QSaltLake Magazine -Issue 341 - November 2022

The top national and world news since last issue you should know

BY CRAIG OGAN

Cuba says ‘si’ to marriage equality

Cubans voted on a sweep ing “family law” code that allows marriage and adop tion equality. The margin of approval was low for a country where most elections result in victory margins of over 90%. The measure was approved by 66.9 to 33.1 per cent. Because there were over 400 provisions in addition to marriage and adoption, it’s hard to tell what drove the lower percentage. The new code allows surrogate pregnancies, broader rights for grandparents, protection of the elderly, and measures against gender violence.

Wiener at Folsom Street Fair becomes big deal

Twitter-types criticized California State Senator Scott Wiener for attending the Fol som Street Fair. The annual fetish and sex fair in the last few years has been curtailed or postponed for COVID reasons and that is the subject of most criticism. One Twit posted, “The same politician who kept your kid out of school for two years because covid is attending gay orgies during monkeypox.” Wiener has been a proponent of most things gay and lesbian in the California state legislature and says he’s gotten used to the barrage of criticism

whenever he is involved in any LGBT cause or activity.

Wizard of Oz (sign) remakes

Even though there are no “overt” LGBT themes in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” it is an LGBT classic. Two new remakes of the movie are in the works with one promising to be explicitly LGBT-inclu sive. Kenya Barris, the creator of TV shows “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish,” recently told “Variety” the new version will feature a diverse range of characters. Instead of Depression Era and Dustbowl themes and images, Barris says, “Now we’re going to turn a mirror on where we’re at right now and take disparate characters from the LGBTQ community, from different cultural communities, and socioeconomic communities.”

The other version will be a more straightforward remake of the original movie, says Nicole Kassell, best known for directing “The Watchmen” miniseries. The 1939 Judy Garland version was also a remake of the first movie, a silent movie filmed in 1925.

Two gay men vie for one congressional seat

The 2022 election has a historic number of LGBT candidates on ballots across the country. According to the LGBTQ Victory Fund, 1,095 LGBT people have run or are still running for office at all levels this year.

In a first for LGBT politicos, there are two gay candidates going head-to-head for a U. S. Congressional Seat. Demo crat Robert Zimmerman and Republican George Santos are running to fill the seat vacated by Democrat Tom Suozzi in New York’s 3rd Congressional District. The district went for the current

president by 10 points in 2020, but the race is considered competitive by the authorita tive “Cook Political Report.”

NBA star fined for saying ‘queer’

The National Basketball Association fined Minnesota Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards $40,000 for writing “queer” in an Instagram post. It is unclear if it was the word or the context. The post shows Edwards in a vehicle and rolling down a window and commenting that a group of shirtless men he is passing on the street are “queer.” He immediately apolo gized on Twitter, “What I said was immature, hurtful, and disrespectful, and I’m incredi bly sorry” he wrote. The NBA has a zero-tolerance policy for posts it finds distasteful, fining the Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant $50,000 for what it called a homophobic and misogynistic private message that was made public.

TERF alienates Mormons

That notorious bigot, the TERF, J. K. Rowling, has now ticked off Mormons. She was defending herself against charges of being a TERF when she posted on Twitter, “It’s like when Joseph Smith found the golden plates and nobody else was allowed to look at them.” “The Salt Lake Tri bune” rounded up the usual suspects to show how angry and disappointed Mormons are about her comment. Apparently, they are upset that they no longer can see the “Harry Potter” books as faith-promoting. Many saw their lives in the books. Mor mon men started dressing like Harry Potter, at least in hair and glasses. Some thought the “Lord Voldemort” character was based on deceased Mor

mon figure, Boyd K. Packer. Packer’s name is no longer spoken in Mormon circles for fear he’ll come back to life.

Students get sassy over Sasse

Comments Nebraska Sen ator Ben Sasse made about marriage equality in 2015 may queer his appointment as president of the University of Florida. When the Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling, “Obergefell v. Hodg es,” came out he called it a “disappointment” and opined the “sanctity of marriage” is one of his top priorities in Congress. About 1000 U. of F. staff and students stormed a campus building where Sasse was holding a town hall. The crowd was reacting to the announcement Sasse was the sole finalist for the presidential job. Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate in 2022, he had led a small private Lutheran college in Nebraska for several years.

Beloved cartoon character is out.

Just in time for the 2023 National Coming Out Day, a cartoon character is revealed as a lesbian. Non-pre-adolescent observers of ”Scoo by-Doo” claim there have been “decades of fan speculation and producer hints,” that the character, Velma Dinkley, was a lesbian.

The sapphic portrayal is confirmed in the fran chise’s latest movie: “Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo.” So momentous was the portrayal that Google started showering searches for the character with lesbian and progressive Pride and lesbian flags on its search engine. One Twitter user wrote, “Everyone should Google ‘Velma Dinkley’ right

now. Just that, just her name, I swear, the payoff is huge.” A small but significant victory in the quest for equality.

motivate the U.S. president to speak to his Russian coun terpart is the fate of WNBA star Brittney Griner. She was arrested for smuggling drugs into Russia and has been sentenced to nine years in the Russian pokey. The U.S. pres ident told a journalist he’ll meet with the Russian Presi dent. “Look, I have no inten tion of meeting with him, but look, if he came to me at the G-20 and said, ‘I want to talk about the release of Griner,’ I would meet with him.” Oth erwise, it’s apparently a firm “nyet” to avoiding nuclear war or lowering the cost of oil.

Supreme Court to hear case of anti-LGBTQ web designer

National Transgender Bill of Rights

response to the rash of anti-transgender legislation, a group of House Democrats proposed the “Transgender Bill of Rights” in an attempt to codify federal protections for transgender Americans. The proposal would codify the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County which protects gay and transgender employees from experiencing discrimination. The bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to explicitly include protections

characteristics and

identity, expand access to gender-affirming care, and ban conversion therapy.

Supreme Court attack and roll back the fundamen tal rights of trans people across our country, and as state legislatures across the country target our trans community with hateful, bigoted, and transphobic attacks, we are standing up and saying enough is enough.”

Jayapal also states that this proposal would ensure trans people are allowed to live “full, happy lives.” The bill currently has 97 co-spon sors — all Democrats.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio used the image of a drag queen in a Facebook ad campaign and was immediate ly slapped back by “Lil Miss Hot Mess,” whose picture he used. In the ad, the senator intoned, “The radical left will destroy children if we don’t stop them. They indoctrinate children, try to turn boys into girls.” Lil Miss intoned right back, “We’re simply out here reading books to children, encouraging them to use their imagination to envision a more just and fabulous world.” Outrage to Rubio’s attack of “Lil Miss,” who hails from Arizona and performs in California, came from some Florida drag queens who perform in Florida and prob ably could use the publicity.

Griner release may get Biden/Putin talking

With the Ukrainian War, threats of nuclear weapons use, and the cost of oil, it would seem the presidents of the U.S. and Russia would have something to discuss at the G-20 Summit in Novem ber. The only thing that will

The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear oral arguments on Dec. 5 in the case of a Colorado-based web designer, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, who sued to challenge state’s anti-discrimination law as she was refusing to work on websites for same-sex couples. Hate group Alliance Defend ing Freedom appealed a lower court ruling that Colorado had a compelling interest in pro tecting the “dignity interests” of members of marginalized groups through its law.

Clinics for trans youth ask Fed for help against attacks

coalition of major health organizations are calling on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigation threats against providers of

transition-related med ical care for youth, asserting ongoing hostility, including bomb threats and threats of personal violence. The threats, have had significant impact on providers and services to patients, and staffers facing “increased threats via social media – including to their personal accounts.”.

Seattle Democractic Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and co-chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force, says, “As we witness Republicans and an extremist

The proposal comes after the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, and Justice Clar ence Thomas called for the re evaluation of other landmark decisions including federal protections for birth control, and same-gender marriage.

While it was introduced June 28, no action has been taken on the bill.

Josef Benzon,

Lil Miss Hot Mess versus Marco Rubio

Burgess Owens signs on to national ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill

House Republicans introduced a bill that would ban any entity that receives federal money from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with children under 10, going far beyond Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.

Thirty-two House Republicans, includ ing Utah Rep. Burgess Owens, signed on as co-sponsors of the bill introduced by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.). The “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act” would cut federal funding to libraries, school districts, hospitals, government entities, or other organizations for “hosting or promoting any program, event, or litera ture involving sexually-oriented material.”

The bill defines “sexually-oriented material” as “any topic involving gender identity, gender dysphoria, transgen derism, sexual orientation, or related topics.” This could include an elemen tary school teacher keeping a picture of their spouse on their desk or a rainbow flag sign at a hospital if kids enter the hospital. It’s unclear if simply allowing an LGBTQ person to work in a role where they interact with children would be considered a violation of the law.

The bill would also ban “any lewd or lascivious depiction or description of human genitals.” Rather than defining what exactly the bill prohibiteds, it allows parents to sue if they believe a government entity violated the law.

“The Democrat Party and their cultural allies are on a misguided crusade to im merse young children in sexual imagery and radical gender ideology,” Johnson said in announcing his bill. “Planned Parenthood, for example, is encouraging legislatures and school boards around the country to implement sexual education curricula that teaches radical gender the ory to children under 10. Children should be learning about reading, writing, and mathematics, not radical gender theory.”

Johnson said the bill also tar gets family-friendly drag shows and drag story hours.

Opponents of “Don’t Say Gay” bills say that they isolate LGBTQ youth and the kids of LGBTQ parents, teach ing them that they and their fami lies are too shameful to discuss in public, contributing to the outsized suicide rate among LGBTQ youth.

“Last year, nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth contemplated suicide, but that didn’t stop 33 of my GOP colleagues from introduc ing a federal ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill today,”

Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY) wrote on Twitter. “I’m confident the people intro ducing this bill are more likely to go to Hell than the kids they’re causing harm.”

With Democrats controlling the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House, this bill has no chance of passing. Instead, it was likely introduced just before the midterm elections to make it an issue for Republicans to campaign on and drive their base to the polls. Q

Nearly 3/4 of Utahns support same-sex marriage

A Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics survey found that 72 percent of Utah residents agree that marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional mar riages. The poll shows 23 percent disagree, and 5 percent are unsure.

“For a state that less than 20 years ago passed laws and a constitution al amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage, there has been a seismic shift in opinion,” Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah told the DeseretNews

In 2004, Utah voters passed a con stitutional amendment to define marriage as between “one man and one woman” by a 2-1 margin.

In 2014, shortly after Judge Rob ert Shelby ruled that Utah’s laws and constitutional amendment were un constutional, the same polling group found that 57 percent of Utahns were against same-sex marriage.

“Now, it has majority support from nearly every group across the political, demographic and re ligious spectrum,” Perry said.

Nearly all poll respondents who identified themselves as Democrats support same-sex marriage, at 94 percent, while a majority of Repub licans also agree, at 61 percent.

Forty-two percent of those who identified themselves as “very conserva tive” say all marriages should be treated the same, while 69 percent of “somewhat conservative” voters say the same.

Of LDS Church members, the poll found that 76 percent of “somewhat active” and “not active” and 58 percent who are “very active” agree that mar riages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid.

Younger Utahns showed 89 percent support, and no age category was under 50%. Seventy-five percent of women and 70% of men support same-sex marriage, according to the poll.

St. George tells city manager to ‘sashay away’ over drag show approval

A group of ultra-conservative city residents and leaders were successful in ousting St. George City manager Adam Lenhard from his position over his refusal to reject an application to hold a drag show to be recorded for HBO’s “We’re Here.” In his announcement in early October, Lenhard said he was leaving “to pursue other opportunities.” Recent revela tions, however, show that he was pushed from his position in a hastily called “emergen cy closed-door meeting.”

The Salt Lake Tribune received an anonymous 5-page letter written with details of the closed-door meeting where the council negotiated a 6-figure settle ment to have Lenhard leave his position on Nov. 1.

The brouhaha started May 25, when “We’re Here” producers Buckingham TV turned in a special event permit application for the June 2–3 event. St. George has a requirement that permits must give 45 days’ notice before the event, but that requirement is almost always waived. The city manag er instructed city staff to approve the application.

City staff drew up a rental agreement on Thursday, May 26, for all parties to sign. That night, Councilwoman Mi chelle Tanner went after Len hard on her Facebook page.

“WE THE PEOPLE should be running this city, NOT unelected bureaucrats. WE THE PEOPLE elect a legislative body to represent us,” Tanner wrote. “I do not trust any staff member who

wouldn’t look at a permit application for an HBO TVMA rated production being held at a children’s venue and think to themselves “hmm rather than revising contracts, breaking ordinances, and pushing this through in re cord time, maybe this should be a decision for ELECTED

REPRESENTATIVES OF WE THE PEOPLE to make.”

An emergency closed-door meeting was held Friday, May 27 at 9:40 p.m., where Lenhard was ordered to cancel the permit for the show.

The next day, Saturday, May 28 (the beginning of Memorial Day Weekend), Lenhard emailed the mem bers of the city council. The email was made public by Tanner-supporter Dana McCabe on her Facebook wall, which she shared with a number of ultra-conservative groups through Facebook.

“I was unable to fulfill the assignment given to me last night to cancel the rental agreement with the produc tion crew behind the “We’re Here” HBO television show,” Lenhard wrote. “I realize that allowing this event to take place on City property may generate criticism from some members of our community. This is a tough spot to be in.”

Lenhard wrote that the crew had a First Amendment right to use Town Square Park and that it would be discrim inatory to deny the permit.

“I cannot knowingly act in a way that could bring liability to our organization, nor can I ask my staff to do it,” he continued. “It would violate my professional commitments

to protect the rights of all members of our community.”

The show went on, draw ing around 2,000 people who started filling the park at 6 p.m. for the 9 p.m. start. An anonymous email was sent the day of the show, stating, “I hope things like this become mass casualty events because that’s what it’s going to take to purge this sickness. Keep pushing your perversions.” A call to police said that “100 drag queens” in masks showed up in buses and were chasing kids at the park.

Controversy continued after the event was packed and headed to the next town. St. George citizens were calling for Lenhard to resign over the “fast-track” he and his staff approved the event permit. Comments on McCabe’s Facebook wall said that people told Lenhard “to his face” to resign, to which he told them he would not.

On July 14, at the end of a regularly scheduled city council meeting, Coun cilmember Jimmie Hughes made a motion to adjourn to a closed session to “discuss character and professional competence or physical or mental health of an individ ual and potential litigation.”

During that meeting, May or Michele Randall asked for a non-binding vote to see where the councilmembers were on Lenhard’s continued employ

ment. The council voted in favor of asking him to leave.

What followed was an investigation into whether Lenhard could sue the city, and whether Lenhard would prevail if he did so. A media tor drafted a settlement letter that would allow Lenhard to resign rather than be fired.

In the council’s regular Sept. 1 meeting, an item on the agenda with no descrip tion, titled, “Consider approv al of a Confidential Settle ment Agreement,” was voted on and passed with a 4–1 vote, with Tanner voting no.

In early October, Lenhard announced he would leave his $275,000 job on Nov. 1 “to pursue other opportunities.”

