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BY CRAIG OGAN
Same-sex weddings pump $5.9 billion into U.S. economy
Over the past decade, wedding ceremonies of same-sex couples have contributed an estimated $5.9 billion to state and local economies, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. Of the estimated 823,000 same-sex couples in the U.S., more than 591,000 have married, and about 80 percent of those — roughly 473,000 couples — celebrated with a wedding or related event. With average spending at $8,546 per wedding, celebrations have generated approximately $4.9 billion. An additional $1 billion came from out-of-state guests traveling for the events. Samesex weddings also produced an estimated $432.2 million in state and local tax revenue and supported around 41,300 jobs for one year. Interestingly, the financial impact wasn’t confined to LGBTQ+ hubs. The South saw the highest spending at $2.3 billion, followed by $1.7 billion in the West, $1 billion in the Midwest, and $900 million in the Northeast — regions not typically considered LGBTQ+ strongholds. Them Southern Belles know how to party.
LGBTQ+ pay gaps persist
In 2024, LGBTQ+ households earned just 85 cents for every dollar made by non-LGBTQI+ households, according to a report from the Center for
American Progress. The disparities deepen when broken down by identity. Gay male couples tend to earn the most among LGBTQ+ households, with a median income of $141,900 — higher than both heterosexual couples ($124,900) and lesbian couples ($113,000). But transgender and nonbinary households face the steep wage gaps, earning $24,800 less per year. LGBTQ+ women-headed households average a little over $100,000 per year. Workplace discrimination was reported by 25 percent of LGBTQI+ respondents, compared to 16 percent of non-LGBTQI+ individuals.
She showed them
Transgender swimmer Anne Isabella Coombes, 67, protested Swim England’s revised competition rules by swimming topless in the men’s division at a Masters swim meet. Coombes, who fully transitioned, wore men’s trunks after being barred from competing as female under new regulations aimed at preserving competitive fairness. Coombes had previously competed as a woman and placed second in a 2023 Masters event. Swim England introduced “female” and “open” categories, restricting transgender athletes from the female division unless born biologically female, causing Coombes not to compete for two years. Her 2025 race was a protest against what she described as exclusionary policies, which tend to exclude transgender athletes. Swimming in the women’s category, she would have worn a “female” swim costume. Swim officials ruled that even in the men’s category, she had to wear a “female” costume. Her breasts have enlarged due to transition hormones, and the club thought a 67-year-old woman’s breasts would be salacious. The club relented and told her to wear what she wanted to. She chose a “male” swim costume as a protest and let it all, or at least both, hang out.
Suicide hotline
Since its 2022 rollout, the federally funded 988 Lifeline has offered LGBTQ+ youth specialized support by routing calls through a “Press 3” option to nonprofits like The Trevor Project. This summer, that option will be removed, ending $33 million in federal grants to those organizations. The 988 Lifeline itself will remain fully operational and available to anyone in crisis. The decision prompted intense criticism. Despite the uproar, the change does not eliminate services. The Trevor Project will continue operating its independent LGBTQ+-focused hotline, just not federally funded. The 988 Lifeline will remain open to all callers. While LGBTQ+ advocates worry about loss of tailored outreach, federal officials stress that support remains intact and accessible. The debate highlights ongoing tensions over how best to serve vulnerable populations within the national mental health infrastructure. One critic asked, “Is cruelty the point?” Some wags replied, “With this administration, it’s not the point, but a welcomed side benefit.”
Cops Pride, unrequited
Members of the New York City Police Department’s LGBT organization, GOAL, have again been prohibited from marching in the NYC Pride parade. Originally kicked out of the Parade as a result of the defund police movement in 2021, parade leadership, Heritage Pride, said letting them march in uniform would be in violation of the parade’s no weapons policy. No mention of whether “breasticles” were allowed or not. The NYPD provided traffic and overall security for the late June parade, with most officers in full uniform. There are an estimated 4,000 LGBTQ+ members of the NYPD. Jessica Tisch, NYPD police commis-
sioner, said, “My hope is that they will come to their senses because this March is not about hiding who you are. It’s about being visible. And so many of our GOAL officers are just as proud of being a cop as they are about being LGBTQ+. Those things are never in opposition.” GOAL President Det. Brian Downey echoed that sentiment, saying the policy “does not create safety — it creates friction and fiction.” GOAL members rallied on the parade route on West 20th Street and 5th Avenue, where they later put on GOAL’s Annual Block Party into the evening.
Marriage 10 years later
Opponents to marriage equality predicted the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision for marriage equality would lead to a “parade of horribles” like legalized incest, polygamy, or bestiality, pastors jailed for refusing to officiate same-sex weddings, and heterosexual marriages falling apart. In the 10 years since Obergefell legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, many of these predictions have proven unfounded. But some anxieties persist, and in some cases, they’ve been codified. In Mahmoud v. Taylor, decided in June 2025, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that parents may opt their children out of reading books featuring LGBTQ+ characters. Justice Alito wrote that these books “unmistakably convey a particular viewpoint,” asserting that exposure to such themes could conflict with parents’ religious teachings. Justice Sotomayor, in dissent, warned that the ruling invented “a constitutional right to avoid exposure to ‘subtle’ themes” that contradict a family’s beliefs. In those 10 years, LGBTQ+ visibility remains legally optional in public education, but marriage equality hasn’t led to societal collapse any more than society was already collapsing.
UN LGBTQ+ expert reupped
The United Nations Human Rights Council voted to renew the mandate of its Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity for another three years. The current expert, South African scholar Graeme Reid, investigates global violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, advises governments on human rights protections, promotes legal reforms, and condemns harmful practices. The U.S. has had a fluctuating relationship with the UNHRC, first withdrawing in 2018, rejoining in 2021, and withdrawing again in early 2025 following renewed criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. The current administration has not issued a statement on the SOGI mandate renewal. However, it continues to support the global decriminalization of homosexuality, opposes forced conversion therapy, and promotes free
speech on LGBTQ+ issues, even as it rolls back federal protections for transgender individuals.
Disney de-gays cartoon
Disney’s once-sharp instinct for audience trends seems to be faltering. Recent Marvel films and live-action remakes like Snow White have received lukewarm responses. Pixar’s Elio, released in 2025 after delays and reworking, also underperformed at the box office. Originally directed by Adrian Molina, Elio was intended to include a “coming out” subplot. Molina reportedly left the project after the storyline was revised to tone down LGBTQ+ themes. The final version removed hints of the protagonist’s queerness, including a male crush, and recharacterized Elio to appear more traditionally masculine. The film cost $150 million to produce, but its opening weekend ticket sales fell far short of projections.
Iran-Israeli war deadly for transgender prisoners
Iran is paradoxically one of the most prolific providers of gender-affirming surgery because it criminalizes homosexual relations and often coerces individuals into transitioning as a form of state-sanctioned “correction.” Transgender Iranians can still be imprisoned under laws banning public cross-dressing. Evin Prison in Tehran, notorious for housing political dissidents and LGBTQ+ detainees, held the country’s largest population of transgender inmates. During the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June, Israeli missiles struck the facility. Israel’s Defense Minister described the attack as an effort to “cripple Iran’s tools of repression.” Iranian officials reported at least 79 deaths, and human rights advocates say the prison’s transgender ward was “flattened.” About 100 transgender inmates are missing and presumed dead.
Baylor returns a check
Baylor University, a Baptist institution in Waco, Texas, announced it will return a $643,000 grant awarded to study the inclusion of women and LGBTQ individuals in the Baptist church. Baylor explained that the research itself was not the issue, but the required advocacy in the grant conflicted with Baylor’s Statement on Human Sexuality, which affirms the Baptist belief that heterosexuality is the prescribed biblical norm and homosexual behavior is deviant. The Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, known for supporting progressive faith-based initiatives expressed disappointment, saying Baylor’s decision, “Is a missed opportunity for research and institutional courage,” urging other faith-based institutions to pursue the work Baylor abandoned. Heads up, BYU. Q
Former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis asks Supreme Court to revisit same-sex marriage ruling
Nearly a decade after the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, the high court is being asked to reconsider that ruling.
The request comes from Kim Davis, the former Rowan County, Kentucky clerk who gained national attention in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis cited her religious beliefs, stopped issuing all marriage licenses, and ultimately spent six days in jail for contempt of court.
Two men denied a license, David Ermold and David Moore, sued Davis for violating their constitutional rights. Lower courts have ruled against her, and she has been ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages and legal fees.
In a petition filed with the Supreme Court, Davis, represented by the conservative legal group Liberty Counsel, argues that the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause should shield her from personal liability. Her attorney, Matthew Staver, has called the Obergefell decision “egregiously wrong” and is urging the justices to overturn it, saying marriage rights should return to the states.
The Obergefell decision built on earlier legal milestones in marriage equality, including one from Utah. In December 2013, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby became the first judge in the nation to strike down a state’s same-sex marriage ban after the Supreme Court’s U.S. v. Windsor ruling overturned part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Shelby found Utah’s 2004 voter-approved constitutional amendment and related statutes defining marriage as between a man and a woman unconstitutional, ruling they violated the 14th Amendment guarantees of equal protection and due process. His decision sparked a wave of similar rulings across the country, paving the way for Obergefell.
Legal experts see little chance the court will use Davis’ case to dismantle nationwide marriage equality. Northeastern University law professor Daniel Urman told Newsweek that while Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito have expressed interest in revis-
iting Obergefell, other conservatives on the court such as Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett may be reluctant to strike down a right that has become embedded in American life and enjoys broad public support. Public opinion polls show support for
of new same-sex marriages. Utah’s 2004 voter-approved constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, struck down by Judge Shelby in 2013, remains on the books. While it is unenforceable under current federal law, an end to nationwide protections could allow it to take effect again unless state
same-sex marriage remains high, though slightly lower than last year. Gallup reported in May 2024 that 69 percent of Americans support legalization, compared to 71 percent in 2023. Support remains highest among Democrats (83%) and independents (74%), but is below 50 percent among Republicans.
In January, Idaho lawmakers approved a non-binding resolution declaring their rejection of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges and urging the Court to “restore the natural definition of marriage” as the union of one man and one woman.
If overturned, existing same-sex marriages would remain valid, but each state would once again decide the future
lawmakers or voters act to repeal it.
Davis’ case has been rejected by lower courts multiple times. A federal appeals panel earlier this year ruled that the Free Exercise Clause does not protect her because she is being held liable for state action as a public official. The Supreme Court previously declined to hear her appeal in 2020.
If the court does take up her case, legal analysts believe it is more likely to focus on the narrower question of whether government officials can claim religious exemptions from duties related to same-sex marriage rather than overturning Obergefell outright.
The justices are expected to decide in late September whether to hear the case.
