Podcasts about equality utah

Host: Taylor Morgan A former Republican candidate for the Utah legislature and for Salt Lake County Clerk is suing Equality Utah, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group in the state. Goud Maragani claims the organization’s complaints to his employer led to his dismissal. KSL.com reporter Bridger Beal-Cvetko has been tracking this story and joins KSL at Night to walk us through this latest suit.

Host: Taylor Morgan Salt Lake County’s $507 million public safety bond proposal heads to ballotThis afternoon, the Salt Lake County Council voted 8-1 to send a bond proposal to the November ballot. County Mayor Jenny Wilson’s bond proposal would result in several changes to public safety practices and facilities in the county. The asking price? $507 million. Salt Lake County Council Chair Laurie Stringham explains where the money would go. She also talks a bit about why the council decided to support the proposal. Lyman explains his possible run as a write-in candidate for governorWhile the legal battle continues over who will be the GOP gubernatorial nominee in the upcoming general election, Republican candidate for governor, Phil Lyman now says he intends to run as a write-in candidate. But he’s waiting to file until his petitions to the Utah Supreme Court are heard. Lyman joins the program to explain his reasoning for pursuing this alternative path and discusses the kind of support he would have. Former Utah GOP candidate sues LGBTQ+ organization for defamationA former Republican candidate for the Utah legislature and for Salt Lake County Clerk is suing Equality Utah, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group in the state. Goud Maragani claims the organization’s complaints to his employer led to his dismissal. KSL.com reporter Bridger Beal-Cvetko has been tracking this story and joins KSL at Night to walk us through this latest suit. Candidates focusing on policy or personal attacks – which is better?Some contention has arisen over pictures of crowds at presidential rallies. Most recently, Donald Trump has launched attacks at Kamala Harris claiming photos of her rallies have been edited to look larger than they actually are. Leah Murray, KSL at Night host and Director of the Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service at Weber State University joins host Taylor Morgan to discuss why we allow candidates to focus on personal attacks rather than on policy differences.

Amy is joined by activist and advocate Troy Williams to discuss his incredible coming out journey from the Eagle Forum to Equality Utah, plus how changing our perspective can help turn enemies into allies, and why people of all identities are needed in the struggle for equality.For the past two decades, Troy Williams has been a community organizer playing pivotal roles in passing laws and protections for the LGBTQ community in Utah, including the historic Utah Compromise, a statute against LGBTQ and racially inclusive hate crimes, and a ban on LGBTQ conversation therapy. In 2010, he co-wrote the award-winning play, "The Passion of Sister Dottie S. Dixon" with the late Charles Lynn Frost, and has since worked on various movies and series centered around real-life stories and people from the Mormon faith. He became the executive director of Equality Utah in the fall of 2014 and was named one of the nation's 50 LGBTQ Champions of Pride in 2022 by The Advocate magazine.

Hosts: Greg Skordas and Leah Murray  Wrapping up another week of the Trump hush money trial  KSL at Night hosts Leah Murray and Greg Skordas finish off this busy week talking about the latest updates in former President Trump’s hush money trial. We hear what Trump told reporters before and after the session today, and Greg offers his opinion on what’s next.  The Federal Aviation Administration lives to fly another day  This week, the U.S. Senate approved a bi-partisan bill that continues to fund and govern the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Leah and Greg discuss what held this bill up for several days, and how the passing of this bill could be good for you—the consumer—next time you fly.  Trump campaign asks Big Oil for $1 Billion in exchange for regulation rollbacks  President Biden appears to have raised more money than his opponent, GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. The Trump campaign is trying to make up the difference, now asking oil companies for $1 Billion in exchange for some environmental rules changes. Greg and Leah explain how this process isn’t actually illegal.  Are corporations abandoning DEI and representation initiatives?  Target has announced that this year, it won’t carry Pride Month merchandise in all of its stores. Leah’s first thought hearing this news: is this part of the new trend of corporations moving away from DEI initiatives? The hosts talk with Troy Williams, Executive Director of Equality Utah, about the efforts to still celebrate diversity.  Israel says it will press ahead even without bomb shipments from the U.S.  Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that Israelis will “fight with their fingernails” against Hamas. His words come after the U.S. said they wouldn’t send bomb shipments to Israel if they invaded Rafah. The KSL at Night hosts break down his latest rebuke to the world.  Continuing coverage: Chad Daybell murder trial  Another week wraps up in the Chad Daybell murder trial. KSL-TV reporter Daniel Woodruff calls in from Idaho to give updates. He describes emotional testimony from Tammy Daybell’s family members. Leah and Greg discuss.  New partnership aims to educate future teachers in rural Utah  Utah Valley University and Snow College have announced a new partnership that would allow Snow students to earn an elementary education degree without having to leave the Ephraim campus. Dr. Michael Austin, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Snow College joins the program to explain the new initiative.   Teaching in Utah: what’s it really like?  Piggybacking off the new UVU-Snow College partnership, Leah and Greg finish the show talking about teaching in Utah in general. Leah shares personal experience as an educator, including a few stories about her husband, who teaches high school. What’s the current state of education in Utah? We find out. 

Hosts: Greg Skordas and Leah Murray Target has announced that this year, it won’t carry Pride Month merchandise in all of its stores. Leah’s first thought hearing this news: is this part of the new trend of corporations moving away from DEI initiatives? The hosts talk with Troy Williams, Executive Director of Equality Utah, about the efforts to still celebrate diversity. 

Speaking my peace on peace-ing out until someone tells me to shut up.

Mama Dragons supports, educates, and empowers mothers of LGBTQ children, but we also celebrate and acknowledge the importance of affirming fathers. In this episode of In the Den, Jen talks with three dads of LGBTQ kids about their experiences and learned wisdom from raising their queer kids. Special Guest: Lance SweetenLance Sweeten holds a bachelor's degree in engineering and works as a façade designer in Salt Lake City, UT. He's a husband and proud father of four children. His oldest daughter is transgender. He serves as a board member and administrator for the FB group "Dragon Dads," an organization dedicated to educating and supporting fathers of queer kids. Lance works with Equality Utah and the ACLU of Utah, where he actively opposes anti-LGBTQ legislation in the state's house and senate. Recognizing the need for parental support, Lance established the FB group "Shades of Love," which empowers parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ children. Special Guest: Pat WrightPat has been a part of the Dragon Dads for about five years.  He loves camping, hiking, and adventures all around the world.  He enjoys spending time with all his kids and helping them grow into adults.  He has six kids–four stepkids, two biological kids, one trans son, and one bisexual daughter.  He loves to participate in Pride and volunteer in the community.  Besides volunteering with Project Rainbow and LGBTQ+ group at work he also runs a not-for-profit called Utah Geek Events that puts on events for the tech community in Utah Special Guest: Ralf VonSosenRalf came to the U.S. from Austria in high school. He made his way to Utah where he earned degrees from BYU and the University of Utah. After marrying his high school sweetheart, they moved to the CA Bay Area where they raised four kids. When their third child came out as gay, it shook their conservative Mormon family narrative and launched them on a new journey that included the welcoming of their transgender daughter. Ralf and his wife Wendy recently moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.Links from the Show:Find Dragon Dads on FB: https://www.facebook.com/DragonDads Join the Mama Dragons today: www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Please help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org.  Connect with Mama Dragons:WebsiteInstagramFacebookDonate to this podcast