“I love St. George. This is a world-class city,” he said during a goodbye speech in his last city council meeting. He said he would stay in St. George and was looking forward to some “fun opportunities.”

“The City wishes Mr. Len hard all the best in his future endeavors and would like to publicly thank him for the ser vice he has provided the City over the past four and a half years,” a joint release from the mayor and city council read.

Tanner has made at least three separate statements saying she’s not homophobic or even against drag queens, because she has a gay brother and a friend who does drag.

Teen sentenced for hate crime in Sandy, Utah

The teen who was charged with a hate crime for assaulting and taunting a young Sandy man as he hugged his boyfriend goodnight was sentenced Wednesday in Third District Juvenile Court.

The 17-year-old was arrested and charged with simple assault with a hate crime enhancement after punching Christian Peacock in the face and yelling homophobic slurs on the July 30 attack on Christian Peacock of Sandy, Utah.

Juvenile Court Judge Steven Beck sen tenced the teen to nearly 30 days of time served, probation, service hours working with the LGBTQ community, and resti tution in an amount to be determined as the victim’s attorneys assess the costs.

“The impact of your actions goes beyond what happened that night,”

When

the judge said in his ruling. “I believe from the psychological report I read that you are starting to understand that. That is what the juvenile justice system is about — kids learning to take responsibility for their actions.”

Beck terminated a previous order for home detention. He called for further psychological evaluation and ordered the teen to volunteer with an LGBTQ organization “under circum stances comfortable for everyone.”

“I think this would be helpful for everybody involved,” Beck said. “It is important that we learn from each other.”

Beck ordered the gathering of DNA, a restriction on ownership of any weapons, a restriction on contact with Peacock and his boyfriend, and the payment of

restitution. He further ordered the teen to write an apology letter to Peacock after attending an empathy class.

An attorney for Peacock, Paul Burke of Ray Quinney & Nebeker, spoke on his behalf, saying that the assault was a difficult experience.

“This was a hate crime,” Burke said. “Christian was targeted for who he is, proven by the words that came out of [the teen’s] mouth.”

“The impact of this crime is some thing Christian will live with for a long time,” Burke continued. “He was attacked for who he is, where he lives.”

In social media, it has been stated that Christian no longer feels safe in his home, so he stays with his boyfriend. When he does return home, he is greeted by bright security lights that the family purchased because of threats they have received.

“Every time I drive up, I remember what happened because of those bright lights and cameras that turn on and talk to me as I walk to my door,” Pea cock said in a statement. “I’m really hoping I can just stop thinking about it all and concentrate on school and my relationship with my boyfriend.”

The teen’s mother told the court that his arrest has been a “good experience for him.”

“This has been a turnaround in [the teen’s] life,” she said. “He sees things differently and has more empathy.”

After the sentencing, Peacock’s lawyers

said they were satisfied.

“We appreciate how seriously the state took this case,” said attorney Chris Wharton of Wharton Law, PLLC. “This is obviously not just an important day for our client, but for anybody in the LGBTQ+ community.”

Wharton said that the charge was enhanced.

“It was enhanceable as a hate crime, so that enabled the state to charge it one level above what he would normally be charged for as an assault,” Wharton explained.

Wharton also expressed satisfaction with the sen tence of community service at the Utah Pride Center.

“It’s very common when you have a hate crime or a bias-motivated crime for there to be some kind of commu nity service component back to the community that has been targeted,” Wharton said.

Wharton said that the kind of community service that the teen will ultimate ly perform will be worked out with the Utah juvenile probation department.

“I think [the sentence] gives a powerful message that, particularly in Salt Lake County and in the state of Utah that bias-motivated crime is going to be punished to the greatest extent of the law,” Wharton said. “We need people to feel that they are going to be safe in Salt

Lake County and in Utah.”

As for the others involved in the attack, Christian Pea cock’s mother, Stefanie Pea cock, has been contacting San dy City Police asking when she can expect arrests, but there has been no reply. Ste fanie and her family, accord ing to Medium writer James Finn, “did the job the Sandy Police should have done, identifying the men in the car, all of whom are legal adults, and all of whom should be equally culpable in (at least) the ‘initiating a riot’ charge. She’s incensed that [Hayden] Stowell, seen by multiple wit nesses behaving in a sexually lewd manner to her then17-year-old son, has faced no criminal consequences.”

Dozens of people were on the plaza of the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse with rainbow flags and signs to show support for the Peacock family and the LGBTQ community. Among them were members of Mama Dragons, Dragon Dads, and Project Rainbow Utah. One man drove the night from California just to be there to support the family.

“I was there because [LGBTQ] youth need to know they matter by us being pres ent,” said Project Rainbow’s Dallas Rivas. “It’s easy to tell our kids we love them but being there shows them.” Q

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Utah Legislature passes bill to prohibit transgender care for minors to 2023 session

During an interim session of the Utah Legislature, the Health and Human Services Interim Committee advanced a proposal to ban gender-affirming surgeries on minors in Utah, teeing up a debate on the contentious issue for the upcoming 2023 session.

Saying it was “with some reluctance that [he] enter into the policy debate regarding the health care of transgender minors,” Republican state Sen. Mi chael Kennedy opened by misstating the position of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society in treating transgender people under the age of 18. What he skips over is the requirement the organizations suggest, which is the participation of a reputable doctor with knowledge of transgender medical issues.

WPATH gives guidance on treating minors who are on the onset of puber ty, including that the minor must have “demonstrated a long-lasting and intense pattern of expressed or suppressed gender nonconformity or gender dysphoria, gender dysphoria emerging or wors ening with the onset of puberty, the adolescent’s situation and functioning being stable enough to start treatment, and the adolescent giving informed consent (in the case of an emancipated minor) or the parents or other guard ians consenting to the treatment.

The United States division of WPATH has made several statements regarding state intrusion in the decisions between a doctor and the minor and minor’s family.

“The US Professional Association for Transgender Health believes that decision-making regarding the use of hor mone therapy or puberty-blocking medi cine in transgender adolescents should in volve physicians, psychologists, and other health personnel, parents or guardians, adolescents, and other community stake

holders identified on a case-by-case basis,” USPATH wrote in a statement in April. “USPATH opposes recent efforts in sev eral states to restrict parental rights and direct the practice of medicine through legislative or executive action. These efforts lack scientific merit, and in some cases misinterpret or distort available data, or otherwise lend credence to indi vidual opinions in the literature that are at odds with the overwhelming majority of experts and publications in this field.”

USPATH goes on to praise the Idaho Legislature for its restraint in passing leg islation that overrides decisions made be tween families and medical professionals.

“Fortunately, there are state govern ments which have examined this issue and have come to a more scientifically grounded conclusion. Specifically, we applaud the Idaho State Senate Majority Caucus, who, when recently presented with proposed legislation from the Idaho State House of Representatives (HB675) which would outlaw all hormone therapy and puberty blockade for transgender minors, declined to act and issued a statement that such a law would interfere with parental rights and decision making that should be based on discussions between physicians, parents, and children, and would be out of step with the recom mendations of the Idaho Medical Associ ation,” USPATH’s statement continued.

“We encourage other state legislative and executive bodies and agencies to fol low Idaho’s lead on this matter and defer setting policy and practice guidelines to clinicians, scientists, and researchers in this field,” the statement ended.

Kennedy also questioned the scien tific basis for transgender treatments.

“The evidence for whether or not this actually does what we hope it does for these individuals is weak. It’s available, but it’s weak. All I’m asking for is that we

be thoughtful about what is a novel treat ment before we open this up to whatever anybody wants to do,” he testified.

WPATH’s published statements say otherwise, saying “based on clinical and peer-reviewed evidence that gender affirming/confirming treatments and sur gical procedures, properly indicated and performed as provided by the Standards of Care, have proven to be beneficial and effective in the treatment of individuals with transsexualism or gender dysphoria.”

Sen. Jake Anderegg, R-Lehi, asked a clarification question by quoting from a controversial study that found suicidality increased, rather than decreased, after transgender surgeries.

The study that conservatives use in these debates is from the UK and involved only 27 participants that were chosen by self-selection rather than randomly selected.

A 2021 study published by Harvard Medical School in JAMA Surgery found that gender-affirming surgery is asso ciated with improved mental health outcomes among transgender people.

Others in the committee hearing stated that the passing of such legislation would most likely result in litigation.

“I think the guarantee we absolutely can count on is if we pass this leg islation, there will be a lawsuit. The state will be involved in very, very expensive litigation. And I do believe the state will lose,” said Rep. Jennifer Dailey Provost, D-Salt Lake City.

Kennedy’s bill would prohibit both surgical and hormonal treatments for transgender minors, with some excep tions for intersex minors with specific DNA or physical characteristics.

The motion to pass the legis lation favorably to the 2023 leg islative session passed 4–1 in the Senate and 8–4 in the House. Q

Utah Gay Football League brings home national championship title

For the first time in its 16 years, the Utah Gay Football League brought home a national tournament championship title.

This year UGFL’s tournament team, The Utah Fire, traveled to Gay Bowl XXII in Honolulu, Hawaii, along with 50 other teams from across the U.S. and Canada, and won the Division C title.

Nearly 1,000 flag football traveled to the island of Oahu October 7–9 for the National Gay Flag Football League tournament, making it the largest LGBTQ+ event ever in Hawaii. It was the kick-off to Honolulu Pride Month.

Planning for the 12-field event began years ago. Honolulu was chosen as the host city for 2020, but all that excitement ended when the pandemic forced the Ha waii Gay Flag Football League to cancel.

“We were super disappointed about it, but we also took it as an oppor tunity to kind of reset ourselves and use this as a learning base,” Gay Bowl XXII Tournament Director Ty Law told Hawaii News Now before the event. “Now we can take it to the next level and complete it for this one.”

“Playing right next to the beach

in front of Diamond Head, like, it’s amazing,” Law told Metro Source.

In all, 135 games were played over the three-day event.

UGFL was formed in Salt Lake City in 2006. It is made up of people from the LGBTQ+ community and allies.

In 2019 the Utah Fire team made it to the final game against Wash ington, D.C., and fell just short of claiming the title that year.

“Honolulu proved to be our year,” said John Maznicki. “The team had been prac ticing for this since the spring. Finally, we played seven games in three days.

The Utah Fire rematched the D.C. team in the semifinals, beating them, and went on to face San Diego, one of the consistently top teams in the tournament, for the championship.

Ralph Ingersoll, the Utah Fire cen ter and linemen, said, “This is one of the best tournaments I’ve been a part of since our beginning.”

“We all are looking forward to tak ing this win for Utah and bringing it to the Sin City Classic in January, our local league play this spring and summer, and back to Gaybowl 2023 in Seattle,” Maznicki said. Q

‘Angels’ block anti-LGBTQ hate at BYU ‘Back to School Pride” event

In response to threats of an anti-LGBT protest of the RaYnbow Collective’s “Back to School Pride” event, welcom ing LGBT BYU Students at the begin ning of the school year, several people donned themselves in angel wings to separate the negativity from the event.

In the end, says Ryann Combe who was photographing the event, love won out.

“Protestors showed up with hate but as I was capturing it all. I can fully tell you that love wins in the end,” she wrote on Instagram alongside photos she took. “People from our event imme diately took action. They all stood up, held hands, and built a human chain full of love to block out such negativ ity. The angels emerged right before our beautiful drag artists performed — blocking the hate from emerging into the safe open space that was built.”

Utah County conservatives were riled into action when ultra-conser vative online magazine The Federalist publicized the group’s event, focus ing on children and the risque names of some of the drag performers.

“A Utah nonprofit is sponsoring a ‘Back to School Pride Drag Extrav aganza’ on Saturday with performers whose names sound like ‘anal leakage’ and ‘genitalia’ when pronounced,” the story started. “The Provo-based LGBT group, ‘RaYnbow Collective,’ is pro moting the performance as an ‘ALL AGES, Family-Friendly Drag Show’ on its flyers. The RaYnbow Collective did

not respond to The Federalist’s inquiry about how the organization can guaran tee the show will be ‘family-friendly.’”

The group’s social media posts about the event were inundated by hateful com ments and borderline threats of violence.

RaYnbow Collective organizers changed the social media graphics to remove the “offensive” names, but the swell against the event was too far along. The group decided to go ahead with the event, notify ing Provo police of the threats against them.

About 100 protestors showed up at the event, shouting homophobic epithets, “pedophile,” “groomer,” holding up anti-LGBTQ+ signs, and yelling quotes from the Book of Mormon at the attendees.

In the week prior to the event, BYU officials tossed the group’s pam phlets for incoming freshmen that contained LGBTQ+ resources after originally agreeing to include them in a welcome pack. The group prom ised new pamphlets would be handed out at the Back to School event.

Organizers told the press that the event was meant to connect stu dents with LGBTS-friendly business es, organizations, and resources.

“[The event is] really inclusive, so we

encourage Provo community members to come join. Anyone who is queer is wel come, anyone who has family members who are queer, or if anyone’s just curious to come check it out,” said Maddison Tenney, founder and executive director of the RaYnbow Collective. “We worked re ally hard to make sure it’s safe with Provo police, and that it’s really family friendly.”

In the past year, countless protests against similar “family-friendly drag shows” have touched off elements of far-right groups opposed to LGBTQ+ equality and people, most of which have been spurred on by the infa mous Libs of TikTok account tar geting the LGBTQ+ community.

The angel costumes are a strategy famously used by the friends of gay University of Wyoming student Mat thew Shepard in 1999 when the two men accused of killing him went on trial. Shepard, 21, was beaten, tortured, and left hanging from a wooden prairie fence in October 1998 after being attacked for his being gay. Shepard died six days later.

The Angel Action Wings Project

blocked signs held by members of the Westboro Baptist Church led by Fred Phelps who protested outside the Albany County courtroom in Laramie, Wyoming with signs that said “God hates fags.”

Several groups have since replicated the display, including at the funerals for the victims of the Orlando, Florida mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in 2016.

“Religion has been weaponized against the queer community for a long time,” Tenney told The Salt Lake Tribune . “But that needs to end. I believe there’s nothing more divine than who I am as a queer child of God.”

Equality Utah releases 2022 voter guide

Equality Utah released their 2022 voter guide as well as endorsements from their political action committee arm. In the guide, the group grades each candi date based on their responses to a list of questions relating to LGBTQ issues.