Chuck Whyte, community unifier, dies after decades of LGBTQ+ service in Utah
Chuck Whyte, a central figure in Utah’s LGBTQ+ movement and a tireless advocate for community unity, has died, according to a family member, after a lifetime of service that helped stitch together the fractured threads of a growing, diverse queer population. He was 67. His name may not have always headlined the stage, but his work empowered generations to step into the light — together.
Best known for founding and producing Utah’s Unity Show series throughout the 1980s and early ’90s, Whyte understood the power of gathering — not just for entertainment, but for survival and solidarity. At a time when the AIDS crisis was devastating lives and the LGBTQ+ community lacked centralized coordi-
and geographies — from leather men to student unions, radical faeries to drag performers. He brought people together in church basements, barrooms, and community council meetings, never seeking the spotlight, but always laying the groundwork. He was, as one peer put it, “always putting up the chairs so others
nation, Whyte’s shows became more than fundraisers; they were declarations of existence and mutual care.
“Through unity, we can find hope. Through unity, we will fight oppression from within and without,” said activist Greg Garcia during the 1986 Unity V show. That night, Garcia called on LGBTQ+ leaders to come together in response to AIDS and a fractured community. Whyte had created the stage. The next chapter of queer advocacy in Utah was launched from it.
From that moment, the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah was born, with Whyte elected as vice-chair. He would go on to serve multiple terms and was widely regarded as the engine behind the council’s operations, often doing the unseen labor others relied upon.
Whyte’s reputation as a unifier extended far beyond one event. He connected groups across identities, generations,
Whether as treasurer of the first Pride Day Committee in 1987, a founding member of the Utah AIDS Memorial Quilt Project, or a deacon at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, Whyte showed that unity was not a slogan — it was a practice. He led food drives for Crossroads Urban Center, ensured financial transparency in countless organizations, and sat on the boards of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire, the Utah Stonewall Center, and the evolving Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah. In recognition of his work to build bridges across communities, Whyte received the Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award in 1990, and later a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1999 Diversity Is Great banquet held by the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats.
Even as activism in the LGBTQ+ community became more professionalized, Whyte continued to volunteer, often cleaning, organizing, or mentoring quietly behind the scenes. He remained active in the Royal Court into the 2000s and initiated the group’s Pink Ribbon fundraisers after losing his mother to cancer — yet another example of his ability to transform personal pain into collective purpose.
Gay historian and close friend Ben Williams said Whyte was more of a background organizer who helped make things happen.
“As we used to say, he was always ‘putting up the chairs’ so others could dance. Whenever I created a community organization, I would ask Chuck to be the treasurer because no one was as
meticulous (maddeningly so at times) as he was,” Williams wrote in a biography in 2022. “I feel he deserves every recognition he can get because he [was] rarely in the spotlight, and while perhaps not always as articulate as some, he gave his all to building this community.”
Longtime activist and friend Becky Moss spoke of Whyte’s compassion.
“Chuck was an early recipient of the Dr. Kristen Ries Award. I always think that he received that award because of what he did every paycheck. Chuck did something unheard of: he paid his bills, and then he secretly paid the bills of others who were in need,” Moss said.
Whyte’s legacy is not found in a single organization, title, or award, but in the countless connections he nurtured. He held fast to the belief that the LGBTQ+ community, in all its variety and complexity, was strongest when it stood together.
His vision lives on in every Utah Pride, every coalition formed, and every hand held during crisis or celebration.
In his own words, Chuck once said he wished everyone could be as lucky as he was — “to have family, community, and church people who love and support them.”
He was that support for others.
He made unity not just an idea, but a living force.
Service was at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home, 1007 W South Jordan Pkwy, South Jordan, Utah on Friday, August 8. Q
Chuck Whyte, second from the left, with some of the other Dr. Kristen Ries award winners
Salt Lake City Council District 3 race draws unusually crowded field against incumbent Chris Wharton
Salt Lake City’s Third District is known for its historic neighborhoods, sweeping views from the Avenues, and its role as home to Utah’s seat of government. It’s also the district where one of the city’s most prominent LGBTQ elected officials, Chris Wharton, has built a reputation as a progressive voice and a fierce advocate for equality. But this fall, Wharton faces a test unlike any in his political career: five candidates are on the ballot for the District 3 seat, making it one of the most competitive races in the city.
For an area that has generally supported Wharton by comfortable margins — he won reelection in 2021 with 62 percent of the vote — the size of this year’s candidate field is remarkable. And for the city’s LGBTQ community, the stakes are high. Wharton has been not only a consistent ally but also an openly gay leader who has shaped some of Salt Lake City’s most consequential policies on equality, housing, and sustainability.
The District
District 3 is basically the far northeast section of the city, stretching from South Temple north to the city boundary and the east foothills to I-15. Its neighborhoods of Federal Heights, Capitol Hill, Marmalade, and the Avenues blend historic charm with an urban feel. It also includes some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks: Temple Square, the Utah State Capitol, Memory Grove, Lindsey Gardens, the Cathedral of the Madeleine, and the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
The district is also politically active and has long leaned progressive, with voters typically backing candidates who prioritize clean air, public lands, and inclusive policies.
The Candidates
CHRIS WHARTON
Wharton, a sixth-generation Salt Laker and attorney, was first elected to the City Council in 2017. A graduate of Westminster College and the University of Utah’s law school, he owns a small legal practice that focuses on family law, estate planning, and LGBTQ+ legal advocacy.
Before entering elected office, Wharton was already a visible force in the LGBTQ community. He served on the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission, where he helped draft Utah’s first LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances for housing and employment. He has also held leadership roles with the Utah Pride Center and the LGBT & Allied Lawyers of Utah.
On the Council, Wharton has been a consistent progressive vote and, in 2025, was elected by his colleagues to serve a second term as Council Chair. His tenure has touched virtually every corner of city life: pushing for the city to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, expanding affordable housing programs, defending the watershed, strengthening historic preservation, and advancing accessibility measures for people with disabilities. He was a vocal proponent of Salt Lake City’s ordinance requiring closed captioning on televisions in public areas and backed funding for gender-affirming healthcare coverage for city employees and their families. Wharton often frames his work as about “nailing the basics” but with an eye toward equity. “Clean air and water are human rights,” he said in a recent campaign statement. “We can’t claim to be a thriving city if our most vulnerable neighbors are left behind.”
He and his husband, Chris Jensen, are raising their daughter in the Marmalade neighborhood along with two Corgis and two rescue cats. Wharton’s
visibility as a family man and openly gay elected official has made him a symbol of possibility in Utah politics.
DAVID BERG
Berg, a longtime activist and frontline healthcare worker, is no stranger to local politics.
In 2021, he ran against Wharton, finishing with 17 percent of the vote. A fourth-generation Salt Lake City resident, is running on a platform rooted in justice, preservation, and community empowerment. A frontline healthcare worker serving the city’s unhoused population, Berg brings lived experience and a compassionate approach to addressing some of the city’s most urgent issues.
Long committed to civil rights, Berg worked with attorney Brian Barnard in 2003 to help remove anti-LGBTQ+ language from Utah law. In 2006, he again partnered with Barnard and the Disabled Rights Action Coalition to defend free speech at the Utah State Capitol, winning a federal court case that protected the public’s right to protest.
As vice chair of the Utah Democratic Party Environmental Caucus, Berg has taken a strong stand against the proposed inland port, citing its potential to harm clean air and water. He is equally dedicated to historic preservation and the arts, working to save the citizen-owned Utah Pantages Theater from demolition and advocating to reopen Dinwoody Park to the public as part of a vibrant downtown arts district.
Berg’s priorities include fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, protecting parks and the environment, ensuring real affordable housing, and demanding transparency and accountability in city government. He believes in giving voters, not corporate interests, the final say on decisions shaping their communities.
“I’m here to empower people and protect what makes Salt Lake City special,” Berg says. “Together, we can build a city that truly works for everyone.”
LIDDY HUNTSMAN HERNÁNDEZ
Hernández enters the race with one of Utah’s most famous last names. The daughter of former governor Jon Huntsman, she grew up in District 3 and now raises her two sons in the neighborhood. A writer, advocate, and sometimes standup comic, Hernández presents herself as a bold but practical candidate with deep ties to the community.
Her life experiences, from being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age seven to living abroad in the Dominican Republic and the East Coast, have shaped her advocacy for health, community, and public service.
Hernández is no stranger to challenging the status quo. At a young age in 2013, she joined Young Conservatives for the Freedom to Marry, a national campaign that reshaped conversations around same-sex marriage in conservative spaces. That same year, she stood at the Utah State Capitol in support of anti-discrimination legislation, part of the push that led to SB 296, securing housing and workplace protections for LGBTQ+ Utahns. Her advocacy reflects a lifelong commitment to ensuring all residents, queer, trans, and otherwise marginalized, have equal dignity and opportunity.
Her priorities include responsible budgeting, affordable housing, mental health and public safety, historic preservation, environmental stewardship, and transparent government. She has also been a vocal advocate for Type 1 diabetes care, co-creating the Bag of Hope program to support newly diagnosed children and leading efforts that helped expand access to modern insulin pumps nationwide.
Huntsman Hernández says she’s not running for prestige but for the community that raised her: “District 3 is who I am, and I’ll fight for it every day.”
BLAKE MCCLARY
McClary is a tech sector leader and community organizer with a focus on pragmatic city services. A resident of the Avenues since 2016, McClary served on the
Greater Avenues Community Council and helped organize the Avenues Street Fair. Professionally, he has helped scale Utah tech startups, founded Silicon Slopes SLC, and remains active in the state’s innovation economy.
Endorsed by former state senator Derek Kitchen, himself a pioneering gay politician, McClary argues that after eight years of Wharton, it’s time for a change. His platform emphasizes “nailing the basics”: improving parks and infrastructure, building more attainable housing, particularly ownership opportunities, and creating realistic strategies for homelessness. He has called for a centralized service campus for the unsheltered and a new mental health facility, alongside more robust addiction recovery efforts.
McClary’s campaign priorities include affordable and diverse housing options, better-maintained parks and public spaces, practical solutions to homelessness that combine compassion with accountability, and a transportation system that balances cars, bikes, and transit. Above all, he stresses keeping city services reliable and affordable.
“This is home,” McClary says. “I want my kids to grow up in a city where families can afford to stay, our parks are safe and well cared for, and every resident feels supported.”
Looking Ahead
JAKE SEASTRAND
Rounding out the crowded field is Jake Seastrand, a judicial assistant at the Salt Lake County Justice Court and another openly gay candidate.
Married to his husband, Jason McManus, Seastrand has called District 3 home for years, embracing its vibrant neighborhoods, parks, and small businesses while raising a family with their two dogs.
Seastrand says his experience in the Justice Court gives him firsthand insight into the challenges residents face, from housing instability to mental health crises. That experience informs his approach to public service, emphasizing practical solutions that balance compassion with effective governance. His priorities include expanding affordable housing while preserving the unique character of District 3, supporting small business owners through streamlined permitting, targeted grants, and economic incentives, and enhancing green spaces with tree canopy expansion, park maintenance, and continued development of the Salt Lake City Green Loop.