Wendy Montgomery returns the podcast as Mike and Doug chat with her all about the Ennegram, a dynamic personality system that identifies nine unique types, each with distinct motivations and behaviors. We discuss how it can be used to:Offer deep insights into personal patterns, childhood woundings and growth opportunitiesGain self-awareness, improve relationships, and enhance emotional intelligenceFoster empathy and effective communicationAnd much more!Previous episodes featuring Wendy:#42: Your Inner Momma Dragon#43: Breaking JesusAbout Wendy:Wendy Montgomery is a Professional Certified Life Coach with the highly-esteemed Life Coach School as well as a trained & accredited iEQ9 Enneagram Educator and Coach. She has been studying the Enneagram for over a decade and is endlessly fascinated with its depth, accuracy and what it tells us about who we are and why we do what we do. It has been a game-changer for her in relationships, parenting, professional settings & self-development. Wendy can tell you just about everything there is to know about the Enneagram and how to implement it into your life for deep and lasting change. She has found no greater tool in understanding herself and others.Wendy is the mother of five children, four of which identify as LGBTQIA+. She and her husband, Tom, have been married for 29 years. She was a lifelong Mormon (LDS) with deep pioneer roots, but left the church in 2018 after a lengthy and tumultuous effort to make the LDS Church more loving and accepting for queer Saints and their families. The story of the Montgomerys and how they navigated this minefield is documented in the Family Acceptance Project's 2012 award-winning short film, "Families are Forever."Wendy has been a vocal national advocate for inclusion and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community for over ten years. Her family was the recipient of several awards for their life-saving work, including the “Voice Ally” award from the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, the “Let Love Define Family” award from Raise A Child, and the “Tree of Life” award from Affirmation. Interviews and news stories about Wendy, her advocacy, and their family can be found in The Associated Press, Huffington Post, NPR, The Advocate, O Magazine, NY Times, ABCnews.com, Religion Dispatches, Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News & many more.Wendy is the co-founder of Mama Dragons and has sat on the Board of Directors for both Mama Dragons and Affirmation (the largest international Mormon LGBTQIA+ organization).  She is trained and certified in suicide prevention & awareness through both QPR and the Trevor Project; she facilitates workshops on this important issue around the country. In her work as a national LGBTQIA+ activist, she has worked closely with organizations such as the Family Acceptance Project, The Trevor Project, Affirmation, Mama Dragons, HRC's Equality in Religion, ACLU Arizona, ONE Community, GMCLA, PFLAG National, LoveLoud 2017, Equality Utah, Peculiar, etc.Wendy loves to read, learn new things, practice yoga, meditation and breathwork, and spend time with family & friends. Her favorite place is Sedona, AZ and she visits as often as she can. She lives in Chandler, Arizona with her awesome husband and amazing kids. Links:www.wendymontgomery.comInstagram: WendyMontCoachFacebook: Wendy Montgomery CoachingThreads: WendyMontCoachTikTok: WendyMontCoachYouTube: WendyMontgomeryCoaching

KSL's Top Story:  The controversial bathroom bill… no longer requires people to use the public restroom matching their birth certificate.  Schools would still be impacted.  but other public restrooms are out of the picture.

Utah Senators have made significant changes to a bill that would dictate gender and bathroom use.  It no longer requires people to use the public restroom that corresponds to the gender on their birth certificate, but changing rooms and bathrooms in public schools would still be impacted.  Sue Robbins with Equality Utah joins with insight.

KSL's Top Story: A bill focused on banning Diversity equity and inclusion statements in government institutions has just gotten the green light from a Senate committee.

A Senate Committee voted 5-3 in favor of a bill spelling out who can use men’s and women’s public bathrooms. This bill would require everyone to use the bathroom with the gender that matches their birth certificate. It now moves on to the full senate… after already passing in the House. KSL Newsradio Reporter, Hugo Rikkard-Bell spoke with the lawmaker behind this proposal Representative Kera Birkeland about the reasoning for this bill as well as Sue Robbins from Equality Utah, who speaks to the concerns for the transgender community. Dave and Debbie listen to both sides.  

*Guest Hosts Holly Richardson & Taylor Morgan Taylor Morgan and Holly Richarson start the show by covering HB 257, a controversial new bill that would make male and female bathrooms at state-owned buildings accessible based on sex assigned at birth and not on gender identity. Equality Utah Policy Director Marina Lowe joins Taylor and Holly to share how her organization thinks this will affect Utahns.

KSL and our sister stations the Arrow and FM 100 are standing up against Hate.   We're spending today working with The Community Partners against Hate -- a group sponsored by the United Jewish Federation of Utah.  Together we want to raise awareness about an alarming increase in hate crimes. 

Ben and Charlie are joined by Troy Williams of Equality Utah to discuss how to handle relationship dynamics when a love one decides to leave the church.

Park City voters reject first rec bond in more than 20 years (4:00), Summit County Manager Shayne Scott discusses the agenda for Wednesday's county council meeting (6:49), Renne Hall with the Park City Treble Makers has details on this year's holiday concerts (23:26), Slamdance replaces Sundance at the Yarrow (32:40), GivingTuesday offers chance to give local on Nov. 28 (33:19), Budget cuts likely as Summit County tries to avoid tax increase (35:49), and Park City LGBTQ+ Task Force member Joe Urankar and trainer Olivia Jaramillo from Equality Utah have details about LGBTQ+ in the Workplace training on Dec. 7 (38:43)

EPISODE 45–A Closer Look at Ace/Aro IdentitiesThere are misconceptions and misunderstandings surrounding those who find themselves on the asexual (ace) and/or aromantic (aro) spectrums. In this episode of In the Den, Jen talks with special guests Grayson Moore and Kris Glad about what it means to be asexual and aromantic. Special Guest: Grayson MooreGrayson Moore (he/him) came out as transgender at age 16 (2011) and as asexual two years later. Grayson, alongside his mother Neca Allgood, worked with Equality Utah on extending Utah's housing and employment nondiscrimination protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. He has also worked with Affirmation LGBTQ Mormons Family and Friends. Grayson currently lives in Michigan with his boyfriend and girlfriend. He enjoys cooking, singing, occasionally writing, and playing Factorio.Special Guest: Kris GladKris Glad (they/them) first came to their asexual identity at age 17 (2012). In the decade since, they've found their experience to be fluid with regards to where, precisely, they fall on the asexual and aromantic spectrums, and they've tried on many labels within the ace and aro community to understand their experience and communicate about it with the people in their life. These days, Kris gravitates towards the term 'demiromantic', but mostly just tells people they're somewhere on the ace and aro spectrums.Kris has a degree in Gender Studies and Sociology from the University of Utah, and they enjoy nerding out on queer history, feminist theory, and any scholarship that helps them understand their own experience. In their free time, Kris can usually be found crafting - knitting, cross stitching, sewing, etc - probably while listening to a podcast.Links from the show: Aces and Aros: https://acesandaros.org/ The Asexuality Visibility and Education Network: https://www.asexuality.org/ The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project: https://taaap.org/ Join MamaDragons today at www.mamadragons.org In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at www.mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons:WebsiteInstagramFacebookDonate to this podcast

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Stacey Harkey, formerly part of the original cast of BYU TV's Studio C, is our guest today! He is known as an actor, writer, personal trainer, and for his involvement with Diversity Equity and Inclusion training and consulting in Equality Utah. Stacey shares his journey as a black and gay convert to the LDS Church. He navigated code-switching between Mormonism and Baptist culture, eventually questioning the Church's teachings about race. Returning to BYU after serving a mission to Brazil, he finally felt more comfortable and accepting of his identity. Stacey advocates for understanding and nuance, emphasizing that anger is not an effective way to create change. His story of self-discovery and resilience offers hope and inspiration to those facing similar struggles. Episode Show Notes Youtube Link Mormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon PayPal Venmo Our Platforms: Youtube Patreon Spotify Apple Podcasts Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com  PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117  Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

Kerry, Bill, and Gina review our X-Poll, interview a representative from Equality Utah, and more!