The grades are listed below. Endorsed candidates are BOLDED

Utah State Senate

District 9, JEN PLUMB, GRADE: A District 11, DANIEL W. THATCHER , GRADE: A District 13, NATE BLOUIN, GRADE: A District 14, STEPHANIE PITCHER , GRADE: A District 19, Parker Bond, GRADE: A District 20, JILL FELLOW, GRADE: A

House of Representatives

District 2, Holly Gunther, GRADE: A District 3, PATRICK BELMONT, GRADE: A District 4, KRIS CAMPBELL , GRADE: A District 10, ROSEMARY LESSER , GRADE: A District 21, SANDRA HOLLINS, GRADE: A District 22, JEN DAILEY-PROVOST, GRADE: A District 23, BRIAN S. KING, GRADE: A District 23, Ruth Ann Abbott, GRADE: F District 24, JOEL K BRISCOE, GRADE: A District 25, ANGELA ROMERO, GRADE: A District 26, ELIZABETH WEIGHT, GRADE: A District 27, CLARE COLLARD, GRADE: A District 30, FATIMA DIRE, GRADE: A District 31, KAREN KWAN, GRADE: A District 32, Brittany Karzen, GRADE: A District 32, SAHARA HAYES, GRADE: A District 33, DOUG OWENS, GRADE: A District 34, CAROL SPACKMAN MOSS, GRADE: A

District 35, MARK A WHEATLEY, GRADE: A District 36, LYNETTE WENDEL , GRADE: A District 37, ASHLEE MATTHEWS, GRADE: A District 39, HOPE GOECKERITZ, GRADE: A District 40, ANDREW STODDARD, GRADE: A District 40, Thomas Young, GRADE: D District 40, Tim Loftis, GRADE: B+ District 41, GAY LYNN BENNION, GRADE: A District 42, Carson James Barlow, GRADE: C District 42, David B Jack, GRADE: ADistrict 42, ROBERT SPENDLOVE, GRADE: ADistrict 44, DEE GREY, GRADE: A District 49, Miles Pomeroy, GRADE: ADistrict 51, Jeremy Baker, GRADE: C District 53, Ann Schreck, GRADE: A District 62, Daniel Craig Friend, GRADE: A District 71, Dallas Joseph Guymon, GRADE: B+

County Races

GRAND COUNTY Commissioner, Emily Campbell, GRADE: AAttorney, Christina Sloan, GRADE: A Attorney, Stephen J. Stocks, GRADE: B+

SALT LAKE COUNTY

Council District 1, ARLYN BRADSHAW, GRADE: A Council District 3, AIMEE WINDER NEW TON, GRADE: A Council District 3, Ashley Liewer, GRADE: A Council At-Large, SUZANNE HARRISON, GRADE: A

Council At-Large, Richard Snelgrove, GRADE: A District Attorney, SIM GILL , GRADE: A Clerk, LANNIE CHAPMAN, GRADE: A Sheriff, ROSIE RIVERA, GRADE: A SUMMIT COUNTY Summit County Clerk, EVE FURSE, GRADE: A WASHINGTON COUNTY Washington County Attorney, ROB LATHAM, GRADE: AWEBER COUNTY Commissioner, Brian Keith Rowley, GRADE: B+

School Board

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION District 5, SARAH REALE, GRADE: A District 6, CAROL LEAR , GRADE: A District 8, AUDRYN DAMRON, GRADE: A CACHE SCHOOL BOARD Precinct 4, Melissa Wallis, GRADE: A CANYON SCHOOL BOARD Precinct 4, Andrew James Edtl, GRADE: A GRANITE SCHOOL BOARD Precinct 6, YVETTE ROMERO, GRADE: A JORDAN SCHOOL BOARD Precinct 3, Robyn Barnhill, GRADE: A MURRAY SCHOOL BOARD Precinct 2, Jessica Lucero Miller, GRADE: ANEBO SCHOOL BOARD Precinct 2, Joann Brown, GRADE: A OGDEN SCHOOL BOARD Precinct 2, STACY BERNAL , GRADE: A Precinct 4, Jeremy Shinoda, GRADE: A PARK CITY SCHOOL BOARD District 4, MEREDITH M. REED, GRADE: A SALT LAKE SCHOOL BOARD Precinct 1, BRYCE WILLIAMS, GRADE: A Precinct 3, Ashley Anderson, GRADE: A WASHINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD Precinct 5, Edyth C Lang, GRADE: A-

•

•

wanting to die

a way to kill oneself

feeling hopeless or having no purpose

feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

being a burden to others

•

of alcohol or drugs

agitated or recklessly

too little or too much

or feeling isolated

or talking about

revenge

•

mood swings

of these signs a person shows, the greater the risk. Warning signs are associated with suicide but may not be what causes a suicide

The

•

WHAT TO DO

you know exhibits

signs of suicide:

not leave the person alone

any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt

•

•

the U.S National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 9-8-8 or 800-273 8255

the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional

9-8-8

A free, 24/7 service that can provide suicidal persons or those around them with support, information and local resources.

mmunity

CoraZones poetry slam at Under the Umbrella

CoraZonesis a reading and writing cipher for the Utah Poetry Slam community. Corazón means heart in Spanish. Cora Zones fosters a warm, inclusive space for

community members to exercise and strengthen their creativity. Willy Palomo will be the host for October 29. The theme for this CoraZones will be poetry about fathers. Willy Palomo (he/they/ she) is the son of two immigrants from El Salvador. In 2018, he graduated with an MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and an MFA in Poetry from Indi ana University. He has taught literature, creative writing, and the Poetics of Rap in universities, juvenile detention centers, community centers, and high schools. He has performed his poetry nationally and internationally at the National Poetry Slam, CUPSI, and V Festival Internacio nal de Poesía Amada Libertad in El Salva dor. He is a founding member of Plumas Colectiva, a literary and art collective of Latinx creators in the 801. *Please come prepared with a method of writing, be it a notepad and writing utensil, laptop, cellphone or whatever.* CoraZones will start at 2pm at Under the Umbrella Bookstore. Each session will begin with a brief introduction, including chosen pronouns, and an emotional health check-in of participants to gauge the energy people are bringing into the room. After the check-in, the host will lead a reading exercise and discussion to teach a literary technique. After the conversation, participants will have time to generate new writing. Time will be provided at the end of the hour for participants to share their newly created work, as well as share poems they are seeking feedback on.

RedRox Music Festival

The 14th annual Redrox Music Festi val is happening Friday, November 4th and Saturday, November 5th at their new location at the Bit & Spur at the mouth of Zion National Park in Spring dale, Utah. The town of Springdale is an exceptional and breathtaking place, offering hotels, camping, superb dining, outstanding art galleries, and year-round recreational activities. This is an all-ag es event featuring performers from all marginalized genders. Weekend passes or single day tickets available. Tick ets and info at redroxmusicfest.org

Plan-B’s ‘My Brother was a Vampire’

A world premiere by Morag Shepherd. Siblings Skye (Sydney Shoell) and Callum (Benjamin Young) love each other, hate each other, and need each other. Oh and they can fly. A horror comedy about genetic mutation, addiction, surgery, and reconstruction. Playwright Morag Shepherd has previously premiered Not One Drop, “Mother Earth” and “The March” from (in)divisible, and “Flora Meets A Bee” with Plan-B. Information and tickets at planbtheatre.org/vampire/.

Tuesday Troopers walking group

Join the Tuesday Troopers every week at Liberty Park, hosted by Seniors Out And Proud–Utah. Meet at 5:45 p.m. on the west side near 500 East by the entrance of Tracy Aviary just east of the Ferris Wheel. Walk at your own pace and go as many times around the park as you want. All ability levels are invited as the park is on level ground, no hills. This is an all ages group. Dogs are welcome on a leash as Liberty Park is dog friendly. Info at fb.me/SOAPUtah

Esquire Magazine posted a sto ry naming “The 32 Best Gay Bars in America,” and Club Try-Angles was among the list.

Saying that the staff writers wanted to “have fun” rather than write another queer-related story about trauma, politics, and illness.

“The word ‘gay’ speaks to our ability to do exactly that. The original queer spaces were founded in secret, through codes and glances, and when we were able to be ourselves with one another, there was undeniable joy. De fiant joy. The word ‘gay’ calls to mind our special knack for finding the light in the dark ness, for building the dance floor off to the side of the cru el world,” wrote Dave Holmes, Esquire‘s editor-at-large.

The snippet on Try-Angles was written by contribut

ing writer Brett Berke.

“Utah is is not the easiest place in the country to be gay,” Berkestarted. “So when we visit, we ditch our jaded cynicism and relax into the weirdness. This includes the punning name of this establishment, the inven tive drink specials (Cyber Slut: Malibu Black, peach schnapps, vanilla rum, rasp berry rum, and triple sec), the summer Sunday BBQs, and the monthly leather, under wear, and furry parties.”

Club owner Gene Gieber deflected any of the credit.

“It’s not just the bar that earned this mention,” Gieber said. “It’s because of our great people who come in that makes us so fun.”

Try-Angles was the only bar in the Intermoun tain West to be named.

Gay-La to celebrate UofU LGBT Resource Center’s 20th anniversary

The University of Utah LGBT Resource Center is celebrat ing their 20th anniversary. This year’s annual Gay-La, to be held at the Natural History Museum on Oct. 29, will celebrate the past while raising money for the center’s efforts in the future.

“Over the 20 years, it has grown from this little closet of finding connections to really being a fully realized center that supports students in a vastitude of ways,” said Daniel Cairo, associate vice president of Equity, Diversity, and In clusion. “The LGBT Resource Center has really grown into really a cornerstone place here at the University of Utah that tells us, and works with us, and educates us on how we be come affirming and inclusive of people’s identities wherever they may land in the spectrum.”

The high point of the GayLa is awarding of scholarships to students who are making a difference on campus.

This year 13 students will be honored with U Alumni TransFutures scholarships, U Alumni Community Care scholarships and LGBT Re source Center scholarships.

“One of the most powerful aspects of Gay-La is seeing our student leaders shine,” said Bryan Hubain, associate vice president of Student Development and Inclusion.

“This is about community, and it’s about recognizing our leaders because the LGBT Resource Center provides so much leadership devel opment for our students.”

Tickets and info are available for the masquer ade-themed bash at lgbt.utah. edu/events/Gay-la.php

‘Esquire’ names Club Try-Angles oneof the ‘Best Gay Bars in America’

“I don’t think any state or anybody should have the right to [ban gender-affirming healthcare] — as a moral question and as a legal question. I just think it’s wrong.”

quotes—President Biden

“I feel very, very strongly that you should have every single solitary right, including use of your gender identity bathrooms when public.”

— President Biden

“Day 74 of being a girl … and I wore this outfit shopping today. I thought that these might be my new shopping shorts, but I was walking around and everyone was starring, and I was like, ‘Oh, OK, what’s going on?’ And they were all staring directly at my crotch. And I went, ‘Oh, I forgot that my crotch doesn’t look like other women’s crotches sometimes because mine doesn’t look like a little Barbie pocket.’”

— Trans rights activist and social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney

“I cannot imagine the strength and courage it took for my baby to do this, but I’m extremely proud of him and I want everyone to understand that love doesn’t change in these situations. It’s unconditional love.”

“Real Housewives of Orange County” alum Alexis Bellino announcing in October that her son Miles is transgender

“Come and live a day with my daughter. Come and see how it is to walk through this world as her.”

Former Miami Heat player Dwyane Wade talking about his transgender daughter Zaya

BY CHRISTOPHER KATIS

When we first told Gus that he was going to be a big brother, he was insanely excited — he desperately wanted to be a big brother. And we wanted that for him too; we wanted him to have a sibling. We were already investigating adopting another child when we learned Niko had been born.

Both Kelly and I have siblings and we understand the important role they play in a person’s life. According to a study by Dr. Shawn Sidhu of the University of New Mexico, “healthy sibling relationships promote empa thy, prosocial behavior, and academic achievement.” These positive relationships can also be a source of support.

Honestly, although there’s something to say about a brother-sister relationship, and I’m very tight with mine, I think there’s a special bond between brothers. When they were little, as soon as Gus walked in the door from school, Niko would run to him for a hug. It was incredi bly sweet. Just like their dads with our brothers, the boys tease each other good-na turedly. One minute they’re arch enemies and seconds later best friends again.

And Dr. Sidhu notes that one of the advantages of having siblings is that they will share and discuss with each other topics they won’t ever broach with their parents. When there has been girl trouble, they turn to each oth

er, not to their dads, for advice. Now that may be because they think, as gay men, we know nothing about women, but I think it’s a deeper connection than shared heterosexuali ty. I think it has a lot to do with them being brothers.

A few weeks ago, we lost my big brother, Dan. As a kid, I thought he was the coolest person in the world. At nine years my senior, we had the luxury of him being more mature and patient, allowing us to have a fun relationship.

Honestly, I wanted to be just like him. For Christmas, I begged our parents for Doo bie Brothers and Fleetwood Mac albums because Dan lis tened to those bands. I started watching Saturday Night Live because he watched it. I learned to love hiking because he took me with him.

When I told Dan that I was gay, he asked me a simple question: How can you have sex with another guy? I had an equally simple response: How can you not? That was it, he understood, I guess. The topic changed to him offering me advice about being smart with my decisions and being careful during what was the height of the AIDS pandemic.

Apparently, he once shut down a rather ugly conversa tion about marriage equal ity between his blue-collar coworkers by asking why it mattered to them. When they hemmed and hawed, he came out as the brother of a gay guy, one whose one-and-only relationship with another

man has lasted longer than all of these guys’ marriag es — his own included.

He was also a huge sup porter of my parenthood and showed it to my kids. On Gus’ first Christmas, Uncle Dan sent a baseball mitt — one as big as my seven-month-old baby. When he noticed Niko subtly trying to compare their darker, very similar skin tones, Dan pushed their forearms together and

announced, “We’re the same color!” to Niko’s delight.

Growing up, the greatest gift my big brother ever gave me was the freedom to be myself, to grow into the man I wanted and needed to be. I don’t think he knew it, but tacitly he was giving me his blessing to be gay.

I hope my sons saw in us an example of what brothers can be for each other. I love you, Dan. Q

creep of the month

Tudor Dixon

BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI

own reproductive health decisions.

What’s wild is that Dixon uses (faux) feminism to argue that trans kids, specifically trans girls, should not be able to play sports on girls teams.

Midterm

elections are upon us, my friends. People across the country already have ballots in hand. In fact, mine just came today. I can’t wait to vote for competent leaders who’ve been doing a damn good job running this state and deserve to be reelected.

I can’t wait to vote against the clown car that is the Republican ticket, espe cially the top. Not only do I disagree with them on basically everything, but they are so wildly unqualified for this job.

Tudor Dixon, the Republican candi date for Michigan governor, apparently believes that Michigan’s biggest prob lems are LGBTQ+ kids wanting to play sports and women wanting to make their

“The glass ceiling has been laid back into place by elitist liberals who are sacri ficing our girls at the altar of trans ideolo gy,” she said at a press conference recently. She also claimed that Gov. Whitmer is a “trans-supremacist.” She has called the existence of transgender people a “war on women,” according to MLive.

This is pretty rich coming from a candidate who wants to force women and girls to give birth. She opposes abor tion in all cases, no matter what. Rape? Incest? Health or life of the mother? Nope. You’ll have that baby and you’ll like it, Dixon says. No, seriously, she has actually said that a child who has been raped and becomes pregnant would find the whole having a baby thing “healing.”

Sounds like a Gloria Steinem protégé if there ever was one.

The Whitmer campaign respond ed by saying this was just “the latest example of Tudor Dixon politicizing kids to try to divide communities and pit people against each other.”

“Gov. Whitmer believes sports should unite communities as they come together on a Friday night for a football game or a Saturday afternoon for a swim meet, and politicians shouldn’t be telling schools how to play sports,” Whitmer cam paign spokesperson Maeve Coyle said.

Dixon is also a big fan of Flori da’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and wants to bring the same kind of thing to Michigan. She wants to make sure schools can’t talk about LGBTQ+ peo ple. Not until after the third grade.