Seastrand also champions a comprehensive approach to public safety, mental health, and substance abuse, advocating for coordinated responses that connect residents with housing, healthcare, and supportive services, while allowing law enforcement to focus on critical incidents.
“District 3 is home, and every family deserves a voice and the opportunity to thrive,” Seastrand says. “I’m running to ensure our neighborhoods remain vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable for the generations ahead.”
In 2021, Wharton’s path to reelection was clear. This year, with four determined challengers, his campaign will need to mobilize strongly in a district where voter turnout can fluctuate. Ranked-choice voting, used in Salt Lake City elections, adds another layer of uncertainty, as second- and third-choice rankings could prove decisive.
LGBTQ+ Suicide Hotlines
obituary Kia-Leigh Tabitha Roberts
Kia-Leigh Tabitha
Roberts, a proud transgender woman, was born on December 5, 1969, in Pasadena, Texas, and passed away from suicide on June 24, 2025, in West Valley, Utah. She lived with courage, honesty, and deep emotional strength through years of depression and the systemic injustices faced by many in the transgender community.
Shy but sweet, Kia-Leigh was known for her warmth, her intellect, and her desire to connect with others. She was a friend to many.
She loved engaging with the transgender community in all capacities, especially circles of trans sisterhood, and often opened her heart to share what she experienced. She was close with her friend Jeri Linford, who was a source of light in her life. We all can learn from her bravery and resilience in speaking her truth amidst life’s struggles.
Kia-Leigh’s life was a testament to spirited resistance and the everyday courage of living authentically. She died during Pride Month, a time of celebration and reflection for the LGBTQ+ community, and a reminder of how vital support, connection, and care are to those who are struggling. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988, or reach out to Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860, peer support by and for the trans community.
She had a special fondness for her dog Simba the Second, red lipstick, watermelon-flavored gum, LiveWire Mountain Dew, manicures, and the character Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, whose boundless energy and joy mirrored her own playful spirit.
Kia-Leigh was well-read; she loved literature. As an imaginative and creative soul, she found deep meaning in science fiction, drawn to the imagined futures of Star Trek and Star Wars, where chosen families thrive and new worlds hold space for everyone. She saw herself in these universes, where differences were destiny and chosen families were written into the stars.
Observant and introspective, she lived in awe of the transgender people who came before her, those who paved the way through resistance, artistry, and survival. Kia-Leigh carried their stories close to her heart, honoring them through her own journey, her poetry, and her quiet acts of visibility and care.
Kia-Leigh was a lifelong learner. She studied electrology at Cameo College of Essential Beauty in Murray, Utah, and dreamed of helping others through permanent hair removal, an affirming service to help others feel at home in their bodies. She loved working and learning alongside others in a salon atmosphere. She
loved the sisterhood feel of the school and treasured the friendships with many of her instructors, especially Anna Hernandez-Ray. She approached the trade with attention to detail and heart, encouraging others to pursue their own paths.
Academically gifted, she attended Utah Valley Community College (now Utah Valley University), where she earned an Associate’s Degree. She later transferred to Brigham Young University, proudly graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English. Her love of language and expression blossomed into poetry, much of which explored her transition and her pursuit of becoming her highest self.
Ever the wordsmith, she served a Spanish-speaking mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the California Los Angeles Mission. Her spirituality remained an important part of her life. She truly honored the spirit of Love One Another. She is remembered by many for her philosophies about life, outlooks on the world and humanity, and for sharing her insights and inner workings.
She had been previously married and shared many years with her ex-wife, Trichelle, with whom she raised four children: Tyler, Alexis, Olivia, and Abigail. Parenthood was of great importance to her; Kia-Leigh’s heart was enormous, and she loved all of her children immensely. Being a grandparent brought her jo,y and she wished the world for her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, her granddaughters Emberly and Hadley, her expected grandson Caspian, countless online friends and penpals, and her beloved chosen family within the LGBTQ+ community. She is also survived by her brothers, Tracy Roberts (LaVieve) and Joseph Roberts (Kayla), along with her nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Roberts Sr. and Karen Ann Olsen Roberts; her brothers, Robert Roberts Jr. and Dale Roberts; and her sisters, Jeanne Roberts and Valerie James.
Kia-Leigh once had the word hope painted on her fingernails by a nail artist, a courageous gesture to remind herself and others to always foster hope. May we also use hope as a tool to shape a kinder, more just world. May we all readily keep hope at our fingertips, as inspiration to build a better world, strengthen communities, and spread abundant hope in Kia-Leigh’s honor.
A celebration of life was held on Saturday, August 16th at 5 p.m. at the Sun Trapp, 102 S 600 W. Organized by Dal Rivas of the Glitter Foundation, which is exploring ways to support those who are struggling and feeling overwhelmed, so no one feels alone in their darkest moments. Spaghetti and salad will be served. Together we can create space for grief, healing, and community. Kia-Leigh’s memory deserves light, love, and action and we honor her by showing up for one another.
Fundraiser for Riley & Micheal’s recovery
Salt Lake City’s LGBTQ+ community is being called on to support two familiar faces, Riley Richter and Micheal Repp, who are facing extraordinary health challenges and financial strain. The couple was long a part of The Sun-Trapp, and then Club Verse.
In August 2024, Riley suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, a medical emergency that few survive. After weeks in the hospital, he began a long recovery, steadily regaining strength. They moved to Colorado to a facility that specializes in such recoveries.
As Riley was reclaiming his life, tragedy
struck again. In May 2025, Micheal was diagnosed with Stage III Squamous Cell Carcinoma, a form of skin cancer that can spread aggressively to lymph nodes and other organs if not treated promptly. He has completed 36 of 42 rounds of radiation and chemotherapy.
The couple has returned to Salt Lake City from Colorado so Micheal can continue treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute, the region’s only National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Huntsman offers access to advanced, research-driven therapies, giving him the best chance at recovery.
These back-to-back health crises have left Riley and Micheal’s lives turned upside down. Between Riley’s recovery and Micheal’s treatment, they have been unable to work consistently and have relied on savings, selling possessions, and cutting back to make ends meet. Now, with resources nearly gone, they urgently need help covering two months of basic living expenses such as mortgage, utilities, and groceries so Micheal can finish treatment and Riley can continue healing.
Close friend Emily Walker launched Love & Strength: Supporting Riley & Micheal’s Recovery, a GoFundMe fundraiser aimed at keeping the couple stable during this critical period.
“Riley and Micheal have shown incredible strength through challenges that would overwhelm most of us,” Walker said. “Now it’s our turn to show up for them, with love, support, and tangible help.” Q
Donations can be made at GOFUNDME. COM/F/RILEYMICHEAL Q
views quotes
“I am queer. I am still figuring it out, but I am proud of who I am.”
JoJo Siwa during her appearance on the U.K.’s Celebrity Big Brother
“I would have no choice but to pull out unless they very quickly make a solid, committed pledge or donation to the LGBTQ community.”
Ellie Goulding threatened to withdraw from a performance unless the Salvation Army made a clear commitment to the LGBTQ+ community..
“I want to make the US Open as inclusive as it can be.”
USTA Chairman Brian Vahaly emphasized his commitment to inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community in tennis
“We’re creating a traveling safe space.”
—Jinkx Monsoon described their holiday show tour as a “traveling safe space” for marginalized communities.
“It brought me very close to the edge.”
—John Boyne expressed the emotional toll of the backlash he faced over his inclusion in the LGBTQ+ Polari Prize longlist.
Kids Online Safety Act will silence LGBTQ voices
BY SHAE GARDNER
Since taking office, the Trump administration has relentlessly targeted the LGBTQ+ community — gutting protections, eliminating services, banning books, and turning schools and agencies into battlegrounds of political theater. From ending LGBTQ+ services on a suicide prevention hotline that reached millions, to blocking transgender service members, we’ve watched progress unravel at every turn.
Now, Congress is poised to hand this administration another weapon to marginalize LGBTQ+ voices online: the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), reintroduced by Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal. While the bill is framed as a measure to protect children online, it risks enabling widespread censorship under the guise of safety — especially for LGBTQ+ youth who depend on online spaces for access to community, care, and support. LGBTQ+ advocates have worked tirelessly to improve this legislation over the past year, winning meaningful changes to its language, narrowing its scope, and building in important safeguards. That work deserves real respect. But even with those improvements, the political context has changed—and we cannot ignore the reality of what a Trump-aligned Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could do with the powers this bill provides. If passed, the bill would empower the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to define and enforce what constitutes “harmful” content for minors. That authority is deeply dangerous right now.
This isn’t a hypothetical threat — the Trump FTC is already enacting its Project 2025 agenda, targeting the LGBTQ+ community. On July 9, it hosted a workshop titled “The Dangers of ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Minors,” showcasing a one-sided panel of anti-LGBTQ voices. An FTC spokesperson even told Politico, “If political organizations are upset that we’re politicizing something,
then they should try to win elections.”
On July 10, one day after the FTC’s anti-trans workshop, LGBT Tech, Public Knowledge, and Fight for the Future hosted a counter-workshop: “The FTC’s Culture War vs. Consumer Protection.” We brought together former FTC officials, civil rights and privacy experts, doctors, parents, and elected leaders to correct the record and chart a better path forward—one rooted in inclusion, evidence, and real consumer protection. We did it because we believe the stakes are too high to stay silent.
Because if they say it about gender-affirming care, they will say it about gender-affirming content.
As further evidence of Republicans’ true intentions for KOSA, the primary sponsor of the bill, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), has said that “protecting kids from the transgender” is a top priority and that KOSA would put a duty of care on social media platforms where “kids are being indoctrinated.”
KOSA’s duty of care provision would require companies to proactively prevent “harms to minors” yet fails to define what those harms are. The result? Vague liability that will pressure platforms to over-censor, sweeping up legitimate, even lifesaving, LGBTQ+ content in the process.
We’ve already seen how this plays out offline. Book bans have removed works about LGBTQ+ identity and gender-affirming care from classrooms and libraries.
Online, this duty of care becomes even more complicated with safety tools often struggling to distinguish between obscene content and materials about sexual identity, sexual orientation or reproductive care. The Trevor Project and Planned Parenthood have both mistakenly had posts removed. Combine this vague standard with a highly partisan FTC enforcement of
KOSA, and we have a recipe for arbitrary legal action against platforms and websites that have not removed content the Trump administration deems harmful to minors. President Trump’s FTC will not hesitate to censor and erase LGBTQ+ content online if given the power to do so — just look at the administration’s own actions to remove LGBTQ+ content from government websites.
Ultimately, this will enable the government to decide the types of content that can and cannot be consumed
online and to police our speech, raising serious First Amendment concerns.