You might know Eli McCann as The Salt Lake Tribune's guest humor columnist and storyteller. But there's a lot you probably don't know. Eli, let's just call him that, is an attorney who discusses religious freedom cases while teaching at the University of Utah's law school. He served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ukraine and became a vocal supporter of helping that country after Russia attacked it last year. He's an LGBTQ advocate and a board member of Equality Utah. He is married to Skylar Westerdahl and lives in Salt Lake City with, as he puts it, their “two naughty (yet worshipped) dogs.” Eli McCann joins us today in studio to explain how he puts all that together with his love of canning, knitting and marathon running.

Please join award-winning filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau in The Locher Room. Laurent will be here to tell us about his new HBO documentary Mama's Boy. Mama's Boy premieres on Tuesday, October 18th at 9 p.m. EST / 6 p.m PST on HBO. The documentary centers around the upbringing of the Academy Award®-winning screenwriter of Milk, Dustin Lance Black. Traveling back to the places where he grew up, Black explores his childhood roots, gay identity, and close relationship with his mother, who overcame childhood polio, abusive marriages and Mormon dogma, while becoming Black's emotional rock and, ultimately, the inspiration for his activism. With a wealth of personal photographs and candid memories from Black's family, colleagues, and friends, Mama's Boy embraces the personal to tell a universally hopeful tale of resilience and reconciliation through the power of love and shared stories.Adapted from Black's 2019 memoir “Mama's Boy: A Story from our Americas,” the documentary is a provocative and powerful journey through America as well as a moving tribute to a mother's courage and a reckoning with the strength she instilled in her son to fight for his beliefs. The film features interviews with screenwriter Dustin Lance Black; members of Black's extended family; Black's husband, Olympic gold medalist Tom Daley; filmmaker Paris Barclay; former president of the Human Rights Campaign, Chad Griffin; and executive director of Equality Utah, Troy Williams.Laurent's credits include the HBO/Amblin Television documentary film Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind, and the Netflix/Amblin Television acclaimed series Five Came Back (with an Emmy winning narration by Meryl Streep), based on the book by Mark Harris. Nedland Media, his production company, with his partner, Markus Keith, also produces behind the scenes documentaries and marketing shorts, most recently on Steven Spielberg's West Side Story and the upcoming The Fabelmans.Come meet this talented director and my friend Laurent Bouzereau.Original Airdate: 10/14/2022

The 2023 legislative season is here, and there are a record-breaking 299 anti-LGBTQ bills being proposed across the nation, most attacking transgender young people. The complex nature of the legislative process, along with the overwhelming number of bills being presented, may lead parents of LGBTQ children to feel discouraged and overwhelmed, but we're here to help. On this week's episode of In the Den, Jen sits down with policy advocate Sue Robbins to discuss the legislative process and how these kinds of damaging bills originate, along with how you can make a difference in your state this year and every year. Special Guest: Sue RobbinsSue Robbins is a woman who is Transgender, Intersex, and Pansexual and uses the pronouns she, her, and hers. She is currently serving on Equality Utah's Transgender Advisory Council working on bills, policy, and other statewide transgender and intersex efforts. She is a Past Board Chair of the Utah Pride Center and of Transgender Education Advocates (TEA) of Utah, along with being a founding member and the inaugural president of Phi Delta, Utah's chapter of Tri-Ess.  Sue also has lifted voices as a past Community Co-Host of Everyday People at KRCL RadioACTIve.  Sue has been recognized with the 2018 Transgender Advocacy TEAM Award, the 2019 Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service award, and the 2022 Equality Utah Impact Award. Sue is an Engineering Manager currently employed with a government contractor. She is a proud veteran with 20 years of service in the US Army, working first as a Tank Crewmember and later in Satellite Communications. Sue lives in Woods Cross with her loving and amazing wife Theresa and has four children and ten grandchildren.Links from the show: WPATH Transgender Standards of Care: https://www.wpath.org/publications/soc Sue's website: https://sueinut.com/ ACLU Legislation Tracking: https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rightsTrans Equality 2023 Legislation Tracking by State: https://transequality.org/state-action-center Track Trans Legislation: https://www.tracktranslegislation.com/  In the Den is made possible by generous donors like you.Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today at mamadragons.org. Connect with Mama Dragons:WebsiteInstagramFacebookDonate to this podcast

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan Let's talk about a sometimes uncommon occurrence at Capitol Hill. We speak with Representative Jeffrey Stenquist, who is sponsoring a bill that restricts classroom discussion and instruction on sexuality for kids in Utah's grades K-3. Originally the bill also included discussions on “sexuality and gender identity,” but after talks with Equality Utah, they were able to come to a compromise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan Study of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Education A new bill in the Utah legislature would study the diversity, equity, and inclusion offices in Utah colleges. Bill sponsor Senator John Johnson joins the show to discuss the details of the bill. We also speak with Utah Black Roundtable Community Engagement Chair Darlene McDonald on why she opposes the bill. School Curriculum Bill, A Success Story Let's talk about a sometimes uncommon occurrence at Capitol Hill. We speak with Representative Jeffrey Stenquist, who is sponsoring a bill that restricts classroom discussion and instruction on sexuality for kids in Utah's grades K-3. Originally the bill also included discussions on “sexuality and gender identity,” but after talks with Equality Utah, they were able to come to a compromise. What's Up With Taxes Taxes is one of the big topics this year, we are joined by KSL Newsradio Political Reporter Lindsay Aerts who gives us an update on the various tax bills going through the Utah legislature. Utah's Budget for 2023 The Executive Appropriations Committee released the final appropriations list to set Utah's roughly $28 billion total budget. Maura and Taylor look over the list and what stands out to them. Presidential Battles CPAC will hold its annual conference this week, it will be the first showdown between former President Donald Trump and his ex-United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. In an interview this weekend, President Biden said it is “legitimate” for people to raise concerns about his age. Energy Department Concludes Lab Leak Likely Sparked COVID Pandemic The Energy Department has released a report on COVID-19 and its origins, and it looks like it could have originated from a lab leak in China after all. We speak with NewsNation Chief Washington Correspondent Blake Burman on what the report had to say. The Forgettable Bills We are just a few days away from finishing the 2023 legislative session. There are many sexy bills that have been thoroughly discussed throughout the session, Maura and Taylor discuss some bills that did not get as much attention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DEREK MILLER: This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Equality Utah is the state's premier LGBTQ rights and advocacy organization. In the last four years, they have turned their attention towards diversity, equity and inclusion education, through their Business Equality Leader program. Public Outreach Director Olivia Jaramillo tells us more. OLIVIA JARAMILLO: In 2019, Equality Utah with political, religious and community leaders, created our first-ever State hate crimes law. Although this law created more safety for many communities, including religious protections, we saw the need to expand from simply obtaining legal equality, to lived equality. Business Equality Leader, our corporate education program, focuses on using our formula which has brought Utah to be considered one of the leading states in creating LGBTQ protections; finding common ground, and building on shared values. We bring education and awareness to those individuals that feel they have little to no experience with the LGBTQ community, and create a path with them on how to become a new or even better ally. When we see someone outside our LGBTQ community, we don't see a problem, we see the solution. Ultimately, all of our efforts combined is what makes Utah a better place to live and work. DEREK MILLER: Equality Utah's Business Equality Leader is recognized by the Society for Human Resource Managers, and has certified over 25 business. And, was recently selected to certify law enforcement officials of the Salt Lake City Police Department, and Utah State Courts System. I'm Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business. Originally aired: February 17, 2023

