congressional candidate Shireen Ghorbani, County Council member Arlyn Bradshaw, and perennial candidate Stone Fonua for the seat. Q
Karen P. Oliveto was elevated two years ago to bishop of the denomination’s Mountain Sky Area, which includes 400 congregations in Utah, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado and became the first open lesbian to hold the title. On Jan. 13, Oliveto spoke for the first time in the state at the historic First United Methodist Church in downtown Salt Lake City. Next month, church delegates will meet in St. Louis in a special session to determine if
UofU LGBT Resource Center names new director BY TONY HOBDAY
Clare Lemke, the assistant director of the Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success at Iowa State University, has been named the new director of the University of Utah LGBT Resource Center. Lemke is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, native, who received a bachelor’s degree in English and women’s studies at the University of Iowa before joining the Center for
LGBTQIA+ Student Success in 2015. During her time there her main focuses were on transgender inclusion and gender equity. “Clare is extremely talented,” Brad Freihoefer, director of the Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success, told the Iowa State Daily. “I think she has brought our team to a new level when it comes to not only executing programs with excellence from beginning to
a split will take place over the ordination of LGBT clergy.
Oliveto preached that people of all walks are part of the church. “All, by God’s abundant grace, are a part of Christ’s body. Q end but doing so by working on a deep level with students.” Lemke will take over as director of the UofU LGBT Resource Center early next month, replacing Kai Medina-Martinez (and the interim director Gabriella “Bri” Blanchard). Medina-Martinez, a licensed clinical social worker, became the LGBT Resource Center’s director in June of 2007. During their tenure they received the Pete Suazo Community Service Award in 2010; secured the Alliance House as the first gender-neutral student housing on campus; launched the first LGBT Alumni Association, a network of UofU graduates and those who attended the university to help guide new students. Their staff were pivotal in getting the UofU ranked as the second most LGBT-inclusive school in 2018. With big shoes to fill, Lemke’s determination for further transgender inclusion and gender equity may just be a great fit. Q