Giving people who believe gender-affirming care equates to “needless mutilation of children” the authority to decide what content is harmful for children will be devastating for the queer community and for kids who so desperately need access to that information. All allies and advocates of the LGBTQ+ community should be worried about the damage that would be done to the most vulnerable of an already marginalized community. Now is the time to speak up, organize, and demand that lawmakers reject any version of KOSA that enables censorship and harms the very people it claims to protect.
The queer community and our allies cannot stay silent while lawmakers cede such immense power to an agency and administration primed and ready to villainize and dehumanize us.
Shae Gardner is director of policy and research for LGBT Tech.
from the publisher
Changing to UAF Legacy Health saved my life
BY MICHAEL AARON< PUBLISHER, QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE
TLDR: I’ve been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, which has not spread outside the prostate, and I credit UAF Legacy Health and Dr. Matt Bryan for saving my life.
Inever expected that changing insurance would change my life. But here I am, telling you that it did.
At the beginning of the year, I had to switch to Aetna Insurance through the ACA. That meant finding a new primary care doctor. I knew that UAF Legacy Health offered LGBTQ+-centered care, and I knew I wanted to support them. It felt good to make a decision based on my values and in one more way, support my community. I didn’t realize at the time that it would turn out to be a decision that may have saved my life.
That’s how I met Dr. Matt Bryan. When he walked into the exam room for the first time, we recognized each other and laughed. A couple of years back, we’d both “competed” in a fundraiser for the Utah Chapter of the American Cancer Society called “Cancer’s a Drag.” Seven guys in dresses, wigs, and heels lip-syncing for a good cause. I remember thinking it was all in fun. Now, the irony is not lost on me.
During that first visit, Dr. Bryan took time to get to know me, my medical history, and my family’s health background. He ordered a full panel of standard labs, nothing out of the ordinary. If you’re a gay man on PrEP, regular lab work is pretty routine. That visit felt like a fresh start. Everything in my lab results came back within normal ranges — except one. A test I’d never heard of before: PSA.
PSA stands for Prostate-Specific Antigen. It’s a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland, and elevated levels in the blood can be a sign of prostate cancer. A normal PSA level is considered to be between 0 and 4. My level was 20.
Dr. Bryan told me not to panic. PSA levels can be elevated for a number of reasons, and I happened to be re-
covering from a mild case of diverticulitis at the time. So I waited two months and we ran the test again.
This time, my PSA was 20.4.
Dr. Bryan referred me to a urologist for a digital rectal exam and an MRI. The first part sounded like a good time, but the MRI was the real game-changer.
The results were… sobering.
“Enlarged prostate gland with foci of abnormal signal in the transition zone as well as the peripheral zone. Composite PIRADS Category 5, highly suspicious. There is a high likelihood of clinically significant prostate cancer.”
Just like that, my world shifted.
The next step was a prostate biopsy. The earliest appointment I could get was exactly two months after the MRI. I worried every day about the delay. I knew that if this was prostate cancer, time mattered. My grandfather died of bone cancer that started in the prostate. The fear was very real.
I got another urology appointment at Huntsman Cancer Institute, hoping for a sooner biopsy. They could get me in — in three months.
Even with a PIRADS 5 MRI, doctors won’t confirm cancer until a biopsy proves it. So I waited. My first PSA test was in early January. My biopsy was scheduled for early July. Six months.
While I was already sure I had prostate cancer, the biopsy would tell me how aggressive the cancer was. Many prostate cancers are slow-moving and can merely be monitored. But some require immediate and aggressive treatment.
The results came back with a Gleason score of 9. Nine.
The Gleason scoring system for malignant cancer ranges from 6 to 10. A 9 means the cancer is very aggressive and likely to grow and spread quickly. Now, things were serious.
The biggest lingering question — my
fear for months — was whether it had spread beyond the prostate. That would change everything. The next step was a PSMA PET scan, which would identify whether cancer had metastasized. I was told it could take up to three weeks to get one: one week for insurance approval, and two more to get it scheduled.
But in a small miracle of coordination, my insurance approved the scan the very next morning. I made several phone calls to get the referral in motion, and the Cancer Center scheduled my scan within five business days.
The scan came back clean. No sign of spread.
For the first time in this entire process, I exhaled.
While I now face treatment options that are far from pleasant — surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, or some combination of the three — I can at least face them with the knowledge that we likely caught this early enough to avoid systemic treatments.
And I owe that to UAF Legacy Health. If I hadn’t been forced to change insurance, I wouldn’t likely have changed doctors. If I hadn’t picked UAF Legacy Health, I wouldn’t have met Dr. Bryan. And if Dr. Bryan hadn’t taken a full, thoughtful approach to understanding my health and family history, that PSA test might never have been ordered. I had zero symptoms. No pain, no urinary issues, no waking to pee in the middle of the night, nothing to tip me off.
In hindsight, it’s terrifying to think how far this cancer could have progressed without that one blood test. It’s not lost on me that a health care system focused on LGBTQ+ patients was the one that saw me, took me seriously, and took the steps that ultimately may have saved my life.
So yes, changing insurance changed my life. But choosing UAF Legacy Health saved it. Q
Kim Davis
BY D’ANNE WITKOWSKI
Kim Davis.
I haven’t thought about her for nearly a decade. Unfortunately, she apparently never stopped thinking about me.
Well, not me, specifically. I never met the woman. More like anyone who was able to marry after the landmark Obergefell decision that led to marriage equality becoming law across the country.
When Davis, at the time a Kentucky county clerk, denied a marriage license to David Ermold and David Moore in 2015, they sued her. And they won. She went to jail for six days and was given a hefty fine.
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court is packed with rightwing extremists, Davis has turned to the court to enact revenge.
“Davis argues First Amendment protection for free exercise of religion immunizes her from personal liability for the denial of marriage licenses,” reports ABC News. “More fundamentally, she claims the high court’s decision in Obergefell v Hodges — extending marriage rights for same-sex couples under the 14th Amendment’s due process protections — was ‘egregiously wrong.’”
Egregiously wrong. Everyone who was allowed to marry because of the Obergefell decision: egregiously wrong. All of the love shared between those couples: egregiously wrong. All of the families started by those couples: egregiously wrong.
Granted, none of those things would make my list of “Things That Are Egregiously Wrong.” In fact, none of those things would make the list of most of the people in this country. And yet, it doesn’t matter what we think. It only matters what a bitter woman in Kentucky, her team of high-powered conservative lawyers, and six extremist Supreme Court judges think.
According to ABC News, “Davis is seen as one of the only Americans currently with legal standing to bring a challenge
to the precedent.”
Because Davis was sued and lost her case back in 2015.
If we had a time machine, we could go back and talk the Davids out of suing her. We could have just asked them to take one for the team. Go to a different clerk. Let Davis be the End All Be All of marriage licenses in Rowan County, Kentucky.
proved to be deeply unpopular, pundits said that it would doom Republicans and usher in a blue wave of Democrats.
But, of course, that wouldn’t change anything. It would have just been another clerk somewhere else claiming that doing her job for gays was religious discrimination, letting Davis get away with it would make her a model for homophobes to follow nationwide.
And so here we are.
Now, if you think I’m being alarmist — after all, the Supreme Court hasn’t even heard the case yet — I assure you I am not. If you think for one moment that the same court that overturned Roe v Wade, scrapping the right to abortion that was established in 1973, would hesitate to overturn a 10-yearold ruling that made marriage equality legal, then you don’t know much about history, as the old song goes.
When Roe was overturned, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his concurring opinion that the court “should reconsider” (in other words, overturn) “substantive due process precedents, including contraception, same-sex marriage, and even same-sex relationships,” reports The New Republic.
This would be a dream come true for the Christo-fascists currently in charge of the whole federal government and the courts.
I still remember when pundits were saying that the Supreme Court would never overturn Roe because it would be so unpopular.
And then after the decision, indeed,
But that has not happened. With the 2026 midterms looming, Democrats are more reviled than ever. By Republicans, yes, but also by the Democratic base which cannot believe the Democrats’ utter failure to meet this moment in history even though nothing that is happening is a surprise.
Republicans promised a full-fascist takeover should they win power. They laid it all out in Project 2025. And Democrats act like this was some kind of surprise attack.
So, yeah, I’ve seen Obergefell’s demise coming for years, certainly since Roe died. I’ve been following right-wing extremism for decades and all signs have always pointed toward stripping women’s reproductive rights, dehumanizing and eradicating transgender people from public life, banning contraception and criminalizing marriage equality and queer sex.
But at least Kim Davis could finally be happy. That’s what really matters.
It is difficult to imagine how different the world would be if its guiding principle was love instead of hate. But it’s a lot easier to cause suffering than to ease it. Which is the conservative promise. And they haven’t broken that one yet. If only instead of trying to abolish love between consenting adults, people tried to abolish things like famine, genocide, homelessness and disease.
What a wonderful world this would be 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.
AQueer families are people, too
CHRISTOPHER KATIS
Muslim,
a Cath -
olic, and a Ukrainian Orthodox walk into a courtroom.
No, it’s not the start of a joke. It was the beginning of the legal case Mahmoud v. Taylor. In the suit, the parents argued that the local board of education violated their religious rights by adding LGBTQ+ inclusive books to its curriculum without offering the opportunity to opt out. The Supreme Court agreed, saying parents must be able to keep their kids from reading anything that runs contrary to their religious beliefs.
This ruling creates a very broad precedent. According to Chris Wharton, owner of Wharton Law, which specializes in family and probate law focused on LGBTQ+ legal advocacy, “that is why this ruling is so harmful. It basically sends the message that if a parent finds the mere ac-
knowledgement that LGBTQ+ individuals and stories exist to be offensive to their religious views, they can exempt their children from having to acknowledge that existence too.”
As Wharton explains it, SCOTUS doesn’t give specifics on complying with its rulings; it leaves that up to attorneys and lower courts. He says, “It’s almost like a ‘here’s what you can’t do; go work backwards from there’ type of process.”
That means attorneys must advise school districts with “LGBTQ+ inclusive” material to have a policy that allows parents to decline that particular book or not even include the subject matter in its curriculum in the first place.
And that can cause greater problems down the road. Theoretically, a parent could opt their kid out of a field trip if there was a gay dad chaperoning, or not allow them to participate in a
family portrait art show if another child has two moms.
Wharton says, “A decision that broad is hard to rein in once it is made. What’s to stop a parent from saying that other facts and materials that don’t fit within their religious views – be they scientific, literary, artistic, cultural, or political –should require exemptions?”
Hypothetically, a Hassidic Jewish child could be free from reading Charlotte’s Web since a pig is the hero. A strict Evangelical Christian might demand that his son only have male teachers based on 1 Timothy, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must remain quiet.”
With this ruling, SCOTUS has created a preferred type of parent: those who are so devout that they use religious freedom to rebuke inclusion and invoke bigotry. Two dads who don’t want their kids reading books that feature straight parents have no recourse, nor does a straight parent who wishes to keep their queer teenager from having to endure Romeo and Juliet.