“Parents deserve to know that their tax dollars aren’t being used to in doctrinate their children with radical sex and gender ideas before they’re even old enough to know what sex is,” Dixon said. “This is not anti-LGBTQ.”

The fuck it isn’t.

How is it not anti-LGBTQ to say that even hearing about the existence of LGBTQ+ people is so damaging and awful to children that we must protect them from such a thing? My son has

two moms. He sure as hell knew he had two moms before he was in third grade. So did his teachers. We were embraced because you know what? We’re a pretty awesome family, thank you very much. Our existence is not a threat to any thing besides ignorance and bigotry.

Raising a kid is really hard. Being a kid is really hard. When who you are is continually attacked on top of that? When you’re lied about and demon ized? That makes everything so much harder. Especially on trans kids. Because they’re already so marginalized. It’s unconscionable that anyone, let alone someone trying to become the leader of Michigan, would point at the very few trans kids playing on sports teams and say, “You, kid, are the problem. You are what is plaguing this state. You are immoral. You are defective. You.

And then radical conservatives have the gall to wonder why transgender kids have such high rates of mental health issues and why a dispropor tionate number of trans kids have contemplated or attempted suicide.

To all the trans kids who want to be on the swim team, or play volleyball, or pole vault, or throw that heavy metal disc thing, or play no sports at all and instead draw anime fan-fic about Harry Styles and Dua Lipa or experiment with different hair colors, or watch “The Simpsons,” or sleep in on weekends. You know, the things that young peo ple do. YOU are not the problem. You are not defective. This world is better because you are in it. You are strong and you are supported by so many more people than you realize. Thank you for being authentically you.

Q

D’Anne Witkowski is a writer living with her wife and son. She has been writing about LGBTQ+ politics for nearly two decades. Follow her on Twitter @MamaDWitkowski.

MADDY TURNED HATE INTO HOPEAND STARTED A MOVEMENT

Maddy Park Founder,

Transgender Awareness Month

HOW AMERICANS VIEW LEGISLATION ON TRANSGENDER AND GENDER IDENTITY ISSUES

BY CARRIE BLAZINA & CHRIS BARONAVSKI, PEW RESEARCH CENTER

In recent years, many states have considered or enacted policies related to people who are transgen der. On a couple of these measures, there is some agreement among Americans, but views of other poli cies are more divided, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.

Overall, just 8% of Americans say they are following news about bills recently proposed by several states related to peo ple who are transgender either extremely or very closely, according to the survey, which was conducted May 16-22 among 10,188 U.S. adults. About two-thirds (68%) say they are following news about these bills a little or not at all closely.

At least 21 states have passed some kind of restriction on transgender people, such as limiting the ability of transgender student athletes to play on sports teams that match their gender identity; making it illegal for health care professionals to provide someone younger than 18 with medical care for a gender transition; excluding coverage of medical care for gender transitions from state Medicaid; or making it illegal for public school districts to teach about gender identity in elementary schools. At least seven states – Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona,

Florida, Kentucky, Ten nessee and Texas – have passed two or more of these restrictions.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS

Overall, a 64% majority of Americans favor policies that protect transgender individuals from discrimination in jobs, housing and public spaces such as restaurants and stores, including 37% who strongly favor them. A much smaller share (10%) oppose or strong ly oppose these policies, while 25% neither favor nor oppose them.

The Supreme Court ruled in June 2020 in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, that “an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII” of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – making such employment discrimination illegal.

In February 2021, the U.S. House passed the Equality Act, which would expand the Civil Rights Act to ex plicitly “prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation” in housing, em ployment, public accommodations and other areas. The bill has been awaiting action in the Senate since March.

At the state level, at least 21 states, as well as the District of Columbia, ban discrimination in housing, jobs and public spaces based on gender identi ty and sexual orientation. Utah bans discrimination in housing and employ ment, but not public accommodations.

Wisconsin bans discrimination in all three categories, but only based on sexual orientation, not gender identity.

TRANSGENDER ATHLETES

When asked about views of possible restrictions on trans people, only one is endorsed by a majority of Americans: 58% say they would favor or strongly favor policies that require transgen

der athletes to compete on teams that match the sex they were assigned at birth. About four-in-ten (41%) would strongly favor these policies. Only 17% oppose or strongly oppose them, while about a quarter of U.S. adults (24%) neither favor nor oppose these policies.

At least 18 states restrict transgender student athletes’ ability to play on sports teams that match their gender identity. In March 2020, Idaho was the first state to pass a law limiting trans student athletes’ participation in sports, and Louisiana became the 18th state to do so in June.

PUBLIC BATHROOMS

Americans’ views of other restrictions on trans people are more closely divided.

On potential policies that require transgender individuals to use public bathrooms that match the sex they were assigned at birth, not their gender identity, Americans’ views are mixed. Around four-in-ten (41%) would at least somewhat favor these policies. About three-in-ten (31%) would at least somewhat oppose these policies, and 28% neither favor nor oppose them.

No states currently have measures that explicitly ban adults from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity. A prominent 2016 North Carolina law that required people to use the public bathroom matching their sex assigned at birth was repealed in 2017.

At least three states restrict public school students’ ability to use the bath room matching their gender identity: Alabama, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

GENDER IDENTITY IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Americans are closely split when it comes to potential laws and policies that would make it illegal for public school districts to teach about gender identity in elementary schools: 41% say they would favor or strongly favor these and 38% would oppose or strong ly oppose them. About two-in-ten (21%) neither favor nor oppose them.

A Florida law that took effect in July says classroom discussion “on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” A similar Alabama law was signed into law in April. Lawmakers in at least 20 states

have introduced similar bills this year.

In the May survey, the Center asked parents of K-12 students whether any of their children have learned about people who are transgender or who don’t identify as a boy or a girl from a teacher or another adult at their school.

Some 37% of parents with children in middle or high school say their children have learned about people who are trans gender or who don’t identify as a boy or a girl from a teacher or another adult at their school; a much smaller share of par ents of elementary school students (16%) say the same. Overall, 29% of parents with children in elementary, middle or high school say at least one of their K-12 children have learned about this at school.

MEDICAL COVERAGE, CARE FOR GENDER TRANSITIONS

More Americans say they would oppose or strongly oppose (44%) than say they would favor or strongly favor (27%) requiring health insurance companies to cover medical care for gender transitions, and 28% neither favor nor oppose this.

The landscape of insurance coverage for gender transitions is varied. Overall, at least 24 states, as well as the District of Columbia, either require private health insurance companies to cover medical care for gender transitions, prohibit them from creating blanket policy exclu sions for gender transition and related services, or simply prohibit companies from withholding insurance plans or charging different premiums because of someone’s gender identity. At least 25 states and D.C. include medical care for gender transitions in their Medicaid programs. At least eight states explic

itly exclude transition-related medical care coverage from their Medicaid programs; in August, a court ruling overturned West Virginia’s exclusion.

Some 46% of Americans say they would favor or strongly favor making it illegal for health care professionals to provide someone younger than 18 with medical care for gender transitions. About three-in-ten (31%) say they would oppose or strongly oppose this policy, while 22% neither favor nor oppose this.

In May, a federal judge blocked part of the Alabama law passed in April that would have made it a felony for doc tors to provide hormones and puber ty-blocking medication for transgender minors. Arkansas passed a ban in 2021 on doctors providing transition-related care for trans youth, but a judge blocked that law from going into effect. Ari zona passed a law in March that bans physicians from “performing irrevers ible gender reassignment surgeries on minors.” It takes effect in 2023.

Several states, including Idaho and New Hampshire, have considered bills that classify helping minors access medical care for gender transitions as child abuse, but these attempts have failed. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive that defined such care as abuse has been blocked twice in court. Americans’ views are split on whether they would favor or oppose laws and policies that require parents to be investigated for child abuse if they helped someone younger than 18 get medical care for a gender transition: 37% say they would at least somewhat favor these laws and 36% at least somewhat oppose the idea, while 27% neither favor nor oppose it. Q

They made us political, so political, we must be

BY SUE ROBBINS

As we reach November and recog nize Transgender Awareness Month, we do so at a time when our community is under attack in many ways. For the last few years, legislation has been brought forward in incredible numbers in states across the country that aims to deny us our rights and existence, school boards are under attack for recognizing who we are in name and pronouns, and city councils are under attack for having public drag shows. And with all the attacks, our safety becomes a more significant concern.

The push against us has started with the rise in bills, especially targeting our youth. In 2019 there were only 25 trans gender-related bills, which has risen to 60 in 2020, 131 in 2021, and an alarming 155 this year. Extremists have used us to drive political agendas and are broadening their attacks to be across the communi

ty. A national “Don’t Say Gay Bill” was recently introduced in the House.

If they are going to make us political, we need to be polit ical to defend ourselves.

Over 20 years ago, Utah community leaders recognized the need to be able to work in our legislative environment to defend against harmful legislation and to advocate supportive and needed legislation. The organization that would become Equality Utah was then founded. Since then, Equality Utah has worked at the legislature year-round, devel oping relationships, pushing forward affirming legislation, and defending against bad legislation. This is import ant as a lot of the hard work is done outside the well-publicized six-week general session at the start of the year.

In that time, they built alliances including the ACLU, GLAAD, NCLR, and many local experts. They also formed

the Transgender Advisory Council to bring the voices of community leaders to the efforts given the rise of focus on this community. This year, they have brought on a dedicated Policy Director who has worked with us for years in the same role at ACLU but will now be fully dedicated to our issues. All these people and organizations are brought together working as partners, led by the Equality Utah executive director.

This is how we have a point orga nization that leads our community’s legislative efforts. And when we bring the strengths of our local and na tional organizations along with our local experts, we build partnerships that give us the strongest voice. As a note, my work in state-level advocacy was started by creating a partnership between Equality Utah with both the Utah Pride Center and TEA of Utah while I was the board chair of those

organizations so that we could all work together. This is how I know it works.

While being a part of this team, I have often had friends reach out and offer their voices to speak at committee hearings. This is always highly encour aging as we need many engaged in our collective voice. I want to present that opportunity and what it looks like when committee hearings occur, as it has been consistent over the last several years.

When an LGBTQ+-related bill is brought before a committee, you can be assured that there will be a crowd. Additionally, there will typically be a lot of committee discussion due to the in creased attention given to LGBTQ+ bills and that there are a lot of misunderstand ings about our community, and it shows.

The problem that then happens is that the committee will set aside time for each bill being discussed and often go beyond that time allotment for LGBTQ+ bills. To manage their time, they will often limit testimony to one or two minutes per person and limit the number of people. A majority of the time, these opportunities are available either from the committee chair identifying specific expert witnesses or from members of the public signing up on a list to speak, and then the committee chair allows speakers until time has expired for the topic. With that, we have relatively limited control over speakers, and that is mainly recommending experts.

To give context, we just had an interim committee session where the committee discussion went long and was already over time once they turned to the public for comment. The chair stated he would allow four people to testify for one minute and ultimately allowed six people to speak. Think about that, just six minutes for an important topic. This demonstrates that we cannot limit our voices to just committee hearings as it falls far short of the voice we need. I will absolutely encourage everyone to come to committee hearings as it is important to have as much, or greater, showing than the groups that wish to have bills passed against us. But realize only a percentage of us get the opportunity to speak.

So what do we do to be effective?

There are many ways in which we can impact the push against us. We do have to realize that this is part of an educational process for our legisla tors, who are learning about many of the bills they review. If they have no experience with our community, they are subject to what they hear during the proceedings, which includes from the public and in their caucuses.

This takes us to the important first effort. We always hear that we need to talk with our legislators. I want to emphasize the importance of this. Once we get to the committee, the legislators have already heard a lot, and I certain ly suspect, in a number of cases, have made up their minds. So we have to be further out in front to be effective.

In reaching out to them, I have some advice. I want to note I have no inten tion of tone-policing anyone, so take the recommendations as what I feel are the most effective. I understand the hurt and anger from these efforts and how that translates into our interactions.

Connect with your legislators of whom you are their constituents. This is not a one-time email, but an ongoing devel opment of a relationship. In time, they will remember your name and, as such, will note when they have emails or calls from you, and that regular interaction will embed in their memory more.

As a recommendation, try not to yell, swear, or call them names. I assure you this pushes them away instead of getting them to listen, and it not only takes away your voice, but a preponderance of this also becomes their view of the community as a whole. We do hear this from many of the legislators. Certainly, they are getting the same from those attacking us and are not telling us that fact, but if we are better received, we have a stronger voice with them. Is this fair when we are confident we have our rights and existence under attack?

No, it isn’t, but we are in a divisive time and trying to get a foothold in holding back the wave of efforts against us. So as much as we can, we need to adapt.

If you have a queer child who you feel is in a good enough place, consider bringing them to a discussion with your

legislators. Legislators hear opposite positions from adults on both sides, and they may not know what to believe. But hearing the thoughts of our youth often touches hearts and minds. I can name specific legislators that have moved on transgender issues, and meeting our youth was a large part of that.

Not all the work we can do needs to be with our legislators. Often we hear family and friends state things that show they are misinformed about our community. Sometimes we just move along, either to not engage in conflict or, for many community members, we can only absorb so much. When possible, it is good to educate others. They are also talking to our legislators, so if we can start changing their voices, we change the overall input the legislators are hearing.

To help this, it can certainly be done in a manner to make it less confrontational and still quite effective. For example, if you want a political party to win an election, you are not really going to win by spending time arguing with the most extreme of the other party. The win happens more by influencing the middle.

The same is true here. I see some spend all of their emotional energy arguing with the extreme opposite side. All the while, there are those in the middle who are really thirsting for solid information and experience and these are the minds we can impact and with a resulting swing to the majority, create a better position for our efforts.

I have a saying many have heard: Education Brings Knowledge; Knowl edge Brings Understanding; Greater Understanding Brings Social Change. I firmly believe that if we keep edu cating and focusing on those who can be moved, we can have the change we need. This doesn’t happen overnight, so we have to keep at it. But it will be achieved. If you are uncertain, look at the progression of change from Propo sition 8 to Marriage Equality being won, to now over 70 percent of the popula tion supporting Marriage Equality.

We can do this! Q

Sue Robbins is a member of the Equality Utah Transgender Advisory Council abd a past board bhair of the Utah Pride Center and Transgen der Education Advocates (TEA) of Utah.

TRANSITIONS OF CARE FOR TRANSGENDER HEALTH

Gender-affirming healthcare for transgender and gender diverse people can sometimes be a challenge. Below are some tools to help you with your gender journey.

1. FIND AFFIRMING PROVIDERS

Affirming medical providers can advocate for your health and help navigate your gender journey.

2. BE PREPARED TO SHARE

Share your affirmed name, pronouns, and sex recorded at birth with your medical provider to avoid misgendering.

3. IDENTIFY FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHO CAN SUPPORT YOUR JOURNEY

It’s important to have support from family, friends, and allies. Your support system can celebrate your triumphs and foster your well-being.

4. FIND A SUPPORT GROUP

Support groups offer a bond of understanding and empathy with others who have a shared experience. Support groups come in the form of face-to-face meetings or online communities.

5. KNOW YOUR MEDICATIONS

It’s important to know the name and doses of medications and/or supplements you are taking and any allergies you may have.