Moab is one of the most popular destinations to highline, a sport similar to tightrope walking. Now, the first highlining guiding business in the United States will open here in March. Plus, Utah lawmakers have clarified what therapists can do under the state's conversion therapy ban. The bill garnered support from organizations on opposite sides of the political spectrum. And later, many Black travelers in the Jim Crow era used a guidebook to tell them which places would offer them lodging and services. Now Colorado's historic division plans a statewide survey of these locations, also known as Green Book sites. // Show Notes: // Photo: The first highlining guiding business in the United States will open in Moab in March. Courtesy Carolyn Conant // Elevate Outdoors Guiding https://www.facebook.com/elevateoutdoorsguiding/ // KUER: How the Eagle Forum and Equality Utah came to agree on a conversion therapy bill https://www.kuer.org/politics-government/2023-02-07/how-the-eagle-forum-and-equality-utah-came-to-agree-on-a-conversion-therapy-bill // KVNF: History Colorado to survey places that served Black travelers during segregation, known as Green Book sites https://www.kvnf.org/2023-01-20/history-colorado-to-survey-places-that-served-black-travelers-during-segregation-known-as-green-book-sites

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Saturday, Governor Cox signed a bill that would ban minors from receiving gender-related surgeries and medical care. This makes Utah the first state to pass a ban on gender-related health care this year. Sue Robbins, Equality Utah Transgender Advisory Council, joins the show to share her reaction to the signing of the bill and the expectation of how families will react. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 A bill banning Transgender surgeries and hormone therapy for minors failed in committee, but there's a similar bill that bans surgeries and puts a pause on hormone therapy that looks more likely to pass. Dave and Debbie go into the difference between the bills and speak with Marina Lowe, Policy Director for Equality Utah about the proposal and if the current status of the bill making its way through capitol hill could amount to a lawsuit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shooting in Colorado Springs in a bar that's considered "safe" for member of the LGBTQ community -- for 20 years it's been space . Sue Robbins with Equality Utah's Transgender Advisory Council joins D2 to discuss how those in the LGBTQ+ live under a shadow of fear that others outside of the community can't fathom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9:05 - 9:20 - Mass shooting at LGBTQ+ Nightclub in Colorado Springs Our top story: the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs -- we'll take you live to find out the latest on the police investigation into the gunman who was stopped cold inside by patrons -- not before killing 5 and hurting 25.KSL-TV's Dan Rascon is in Colorado Springs this morning and calls the show to discuss reaction.  9:35 - Who will replace Nancy Pelosi as the House Democratic Leader?  New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the likely incoming House Democratic leader, said Sunday that he anticipates his party will be united in a new minority even amid policy disagreements. Jeffries, a longtime allay of outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has sometimes been at odds with members of his party's left flank. However, in an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," he boasted of strong relationships with both liberals and moderates. "Well, I have great respect for Rep. [Alexandria] Ocasio-Cortez and every single member of the House Democratic caucus, from Rep. Ocasio-Cortez to Rep. Josh Gottheimer, my good friend, and all points in between," Jeffries told CNN's Jake Tapper. JUSTIN FINCH, ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON 9:50 - The cost of Thanksgiving Dinner is up 20% from last year The cost of Thanksgiving Dinner -- up 20% from last year, on top of a 36% jump from 2020 to 2021.D2 breaks down -- what his math shows - Is the national media is selling a mish-mash of nonsense over the cost of turkey dinner?10:05 - Utah Bill would limit how and when police can see your location data It shouldn't come as a surprise that your phone tracks you. It tracks where you've been and where you're going.You can be tracked by both the phone carrier you use... or the apps you've downloaded. What kind of access do police have to this data? Connor Boyack from Libertas Institute is supporting a bill limiting "how and when police can use your location data" and joins the show to discuss it further.  10:20 - 10:35 - Child GPS Trackers:  Safety Feature or distraction in the classroom? There is a debate over kid tracking watches in the classroom -- is this a safety feature or a distraction?  KSL Investigative Reporter Matt Gephart spoke parent who opted for a GPS watch after her daughter didn't come home from school one day, but is now facing hurdles from school districts. Cindy St. Clair KSL Investigative Producer joins the show to explain the issue and how school districts handle this kind of technology. 11:05 - 11:20 The odds for the Child Tax Credit in 2023  Congress on T-day break -- let's dissect the odds for the Child Tax Credit monthly payout program is resurrected in 2023. The plan that pays a monthly "fee" to parents based on the age of their children. Boyd Matheson, host of Inside Sources joins the show to explain his predictions. D2 goes live to University of California Berkeley where Bruce Fuller, Professor of Education and Public Policy  & his team of researchers have been picking the brains of parents who got the payments. 11:35 - Living under a shadow of fear in the LGBTQ+ community  The shooting in Colorado Springs in a bar that's considered "safe" for member of the LGBTQ community -- for 20 years it's been space . Sue Robbins with Equality Utah's Transgender Advisory Council joins D2 to discuss how those in the LGBTQ+ live under a shadow of fear that others outside of the community can't fathom. 11:50 - Record levels of need for food assistance this thanksgiving  The Utah Food Bank is seeking support as the need for food is said to be critical this holiday season. Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank President & CEO of the Utah Food Bank joins the show to explain the need and events taking place through the Utah Food Bank ahead of Thanksgiving See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosts: Leah Murray and Greg Skordas  The Utah Health and Human Services Interim Committee recently advanced a bill proposed by Senator Mike Kennedy to prohibit minors diagnosed with gender dysmorphia from making the decision to go through gender-affirming surgeries. We speak with Representative Raymond Ward, a member of the Health and Human Services Interim Committee to discuss what's in the bill, and Sue Robbins, a Member of Transgender Advisory Council for Equality Utah, shares her thoughts on the bill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we interview Maddison Tenney. Some topics we cover include:How disability advocacy, queer advocacy, and all types of advocacy for the marginalized interconnectHow the RaYnbow Collective came to be and the things they've accomplishedThe pushback the RaYnbow Collective received and how they dealt with itMaddison Tenney is a Queer Latter-Day Saint, artist and activist. She is the executive director of the RaYnbow Collective, an off-campus non-profit for LGBTQ+ students at BYU. She is also a staff member at Equality Utah. Maddi grew up in Oregon and Utah and is currently finishing her degree in English Literature with minors in Art and Global Women's Studies. You can connect with her on Instagram @maddi_10e.For episode transcripts and further resources, please visit our website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How many people are you taking care of except you? Not many people think about that, but they should. You can't be there for others if you're not healthy and able. Mary has an in-depth conversation with Mindy Young about this very topic. She is with Equality Utah, the state's largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. Together, they talk about her life, her process of understanding the goodness of all at every stage of life, and learning how to know your journey in this world. Learn More About Equality Utah: https://www.equalityutah.org/ Website:  marycraftsinc.com iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crafting-a-meaningful-life-with-mary-crafts/id1336191892 Main Site: https://craftingameaningfullife.libsyn.com/ Follow Mary on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marycrafts/?hl=en Follow Mary On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.craftshomer