The real danger lies in the
fact that Mahmoud v. Taylor could be used for greater discrimination against queer people. Wharton agrees, “I think this ruling allows for the denigration of LGBTQ people as lesser, more ‘objectionable’ than straight people, and any time you have a law that does that, it invites more opportunities for prejudice and discrimination. If our nation stands for the principle that all people are worthy of equal dignity and respect under the law — regardless of whether we agree with them personally — this ruling should be offensive to all Americans.”
This all reminds me of when our son’s pre-K teachers bought a new book for story time: And Tango Makes Three, the true story of two male penguins who raise a chick together. No parents complained. But one classmate announced, “Hey, Tango has two dads, just like Gus! Cool!” Maybe that’s why the plaintiffs objected; their kids might grow up to see LGBTQ+ people as just as people. Q
You can reach Chris Wharton at whartonlawutah.com
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guide to the utah arts 2025-26 season
PHOTO: BECCA WEBB
RDT celebrates 60 years with a Diamond Season
Salt Lake City’s Repertory Dance Theatre, aka RDT, is marking a milestone that few arts organizations achieve: its 60th anniversary. Founded in 1966 as the nation’s first successful repertory dance company dedicated to modern dance, RDT spent six decades telling human stories through movement. Now, as the company enters its Diamond Season in 2025–26, it does so with a renewed vision, a new leadership team, and a season of performances that balance reverence for history with bold steps into the future.
A New Era of Leadership
This anniversary year also marks a historic transition in leadership. After decades of guiding the company, artistic & executive director LINDA C. SMITH will step into the role of director emerita on July 1, 2025. Smith’s influence on Utah’s arts landscape is profound; she helped shape RDT into a nationally recognized ensemble while keeping its mission rooted in accessibility and community connection. In her place, longtime company members and administrators NICHOLAS CENDESE and LYNNE LARSON will assume the roles of co-executive/artistic directors. Both are deeply woven
into RDT’s fabric: Cendese danced with the company for 11 years before moving into development and administrative leadership, while Larson has served as education director since 2007, overseeing outreach that touches
thousands of Utah students annually.
“Linda’s passion, dedication, and tireless work have shaped RDT into the incredible organization it is today,” said board president Lindsay Mattes. “We’re thrilled to announce Nicholas and Lynne as artistic and executive co-directors. Both bring a strong vision for the future and decades of combined experience that make them a powerful team.”
Together, Cendese and Larson will carry forward RDT’s founding principles of democratic collaboration while guiding the company into its seventh decade. Smith will remain involved, focusing on archival projects, repertory restaging, and anniversary celebrations.
The
Diamond Season: Five Productions and a Gala RDT’s 2025–26 lineup reflects its dual commitment to preservation and innovation. The season offers five distinct productions and a gala event that honor modern dance trailblazers while commissioning new works that speak to contemporary issues.
MIGRATIONS
The season opens October 2–4, 2025, at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center with Migrations, a full-length work by internationally acclaimed choreographer Zvi Gotheiner. The piece draws inspiration from bird migration patterns, human displacement, and the climate crisis. Combining physical intensity with striking imagery, Migrations examines survival, adaptation, and the fragile relationship between nature and civilization.
OVATION
In November, RDT turns its attention to legacy and innovation with Ovation (November 20–22, 2025). This expansive program features works that span generations and showcase the company’s enduring partnerships. Highlights include the return of Katarzyna Skarpetowska’s Oktet: In Situ (2022) and Yusha-Marie Sorzano’s Solfege (2023). In a nod to RDT’s six-decade collaboration with Tanner Dance, the
company will re-stage Ryoanji by Jacque Lynn Bell with a cast of 43 dancers.
The program also features two premieres: a new commission from Norbert De La Cruz III, known for blending classical ballet with improvisational freedom, and a work by Co-Director Nicholas Cendese spotlighting the company’s own artistry. The evening is designed as both a “homecoming and a horizon”—a chance to reflect on the past while stepping forward with new energy.
EMERGE
In January 2026, RDT presents Emerge (January 9–10) in the intimate Leona Wagner Black Box Theatre. This annual program empowers company dancers to take on the role of choreographer, developing original works and collaborating with local artists. For many, Emerge has been a launching pad to future careers in choreography and academia. The performances offer audiences a glimpse of the raw creativity that fuels RDT’s mission of cultivating new voices in modern dance.
DIAMOND GALA
On February 28, 2026, RDT will host a Diamond Gala at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. The evening will include food, a salute to alumni, archival exhibits, and a unique performance celebrating the company’s 60-year history. More than a fundraiser, the gala serves as a gathering of community members, artists, and supporters who have been part of RDT’s journey since its founding in 1966.
ANTHOLOGY
The season concludes April 23–25, 2026, with Anthology, a program devoted to the pioneers of modern dance. Audiences will see the Utah premiere of Martha Graham’s Dark Meadow Suite (1948), a lyrical exploration of memory and renewal. RDT will also bring back José Limón’s Concerto Grosso (1945), a landmark acquisition in the company’s repertory since 1967.
The evening closes with Helen Tamiris’ rarely performed Dance for Walt Whitman (1961), a piece originally created in honor of Virginia Tanner and now restaged with guest performers
RDT Co-Executive/Artistic Directors Nicholas Cendese and Lynne Larson
CONTINUED
from the University of Utah’s Department of Dance. This reconstruction ties RDT’s present directly to its roots and pays homage to the artists who laid the foundation for American modern dance.
ACCESSIBLE SUBSCRIPTIONS
True to its mission of making dance available to everyone, RDT continues its tiered subscription program. The “Arts Champion” tier ($78–$224) empowers patrons to directly support new commissions while receiving perks like preferred seating and invitations to receptions. The “Arts Enthusiast” tier ($48–$194) ensures affordability for students, seniors, and anyone on a limited budget, offering tickets to main season shows for just $15. Both tiers provide benefits such as free ticket exchanges, lost ticket replacement, discounts on merchandise, and subscriber-priced additional tickets.
A SEASON ABOUT LEGACY AND MOMENTUM
Throughout its 60th anniversary season, RDT aims to celebrate the people and partnerships that shaped its first six decades while pushing modern dance into new terrain. Each program highlights RDT’s strengths: preserving iconic works, commissioning daring new voices, and ensuring that the power of movement remains accessible to audiences across Utah.
As co-director Lynne Larson noted, the Diamond Season is about “honoring where we’ve been and illuminating where we’re going.” With new leadership, bold choreography, and a deep connection to community, RDT’s 60th anniversary year will be more than a celebration of the past—it will be a testament to dance’s ability to evolve, endure, and inspire for generations to come.
Information at RDTUTAH.ORG
Plan-B Theatre’s 35th season
Plan-B Theatre Company is launching its 35th season in 2025–26 with a bold slate of world premieres and community-centered programming, continuing its decades-long commitment to developing original plays by Utah playwrights. All performances take place in the intimate Studio Theatre at The Rose, where subscriptions are available for $42, a 25% savings over single ticket prices. Subscriptions guarantee seats to the company’s frequently sold-out productions and include free access to the acclaimed Script-in-Hand Series and the educational EB & FLO tour.
The season opens with JUST ADD WATER , a whimsical and thought-provoking cli-fi dramedy by Matthew Ivan Bennett and Elaine Jarvik, running October 2–19, 2025. The play imagines the Great Salt Lake as a human character venturing into the city to understand the changes overtaking her environment. Filled with humor, dust, hope, and unexpected encounters — including a brine shrimp in a bar — JUST ADD WATER blends environmental awareness with lively theatricality.
In February, Plan-B presents DUMBED DOWN , a world premiere by Darryl Stamp running February 12–March 1, 2026. Inspired by Stamp’s career as an educator, the play follows Kevin, who is finally leaving teaching after 25 years, as he grapples with what will become of the students at risk of slipping through the cracks. DUMBED DOWN explores language, learning, and the subtle ways love and mentorship shape young lives, offering both humor and heartfelt reflection.
EB & FLO, Elaine Jarvik’s free touring production for K–3 students, runs September 2025 through May 2026. Flo, a spirited flamingo seeking adventure, teams up with Eb, a cautious seagull concerned about the shrinking Great Salt Lake. Together, they inspire young audiences to understand the environmental impact of their actions. Part of the Wake the Great Salt Lake public art initiative, the production is supported by Salt Lake City Arts Council, Salt Lake
City Mayor’s Office, and Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge.
The SCRIPT-IN-HAND SERIES also makes a triumphant return after two online seasons and a hiatus, offering free public readings of plays-in-progress in the Studio Theatre in February 2026. This series gives emerging works their first audience and a chance to refine performances in front of the community. The titles for this season’s readings will be announced on Giving Tuesday, December 2.
For over 35 years, Plan-B Theatre has been a hub for socially conscious, original theatre that reflects Utah’s diverse voices. The company has been recognized with Salt Lake City’s Mayor’s
Artist Award for Service to the Arts by an Organization and Utah’s Governor’s Leadership in the Arts Award. It has also championed LGBTQIA2S+ stories, earning honors from Equality Utah, the Human Rights Campaign, and Transgender Education Advocates of Utah, while offering continuing education credits to local therapists for productions that enhance professional perspectives. Since 2015, Plan-B has staged Utah premieres of works by Asian, Black, Diné, Latina, and Persian playwrights, underscoring its ongoing commitment to inclusivity and artistic innovation. With a mix of provocative world premieres, educational outreach, and community engagement, Plan-B Theatre Company’s 2025–26 season promises to be both entertaining and socially meaningful, inviting audiences to experience the state’s most original theatrical voices. Q Info at PLANBTHEATRE.ORG
PHOTO: SHARAH MESERVY
PYGmalion Theatre Company turns 30
PYGmalion Theatre Company is set to continue its decades-long commitment to producing theatre that centers women’s voices and experiences. This season’s three productions tackle questions of love, autonomy, identity, and resilience, each with a distinct blend of humor, heart, and insight. Performances take place at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, where the company has been a resident tenant since 2005.
The season opens November 7–22 with TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS. Adapted for the stage by Nia Vardalos from Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling book, the play brings to life the anonymous advice columnist “Sugar,” whose letters and responses ran online from 2010 to 2012. Pygmalion’s production highlights Strayed’s signature blend of empathy, humor, and hard-earned wisdom as Sugar helps people navigate life’s obstacles, ranging from heartbreak and loss to questions about love and purpose. The play examines the courage it takes to confront life’s unanswerable questions, offering audiences a heartheavy yet ultimately uplifting exploration
of grief, hope, and human connection.
February 6–21, 2026, the company presents BECKY NURSE OF SALEM by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Morag Shepherd. This contemporary comedy explores the life of a strong-willed grandmother trying to navigate post-Obama America while dabbling in witchcraft. As the distant descendant of the infamous 1692 Salem witch Rebecca Nurse, Becky wrestles with raising her teenage granddaughter and reconnecting with an old flame. Ruhl’s script blends historical echoes with present-day humor, examining the ways women seek empowerment and agency in both domestic and social spheres, even when magic doesn’t quite go as planned.