6. GET THE PROPER SCREENINGS

Regular check ups and screenings are essential to longterm health. Screenings can identify conditions early and guide decisions with your healthcare provider.

7. HAVE COPIES OF YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY

Your medical history gives your provider a road map for your health needs. It helps your provider understand if you are at risk for any chronic diseases. Your health history can also guide gender-affirming therapies if you decide to pursue these.

8. EXERCISE REGULARLY AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET

It is important to eat well, exercise and maintain a healthy weight to reduce longterm health risks, especially if you are on hormone therapy. Eating well and exercising can improve health and well-being.

9. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

Discrimination can come in many forms. Your healthcare provider can give you resources to help advocate for your healthcare rights.

10. ASK QUESTIONS

Asking questions and giving your provider feedback can improve your care. Having open discussions with your provider builds trust, satisfaction, and improves results.

KNOW YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM

Say Their Names

We list here 47 transgender victims of violence docu mented in the United States in 2022. It is very likely that many more have happened that are not reported to orga nizations to become part of a list such as this. Many news stories of anti-transgender violence use “dead names” — the names given at birth no longer used by the victims — making it difficult to glean whether an act of violence was transgender-related.

Worldwide, Trans Lives Matter has documented 367 reports of anti-transgender murders in 2022. They record ed 105 reports in Brazil, 42 in Mexico, and 29 in Colombia.

While the details of these cases differ, it is clear that fatal violence dispropor tionately affects transgender women of color — particular ly Black transgender women — and that the intersections of racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and unchecked access to guns conspire to deprive them of employment, housing, health care, and other necessities.

AARON LYNCH, a 26-year-old trans man, was shot and killed by police in McLean, Virginia on July 7, 2022. Aaron, who was experiencing a mental health crisis, was first unsuccessfully tased by police after some back-and-forth discourse, re sulting in one of the police of ficers shooting him four times. Police officers had originally

responded to a 911 call to Aaron’s house with a trained mental health co-respondent and returned a second time without one after not initially finding Aaron on the premises.

ACEY MORRISON , a 30-year-old Two-Spirit person, was a ”kind hearted, down to earth, joyous, respectful, and loving soul” who was a “helpful and giving person who was always there for her family and friends.” She was shot dead in Rapid City, South Dakota on August 21. Two-Spirit people are indigenous North Americans who possess both a feminine and masculine spirit.

AMARIEY LEJ , she/ her/hers A young Black transgender woman, Amariey Lei graduated from Woodland Hills High School in Wilkinsburg, a borough bordering Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was a dancer and beloved coach for the Lady Diamonds, a hip-hop and majorette dance team.

ARIYANNA MITCHELL , a 17-yearold Black trans girl, is recalled by her family as “truly unique, funny, and loved by every one. Ariyanna Mitchell was

Remembering transgender people killed in the U.S. in 2022

shot and killed April 2 in Hampton, Virginia after intervening in a fight during a house party. The suspect in her death, Jimmy Leshawn Williams, allegedly shot Ariyanna during an argument her friend and his girlfriend.

ASHER GARCIA , age 14 of Frazee, Minn. died by suicide April 21. The high school eighthgrade student was reportedly dealing with past abuse and a transgender identity that made him a target of bullying.

BRAZIL JOHNSON , a Black trans woman, was a passionate LGBTQ+ activist, a beloved daughter, and a talented chef. In an interview with CBS58 News, Brazil’s mother, Bernita Gildart, said her daughter was a passionate chef and that the kitchen was like a haven for her. Johnson was killed in Milwaukee, Wis consin on June 15, 2022.

BRENT WOOD‘S body was found on March 3 near dumpsters behind a Se attle, Wash. drugstore. They identified as nonbinary and had died from multiple blunt force trauma to the head.

CHANELIKA Y’ELLA

DIOR HEMINGWAY was known for a smile as bright as her future according to news reports. She was born and raised in Guilderland, New York, and was close with her mom, cousins, and niece, according to PGH Lesbian Correspondents. She graduat ed from Albany High School and studied at Hudson Valley Community College. She turned 30 at the beginning of May. She has just graduated from the University of Albany with a bachelor’s degree where she was the recipient of a 2022 Spellman Academ ic Achievement Award.

CHERRY BUSH lived in the Syl mar neigh borhood of Los Angeles, Califor nia, where she was experiencing homelessness. At 48 years old, Bush was shot and killed on July 5. On social media, her brother called her his “oldest friend.”

CYPRESS RAMOS , a 21-year-old Latina trans woman, loved her lo cal LGBTQ+ community in Lubbock, Texas. She was tragically found dead on Feb. 13.

DEDE RICKS , a 33-yearold Black transgender woman, was shot and killed in Detroit on August 27th. Just before 3:40 a.m., Dede was found dead in her home in Detroit with gunshot wounds. A suspect has been arrested and charged with second-de gree murder and felony fire arm, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office.

DEEDEE HALL , 47 of Dallas, Texas, died in custody soon after she was found walk ing around a parking lot in sweltering heat. A local business had called the police, stating that she was causing a disturbance. After police restrained her and put her in a spit hood during an altercation, she died in an ambulance en route to the hospital, despite para medics’ attempts to save her.

DESTINEE LASHAEE/ MATTHEW VENTRESS , 29 of Hous ton, Texas, appears to have taken their own life after battling depres sion. At the time they died, they were presenting as male and dealing with issues from trying to lose weight and from a lawsuit with the producers of the reality show “My 600-Lb. Life.”

DUVAL PRINCESS , 24, was just beginning to live as her authen tic self at the time of her death.

She was a well-known hairstylist and active member of the LGBTQ+ communi ty in Jacksonville, Florida, where she was killed. Fam ily members, friends, and clients remembered her on social media days after her passing, referring to her as being “so sweet and genuine.”

ELISE

MALARY, 31, of Evanston, Illinois. Elise’s body was found washed up on the shore of Lake Michigan on March 17th after being missing from March 9th. Elise was known for her social advocacy for the LGBTQ population, people of color, and trans gender people of color and was a board member of the Chicago Therapy Collective FERN FEATHER , who used both she/ hers and they/them pronouns, was kind and free-spirited. The 29-year-old trans woman was known to bring joy to everyone around. Her friends remem ber her making others feel valued wherever she went.

Fern Feather was stabbed and killed in Morristown, Vermont on April 12.

HAYDEN DAVIS ’ in terests were wide-rang ing, from fashion and the Kardashians to skincare and makeup. Her smile was bright and she had an active presence on social media. The 28-year-old Black trans woman was shot and killed in Detroit on July 25, 2022.

KAI KHAN , 18, of Great Bend, Kan sas, died by suicide in the dorm of his college on March 27. Kai was studying to be an MLT but also wanted to be a nurse. He was apparently scared of how people would treat him for being trans, or that people would refuse his care.

KANDII

REDD, 29, who also went by Kamila Ma rie Swann and Dee Dee, was stabbed af ter an altercation in Kansas City on July 24. She died on the scene. In 2014, she was honored as the “Black Tgirls Model of the Year” at the Transgender Erotica Awards.

KATHRYN “KATIE ” NEWHOUSE , a 19-year-old Asian-Amer ican neuro divergent transgender woman,

was an Illinois native who had a passion for hiking, sightseeing, and advocating for trans rights. On March 19, she was killed by her father in a murder-suicide in Cherokee County, Georgia.

KENNA LEIGH GILLOCK , 26, of Gold Hill, Ore gon died by suicide Apr 17. The exact circumstances of his death are not known.

KENYATTA ‘KESHA” WEBSTER , a Black transgender woman, was found dead in Jackson, Mississippi on March 26 after what is being described as a “rob bery homicide.” She had just turned 24 years old in Feb ruary. On April 1, more than a hundred people attended the balloon release honoring Webster. There, Webster’s mother passionately called for justice for her daughter’s death. “She had plenty of love. She didn’t deserve that.”

KESHIA CHANEL GETER , a 26-yearold Black transgender woman, was traveling with a friend when she was fatally shot in Augusta, Georgia on July 20 outside a motel. Initial reports from local media misgendered Keshia.

KITTY MONROE , a Black trans woman, was a beloved friend and loving mom to her four small dogs named Chyna, Milan, Tokyo, and London whom she posted countless photos of on social media. She was shot multiple times in her home after a domestic dispute outside Memphis in Cordo va, Tennessee, on June 29.

MADDIE DICKENS , 28, of Rose ville, Minn. died of an apparent suicide on May 20.Her obituary said, “She was a brilliant physicist, gifted musician, a caring sister and daughter, and a passionate advocate for the vulnerable. She was sweet, kind, smart, funny, passionate, disciplined, deter mined, brave, and stubborn.”

MADDIE HOFMANN , a 47-yearold trans woman born in Korea and raised in the U.S. by their adoptive family, was killed by police during a wellbeing check at her home in Malvern, Pennsylvania on May 19. According to a GoFundMe organized by a family friend, Maddie was one of six sibling swith a deep bond with their younger sister, Emily, who was also adopted from Korea. Hoffman is survived by a wife and two young children.

MARISELA CASTRO was plan ning a birth day party celebration with friends and family. Tragical ly, on July 29 the eve of her birthday, Marisela was shot and killed in the Northshore neighborhood of Houston, Texas. According to her friend Jorge Luis Lizardo, she was a “bright” and “sunny” person who had never made enemies.

MARTASIA RICHMOND, a Black transgender woman, was killed in Chicago on July 11. She was found with multiple stab wounds in a residence by police after they responded to a call about a domestic incident. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police eventually charged a man who had allegedly been in a 5-year relationship with Marta sia. He is a father of four.

MATTHEW ANGELO SPAMPINATO, a 21-year-old white trans man, was a victim of a hit-andrun car crash in New Castle, Delaware, on Feb. 9. Police told the family Matthew was walking in the grass well away from traffic when he was hit. Spampinato worked as a barista at Starbucks and was described as bright and kind by employees. One cowork er said, “He was always so selfless. He would always ask how everybody was doing even when he wasn’t

having a good day himself.”

MIIA LOVE PARKER , a 25-year-old Black trans woman, was fatally shot in Chester, Penn sylvania while she sat in her car on April 1, 2022. She was was a bright light in many lives and was also a fan of Pose.

MILO WINSLOW, 30, of Lincoln, Nebraska, died by suicide. His final social media posts show a man in great pain over the political “debate” taking place about the rights of trans people to exist in his city.

“When [a] petition garnered over 18k votes in just two weeks, the despair from Milo and our trans community was palpable. To know that so many people here in our com munity cannot respect an in dividual’s right to exist, much less their safety, housing, etc., was so painful to Milo.”

MYA ALLEN , who was also known as Regina Allen, was a 35-yearold Black transgender woman

who was full of joy and laughter. Mya was active on social media, often posting selfies of her beautiful outfits and makeup. She was also a member of Sisters Helping Each Other Battle Adversity, a local advocacy, empowerment, and support group for Black transgender women. Mya was killed on August 29 in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She died from gunshot wounds. Before she died she was able to tell police in a 911 call where she met her killer and what kind of vehicle he drove.

NAOMIE SKINNER , a 25-yearold Black transgender woman, was described by a friend as being a “very outstanding person.”

Her sister said Naomie lived a “fabulous life.” Naomie was fatally shot by her boyfriend on February 12 near Detroit in Highland Park, Michigan.

NEDRA SEQUENCE MORRIS , a 50-yearold Black transgender woman, was “strong, feisty, opinionated” and loved talking to her many friends on the phone. On May 14, 2022, Morris was fatally shot in Opa-locka, Florida. More than 100 people held a vigil at an intersection where Morris’ body was found. A cousin spoke at the memorial, stating “We pray, that God speaks to us, we don’t go out with a vengeance, that we know justice will be served.”

PALOMA VAZQUEZ , 29, of Hous ton, Texas, was found dead with gunshot wounds in her apartment on the evening of Saturday 26th February. A large group of friends, human rights activists, and members of the transgender communi

ty gathered outside Houston City Hall to honor her life and bring attention to the alarming increase in the num ber of killings of transgender women of color in the U.S.

PARIS RICH , 25, of San Diego, Calif. was found dead in a hotel room June 13. Police are investigat ing her death as a possible homicide. Paris was a young, beautiful trans person with lots of motivation to live life to the fullest. She loved and was very protective of her family and close friends. Paris was a very independent wom an and had dreams of being a stylist to the stars one day.

QUINN MOWRER GUSTIN ’s mom says Quinn loved animals more than anything. She had an affinity for stray cats, and would regularly feed them. She was always there for her friends, and always knew how to make the people around her laugh. She was unapologetical ly trans and queer. She was al ways willing to defend anyone from the hatred of the world. Quinn lost her battle with mental health on March 24.

RAY MUSCAT, who worked at a grocery store, was described by cowork ers as a “kind soul who had a glowing smile.”

On May 8, Muscat was shot and killed by his girlfriend

in Independence Township, Michigan. According to police reporters, Muscat’s girlfriend also killed her brother, and her body was found the next day; she died from a self-in flicted gunshot wound.

REXY QUE , 26, of Wichita, Kansas, died by suicide. They were chair of the Midwest Bi sexual Les

bian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference. “Rexy was passionate about using data analysis to shift public policy. They were a performer, musician, advocate, and strong force in the state of Kansas pushing for necessary change.”

SASHA MASON , 45, died May 13 in Zebu lon, North Carolina after being shot during an armed robbery in her apartment by someone known to her. She was part of a large, loving family. She was a beloved family member and friend to many. On social media, Sasha’s friends and family remem bered her as a sweet, kind, and generous person with a beautiful smile who cher ished her friends and family.

SEMAJ BILLINGSLEA , a 33-year-old trans man, graduated from Flor ida Youth Academy before at tending Florida State College at Jacksonville. He was a fan of Megan Thee Stallion and cared deeply about his friends.

On September 21, Semaj was found in a Jacksonville, Florida hotel parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. He died in hospital. Police have no suspect in the murder.

SERENA BRENNEMAN, 16, of Salem, Oregon died by suicide on Sept. 16. At a memorial at West Salem High School, Serena was described as “Quirky, kind, stylish, sweet.” Brenneman’s girlfriend spoke briefly at the memorial, urging those in attendance to use the name Serena, the name they said Brenneman had chosen for herself.”

SHAWMAYNÈ GISELLE MARIE , a 27-yearold Black transgender woman, was born and raised in Gulfport, Miss. and attended Gulfport High School. She worked as a personal care assistant and as a certified nursing assistant for almost four years. She was shot and killed in Gulfport on June 21. On social media, her family and friends remem bered her as a “loving, funny, kind, and genuine person.”

TATIANA “TEE TEE” LABELLE , a 33-yearold Black transgender woman, was a Chicago native who was loved by her friends and family. She was a fan of Mariah Carey and Patti Labelle. On March 18, Labelle

was found dead in a garbage nin in Chicago. Although details are currently unclear, her death has been ruled a homicide and detectives are continuing to investigate.

TIFFANY BANKS ’ family and friends remember her as a “sociable and beautiful butterfly.” When she came around, they say, there was “never a dull moment.” They say she loved to sing and dance. Tiffany, a 25-year-old Black trans woman, was killed in Miami on Octo ber 1. Her death is the fourth known killing of a Black transgender person in Florida.