Hosts: Maura Carabello and Taylor Morgan A Southern Utah University professor is suing university leaders over sanctions after he refused to use the preferred pronouns of a student. KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas joins to go over the lawsuit and its merits. Sue Robbins with Equality Utah comes on the program to explain why it is so important for members of the LGBTQ+ community to be called by the right pronouns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There was outrage at Farmington Junior High School after school counselors had new placards made that showed their preferred pronouns.The move motivated parents to send emails and make phone calls to the school. A professor in SUU is also Sueing after he was sanctioned for not address a student by their preferred pronoun. Mike Anderson, KSL 5 TV explains the issue at hand. Sue Robbins with Equality Utah's Transgender Advisory Council joins the show to explain the importance of pronouns to teens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The use of pronouns in school There was outrage at Farmington Junior High School after school counselors had new placards made that showed their preferred pronouns.The move motivated parents to send emails and make phone calls to the school. A professor in SUU is also Sueing after he was sanctioned for not address a student by their preferred pronoun. Mike Anderson, KSL 5 TV explains the issue at hand. Sue Robbins with Equality Utah's Transgender Advisory Council joins the show to explain the importance of pronouns to teens.  Why do teachers pay for school supplies? Teacher supplies — who pays for supplies in the classroom. Sen Todd Weiler put out a tweet to explain why teachers have to foot shoe of the bill.Senator Todd Weiler joins the show to explain further.  Connecting students back to school at American Fork High School We are broadcasting live from American Fork High School as we focus on the Alpine District for our back-to-school coverage. Principal of American Fork High joins the show to explain how they are connecting students back to school at American Fork High and the challenge they faced with engagement during the pandemic.The future of tech in our kids' lives  Broadcasting live from American Fork High School. The tech industry is in full boom in Utah County due to the silicon slope industry, Tanner Bowman, teacher of computer science joins the show to talk about the industry and skills students can gain through computer science.   Students building homes through CTE classes D2 takes a look into the CTE program at American Fork High School and how the skills taken can get them careers outside of high school​. Mickel Bos CTE coordinator at American Fork High School joins the show to take us through the program. We specifically look at a building construction class where students build two homes a year. Jacob Rogers is a student a part of the building construction class and he shares his experience with building a home. What conservation in American Fork There are many things happening in the city of American Fork! Brad Frost, Mayor of American Fork joins the show to talk about the city and specifically what water conservation efforts they have in place. 10:50 - Water conservation in the Alpine District Debbie finds out how much water Alpine School District is saving by switching their fields to artificial turf. David Stephenson,  Communication Director for Alpine School District joins the show.  How video is used for connection at American Fork High School As we broadcast at American Fork High School we take a look at the DECA program and how it is helping students launch their own businesses. Portia, is the president of the DECA club and shares her experience. We also take a look into how the American Fork Principal Peter Glahn, is using video to connect better with students. Worker shortage in Alpine School District According to the U-S Chamber of Commerce, Utah is one of 14 states most negatively affected by worker shortages. How is that effecting schools in Utah's largest district? David Stephenson, Communication Director for Alpine School District joins the show. Be Ready Utah: Preparing for an unexpected water system shutdown The water supply in Jackson, Mississippi is not coming back until they can get system fixed. What can we do to prepare for something so unexpected like this that is likely in the back of our minds. Wade Mathews, PIO with the Division of Emergency Management and Be Ready Utah, walks us through ways we can prepare and store water.   Triple digits in September: How long will the heat last? We have had one of the hottest summers around, and the heat is still coming! With rare triple digits happening through September. Sarah Lambert, student at American Fork High School joins the show as Debbie's co -host! They speak to KSL Meteorologist, Kevin Eubank, about the high temperatures and what can be expected through labor day weekend and the months ahead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Utah judge has stayed the new Utah law that bans transgender students from competing in middle school and high school sports games. In other words, the state lost the first round of court battles to defend its law -- now what? Representative Kera Birkeland joins the show to discuss what is next for the bill and what is happening with the commission. Also, Sue Robbins, who serves on Equality Utah's Transgender Advisory Council shares reaction to the news and what is happening going forward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One's a swimmer, one's a volleyball player, one's a softball player on their school teams,  until state lawmakers passed a law that won't let them compete. We expected the judge to issue his ruling today, on whether he'll temporarily place a hold on the law, and let them participate, but the hearing was abruptly cancelled this morning. Aimee Cobabe, KSL Newsradio Reporter joins the show to explain what is expected. D2 turns to Sue Robbins, with Equality Utah's Transgender Advisory Council to discuss what they expect from the ruling. D2 reached out to Representative Kera Birkland who sponsored the original bill on this issue and did not get a response. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stories from Encircle's SEASON TWO PREMIERE! Your brand new host Stacey Harkey (he/him) interviews Equality Utah's Executive Director, Troy Williams (he/him). How many superhero references can you count?

Join your host Giuseppe Grammatico and guest Jason Olsen, as they discuss the number one challenge creative talents face in the business of beauty. As the CEO and Founder of IMAGE Studios, Jason saw how skilled talents in the beauty industry struggled with the realities of entrepreneurship. Here, he talks about the post-recession conception of IMAGE Studios, the bipolar roller coaster of entrepreneurship, how franchising creates masterminds, and more. In this episode you will learn: What inspired IMAGE Studios How Jason's franchising business went as usual with the help of virtual tech Culture and belongingness are essential to franchising Jason Olsen on describing the best-fit clients Why entrepreneurs are not alone in franchising About Jason Olsen: Jason Olsen is a serial entrepreneur based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is the founder of Image Studios, a Salon Suite Franchise with 179 locations under development nationwide. He has extensive experience in startups, forming his first company at the age of 16. He sold this company during his junior year of college while at BYU.  He has been called the illegitimate love-child of strategy and creativity, harnessing the power of both traits to build uniquely branded companies that have strong cultures and clearly defined visions. He was a finalist for Ernst & Young's "Entrepreneur of The Year" program in 2017, is a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), and was recognized as "Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2018.  Image Studios has also been recognized by several organizations for its incredible growth, including the INC 5000 "Fastest Growing Companies in America" for the past two years and as one of the top 100 growth companies in Utah by the Mountain West Capital Network. Image Studios was recently recognized by INC Magazine as a "Best Workplaces in 2022".  Jason currently serves as an advisory board member for the Westminster Social Impact Incubator, is board chair for Equality Utah, and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. He is also a private pilot, drone enthusiast, paraglider, classic car collector, slow Dvorak typer, and skier. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his husband Tim and their daughter Sophia.  Connect with Jason Olsen on: Website:https://imagestudios360.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/1676124/admin/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/imagestudios360 Twitter:https://twitter.com/imagestudios360 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/imagestudios360/ Connect with Franchise Freedom on: Website:https://ggthefranchiseguide.com/podcast/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/gg-the-franchise-guide/ Email:gg@ggthefranchiseguide.com  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/GGTheFranchiseGuide Twitter:https://twitter.com/ggrammatico Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gg_the_franchise_guide/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxWsxLRngbxJEH2m8w-ptYw?view_as=subscr