The season closes May 1–16, 2026 with THE DAY MY VAGINA MET “RICHARD GERE” by Andrea Peterson, directed by Fran Pruyn, running. A comedic tragedy, the play follows 37-year-old Ginnifer as she navigates pregnancy, outdated social norms, complicated family dynamics, and a healthcare system that often feels hostile to women’s autonomy. Peterson’s script explores the high-stakes battle for
control over one’s body and life, offering both searing humor and pointed social commentary. Ginnifer’s journey underscores the larger struggle for personal agency, challenging audiences to consider who gets to define a woman’s path.
Founded in 1995 by Nancy Roth and Reb Fleming in Ogden, Utah, PYGmalion Theatre Company has dedicated three decades to telling stories that center women on stage, behind the scenes, and in every creative aspect of production. The company has long embraced challenging and provocative material, often exploring controversial or underrepresented issues through dramatic literature, music, and multimedia. True to its mission, each show in the 2025–26 season reflects the lives, struggles, and triumphs of women, continuing Pygmalion’s legacy of amplifying female voices in Utah’s theatre community.
PYGmalion Theatre Company invites audiences to engage with stories that are as entertaining as they are deeply human on the Salt Lake City stage. Q Info at PYGMALIONPRODUCTIONS.ORG
2-4, 2025
Ballet West’s Timeless stories, bold premieres, and Broadway brilliance
Ballet West is pulling out all the stops for its 2025–26 season, unveiling a lineup that bridges Shakespearean drama, fairy-tale fantasy, groundbreaking modernism, Broadway showmanship, and world premieres by some of the most compelling choreographers of today.
From Romeo & Juliet to Peter Pan, from the beloved Nutcracker to a reimagined West Side Story Suite, the company’s upcoming season features seven productions that reflect Ballet West’s versatility and bold artistic vision. In total, audiences can expect five Utah premieres, two world premieres, and a renewed focus on storytelling that spans the ages.
“This season is about celebrating a grand and varied range of storytelling through ballet,” said Artistic Director Adam Sklute. “Versatility has become a hallmark of Ballet West, and the range of works presented will take our artists and our audiences on a journey of works and styles that is more varied than ever before.”
Season subscriptions, available now, start at $210, with Grand Tier Box packages priced at $745. Single tickets go on sale Sept. 2.
Shakespeare’s Greatest Love Story Reborn
The season opens October 24–November 1 with ROMEO & JULIET, choreographed by Michael Smuin. Known for its powerful mix of drama and passion, Smuin’s production features Prokofiev’s unforgettable score, performed live by the Ballet West Orchestra. This year features rebuilt sets and costumes. Audiences will be swept into a
Verona filled with rebuilt sets and costumes, designed to immerse them in the timeless tragedy. Expect dramatic sword fights, sweeping pas de deux, and a visceral theatrical experience.
“This revival is a visceral, immersive experience,” said Sklute. “It’s lush, romantic, and yet filled with the danger of the story.”
Since its premiere in 1930, Romeo & Juliet has become one of ballet’s most enduring narrative works, its universal themes of young love and tragic fate resonating across generations.
Comedy and Avant-Garde in Conversation
From November 7–15, Ballet West offers audiences two radically different masterpieces in one program: Sir Frederick Ashton’s THE DREAM , a charming ballet adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Bronislava Nijinska’s revolutionary Les Noces.
In The Dream, Mendelssohn’s enchanting score provides the backdrop for Shakespeare’s woodland comedy, where mischievous fairies manipulate hapless lovers in a tangle of mistaken affections. This work highlights Ashton’s flair for wit, romance, and lyrical beauty.
Paired with it is Les Noces, choreographed by Nijinska in 1923 to Stravinsky’s startling vocal-orchestral score. The ballet, depicting a ritualistic Russian peasant wedding, was radical for its time. Nijinska, one of the few prominent female choreographers of her era, eschewed decorative femininity in favor of strong, architectural movement that empowered women and challenged cultural norms.
“Our two opening programs of the season present revivals of three master-
pieces that range from drama, humor, and early avant-garde,” said Sklute. “Few companies can tackle such a broad spectrum of works designed to captivate audiences in unique and engaging ways.”
A Nutcracker Like No Other
No Ballet West season would be complete without THE NUTCRACKER , running December 5–27 at the Capitol Theatre. First staged in 1944 by Ballet West founder Willam Christensen, this beloved version holds the distinction of being America’s first and longest-running Nutcracker.
Last year, in honor of its 80th anniversary, Utah designated Christensen’s production as a Living Historic Landmark, the first such recognition ever granted to a ballet in U.S. history.
This landmark production continues to unite generations of families each holiday season. From the grand Christmas tree and snow-filled wonderland to the Sugar Plum Fairy’s sparkling pas de deux, the ballet’s iconic moments are brought to life by Tchaikovsky’s transcendent score, performed by the Ballet West Orchestra.
Flying Into Neverland with Peter Pan
February brings the Utah premiere of Trey McIntyre’s PETER PAN (Feb. 13–21), a soaring full-length ballet based on J.M. Barrie’s 1911 novel. This production blends spectacle and storytelling, featuring breathtaking aerial choreography and imaginative staging.
Set to Sir Edward Elgar’s sweeping score, arranged by Niel DePonte, the ballet introduces audiences to a Neverland filled with dancing shadows, shimmering
mermaids, playful pirates, and of course, a dash of pixie dust. Costumes by Broadway designer Jeanne Button and ethereal lighting enhance the enchantment.
“It’s exciting to introduce a new full-length story ballet to our audiences,” said Sklute. “Peter Pan is perfect for newcomers and aficionados alike. The flying alone is so challenging that we will be taking a whole week in the theater before we open just for the dancers and crew to master it.”
A World Premiere for Families: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
March 27–28 marks the world premiere of THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, choreographed by Pamela Robinson for Ballet West’s Family Classics Series.
This playful and slightly spooky production runs just over an hour, with narration to guide young audiences through Washington Irving’s iconic tale. One performance will even feature narration in Spanish. Performed by Ballet West II and students from the Frederick Q. Lawson Ballet West Academy, the ballet combines accessibility with artistry, offering an introduction to live dance for children and families.
Broadway & Beyond: Robbins,
Wheeldon, and more
April 10–18, Ballet West turns to Broadway for inspiration with Broadway & Beyond, a program
featuring four Utah premieres.
The centerpiece is Jerome Robbins’ WEST SIDE STORY SUITE , a condensed version of the landmark musical blending ballet, jazz, and Latin dance. Ballet West will augment the production with local Broadway singers, including Utah native and Ballet West Academy alumnus Robbie Fairchild — former New York City Ballet principal — who will star as Riff. Former NYCB soloist Georgina Pazcoguin joins him as Anita.
Also on the program: Robbins’ Antique Epigraphs, a rarely performed, sculptural work; Robbins’ lyrical Carousel (A Dance), set to Richard Rodgers’ lush score; and Christopher Wheeldon’s hauntingly intimate After the Rain Pas de Deux.
“West Side Story, Broadway & Beyond will take our artists and audiences alike on a journey never before seen on the Ballet West stage,” Sklute said. “It is a true celebration of the connections between Broadway and ballet.”
Spotlight on Utah: Choreographic Festival VII
The season concludes May 13–16 with Choreographic Festival VII: Spotlight Utah, an unprecedented gathering of four companies. Ballet West will join forces with Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and SALT Contemporary Dance to present a showcase of Utah’s vibrant dance scene.
Highlighting the program are world premieres by Donald Byrd, the Tony-nominated choreographer known for blending social commentary with inventive movement, and Penny Saunders, an award-winning contemporary voice. By sharing the stage with Utah’s most innovative modern companies, Ballet West underscores its commitment not only to international excellence but also to cultivating the state’s homegrown talent.
Preserving Tradition, Pioneering the Future
With seven productions spanning classical revivals, modern masterpieces, Broadway adaptations, and new works, Ballet West’s 2025–26 season demonstrates both reverence for tradition and a fearless embrace of the new. It’s a reflection of the company’s evolution under Sklute, who has consistently emphasized versatility as a defining quality. “From revivals of some of our most beloved and important works to no fewer than six premieres, it is a season both joyous and profound,” he said. “It gives our audiences the vast variety of stories, styles, and music that have become Ballet West’s hallmark.”
Tickets and Subscriptions
Season subscriptions are now on sale at BalletWest.org or by phone at 801869-6920. Subscribers receive exclusive benefits, including priority seating, discounts up to 40% off single-ticket prices, and first access to purchase additional tickets for The Nutcracker. Groups of 15 or more also qualify for special rates. Single tickets for individual productions go on sale Sept. 2, with member presales opening Aug. 25. With this season, Ballet West reaffirms its role as a guardian of ballet’s great traditions and a leader in pushing the boundaries of what ballet can be. Whether it’s the heartbreak of Romeo & Juliet, the wonder of Peter Pan, or the raw energy of West Side Story, Utah audiences are invited to experience a year of unforgettable dance. Q
More info at BALLETWEST.ORG
Utah Symphony offers pops, film favorites, and classical masterworks
The Utah Symphony has announced a wide-ranging 2025–26 season that showcases the orchestra’s versatility across three distinct subscription series: Pops, Films in Concert, and Masterworks. From pop and Motown classics to live film scores and symphonic masterpieces, the season offers audiences both entertain-
cert Series offers the immersive thrill of hearing iconic film scores performed live while the films play on the big screen. The season opens September 4–6, 2025, with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in Concert, featuring John Williams’ enchanting score paired with the second installment of the beloved
ment and artistic depth at Abravanel Hall in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Pops Series invites audiences to experience pop culture through a symphonic lens, bringing beloved hits to life with fresh orchestral reinterpretation. The season begins with The Music of Phil Collins and Genesis on September 26 and 27. This concert reimagines Collins’ solo hits and Genesis-era anthems, including “In the Air Tonight,” “Sussudio,” and “Take Me Home,” in sweeping orchestral arrangements. Later in the fall, Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown takes the stage on November 21 and 22, celebrating the timeless grooves and soulful melodies of Motown legends. These concerts highlight how orchestral textures can expand the emotional and rhythmic impact of pop traditions. Subscribers to the Pops Series enjoy access to all four planned concerts in the season, ensuring a diverse musical journey across popular genres. For movie lovers, the Films in Con-
film franchise. In November, audiences will revisit a timeless classic when The Wizard of Oz in Concert comes to Abravanel Hall on November 14 and 15. The symphony performs live renditions of “Over the Rainbow” and other songs while Dorothy and her friends journey through the Land of Oz on screen. The new year begins with an epic cinematic experience as Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert is presented from December 30 through January 3. The live score heightens the drama and adventure of one of the most acclaimed entries in the Star Wars saga. Rounding out the series, Disney-Pixar’s Up in Concert will be performed February 13 and 14, 2026, blending Michael Giacchino’s Oscar-winning score with the film’s heartwarming tale of love, loss, and adventure. Together, these concerts merge narrative and musical artistry, offering unforgettable movie experiences at the symphony. The centerpiece of the season is the Masterworks Series, which delivers pro-
found classical repertoire with inspiring performances from the orchestra and distinguished guest soloists. Subscribers can choose from 18, 9, or 6 concert packages, tailoring the experience to their level of commitment. The series begins on September 12 and 13, 2025, with pianist Orion Weiss performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto, a romantic masterpiece that blends grandeur with lyrical intimacy. The following weekend, September 19 and 20, features Mendelssohn’s beloved Violin Concerto paired with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4, an evening that balances lyrical charm with classical structure. In October, the orchestra turns to Rachmaninoff’s rarely performed Symphony No. 1, scheduled for October 24 and 25. Written when the composer was just 22, the work brims with youthful intensity and emotional fire. Just days later, on October 30, Utah Symphony will perform Mahler’s monumental “Titan” Symphony, a work of dramatic storytelling and sweeping orchestral color. These early highlights of the Masterworks Series reflect the orchestra’s commitment to both canonical masterpieces and rediscovered treasures, offering audiences a season of depth, variety, and discovery.