TOI DAVIS , 34, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was found dead July 16 “under suspicious circum stances.” Davis worked as a certified nursing assistant and member of a trans organiza tion called Sisters Helping Each Other Battle Adversity and recently shared her story on Facebook, writing that she felt her path was ordained by God and noted, “My tran sition has saved my life.”

Information for these bios was compiled from Trans Lives Matter’s “Remembering Our Dead” project and the Human Rights Campaign. HRC publishes a resource page, titled, “Additional Concerning Deaths of Trans gender and Gender Non-Con forming Individuals.” Q

The Trans Lives Matters “Remembering Our Dead” project can be found at tdor. translivesmatter.info. HRC’s report can be found at bit.ly/hrdtdor22

LACHLAN WATSON JUST WANTS TO PLAY

BY CHRIS AZZOPARDI

I don’teven ask Lachlan Watson about the Value Village cow onesie until halfway through our interview. But that’s how Watson first appears on Zoom, at one point even standing up to extend their arms out to proudly show off every inch of bovine glory.

Queer kids find inspiration in this onesie, the 21-year-old ac tor tells me, for a very simple reason: It gives them permission to be whatever they want to be. But then again, everything Watson has done thus far — from starring as trans kid Theo on Netflix’s

“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” to being openly non-binary, to their new role on “Chucky,” embodying fan-favorite char acters Glen and Glenda — does just that.

In the second season of the (very queer) “Chucky” series on Syfy, Watson plays the genderfluid kids of Chucky, the red-headed killer doll who promis es to be “your friend till the end” and, since 1988, has demonstrated that he more or less means that in the most twisted sense. He co-parents Glen and Glenda with Tiffany Valentine (Jenni fer Tilly), his murderous accomplice.

On a rainy day in New York, Watson spoke about bringing Glen and Glenda to (real) life, inspiring LGBTQ+ youth and what it’s like to portray characters that represent a part of who they are.

Before starring in the show, were you a fan of Chucky? I actually never watched Chucky when I was younger, because my mom thought that it would really scare me a lot. So that and “Wizard of Oz” were two movies that we never really watched because she thought that the Chucky doll would scare me and that the flying monkeys would scare me. And so I felt woefully out of the loop when the audition came through. Well, not the audition, but when my knowl edge of Chucky came around, I kind of panicked because I felt so behind.

But the way that I got introduced to the franchise was through [openly gay Chucky creator] Don Mancini, because we did a panel together almost three years ago now. It was about queer representation in horror, and so I got to just listen to this guy that I didn’t know talk so lovingly about not only the franchise, but about Glen and Glenda, because that was what came to mind when he was thinking about queer representation and horror — these two always fluid and queer characters.

And so my first introduction to Don and Chucky was by just basical ly listening to a proud dad talk about his two weirdo genderqueer kids, so it was really special. And so then to now get the audition and the role and be filming and working and to be part of the family of Chucky, after being introduced to it that way and being able

The non-binary ‘Sabrina’ actor contemplates role on and off set

to play those roles that he was talking so lovingly about, feels very special.

Did he have you in mind for the role from the start? I think so. He never told me straight up, because obviously a lot of my friends auditioned for the role, a lot of people that I know. A lot of non-binary actors went out for this role, and so it wasn’t just me. It wasn’t a hard offer. It wasn’t, “We just want you.” I auditioned like everybody else, but I immediately heard back. It felt like the same day that I auditioned, we heard back, and they were like, “Well, Don wants to do a callback with you. Don wants to talk to you.” Then it all just fell into place.

But I think he had an inkling on that panel however many years back. And this he has told me: that on that call, he saw Glen and Glenda in me, and what I was talking about, speaking about being non-binary and genderfluid and being an actor, I think he had a lightbulb moment of, “This could work someday.”

I’m wondering about the audition and about the human embodiment of these dolls. The audition was tough because a lot of it was coded. I got the audition, nothing on it said Chucky. The roles weren’t Glen and Glenda. It was Rob and Tracy or something like that, and it was “twins of a murderer and gender fluid,” and it was very much hinted. I just knew the two twins are non-binary, and they’re weird, and they’re the child of a murderer.I just gave them what

I felt it should or could be, because these characters are completely new. They’re essentially new characters in the franchise because we’re kind of starting fresh, having them not remembering their past. So I think it did it justice to treat the characters like a new thing.

I imagine you must have a lot of flexi bility in a kind of absurdist killer doll murderer show. Oh, absolutely. It’s not always so much pressure. It’s more just like, you’ve got a big, open sandbox to splash around in. That’s something

really special about “Chucky” — the gates have been busted down, and now we’re just telling crazy stories in a fun way and having fun with it. What should people who know nothing about Glen and Glenda know going into this second season? The characters are stumbling backwards into trying to fig ure out who they are through this second season and through this character arc as well. So the fun part is you really don’t need to know that much going in, be cause they’re just as lost as the audience could be, and they’re slowly uncovering these truths about their past and who they are and who their parents are.

And so it’s kind of convenient and very purposeful because it’s been a long time since “Seed of Chucky” [in 2004], which is where Glen and Glenda originally appeared, and “Seed of Chucky” also was not received that well. People really didn’t grow into it as much as I think they could have and as much as they’re growing into it now. And so I

Invited by QSaltLake Magazine

don’t think it’s a given that people know this story. I think it’s very, very helpful to have a clean slate and to allow the audience member to just jump in head first with us and just kind of stumble into unraveling this crazy set of mem ories. So luckily, I don’t have to do too much explaining, because the explaining will be done throughout the season.

And for maybe some of the same reasons you didn’t watch Chucky growing up, I’m guessing you didn’t see “Bound”? No, I did not. I desperately need to now, but I’m concerned that my view of Jennifer Tilly as my beautiful mother might affect my viewing experience of “Bound.” [Laughs.]

It’s possible, but you’ve also acted with both her and Gina Gershon now, so I feel like it’s required viewing, right? Yeah. Hav ing Jennifer Tilly be my mom and Gina Gershon be Auntie Gina [in “Chucky”], I think it would be a little alarming to watch them make out and kill people, but possibly necessary nonetheless. Maybe I’ll try and convince Jen to let me watch it with her and get her commentary.

It isn’t so far off from what happens in the series, without giving anything away.

Not so far off.

What was that day on set like with both of them around? It was a couple weeks, actually, having everyone around. My first impression of Chucky was season two, episode four, which is where all of the stars come out to play, and it was my first time working with everyone. It was my first time as Glen and Glenda. It was everyone’s first time figuring out the twinning and how to shoot both twins at one time, and it was like being on a roller coaster for two weeks straight. It was insane. There were so many personalities, so many jokes, so many comments, so much to think about. But I wouldn’t have it any other way, because it was easy coasting from there.

You only experienced some of the Glen and Glenda dynamic. Thankfully not all of it. Not that I know of, at least. I don’t know what my parents do in their spare time. They could go off killing people, but something tells me they’re not the type.

You play genderfluid in “Chucky” and you played a trans character in “Sabrina.” How does it feel playing characters who

identify in a similar way as you do? Ugh. That’s a big question. It’s hard to describe. It feels right. It feels correct to me that not only I got cast as a non-binary person to play non-binary characters, but it also feels very correct to me that a lot of non-binary actors that I know went out for the role. And as far as I know, I don’t think they considered a lot of people who weren’t non-binary themselves, which is in and of itself pretty revolu tionary, so that feels more monumental than it should. It should feel like a 9-to-5, everyday job occurrence, that this is just how it works, but that’s not always the case. So it feels really, really special, but I also don’t know if it should feel as special as it does. I wish it was more common.

But it really does speak to how ahead of its time “Seed of Chucky” was and how revolutionary it is that these characters were established so long ago and are coming back to the screen now, because it couldn’t fit better. It fits perfectly. It fits like a perfect little puzzle piece in today’s society and the things that are important to casting nowadays. So I think it’s very special, and I think it is a door opened to have this alignment.

But then again, personally, it just makes my job easier. I love playing non-binary characters, I love playing transgender characters, and I also love playing cis characters. I pretty much like just playing the whole spectrum. I find it fascinating. That’s why I love acting. That’s why I do what I do, is to be every one. So I don’t necessarily feel the need to limit myself to just characters that identify the way that I do, but it certainly makes my life a little easier to know that I can pull from my own lived experienc es for a lot of what they go through.

While you’re talking about visibility, you’re one of the youngest, out non-bina ry actors. Do you have any memorable experiences with young queer people who have reached out to you to tell you what that means to them? I grew up in North Carolina with my family. We all know how the American South is with young queer people. This was probably five years ago. I had just done “Sabrina”; Susie had become Theo. And this was a whole storyline that was happening. It was getting public attention. And I had start ed doing interviews, and I hadn’t done many before then, but all of a sudden

I had this boom of interview requests, and I thought they were incredible, but I didn’t have a good scale for how far they went and how big the reach was for how many people were affected by my story, and by proxy, Susie and Theo.

Five years ago, my sister was babysit ting in North Carolina, this adorable young thing who I think was 7 at the time. My sister was babysitting this per son forever, and they were super, super sweet, and they were going by they/them.

And my sister told me about it, and I went to go help her babysit one night when I was home from “Sabrina.” This kid was adorable, super sweet, asking me all kinds of questions, but mostly just questions about my cow onesie or something. And their mom came home and had heard from Kinsey, my sister, that I was there helping her babysit. So she came home, and she immediately gave me a huge hug, and we stood in her kitchen for an hour talking, because she had read articles about me and interviews that I had done about my identity and who I was and growing up in North Carolina.

And she said that those interviews that I did were solely responsible for the family coming to the idea that the kid was gen derqueer, and that gave them the ability to bring this up to that kid. And the kid was like, “Absolutely, this is great. That’s who I am,” and it was because of an interview that I did that got to her somehow. And she had no idea that I was Kinsey’s sister, she had no idea that I still lived in North Carolina. All she knew was that my sister’s sibling was coming to help, and then all of a sudden, Lachlan Watson was in their home. And she almost started crying and just told me all of these incredible things about how my words, not even Susie, not even Theo, not even Sabrina, but me, my interviews, had changed their life and had changed the life of her kid.

It still gives me chills to this day. This was a long time ago, and I always think about that and how cool that was and how sweet it was. And I never saw them again. I went off to film the second season. We moved away from where we were, but that’ll stick with me forever. Q

Chris Azzopardi is the editorial director of Pride Source Media Group and Q Syndicate. He has interviewed a multitude of superstars, including Cher, Meryl Streep, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé. His work has also ap peared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, GQ and Billboard. Reach him via Twitter @chrisazzopardi.

Qmmunity

Utah

mail@utahaids.org

S 1100 E

Sacred Light of Christ

slcchurch.org

S 600 E

Utah Pride Center

utahpridecenter.org

info@utahpridecenter.org 1380 S Main St 801-539-8800

Genderbands

genderbands.org fb.me/genderbands

LifeRing Secular Recovery

Youth Support Group ages 10-14, 14-20

 utahpridecenter. org/youth-programs/

YOUTH/COLLEGE

Health

Weds 1-4:30p

23rd St, Ogden

801-399-7250

HOMELESS

info@utahgaychamber.com

Youth

15–21

1

5 Club (bisexual)

1to5club@ utahpridecenter.org

blackBOARD

Kink/Sex/BDSM

Venture OUT Utah

bit.ly/GetOutsideUtah

QUAC — Queer Utah Aquatic Club

quacquac.org

801-608-8146

 liferingutah.org

Encircle LGBTQ Family and Youth Resource Ctr

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S 400 W 801-364-0744

Transition Homes:

Men’s 801-433-1713

Young Women’s 801-359-5545

Thurs 6:30–7:30pm

School, 383

1st, 3rd Mons.

blackbootsslc.org

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leather/kink/

4th Sats.

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Flaming Man

menwhomove.org

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Salt Lake Goodtime Bowling League

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Stonewall Sports SLC

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Sun. 10am Univ. Neuro psychiatric Institute, 501 Chipeta Way #1566 Sat. 11am, How was your week? First Baptist Church, 777 S 1300 E

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* robin@lgbtqtherapists.com

encircletogether.org fb.me/encircletogether 91 W 200 S, Provo, 190 S 100 E, St. George 331 S 600 E, SLC

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gsanetwork.org

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DOMESTIC

University St

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Wine Tasting

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Tues, 6pm

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slcc.edu/lgbtq/ University of Utah LGBT Resource Center

300

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Utah Libertarian Party

S State St #200 888-957-8824

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6pm Raw Bean Coffee, 611 W Temple

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Alcoholics Anonymous 801-484-7871

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Mon 6:45pm

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lgbt.utah.edu 200 S Central Campus Dr Rm 409, M-F, 8a-5p 801-587-7973

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LGBT meetings: Sun. 3p Acceptance Group, All Saints Episcopal Church, 1710 Foothill Dr Tues. 8p Live & Let Live, Mt Tabor Lutheran, 175 S 700 E Wed. 7p Sober Today, 1159 30th St , Ogden Wed. 7:30p, Sober AF, Zoom mtg ID 748 896 1508, Password SLQ2020

Fri. 7p Stonewall Group, Mt Tabor Lutheran, 175 S 700 E Crystal Meth Anon

crystalmeth.org Sun. 2:30pm Clean, Sober & Proud LGBTQIA+Straight Alano Club, 5056 Commerce Dr, Murray

Survivors of Suicide Attempt

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TransAction Sun, 1:30pm

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Utah State Univ. Access & Diversity Ctr

inclusion.usu.edu/ lgbtqa

Utah Valley Univ Spectrum

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Weber State University

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weber.edu/ lgbtresourcecenter 801-626-7271

Westminster Diversity Center

Bassis 105, M-F 8a-5p

estminstercollege. edu/diversity

Youth Activity Night ages 10-14, 14-20

utahpridecenter.org/ youth-programs/

REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

BY PHILIPPA PUNCHARD, FOREWORD

BY CHRIS TINE BURNS MBE. C. 2022, JESSICA KINGSLEY PUBLISHERS, $22.95, 118 PAGES

Take a left at the first road, then right and right again.

It’s always a good idea to know where you’re going –but then again, getting lost can have its benefits, too. Veering off an easy path gives you a chance to see things, maybe even something better. You can get all kinds of direc tions for life but sometimes, as in “Gender Pioneers” by Philippa Punchard, you just gotta step off the road.

q scopes

NOVEMBER

BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS

ARIES March 20–April 19

Claim what is yours and get ready for a festive time. With many gatherings to come, it is prudent to put on your best face. Family can be a challenge so prepare for the game to begin.

TAURUS Apr 20–May 20

The trails that never seem to end are wearing on you. Take the time to prove yourself but stop fighting battles that aren’t really happening. You know the truth so live what you know.

GEMINI May 21–June 20

Even if you can’t figure out why, good things seem to happen around you. The challenge is to learn not to rely on this trend

In 1912, French audiences were thrilled by the talent of a trapeze artist known as Barbette. The lovely Bar bette flew over the heads of Parisians solo, gracefully, and the best citizens followed those performances avidly.

By 1919, Barbette added to the end of the performance the revelation that “she” was really Vander Clyde Broad way, a male performer.