When a family member or friend chooses to come out to you, it is an extremely vulnerable moment for them, and how you respond is so important.    You may find yourself wondering what should you say that's affirming and loving — and what should you avoid saying that can be harmful.   This week on the podcast, we have Elena Joy Thurston to help talk us through how we can be better allies to our LGBTQ friends, family and neighbors.   Elena Joy is a member of the LGBTQ community and the executive director and founder of the Pride and Joy Foundation, an organization dedicated to reducing the rate of suicide and homelessness in the LGBTQ community by empowering parents and community members with the information and tools they need to be advocates. She also spends a lot of her time giving presentations and workshops about LGBTQ inclusion through her organization Elena Joy Experience.   In this episode, Elena Joy teaches us: Tips about things to say and do when someone comes out to you. Things to avoid when someone comes out to you. What straight people can do to help create safe communities for LGBTQ people. Why Pride Month is important and how families can celebrate.   Having Elena Joy on the podcast to share her insight, wisdom and heart was truly a joy, and I hope you take the time to listen and learn from her as well.   Juneteenth Jubilee   Juneteenth is coming up next month, and we have an exciting program to help you celebrate! Juneteenth Jubilee is our brand-new program that gives you everything you need to have a meaningful Juneteenth celebration dinner.   It includes a cookbook, a cooking show with my dad, a meal planner, reflection questions and more! Trust me, this is something your family is going to want — both for the yummy food and for the impactful conversations.    The program is available now! So click here to invest in this resource to create a meaningful celebration for your family!   Don't forget to use the code LOVING15 for $15 off your purchase until 6/13/22!   Send in your Loving Day submissions!   Loving Day is coming up on June 12th, and I want to celebrate with you!   Loving Day is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that made interracial marriage for heterosexual couples legal in all 50 states, and I want to make an episode about the significance of Loving Day to those of us in interracial relationships. This means everyone — LGBTQ, straight, dating, married — anyone who loves someone who is a different race than their own.   What I need you to do is record a voice memo that includes three things: Your name Where you are from And the answer to one question: What does Loving Day mean to you?   Send the voice memo to hello@firstnamebasis.org with “Loving Day” in the subject line. If you'd like to include a picture, I would love to share your pictures on Instagram on Loving Day.   The deadline for submissions is June 8, 2022.   I can't wait to hear from you! Articles, Studies, & Podcasts Referenced in the Episode   Elena Joy Thurston's Instagram account @elenajoyspeaks   Elena Joy Thurston's Ted Talk “Conversion Therapy Almost Took My Life, Mindfulness Saved It”   Pride and Joy Foundation's Instagram account @pridejoyfoundation   Pride and Joy Foundation website   Elena Joy Experience website   Pride and Less Prejudice, an organization dedicated to providing access to LGBTQ inclusive books   The Trevor Project   Find your state's nonprofit LGBTQ advocate group. Many of them are named “Equality (insert the name of your state),” such as Equality Utah, Equality California, etc.    Check out our LGBTQ Pride bookshelf on the First Name Basis Bookshop. We linked all the books Elena Joy mentioned in the episode there and many more.   Song Credit: “Sleeper” by Steve Adams” and “Dive Down” by VYEN

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Twenty-one years ago, Equality Utah hit the scene with the goal to build bridges and find common ground on LGBTQ issues. Executive Director Troy Williams tells us more. TROY WILLIAMS Utah is number one in the nation when it comes to marriage – nearly 93% of straight couples living together here are married. Family and kindness are values that are deeply instilled in our state's culture. Utah also has a sizeable gay population. In fact, a recent Gallup Survey revealed that Salt Lake City is the 7th Gayest City in America. To ensure a high quality of life for all, it's imperative that we bridge any social divisions. We are all Utahns. And learning to live together is something that Utah does particularly well. If we can accommodate each other, regardless of our backgrounds, we'll build stronger communities. At Equality Utah, we work with businesses to help leaders unite people from diverse backgrounds. Inclusion means everyone – gay, straight, the faithful, the atheist, black and white, and everyone in between. Learn how we help companies through our Business Equality Leader program by visiting our website: EqualityUtah.org. DEREK MILLER In 2015, historic legislation crafted by Equality Utah and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints found a path forward on complicated social issues. The Utah Compromise is now seen as a model of collaboration for tackling challenging social issues. I'm Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business. Originally Aired: June 3, 2022

Two Utah families filed a lawsuit against the state in regards to the ban of transgender girls from playing high school female sports. This controversial bill from last legislative session took many by surprise as it was enacted on the last day of the session. Will the ban be overturned?   Sue Robbins, Equality Utah Transgender Advisory Council See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Fox News host Tucker Carlson targeted Gov. Cox for acknowledging pronouns during a town hall last year, KSL Newsradio Producer Caitlyn Johnston turned to Equality Utah to listen to learn about the importance of pronouns and how we should address them. Caitlyn shares what she learned during her discussion with Equality Utah's Executive Director Troy Williams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A special session is now taking place to address Utah's transgender athlete bill on Friday after the legislature plans to override his veto.  Governor Cox explained his veto in a 5-page letter... D2 walks through the things that stuck out in their letter.  Sue Robbins, with Equality Utah calls in to give reaction, followed by the original bill sponsor Kera Birkland See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an unexpected turn of events on the last day of the session, Senator Dan McCay introduced a substitute to the bill would ban all transgender athletes from playing sports at all, while the original bill was looking for compromise. Representative Kera Birkeland, sponsor of the bill, calls in to explain the sudden substitute and where things go from here.   Sue Robbins with Equality Utah calls in to give reaction to the substitute that bans transgender athletes from playing sports. What plans do they have in place for when this bill returns? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sue Robbins, a member of Equality Utah's Transgender Advisory Council is here to reflect on the passage and subsequent veto of HB 11, a ban on transgender kids participation in sports, and the lessons we take forward with us. At the end of the show, Ali recommends supporting Gender Bands, Restoring Ancestral Winds, and Project Rainbow Utah.  Have you signed up for our daily newsletter?

It’s Monday in America, time for The World’s Greatest Political Podcast: THE LEFT SHOW! This week, J.M. Bell and JC Carter talk about the State of the Union, Florida Man, and news from Ukraine. Jeff sits down for an in depth interview with Sue Robbins from Equality Utah about the process of advocacy with the […]

Stacey is a comedian, health and fitness coach, and advocate for equality. We talk about how to be confident in the face of naysayers (whether in person or online) and a lot of other things like dating, Taco Bell, plants, and social media. If you want the kind of motivation only a spin instructor can provide, you'll want to tune into this episode! He was an original cast member of BYUtv's Studio C, started a media company (JK! Studios), and has discovered that he gets the most of out of life when he's not only cracking jokes but working to make his community a better place for everyone. He not only works with local nonprofits like Equality Utah, but also spends his time creating and leading corporate trainings about racial and sexual diversity.