With Pops, Films in Concert, and Masterworks, the Utah Symphony’s 2025–26 season provides something for every musical appetite. Pop and Motown classics resonate with nostalgic joy, iconic film scores immerse audiences in cinematic storytelling, and symphonic masterworks invite deeper reflection on the power of orchestral music. Whether listeners are seeking lighthearted entertainment or profound artistry, the season promises to deliver memorable experiences across genres and generations. Q
More info at USUO.ORG
Utah Opera: From horror to romance
Utah Opera has unveiled its 2025–26 season, a diverse lineup ranging from contemporary American opera to classic works of the European canon. The season will feature four productions — Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell’s The Shining, Beethoven’s Fidelio, Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, and Verdi’s La traviata — all staged at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre in downtown Salt Lake City.
The season opens with Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell’s The Shining, adapted from Stephen King’s iconic novel. The opera follows Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic who takes a winter caretaker position at the haunted Overlook Hotel. As supernatural forces prey on his weaknesses, Jack descends into madness, endangering his wife Wendy and son Danny, whose psychic “shining” reveals the hotel’s dark secrets. Moravec’s score and Campbell’s libretto transform the psychological horror into a gripping
operatic thriller that examines addiction, isolation, and the fragility of family bonds. Performances run October 11–19.
In January 2026, Utah Opera will present Beethoven’s Fidelio, the composer’s only opera and a stirring hymn to justice, freedom, and love. The story centers on Leonore, who disguises herself as a young man named Fidelio to infiltrate a prison and rescue her husband Florestan, a political prisoner unjustly incarcerated. Through themes of courage and liberation, Beethoven combines tender domestic moments with a monumental finale that celebrates triumph over tyranny. The production will be staged January 17–25. March brings a lighter turn with Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, a romantic comedy brimming with charm and bel canto melodies. The opera tells the story of Nemorino, a poor and lovesick villager, who falls for the wealthy and independent Adina. Hoping to win her affection, Nemorino buys a supposed love potion from the traveling quack Dr. Dulcamara.
What follows is a series of comic misunderstandings, heartfelt arias, including the famous “Una furtiva lagrima,” and a joyful resolution as true love prevails. Performances run March 7–15, 2026.
The season closes in May with Verdi’s La traviata, one of the most beloved operas in the repertoire. Inspired by Alexandre Dumas fils’ La Dame aux Camélias, the work follows Violetta Valéry, a glamorous Parisian courtesan who sacrifices her own happiness for the sake of her lover, Alfredo Germont, under pressure from his disapproving father. Combining lush melodies with searing drama, La traviata is a timeless exploration of love, class, and the cruelty of social judgment. Utah Opera will present the production May 9–17, 2026.
Together, these four operas showcase Utah Opera’s commitment to offering audiences both bold contemporary storytelling and timeless classics of the repertoire. Q More info at USUO.ORG
UofU Theatre’s musicals, classics, comedies
The University of Utah Department of Theatre has announced its 2025–26 season, offering a mix of musicals, classics, comedies, and youth productions across four venues: the Meldrum Theatre, Babcock Theatre, Studio 115, and Kingsbury Hall.
The season begins in the Meldrum Theatre with LEGALLY BLONDE , the Broadway musical based on the popular film. Directed by Erin Farrell Speer, the show follows Elle Woods as she heads to Harvard Law School to win back her boyfriend, only to discover her own intelligence and determination. With its upbeat score and lively choreography, the musical sets an ener-
getic tone for the year.
In the Babcock Theatre, audiences will see THE CHERRY ORCHARD, Anton Chekhov’s final play, in a version by Pam Gems. Directed by Alexandra Harbold, the production focuses on a Russian aristocratic family facing the loss of their estate and beloved orchard. The play captures a society in transition, blending humor and melancholy while exploring themes of change, memory, and the passing of old traditions.
The department’s black box space, Studio 115, will stage R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) by Karel Čapek. Directed by Samantha Briggs, the 1920 play is known for introducing the word “robot”
to the world. It tells the story of man-made workers designed to serve humans who ultimately rebel against their creators. The play raises ethical questions about technology, industrialization, and what it means to be human.
Back in the Babcock Theatre, spring brings the satirical musical URINETOWN . With its dark humor and unconventional style, the show critiques capitalism, bureaucracy, and environmental issues, while also poking fun at Broadway itself. The production provides students with the opportunity to explore both comedy and social commentary through music and performance.
Later in the spring, the Babcock hosts THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Directed by Sarah Shippobotham, the 18th-century comedy of manners revolves around gossip, rumor, and reputation in London society. Though written more than 200 years ago, its sharp observations on scandal and public image remain relevant in today’s social media age.
The season also features a family-oriented production at Kingsbury Hall: IMAGINARY, directed by Penny Caywood.
Performed by the Youth Theatre at the University of Utah with support from university students, the musical tells the story of a boy and his imaginary friend as they confront the challenges of growing up. The show highlights the creativity of children while addressing the bittersweet process of leaving childhood behind. Together, the productions reflect the Department of Theatre’s commitment to offering variety in both performance styles and subject matter. Students across acting, musical theatre, design, stage management, teaching, and theatre studies programs gain hands-on training while contributing to each show. The range of venues—from the experimental Studio 115 to the historic Kingsbury Hall—ensures they also experience performing in diverse theatrical settings. With musicals, classics, comedies, and family fare, the 2025–26 season highlights the department’s dual mission: to train the next generation of theatre professionals and to bring high-quality productions to Salt Lake City audiences. Information at THEATRE.UTAH.EDU
Pioneer Theatre Company announces 2025-26 season of Broadway hits, new works, and classic comedy
Pioneer Theatre Company has announced its 2025–26 season, a six-show lineup that blends major Broadway musicals, a classic farce, a world premiere, and contemporary dramas. The professional theatre in residence at the University of Utah will present productions in both the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre and the Meldrum Theatre.
farce depicts the unraveling of a fictional theatre company as they attempt to stage a farcical production of their own. Backstage drama collides with onstage disaster, producing slamming doors, missed cues, and escalating chaos. Noises Off last appeared on Pioneer Theatre Company’s stage in 2007.
The season opens in September with 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS , written by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt. The two-actor play with music tells the story of aspiring young pianists chasing their dreams of classical stardom, only to confront the limits of talent, ambition, and reality. Featuring music from Bach to Billy Joel, the show showcases the performers as they portray dozens of characters, combining comedy, heart, and impressive musicianship.
In October, PTC brings DEAR EVAN HANSEN to the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre. The Tony Award–winning musical explores anxiety, isolation, and the yearning for connection in the digital age. The themes of hidden truths and the struggle for acceptance have made the show especially meaningful to LGBTQ+ youth, many of whom have embraced its anthem “You Will Be Found.” Pioneer Theatre Company’s staging marks the first time the blockbuster will be produced locally by a professional Utah company.
December brings Michael Frayn’s NOISES OFF, often described as one of the funniest plays ever written. The
The new year brings the season’s most directly LGBTQ+ work: the world premiere of TEN BRAVE SECONDS , a new musical by Jeff Talbott and Will Van Dyke. Opening January 30, 2026, the show follows a single day in which a teenager’s secret comes to light, altering a family and community forever. At its core, the musical explores the bravery it takes to step into authenticity — a narrative closely tied to coming-out experiences. Pioneer Theatre Company has a strong record of developing new work, and this world premiere underscores its role as an incubator for fresh stories that reflect contemporary struggles, including queer identity.
In March, Rajiv Joseph’s KING JAMES takes the stage at the Meldrum Theatre. The play traces the friendship of two men over more than a decade, bonded through their admiration for basketball star LeBron James. While the central narrative revolves around fandom and friendship, the work digs into the intimacy and vulnerability of male relationships — subject matter often coded as taboo in traditional masculinity, but increasingly recognized in queer cultural conversations. The show runs March 20–April 4, 2026.
Closing the season is the Utah premiere of COME FROM AWAY, running April 24–May 9, 2026. The Tony-nominated musical tells the true story of thousands of airline passengers diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, in the days after 9/11. Among the many characters is a gay couple navigating both fear and unexpected kindness in a small town.
Their inclusion — part of the tapestry of real passengers’ lives — is one of the ways the show affirms LGBTQ+ visibility within a broader narrative of human connection. For many audiences, Come From Away has become a story about the power of empathy across difference.
Full-season and flexible subscription packages are available. Options include Pick-3, Pick-4, and Pick-5 passes, along with discounted programs such as PTClub, which offers half-price subscriptions for patrons 35 and under. Rush passes and senior discounts remain available, continuing Pioneer Theatre Company’s effort to keep professional theatre accessible to a broad audience.
Accessibility is also built into the season’s offerings, with American Sign Language–interpreted performances scheduled for productions including 2 Pianos 4 Hands, Noises Off, Ten Brave Seconds, and Come From Away.
Since its founding in 1962, Pioneer Theatre Company has established itself as a leading professional theatre in the Mountain West, often serving as a launching pad for new plays and musicals while also producing classic and contemporary works. With the 2025–26 season, artistic director Karen Azenberg and her team have curated a program that moves between laughter and heartbreak, nostalgia and innovation.
“This season reflects the breadth of what theatre can offer,” Azenberg said in announcing the lineup. “From a world premiere musical to beloved comedies and some of Broadway’s most impactful stories, our goal is to give Utah audiences experiences that will stay with them long after the curtain comes down.”