We might think that being transgender is “new” and just “a Western thing,” but Punchard has reason to disagree: history is dotted with men passing as women, and women living as men. As Christine Burns says in the foreword, “Trans people are not a new thing.”

Some seemed to do it as a means to an end: Ellen and William Craft wore clothing of the opposite sex in order to escape slavery in 1848. Betty Cooper may have worn men’s clothing for the same reason in 1771. Neither case, says Punchard, indicates

“classical” trans behavior, but we’ll never know for sure.

Biawacheeitchish, who grew up to be powerful, and wealthy, with four wives, was kidnapped as a young girl and was encouraged by their Native American adoptive father to engage in male activities, perhaps because he’d lost two sons; in another time and place, Biawachee itchish would’ve been called a “female husband.” Dora Richter, the first woman to receive vaginoplasty, was killed by “a Nazi mob.” Dr. James Barry, a highly renowned surgeon, used “built-up shoes and… padding to appear more masculine…” James Allen and Billy Tipton were both married to women before death revealed that they were female. And Mary Read was a girl, until their mother lost her only son…

In her foreword, Burns says that there are “two awkward challenges” when we talk about trans people in history: were they intersex,

rather than trans; and were they people – mostly women – who presented as the oppo site gender to gain the bene fits of the opposite gender? The questions demand more study and “Gender Pioneers” offers a launching point.

Open this book anywhere and you’ll see that the theme here is serious, but author Philippa Punchard also lends a bit of a breeze. There’s no certain order to what you’ll read, and while the entries reach back to ancient times, they focus more on the past three hundred years or so; each of the articles is short and to the point, and the soft illustrations invite brows ing. For readers who want a quick read, this works.

Be sure to keep going through both appendices of this book, where you’ll find a wealth of further informa tion and dates to remember. Historians and readers of trans history will find “Gen der Pioneers” just right. Q

to continue. Figure out how to find happiness on your own.

CANCER June 21–July 22

Steer clear of major financial entanglements.

The more you spend, the more stress you could experience. Embrace simple pleasures and get into the groove. The world is a playground.

LEO July 23–August 22

Learn your stride and keep up the pace. You may feel unstoppable and that could lead to satisfaction. Though the world is kind of dull right now, it won’t always be. Keep your spirits up.

VIRGO August 23–Sep 2

Nothing is going to happen un less you make it so. Take charge of a personal matter and a relationship will flourish. Even if things are perfect, there is always room for improvement.

LIBRA Sept 23–October 22

It has taken some time, but what you’ve dreamt of seems within reach. Grab it and hold on tight because things are getting wild. There is nothing stopping you from finding good times.

SCORPIO Oct 23–Nov 21

Even when you are los ing, there is so much to be learned. The knowledge you gain will help in the long haul. Start looking at what’s to come with glee and get ready to thrive soon.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 22–December 20

Contrary to what ev erything is telling you, it’s a good time to invest. Look at finances and make wise decisions. Don’t take too many risks but a payoff comes to those who are wise.

CAPRICORN Dec 21–Jan 19

Whatever you might think is going on, it’s likely the opposite. Follow trends but be skeptical of what seems out of place. Change is always inevitable, but results are often temporary

AQUARIUS Jan 20–Feb 18

Take a breath and count to five, because it’s time to feel alive and free! Consider your favorite traditions and let them guide you toward happiness. There are many opportunities now.

PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19

Let no one tell you what to do or how to enjoy your holidays. Be a rebel within your social circles and find comfort in taking control. No one is going to stop you so proceed at will. Q

‘Gender Pioneers: A Celebration of Transgender, Non-Binary and Intersex Icons’

Ways to do brunch in Downtown SLC

BY MELISSA FIELDS

While some may be lamenting October’s shortening days and cooling temps, this fall we’ll be keeping sum mer’s carefree vibes going by indulging in the week end meal mashup known as brunch. Following are 17 options for spending a leisurely Saturday or Sunday in downtown Salt Lake City fueled by great food, creative libations, live music and even a drag queen or two.

Drag Brunch

We, of course, love brunch on its own. But brunch with drag queens is SO much better. It’s unclear when egg benes and mimosa were first paired with this new and improved iteration of vaudevillian-style performances, but we’re sure glad someone came up with the fabulous idea for Drag Brunch. Every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. the Quorum of the Queens perform at TAV ERNACLE SOCIAL CLUB (50 W. Broadway, 801.519.8900). This raucously artistic show — which is refreshed and re booted every week — includes lip-sync performances, live singing queens, celebrity illu sions, characters from televi sion and film and much more.

Over at WHY KIKI (69 W.100 South, 801.641.6115) the midday hours on both Saturdays and Sundays are re served for Drag Brunch. There you can take in a hilariously captivating show featuring a rotating group of performers like Hoe Shi Minh, Sally Cone Slopes, Molly Mormon, Liam Manchesthair and Diana Lone. The starring dish on Why Kiki’s brunch menu is the Chicks & Dicks, a cheeky

interpretation of fried chicken and waffles a la chicken fingers and penis-shaped pancakes.

Both of the aforementioned Drag Brunch shows require advance tickets and/or reserva tions, and both the Tavernacle Social Club and Why Kiki are for guests age 21 and older only.

Standard Brunch

At THE ROSE ESTABLISH MENT, the terms locally sourced and farm-to-table are not just marketing speak, they are the lodestar for by which every dish on this stalwart café’s menu is created. If you’re in the mood for veggies (much of which come from Snuck Farm in Pleasant Grove), we recommend the hearty Brunch Bowl, a buckwheat salad of roasted veggies, muhammara dip and peppadews, served, on request, with soft-boiled eggs and/or avocado. Meat eaters dig The Rose’s Brunch Burger, an indulgence of Snake River Farms Kobe beef, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese and a fried egg served on a Cen tral 9th Market brioche bun. Both — along with the rest of menu’s fresh and creative dishes — pair extraordinari ly well with a Peach Bellini, Mimosa or Kir Royale from the bar. And it would be a crime to leave without taking home something from The Rose’s irresistible bakery case.

RESERVATIONS? YES. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? YES. KID FRIENDLY? YES. 235 S. 400 WEST, 801.208.5569

Though you certainly cannot go wrong with any dish on PAGO ON MAIN’S Sunday Brunch menu, don’t get too attached the one you do eventually land on. Here’s why: Pago subscribes to the “wild to table” concept of sourc ing all the food served there.

Meaning, every dish on the menu is completely locally sourced. And so, often when a particular item is no longer available or is out of season, it’s altered or removed, at least temporari ly, from the menu. That said, deliciously elevated brunch classics are a grateful con stant there, including French toast, mimosas, eggs benedict, Moroccan shakshuka, croque madame and much more.

RESERVATIONS? YES. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? YES. KID FRIENDLY? YES. 341 S. MAIN, 801.441.2955

Looking for a quick but tasty fuel up before heading up to one of the canyons for a pedal, hike or climb? HONEST EATERY is the place. The menu there spans a dozen or so smoothies, unusual riffs on avocado toast, brunch paninis and acai bowls. Sit outside on the shady Regent Street for a fast-casual brunch nosh or take your brunch to-go for an alfresco picnic at the trailhead. RESERVATIONS? NO. LIQUOR LICENSE? NO. OUTDOOR SEATING? YES. KID FRIENDLY? YES. 115 S. REGENT ST, 801.532.4754

For armchair sports aficiona dos — as well as duffers and gamers — FLANKER KITCH EN + SPORTING CLUB — is the place to be on weekends when the Utes, Cougars or any team in the NFL are playing. There you can also hone your swing at one of the VR golf simulators and try your hand at duckpin bowling. Flank er’s uber-generous, sharable

brunch dishes include lemon buttermilk pancakes, huevos rancheros, eggs benedict four different ways and shrimp and grits. DJs set the perfect back drop to get your day-drink ing on. We recommend the Chai Mule or The Jolt, the house’s version of an espresso martini. For the DD, Flanker also boasts an impressively long menu of tasty mocktails. And did we mention that mimosa and Bloody Marys are just $5 during brunch?

RESERVATIONS? YES. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEAT ING? NO. KID FRIENDLY? NO. 6 N. RIO GRANDE ST, THE GATEWAY, 801.683.7070

Brunch at RED ROCK BREW PUB checks all the boxes and then some. Seasonality dictates the Saturday and Sunday brunch menu specials, served alongside tasty backbone items like eggs benedict, omelets, steak and eggs and avocado toast. What’s more, during brunch hours, Red Rock serves $4 Bloody Marys and mimosas. What’s not to love?

RESERVATIONS? NO. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? YES. KID FRIENDLY? YES. 254 S. 200 WEST, 801.521.7446.

GRACIE’S extensive brunch menu, served Fridays, Sat urdays and Sundays, ranges from comfort classics like eggs benedict, corned beef hash and huevos rancheros to picks from the “non-brunch brunch” side of the menu: burgers,

Chicks and Dicks at Why Kiki

always fresh and huge salads, nachos and wings. When the weather gets chilly, brunch lives on indoors where 20-plus screens — and the $4 Bloody Marys and mimosas — draw NFL and college football fans.

RESERVATIONS? YES. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? YES. KID FRIENDLY? NO.

326 S. WEST TEMPLE, 801.819.7565.

Since it opened more than a dozen years ago, THE COPPER ONION has held a special place in downtown’s bur geoning dining scene as the kind of place where young professionals, families with kids, hipsters and retirees happily coexist, all drawn by this eatery’s casual vibe and always-fantastic food. Brunch at The Copper Common is no exception. This American brasserie’s lunch and dinner menu flair has been translated seamlessly to craveable brunch plates like the carbonara pasta, ricotta dumplings, Turkish eggs and the unapologetic steak and eggs. Sit outside on The Copper Onion’s sidewalk patio and soak in fall’s golden hours. Or, when temperatures begin to dip, sit indoors in the cozy dining room. We recom mend making a day of it by following brunch with a movie at the Broadway Cinemas, located conveniently next door.

RESERVATIONS? YES. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? YES. KID FRIENDLY? YES. 111 E. BROADWAY, 801.355.3282. Tucked into the colorful Edison Alleyway, in an airy-industrial space formerly occupied by Campos Cof fee, is BRICK & MORTAR , a charmingly casual bar and eatery that begs lingering over the creative comfort food and drinks served there. Brunch menu standouts include the beignets, quiche, biscuits and Chorizo gravy, short rib eggs

benedict and — my personal fave — the chicken and waf fles. The all-day menu is also offered during the Saturday and Sunday brunch hours and includes burgers, B&M’s be loved fried cheese curds, salads, tacos — both carnivorous and veggie versions, nachos, fish and steaks. Be sure to make time for a post-brunch stroll through the alleyway to check out the fantastic street art.

RESERVATIONS? NO. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? NO. KID FRIENDLY? NO. 228 S. EDISON ST, 801.419.0871.

At WHITE HORSE SPIRITS & KITCHEN, anything that can be made inhouse is. From the ice cream to the pastra mi and bacon, most of what arrives on diners’ plates there is mixed, baked, cured, etc. on the premises. This edict for house made is a hallmark of Matt Crandall, executive chef at White Horse and The Bour bon Group’s other Salt Lake City outlets: Bourbon House, Whiskey Street and Franklin Ave. And so, it goes almost without saying that brunch at White Horse is good. In fact, it’s really good. Starters, which you can sip while checking out White Horse’s artistically lit liquor wall, include the basil cucumber lemonade, a Bloody Mary — served with or without an oyster shoot er — and the Wasatch Spritz, a refreshing interpretation of an Aperol spritz. Brunch dishes range from the lighter tartines (toasts), expertly made omelets and heartier entrees like lemon ricotta pancakes, eggs benedict, French toast and biscuits and gravy. En ergetic and urban-inspired best describes White Horse’s vibe; akin, dare we say, to a high-end tavern in downtown Chicago or Greenwich Village.

RESERVATIONS? YES. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? NO. KID FRIENDLY? NO. 325 MAIN ST., 801.363.0137

Walking into EVA’S BAKERY BOULANGERIE feels like be ing teleported to a patisserie in Saint Guilhem-le-Désert where all the signage is, conveniently, in English versus French. Own er/baker Charlie Perry opened this charming café almost 10 years ago and named it in honor of his greatgrandmother. There, the robin’s egg exteri or invites all who pass by to come inside, find a seat at one of the dining room’s intimate marble-topped café tables and spend the morning sippinga cappuccino and nibbling on a house made croissant, blueber ry Danish or Kouign Amann. Beyond the temptations from Eva’s always-full bakery case,

the breakfast menu there fea tures a variety of brunchy faves like stuffed French toast, eggy croissant sandwiches, house granola and eggs benedict. RESERVATIONS? NO. LIQUOR LICENSE? NO. OUTDOOR SEATING? YES. KID FRIENDLY? YES. 155 S. MAIN ST., 801.355.3542

If one was to track the genesis of the weekend tradition we now know as brunch in Salt Lake City, all lines would lead directly to MARKET STREET GRILL & OYSTER BAR . Brunch has been a part of the classic and consistently offerings at Market Street since it opened its sunny flagship downtown location in 1980. From the cinnamon rolls served with every order and freshsqueezed orange juice to oysters on the half shell and champagne, the brunch

there is meant to satisfy all tastes and almost all budgets. Other popular brunch items at Market Street include omelets, steak and eggs and crab eggs benedict, which are as popular as the fresh crab Louie salad and famous clam chowder.

RESERVATIONS? YES. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? NO. KID FRIENDLY? YES. 48 W. MARKET ST., 801.322.4668

As is true with most culinary origin stories, getting to the roots of brunch is pretty hazy. Most accounts, however, circle around the notion that this weekend tradition began in the

late 1800s as a respite after a long night out. This notion of post-night-onthe-town suste nance seems to be at the heart of the decadent dishes served at LONDON BELLE every midday Sunday.

When you go, leave your diet at the door and jump with both feet into dishes like the fried chicken biscuits and gravy, smoked salmon benedict, bison short rib hash or the huge hangover burger. Sample a little hair of the dog, if you dare, by ordering a mimosa, loaded Bloody Mary or Sunday Scriptures (Buffalo Trace whiskey, Bulliet rye, coffee syrup, angostura bitters) from the creative cocktail menu. Then sink back and relax in one of the Belle’s cozy, upholstered chairs to

either plan the rest of the days adventures or contemplate an afternoon nap. Your choice. RESERVATIONS? YES. LIQUOR LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? NO. KID FRIENDLY? NO. 321 S. MAIN ST., 801.363.8888

Likely the most apt locale for brunch with the ladies from our list is IVY, a sophisticated yet casual bar-restaurant, and home to what is arguably downtown’s loveliest patio. Both outside and indoors within Ivy’s moody-modern interior, you can enjoy mouth watering brunch standards like shakshuka, pancakes, steak and eggs, Wagyu braised eggs benedict and French toast. Less traditional menu items include salads, the “everything bagel” seasoned fried Brussels sprouts, the breakfast poutine and grilled beet hummus. Think outside the box when asked what you’d like to drink by requesting a kimchi michelada, celery Collins or Thai tea. RESERVATIONS? YES. LIQUOR

LICENSE? YES. OUTDOOR SEATING? YES. KID FRIENDLY? NO. 55 W. 100 SOUTH, 801.895.2846

No roundup of downtown Salt Lake City brunch destinations would be complete without inclusion of HONG KONG TEAHOUSE . While not a brunch restaurant per se, many equate a midday Sunday meal with dim sum, a traditional Chinese dining experience made up of small plates, usually accompanied by tea and shared among family and friends. Dishes served as part of Hong Kong Tea House’s daily dim sum menu (served until 3 p.m.) include multiple dumpling iterations (black sesame, shrimp, Shanghai, etc), turnip cake, Har gow, egg rolls, steamed barbecue pork buns, wonton and hot and sour soup and much more.