Equality Utah is officially 20 years old. Executive Director Troy Williams will call-in to celebrate the milestone and give a preview of the next legislative session. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we have the honor to chat with Kris Liacopoulos, who obtained both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business. She has since retired from her role as General Manager of Fidelity Investments.Her involvement in the community reflects her passions around democracy, equality, and education and has included co-founding the Salt Lake Film Society and participating on the Advisory Board at the Eccles school, the Film Society, and Equality Utah.In this episode, Kris shares her early life growing up in a Greek immigrant family, the struggles of being a first-gen student, and what inspired her to take that leap to pursue higher education. Finally, she opens up about the biggest obstacles in her life and how perseverance and resilience helped her conquer them all.Episode Quotes: The importance of building relationships and maintaining them:“Being a first-time college-goer, I always thought you have to do it all on your own, and that's how you're successful. But, don't get me wrong; it is so much about both your commitment to just getting through it as well as your commitment to excellence.I have been a hard worker, but I finally figured out this is the way the world works; you create relationships. You don't get there on your own, alone. You get there because of circles of people and connections that are willing to help you.”Kris' piece of advice to first-generation students:“I would say try really hard to build your vision of why you want to be at college. So for me, I knew that financial independence was really what I was striving for, ultimately. And I valued education, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to achieve that long-term goal without the actual degree. And so, the degree was an achievement. Absolutely. And it was something that made everybody proud. But keeping a focus on why I was there to keep me through the tough times was really important.”One of the strongest mindsets you could ever have:“It's particularly great when you are going through a hard patch, to remember, this too shall pass. And often, even that grounding helps you understand, Oh, and what's one step that I could take right now just to make it a little better? Cause I'm also a big believer in that. How do you get to the top of the mountain? One step at a time. You can't get there any other way.”On persevering in the face of difficulties:“I would wake up and think I'm alive. And my heart is beating. And most importantly, I'm not doing a thing to control that. Your heart beats outside of your control; your heart most often stops beating outside of your control. That's not what you have control over. What you have control over is, oh, I've awakened, I'm alive. And my heart is beating. And now my choice starts, my decision-making starts. How will this day help me or hinder me in terms of my long-term aspiration of where I'm going and who I want to be, and the type of person I aspire to be.”On feeling like you didn't belong:“I like to remind people - you belong. A lot of times, it feels like you may not belong, right? Because you find yourself in this wilderness, you find yourself doing things that no one has done before you. You find yourself being the minority person in the room, whatever that means. But believe in serendipity for lack of a better term. You are there for a reason. And so that says in and of itself, you belong there. So take some advantage of that. Don't shrink; step into it.”Show Links:The Journey by Mary Oliver Rising Strong by Brené BrownDare to Lead by Brené BrownUntamed by Glennon DoyleThe Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Rep. Kera Birkeland joins Lee to discuss her bill to ban transgender male to female athletes in Utah's high school sports from participating in girls' sports. Debbie Dujanovic joins Lee to discuss what Equality Utah says on the issue after Sue Robbins joined Dave and Dujanovic earlier today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Utah House of Representatives has voted that transgender girls should be banned from participating in girls' school sports, from kindergarten through 12th grade. But the debate isn't over yet, Gov. Spencer Cox doesn't support it as it has been presented. Dave and Debbie will speak with the lawmaker who pitched the bill, and then with a representative from Equality Utah. Is there room here for compromise? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Bio Alejandro Roark is Executive Director of the Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP) in Washington, DC. HTTP is a national non-profit that convenes an intersectional coalition of national Latino organizations committed to promoting access, adoption, and the full utilization of technology and telecommunications resources by the Hispanic/Latino/a community in the United States. HTTP works at the intersection of ethics, technology, and public policy to educate, advocate, and serve as a national voice for Hispanics/Latinos in technology and telecommunications policy.   As Executive Director, Alejandro leads a strategic planning process with HTTP member organizations to set the national Latino tech policy agenda that creates opportunities for national, and local advocates to engage with Congress and the Administration to advocate for inclusive public policy that promotes civil rights protections, equitable access to broadband, and increased diversity in media and tech workforces. HTTP works to extend Latino priorities in the following policy areas: broadband adoption, spectrum allocation, consumer privacy, open internet, intellectual property, and diversity & Inclusion within the technology workforce.   With nearly a decade of experience working at the local, state and national level, Alejandro has dedicated his career to the elimination of structural inequities across LGBT inclusion, racial and social justice, and civil rights policies, through community power building, story-telling, equitable resource allocation and by creating pathways for a more diverse workforce. Alejandro applies his skills and leadership to the examination of the ethical and social dimensions of technological change including the attention economy, data privacy, algorithmic decision-making, and artificial intelligence to ensure that Latino priorities are integrated into the policy-making process. Prior to his position with HTTP, Alejandro oversaw the tech policy portfolio which included the planning and execution of its annual Latinx Tech Summit, for LULAC National, the nation's oldest nation’s country’s oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. In addition to leading the corporate social responsibility team where he worked with fortune 500 companies to develop, implement, and scale nationwide community programs and coordinating LULAC’s Corporate Alliance. Alejandro has also served as the founding executive director for Utah’s first and only Mexican Cultural Arts organization, as well as the associate director for Equality Utah where he managed the region’s public relations systems, community outreach programming, and state, local, and federal advocacy work.   Resources   Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership   Intro   Hey everyone. Here we are on Election Day as purveyors of misinformation and intimidation use both traditional and digital tactics to keep voters away from the polls. The backdrop to this, of course, has been the Supreme Court’s roll-back of the Voting Rights Act, most notably its Shelby County v. Holder decision, in which it essentially neutered the VRA’s preclearance requirement -- the provision requiring state and local governments to get federal approval before making changes to their voting laws and practices.    Section 5 is still there. The Court just ruled the 40-year-old data Congress relied on to decide which states are subject to the requirement were too-old.   Then, as Laurence Tribe wrote in Lawfare last week,  we have the current, conservative majority of the Supreme Court, with the exception of Chief Justice Roberts, suggesting state legislatures should be the highest authority in each state when it comes to each state’s voting laws, even above the highest state court charged with enforcing each state’s constitution.    Social media has not played as dominant a role in shaping public opinion as it did in 2016. But that doesn’t mean state actors and others aren’t still using it. And the Washington Post reports bad actors are using robocalls, in Michigan specifically, to explicitly tell people to stay away from the polls. The FCC empowered carriers to block robocalls before they reach consumers. But apparently they dropped the ball here.    The New York Times warned the public this morning about potential rigged voting machines, tossed ballots, and intimidating federal agents, Yes, this is 2020. And yes, we are still fighting this battle. In this election though the electorate cast their votes by mail in record numbers. So we are seeing this shift across the political spectrum to more analog tacticseither to suppress votes or to preserve them.   ---   We’ll see what happens. I’m tuning it out--at least until tomorrow. I don’t think I’m even gonna watch the results come in. I’ll wake up tomorrow and see what happened.   But my guest today is Alejandro Roark, Executive Director of the Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Parntership here in Washington. Previously, Alejandro led LULAC’s tech portfolio. He was also the founding Executive Director of the state of Utah’s first and only Mexican Culutral Arts Organization. Alejandro Roark!

Steel Drums, Troy Williams from Equality Utah, and More!

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress Guest: Christopher Wharton Office Held: Salt Lake City Council Bio: T. Christopher Wharton is an attorney and senior partner from Salt Lake City, Utah who focuses on family law, criminal defense, and LGBTQ advocacy. He is licensed to practice in federal and state courts in Utah and is certified to appear before the Supreme Court of the United States. Chris graduated from Westminster College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, where he served as president of the Student Bar Association and managing editor of the Journal of Law and Family Studies. Chris also completed a semester studying jurisprudence at University of Oxford, Magdalen College, and international criminal law at The Hague, Netherlands. Chris gained valuable experience interning at the Utah State Legislature, clerking with the Utah Attorney General’s Office, and practicing as a third-year law student at the at the Salt Lake City Prosecutor’s Office, where he tried and won his first jury trial. Chris went on to work as an associate attorney for two years before opening his own practice in 2012. Chris' extensive work in the areas of family law and LGBTQ advocacy has gained local and national attention. In 2013, Chris helped lead a team of attorneys that submitted an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court, arguing for equal treatment of LGBT families under the law. In 2015, he obtained the first same-sex common law marriage adjudication in Utah. As an active community volunteer, Chris has done pro bono work for the ACLU of Utah, Equality Utah, the Utah Pride Center, and the Rainbow Law Clinic. Chris has served as president of the Utah Young Lawyers Division, vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Utah Pride Center, and chair of the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission. Chris also served on the board of the LGBT & Allied Bar Association of Utah and on the Utah State Bar Board of Bar Commissioners as the young lawyer representative to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. He currently represents the residents of District 3 on the Salt Lake City Council. Outside the office, Chris enjoys independent films, local politics, history, art, Netflix, and food trucks. Chris' pronouns are him/his. Twitter: @chriswhartonslc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealchriswharton Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-wharton-b9b87026/ #plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress Guest: Misty Frost Issue: I think our community of learners is really focused on the impact to healthcare workers and what that means for their future job prospects. I've always been passionate about giving people opportunities to improve their economic state. With the pandemic, and it's impact on our healthcare system, it's becoming clear that there are going to be more even more jobs in healthcare than we anticipated. Not only will there be jobs, but we're going to need to rethink those jobs in ways that provide even more opportunity for people in the field. I don't think anyone can say for sure yet how our lives will be changed post-pandemic, but we do know that with any cultural shift of this magnitude things will change. There are so many who are being negatively impacted right now, I'm really hoping that this can be an opportunity for people to find meaningful work in the areas we desperately need good people. Bio: As CEO of Carrus, Misty drives the vision and strategy behind the company mission. Misty’s 25-year career includes extensive global experience at a senior executive level, including serving as SVP of global marketing at Instructure, where she led the global growth strategy and drove value from a private startup to a publicly traded business valued at over $1 billion. Prior to this role, she served as VP of delivery services for Datamark and worked with various global brands, including Intel, Nortel Networks, Hyatt Hotels, and Disney. In addition to leading the charge at Carrus, Misty serves on the board of directors for Marketware and Equality Utah. She’s also an active member in the Women’s Tech Council and Utah Wonder Women, a group dedicated to developing women’s executive leadership. Website: www.carruslearn.com #plugintodevin #UtahValues #BoldSolutions #UTpol

On this episode of The Loudmouth Project's Voices of Reason, Amy Donaldson and Jasen Lee are talking to Troy Williams, executive director of Equality Utah and Marina Gomberg, columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune about LGBTQ+ issues.

Another session of the Utah State Legislature is almost complete. Lawmakers did a number of disappointing things this session, including changing ballot initiatives and fumbling an ill-conceived tax overhaul. But perhaps the most disappointing thing that happened was the derailing of a ban on conversion therapy due to Rep. Karianne Lisonbee and Governor Herbert watering down a bill that was unopposed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which prompted Equality Utah's director Troy Williams to resign from the state's Suicide Prevention Task Force. Abby and Jim discuss the history and future of conversion therapy - Sigmund Freud does not come across well - and also debate what anatomical terms are appropriate for a family-oriented podcast.  

This week on Inside Utah Politics...it was a big week for LGBTQ advocates on Utah's Capitol Hill. A hate crime bill unanimously passed committee, and a bill to ban conversion therapy was unveiled. We're breaking down the issues with Equality Utah. Plus, we're more than halfway through the legislative session. We take a look at the key issues to keep an eye on and our panels weigh in on what to expect in the final three weeks.

On today’s show we talk to Equality Utah Executive Director Troy Williams. Troy’s a fascinating character who has been at the forefront of some of the most consequential and controversial political debates in Utah over the past decade. And his approach seems to come from a place of empathy, humor, and love. This was a fun conversation.

On today's show we talk to Equality Utah Executive Director Troy Williams. Troy's a fascinating character who has been at the forefront of some of the most consequential and controversial political debates in Utah over the past decade. And his approach seems to come from a place of empathy, humor, and love. This was a fun conversation.

Troy Williams is a former missionary man and current cheery optimist who believes,“For whatever reason, the Mormon Heavenly Father just keeps on sending gay and transgendered babies into Mormon households.” Troy started Equality Utah, a non-profit organization that exists to disappear all discriminatory laws within the Beehive State. Utah is the ONLY state with a Republican controlled legislature that’s passed anti-discrimination laws. How did that happen? “The Utah Legislature is 85% Republican and 90% LDS. We’re very tribal. But we’ve been able to sort of recognize- there is no Them versus Us- there’s only US.”   “When we’re able to help each other see ourselves in each other- we’re able to make real progress.”

This month we discuss Hate Crimes, and why new legislation, SB 107, is needed in Utah. Our guests are Sen Steve Urquhart, Executive Director of Equality Utah, Troy Williams, Rabbi Ilana Schwartzman, and WSU professor Dr. Forrest Crawford.

This event, organized by Kate Kelly, was held in New York City on Saturday, April 25th, 6:30pm.  Billed as "A Curated Revue of Hilarious Tales from Mormondom," it entailed a delightful evening of Mormon (and post-Mormon) storytelling and humor. Sean Carter: Harvard Law graduate and professional legal humorist (www.lawhumorist.com). Sean is the author of the first-ever comedic legal treatise – “If It Does Not Fit, Must You Acquit?: Your Humorous Guide to the Law.” His syndicated legal humor column has appeared in general circulation newspapers in more than 30 states. Sean was baptized into the Mormon Church in May, 2011. Jill Wagner: High school Spanish teacher and Story League Legend whose family comes from the Mormon colonies in Juarez, Mexico http://www.storyleague.org/legends/jill/. Steven Puente: Licensed social worker practicing in a methadone clinic in Bronx, NY. Steven is a featured performer at The Moth (http://themoth.org/posts/storytellers/steven-puente), and Steven was featured in a New York Times story about young, hip Mormons (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/fashion/young-mormons-find-ways-to-be-hip.html).   Troy Williams: Returned missionary, Executive Director of Equality Utah and unofficial 'gay Mayor of Salt Lake City.' Troy worked at 90.9 FM KRCL for 10 years and was the executive producer and host of RadioActive. In 2009 he co-wrote the one-woman show, The Passion of Sister Dottie S. Dixon, and was also the producer on the TLC original series Breaking the Faith. Sara Burlingame: Faith organizer at the Human Rights Campaign, from Cheyenne, Wyoming and spends more time investing in the Mormon community than any never-mo…EVER! Sara has never been a Mormon, but she has been an artisan bread baker, a poet, a Bahai and an enthusiastic casserole consumer. She is a perma-blogger at Feminist Mormon Housewives, among other fabulous endeavors. Elna Baker: writer and performer of humorous stories. Her stories have been featured on radio programs such as NPR’s This American Life, The Moth, BBC Radio 4 and Studio 360. Author of The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance: A Memoir.

In honor of Transgender Awareness Month, SLUG's John Ford speaks with Dayne Law from the Utah Pride Center, as well as Troy Williams and Owen Smith from Equality Utah. … read more The post Episode #175 – Transgender Awareness Month first appeared on SLUG Magazine.

On this week's episode we gear up for the Utah Pride Festival as SLUG photographer Paul Duane chats with Megan Ribson from the Utah Pride Center; then our host Dan Nailen chats with Michelle Templin from Volunteer Of America, Utah about the Homeless Youth Resource Center; and SLUG writer Christian Schultz talks with Alejandro Mora and Brandie Balken about Equality Utah in the Soundwaves studio. Plus, brand new music from punk rockers Moneypenny and atmospheric rock band I Hear Sirens. Jeffrey Steadman from Yelp will be back in a few episodes to talk about the best new places that have popped up in SLC over the past few months, and we'd like to hear what new places you've been digging! Call our automated voicemail line at 858-233-9324 and tell us your thoughts. You may get played on the show! … read more The post Episode #99 – Utah Pride Center, Moneypenny, Homeless Youth Resource Center, I Hear Sirens, Equality Utah first appeared on SLUG Magazine.

The grandson of Greek immigrants, Jim Dabakis moved to Utah when he was 17 to attend school at Brigham Young University. After college, Jim worked for 13 years as a Radio and TV talk-show host. He became known as the"Voice of Utah Democrats" as he defended the Party’s values against the continual onslaught of the Ronald Reagan-era Republicans. Jim also began his own company in the art dealership world, and has worked primarily with Russia for the past 20 years. During that time he also founded the Jim Dabakis Educational Foundation which has helped bright students from all over the world continue their education in the United States. He is also one of the original founders of both Equality Utah and The Utah Pride Center. Never one to stay uninvolved, before becoming Chair, he had been active in helping many of our Elected Democrats in this state achieve office. This is his Mormon story.