RESERVATIONS? NO. LIQUOR LICENSE? LIMITED. OUTDOOR SEATING? NO. KID FRIENDLY? YES. 565 W. 200 SOUTH, 801.531.7010

For those who can’t bear to part with their (well-behaved) pooch for a couple of hours AND like to cut a rug, there’s TWIST BAR & BISTRO. Dogs are welcome on Twist’s huge patio, where the brunch buffet is served on Saturdays and Sundays. DJs keep the vibe festive on Saturdays, while the local cover band, Twisted Brother, plays Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Brunch dishes skew a little more toward the lunch side of the portmanteau, with items like Tuscan tomato soup, chopped steak and sautéed mushrooms served over mash ers with gravy and cobb salad. Twist’s full bar is, of course, open during the brunch hours (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), featuring $5 Bloody Marys and $4 mimo sas. Reservations? No. Liquor license? Yes Outdoor seating? Yes. Kid friendly? No. 32 Exchange Place, 801.322.3200

Originally published by Downtown Alliance.

AFTER TRAGEDY AND HATE,BARBARA VOWED TO CONTINUE

LEGACY OF LOVE.

Barbara

Barbara Poma Founder, onePULSE Foundation

Plan-B to premiere horror comedy ‘My Brother was a Vampire’

In Morag Shepherd’s latest play, sib lings Skye and Callum love each other, hate each other, and need each other.

Oh, and they can fly.

“My Brother was a Vampire” is a horror comedy that follows a bizarre, broken, and blistering ly brazen journey in reverse.

Jerry Rapier, Plan-B’s artistic director, chatted with Morag about the play.

Morag Shepherd, how would you describe “My Brother was a Vampire“? I describe “My Brother was a Vampire” as a horror comedy because I really wanted to try my hand at writing something scary and suspenseful. I wanted to write something that evoked the presence of someone, or something, lurking just out of sight, to represent a paranoia, or an unknown. The comedy part of the equation shows up by a fairly heavy dose of dead-pan sarcasm in the relationship between siblings Callum and Skye. I liked the idea of having the audience balance right on the edge of laughter and discomfort and I constantly tried to play with the line between comedy and horror.

What inspired you to write it? I really love the Swedish film “Let the Right One In,” and was actually able to stage it in Provo at An Other Theater Company a few years ago. I love how that piece is both so violent and completely innocent all at the same time, and I wanted to capture a similar kind of contradiction. I was also greatly influenced by the band The Smiths and how we just love to be depressed by their songs sometimes!

What is unique about the play? We first meet Skye and Callum in their forties, and then in each subsequent scene they are five years younger, so by the time we get to the last scene they are five and eight. By following a different dramatic structure, the story is less a trauma tale and more about the char acters and their relationship, which is both sweet and fierce. In addition, it was fun and challenging to write about the different aspects of vampire folklore.

What do you like most about it? The thing I like the most about this piece

is the interplay between the siblings. They aren’t particularly likable or moral or happy, and are their best and worst when they are around each other. Sometimes they are horribly cruel and funny, which makes it so that when they are soft and sweet, it really pops. How do you describe Skye (played by Sydney Shoell) and Callum (played by Benjamin Young)? From a young age Skye always tries to take on Callum’s pains and discomforts. She does this in a paranormal way, and because of this gift or power, she sometimes crosses lines and hurts him. When we first meet Skye, she flies onto the stage because she has more fully transitioned into a vampiric state. In this condition, Skye is at her most cold and sarcastic, which is hilarious. As our experience of her rolls on, the hard, outer layer of her personality burns off, and she is warmer. Callum has learned throughout his life to self-medicate as a coping mecha nism. When he does this, we realize that Skye knows about it and feels it in her arms and hands. Although we already know that his fate is sealed at the top of the show, it is still hopeful to see how he is almost naive to the people around him. Callum looks for the best in his mother, even though she has been thoroughly thoughtless to he and Skye. He doesn’t want to blame others for how his father was, and tries to show up for and care for Skye, even when it is less of a help and more of a burden. Q

Morag Shepherd has previously premiered her plays “Not One Drop” and “Flora Meets a Bee” at Plan-B Theatre. Her latest, “My Brother was a Vampire,” premieres November 3–13 for Plan-B Theatre’s 32nd Subscrip tion Series, featuring Sydney Shoell (they/them) and Benjamin Young (he/him). Details, including COVID-19 safety, and tickets at planbtheatre.org/vampire.

Playwright Morag Shepherd, and actors Benjamin Young and Sydney Shoell

Kink 101: Welcome to my world

BY ALPHA MERCURY

Welcome to the world of kink/leather/ fetish/BDSM. I’ve been expecting you. If you’re reading this, it means either you’re already part of this community, or you’re kink-curious. Either way, I’m glad you’re here.

What is kink? The rather uncharitable definition in Dictionary.com is “bizarre or unconventional sexual preferences or behavior.” A vanilla (non-kinky) person clearly wrote that definition. The site’s relevant definition of “fetish” is “any object or non-genital part of the body that causes a habitual erotic response or fixation.” That’s slightly more sympathet ic, perhaps because it’s harder to deny the ubiquity of fetishes than that of kink. But kink is everywhere. And, just as KC and the Sunshine Band says, that’s the way I like it. (Millenials and Gen-Zs, look it up.)

I would describe kink as “sexually adventurous behavior, outside traditional or conventional parameters” and fetish as “something that excites you more than anything else.” Another way of looking at kink is “anything besides basic hugging, kissing, sucking, and fucking.”

There are as many kinks as there are people on the planet, although there are some that have many fans. Bond age, domination, sadism, and masoch ism are common kinks, and of course, from those four, we get the acronym BDSM. Other common kinks include Master/slave, roleplay, age play, impact play, pup play, and furry/pet play.

Here are some quick definitions for anyone not familiar with these terms. These are my definitions, not the dic tionary’s, based on a lifetime of being part of the kink community. Still, these are subjective definitions, not definitive ones. I speak only for myself, not from any place of authority. Some people will disagree with me, and that’s okay.

It goes without saying that all of these practices are done for the erotic satis faction of the people involved. What is worth saying is that these practices

are “kinky” only if they are undertaken voluntarily by consenting adults. If it isn’t voluntary, it’s not kink, it’s abuse. That’s a crucial difference that many people don’t understand or can’t accept.

BONDAGE : The practice of binding someone (or being bound) with rope, re straints, handcuffs, or any other method.

DOMINATION : When someone impos es their will onto another person and compels them to obey their instructions.

SUBMISSION : When one per

on a canine persona (with or with out gear) for a period of time.

FURRY/PET PLAY: Similar to Pup Play. Taking on an animal persona, usually mammalian, for a period of time.

Common fetishes include leath er, rubber, latex, neoprene, un dergarments/lingerie, feet, shoes/ boots, sports gear, hats, and gloves.

Endless variations and possibilities exist within each of these categories. There can also be much overlap among

son submits to another person’s will and obeys their instructions.

SADISM : The practice of inflicting or inducing pain on or in someone else.

MASOCHISM : The state of enjoying pain that is inflict ed or induced upon oneself.

ROLEPLAY: When participants take on “roles” for the purpose of enacting erotic scenarios. (Master/ slave, Doctor/patient, Teacher/stu dent, Policeman/criminal, etc.)

AGE PLAY: When participants take on personas who are of different ages than they actually are, for the purpose of widening the age gap between them.

IMPACT PLAY: The practice of striking someone or being struck, usually with an implement like a crop, flogger, or whip.

PUP PLAY: When someone takes

them. And this is only a tiny sampling of what’s out there. The truth is, kink is infinite because the human imagination is infinite. Anything that excites someone sexually can be a kink. However, only practices that are safe and consensual should actually be engaged in. That’s the difference between kink and fantasy.

Are you kink-curious? Want to explore but aren’t sure how to start? I can help. An easy and fun way to look into the kink world is to visit FetLife.com. It’s very much like Facebook, but for kinky folk. Create an account and explore the entire world of kinky writings, message boards, photos, videos, and artwork. FetLife has hundreds of thousands of members worldwide, of all genders, expressions, and orientations. You can make friends, follow people, be fol

lowed, or just observe. It’s a great way to explore the Kink community from the safety and privacy of your own device.

If you’d like to do something IRL (in real life) here in Salt Lake, Club Try-An gles hosts kinky events every month. Ev ery second Friday of the month is Leather & Gear Night, and every fourth Friday of the month is Fluff Night (furries/pets.) Stop by and check out the scene. You might make a friend or two. Club Try-An gles is located at 251 W Harvey Milk Blvd. and their website is ClubTryAngles.com.

The most important thing I can tell you about kink is that there is nothing wrong with it. Much like homosexuality and transgenderism have traditionally been labeled as perverted, dangerous, and evi dence of mental illness by Republicans and other small-minded people, so too has kink been identically labeled, not only by those same people but within our own LGBTQ+ community. I repeat: There is nothing wrong with being kinky. Real kink/leather/ fetish/BDSM takes place between con senting adults. If there is no victim, what crime has been committed? Just like with prejudice and bigotry directed toward ho mosexuals and transgendered individuals, just because someone doesn’t understand kinky people and what we do gives them no right to criminalize the practices or demonize us. As Hamlet reminded Horatio, “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

I hope this very short introduction to the kink community has been en joyable for you. Have questions about kink/leather/fetish/BDSM? Disagree with my definitions of kinky practic es? Awesome! Write to me at kink@ qsaltlake.com and I’ll print them and answer them in an upcoming column. Be safe and have fun out there!

In Kink We Trust. Q

Alpha Mercury has been an out-and-proud member of the kink/leather/fetish/BDSM community his entire adult life. He has a degree in film production from the University of Southern California and is an author of erotic fiction. He lives with his leather family in Salt Lake City. Reach him at kink@qsaltlake.com

the perils of petunia pap smear

The tale of a Butter Ball

BY PETUNIA PAP SMEAR

The road to Thanksgiv ing dinner is fraught with danger and excitement.

At long last, it’s Autumn and gratefully, the unbearably hot summer weather has broken. Finally, I can somewhat comfort ably emerge from Chateau Pap Smear into the great outdoors without torren tial rivers of perspiration gushing forth from between my many chins, underarms, and multiple-spare-tired midsection.

Since it is Fall, the holiday season is quickly approaching, and plans for the annual family Thanksgiving feast are being made. Few things in life excite this insatiable buffet queen more than a prodigious Thanksgiving feast. However, I’m waiting with much trepidation for my food assignment for the gathering because I’m reminded of a Thanksgiv ing several years ago when my contri bution was to prepare the turkey.

Back story: A few years ago, when a new supermarket opened near Cha teau Pap Smear, they gave away a free turkey with any purchase of more than $50. So naturally, reverting to my Mormon upbringing and the whole two-year food storage thing, I divided up my spending into several trips so that with a little bit of creative shopping, I was able to score four free turkeys.

I proudly announced to the family that I would prepare the turkey that year. Besides, I needed to clear some space from my freezer to fit in some more fro zen burritos. I had read online about the slow-roasting method of cooking turkeys — Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Place tur key in a heavy roasting pan, uncovered. Add one inch of water in the bottom of the pan. Bake for one hour to crisp and seal in juices. Reduce heat to 185 degrees and continue roasting for 12 more hours. Ok, that sounded easy enough.

Dinner was going to be at 2 p.m. So, at midnight, I preheated the oven to 500 degrees as the instructions said. My breasticles began to sweat just thinking

about the heat. I ever-so-gently rubbed the bird all over with butter. I was so unaccustomed to using anything other than a water-based lube, that I was a little uncomfortable, yet strangely aroused, do ing this. I didn’t have a big enough roast ing pan to fit the bird, so I used a Pyrex baking dish. I ever-so-carefully placed the bird into the dish and poured about three cups of water into the bottom of the dish as instructed. I shoved the bird into the blazingly hot oven. Then I retired to the living room and began watching a holiday movie to get more in the holiday mood.

After one hour, the timer went off. I paused “Holiday Bromance: Stuffing Daddy’s Turkey” just as the “plot” was getting “hard” to follow. I went into the kitchen and turned the oven down to 185 and opened the door to check on the bird. It was crisping up just like a naked gym bunny without sunscreen on Bare Bum Beach. I noticed that all the water in the Pyrex dish was gone. Now, my mama didn’t raise no fool, and I knew that I could not add cold water to a hot glass pan, so I let the hot water tap run until it was at its hottest. I filled a pitcher with water and poured it into the Pyrex dish. A small cloud of steam wafted out of the oven, giving me an unexpected but welcome facial. ALL WAS WELL. I closed the oven and went back to watching “Stuffing Daddy’s Turkey”.

The movie was just coming to its climax. Suddenly, I was startled by a huge boom. The house shook. I screamed, or was that a cry from the movie? My god, we must be under attack. Either that or “Daddy’s Turkey” got stuffed, and not in the good way. I quickly leapt (oozed) off the couch and ran (lumbered) into the kitchen. Clouds of smoke and steam were gushing from the oven. Frightenedly, I opened the oven door and discovered that the Pyrex baking dish had exploded. After the smoke had cleared, I discovered that the naked turkey was left sitting on the oven rack. There were shards of glass all

over the bottom of the oven. The scene resembled a bomb blast from a war movie.

Miss Manners’ School of Drag Queen Etiquette had not prepared me for such an event. There was not enough time to thaw another turkey. My Boy Scout training to always be prepared began to kick in. In desperation, I thought if I can bedazzle breasticles, shoes, and purses, perhaps I can bedazzle some sort of bird-shaped construction out of hot dogs. What to do? What to do?

Then, suddenly, I remembered that Julia Child said, “Always remember: If you’re alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up. Who’s going to know?”

So, I put on my oven mitts, lifted the war-torn bird from the oven, brushed off the glass shards, put it in a new pan, and unceremoniously shoved it back in the oven. The next day, the family raved about the juicy turkey. I quietly smiled and said, “Thank you.”

Like always, these events leave us with several eternal questions:

1. In times of crisis, would it be ac ceptable to catch, save and use the rivers of sweat to brine the turkey?

2. Should I incorporate a gutter sys tem complete with gargoyles into my breasticles to catch and retain the sweat for such purposes?

3. If I have Gargoyles like a cathedral, should people call me Saint Petu nia, Our Lady of Pap Smears?

4. Might the state of Utah want to access this plentiful resource to help replenish The Great Salt Lake?

5. Should I adapt some breasticles into chimneys to channel smoke and steam?

6. Should I teach classes on how to bedazzle hot dogs?

These and other important questions to be answered in future chapters of The Perils of Petunia Pap-Smear. Q