Performances will take place at both the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre and the Meldrum Theatre at the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse. Tickets for individual productions will go on sale later this year, with subscription packages currently available through the Pioneer Theatre Company box office and website. Q
More info at PIONEERTHEATRE.ORG
Pioneer Theatre Company to host special reading of gay-themed ‘Ten Brave Seconds’
Pioneer Theatre Company will present a special developmental reading of Ten Brave Seconds, a new musical by Will Van Dyke and Jeff Talbott, on Tuesday, September 9 at 7 p.m. in the Meldrum Theatre. The one-night-only event is open to the public with limited seating available.
The reading comes ahead of the show’s world premiere, scheduled for January 30–February 14, 2026, at Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre. Both the reading and the full production will be directed by Ellie Heyman, with music direction by Patrick Sulken.
Ten Brave Seconds centers on Mike, a teenager preparing for one of the biggest days of his life. He has been holding onto a secret, and today it’s finally coming out, while, at the same time, the country faces decisions that will change lives everywhere. With pop-infused melodies and a big-hearted story, the musical follows a family and community navigating
a pivotal moment together.
Carson Stewart (Broadway’s The Notebook) leads the reading cast as Mike, joined by Tony nominee John Cariani (Something Rotten!, Fiddler on the Roof), Ben Crawford (The Phantom of the Opera), Jake Pedersen (Parade, Wicked), Khadija Sankoh (Little Shop of Horrors), and PTC alum Maggie Scott. The ensemble features Makenna Ashby, Jordan Briggs, Ariana Bagley, and newcomers Kaden Conrad, Adam Moore, Sydney Rudel, Harrison Timm, and Ella Mei Williamson.
The performance will be followed by an onstage conversation with Van Dyke, Talbott, and PTC Artistic Director Karen Azenberg.
“We’re thrilled to offer audiences the chance to see a musical in process and on its way to being fully realized,” Azenberg said.
Tickets for the reading are $10 and can be purchased at BIT.LY/TENBRAVE or by calling 801-581-6961.
Utah Queer Film Festival announces program for 2025
Utah Film Center announced the Utah Queer Film Festival program for its 22nd year, bringing a mix of documentaries, narratives, and shorts collections to the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in Salt Lake City. The festival, formerly known as Damn These Heels, remains the Mountain West’s longest-running LGBTQIA+ film festival and continues its mission to showcase diverse queer voices on screen.
Festival Programming Director Cat Palmer, an award-winning artist and advocate, returns to lead the curation of this year’s event with the support of more than 30 volunteer programmers. Together, they have assembled a slate of films that explore identity, activism, resilience, and creativity from a wide range of perspectives.
“This year’s lineup is a true labor of love. I’m incredibly proud of our programming committee — they brought passion, thoughtfulness, and bold vision to every decision. We’ve curated a selection of films that reflect the diversity, depth, and joy of the queer experience, and I truly believe there’s something here for everyone. Whether you’re looking to laugh, cry, reflect, or celebrate, this year’s festival has it,” Palmer said.
In all, the festival will show six feature films and 40 shorts in its lineup.
The feature films include ROW OF
LIFE , which tells the story of Angela Madsen, a Marine Corps veteran, Paralympian, and world-record-holding rower who set out on a daring solo journey across the Pacific Ocean. JUST KIDS follows three teenagers living in states that have restricted gender-affirming care, highlighting the ways their families navigate both political pressure and deeply personal challenges.
In ASSEMBLY, multidisciplinary artist Rashaad Newsome transforms a decommissioned military relic into a Black queer utopia, blending performance, artificial intelligence, and community engagement to create a striking meditation on freedom and solidarity. JOIN THE CLUB offers a historical portrait of Dennis Peron, the San Francisco cannabis dealer who, in the midst of the AIDS epidemic, created the Cannabis Buyers’ Club, a space that combined marijuana access with drag shows, murals, and medical support.
The documentary SALLY! explores the life and legacy of Sally Gearhart, a lesbian activist, author, and academic who became a groundbreaking figure in the 1970s and 1980s. Rounding out the feature selections is IT’S DOROTHY! , which examines the cultural legacy of Dorothy Gale, tracing her journey from the pages of L. Frank Baum’s classic through decades of reinvention as a symbol of
resilience for marginalized communities.
Complementing the features are several shorts collections. THE AVANT-GARDE SHORTS COLLECTION showcases experimental filmmaking that pushes the limits of cinematic form and narrative. The INTIMATE STORIES SHORTS COLLECTION gathers films that reflect on relationships, vulnerability, and personal discovery. The Spooky Shorts Collection presents horror and thriller-inspired work with a distinctly queer perspective. The INSPIRING STORIES SHORTS COLLECTION highlights affirming stories about strength, self-acceptance, and perseverance. Finally, the UTAH FILMMAKER SHOWCASE offers a platform for local queer filmmakers to share their work, placing Utah’s creative community at the center of the festival. With films that span deeply personal stories, historical documentaries, experimental art, and homegrown creativity, the Utah Queer Film Festival’s 2025 lineup underscores the power of cinema to celebrate LGBTQIA+ life in all its complexity. Festival passes are on sale now. A discounted rate of $40 is good through August 29. The price increases to $60 on August 30. An optional party pass add-on is an additional $20. Q
More information at UTAHQUEERFILMFESTIVAL.ORG
FACTS ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER
Is prostate cancer screening right for you? Talk to your doctor about your risk and the potential benefits and harms of screening.
You’re more likely to get prostate cancer if:
You’re 65 or older. Prostate cancer runs in your family. You’re Black or African American. Male Reproductive System
Prostate Cancer Symptoms
Most men with prostate cancer have no symptoms. However, some men experience:
• Frequent urination
• Trouble urinating
• Blood in urine or semen
• Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis
These may be caused by conditions other than prostate cancer, so talk to your doctor if you have symptoms.
Prostate cancer is a disease in which cells in the prostate grow out of control. The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system and produces fluid that is a part of semen.
Should You Get Screened?
About 13 in every 100 U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime—and 2 to 3 out of every 100 will die from prostate cancer.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a group of medical experts, recommends that men 55 to 69 years old make individual decisions about prostate cancer screening. Talk to your doctor about your risk and how you feel about the benefits and harms of screening.
For more information visit CDC’s Prostate Cancer website: www.cdc.gov/prostate-cancer
Chad Hardy’s journey from shirtless Mormon calendars to radical selfacceptance in his book, ‘Law of Zero’
Chad Michael Hardy went from excommunicated Mormon rebel to bestselling author. Now his bold new book redefines power, healing, and identity.
When Hardy released Law of Zero in January 2025, he offered more than a selfhelp guide. It’s part memoir, part spiritual playbook, and entirely about breaking free from systems that suffocate authenticity. The book, subtitled The Journey to Awakening Your Authentic Self, Unlocking Your Infinite Power, and Taking Control of Your Life, lays out a framework Hardy calls “the Law of Zero” — five access points to rediscover who you really are.
FROM CALENDAR TO CONTROVERSY
Hardy first made headlines in 2008 when he published Men on a Mission, a calendar featuring shirtless returned LDS missionaries. It was cheeky, playful, and wildly successful—nearly 10,000 copies sold.
But church leaders weren’t amused. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints excommunicated Hardy in July 2008. Weeks later, Brigham Young University—owned by the church—refused to grant him the broadcasting degree he had already earned.
Though he walked in the August commencement, BYU placed a non-academic hold on his record, citing a policy requiring “good standing” in the church. Hardy announced plans to sue, saying he would “fight this tooth-andnail.” The case spotlighted how Mormon orthodoxy and academic policy often collide, especially for LGBTQ+ students.
THE LAW OF ZERO
Nearly two decades later, Hardy has turned that experience of rejection into a philosophy of empowerment.
At the heart of Law of Zero is a deceptively simple idea: Zero is the place of infinite possibility, the state where authenticity and power begin. To get there, Hardy lays out five steps:
FIND AWARENESS : Identify unconscious beliefs and blocks by journaling, mapping trauma, and asking core questions like “Who am I?”
SECURE ALIGNMENT: Bring in-
tentions and values into focus through practices like visualization and time in nature.
TAKE OWN -
ERSHIP : Reclaim your story by rewriting what Hardy calls the “Human Story Code”—the narrative of family, trauma, and biology that shapes identity.
RELEASE TO RECEIVE : Let go of judgment and limiting beliefs to make room for growth.
ENGAGE POWER : Live with empathy, courage, and self-love, fully aligned with your true self.
Hardy interweaves these steps with raw, personal stories: childhood abuse, fear, religious trauma, even bedwetting. The book doesn’t shy away from pain but insists that transformation is possible when we confront it directly.
WHY IT RESONATES
For Utah’s LGBTQ+ and ex-Mormon communities, Hardy’s arc feels familiar.
The Men on a Mission calendar may have looked lighthearted, but it challenged deeply ingrained cultural codes about modesty, masculinity, and sexuality. His punishment—excommunication and degree denial—exposed how institutions enforce conformity.
In Law of Zero, Hardy reframes those experiences. What once looked like punishment now serves as proof that institutional rejection can be a catalyst for growth. The message is clear: authenticity is worth the cost.
EARLY RECEPTION
The book debuted at #2 on Amazon’s Gay & LGBTQ+ bestseller list and climbed to #16 in New Age selfhelp. Kirkus Reviews called it “deeply personal, trauma-informed,” while Readers’ Favorite described it as illuminating and empowering.
Hardy also released the audiobook and now travels as a motivational speaker. He is an openly gay entrepreneur, running AdVenture Games Inc., a company that has worked with Google, Amazon, and Microsoft. Known for his spontaneous “cocktail napkin sermons” about Zero, he splits his time between San Diego and Orlando.
WHY IT MATTERS
IN UTAH
Hardy’s story carries weight in a state where religion and culture often intertwine.
TRANSFORMATION : His journey shows how defiance can evolve into spiritual strength.
HEALING TOOLKIT: The five steps offer concrete practices for anyone processing trauma or shame.
RESILIENCE : BYU and the LDS Church tried to strip him of legitimacy, yet he built success outside those systems.
REPRESENTATION : His work reminds LGBTQ+ Utahns that exile can lead to freedom, not just loss.
A SURVIVAL GUIDE
Law of Zero isn’t just Hardy’s story—it’s an invitation. For those who have felt erased, silenced, or punished for who they are, the book is both a mirror and a map. It insists that living authentically requires courage but also promises that courage leads to liberation. For Utah’s LGBTQ+ readers navigating faith transitions, family estrangement, or personal shame, Hardy’s message lands with power: exile can become transformation, and your truest self can become your greatest strength. Q
REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
Just Good Manners: A Quintessential Guide to Courtesy, Charm, Grace and Decorum
BY WILLIAM HANSON. C.2025, GALLERY BOOKS, $28.99, 272 PAGES
So. Many. Forks. You’re glad you’re not doing the dishes at the end of this dinner – but in the meantime, what’s protocol? If this event wasn’t a make-or-break, filled-with-repercussions kind of deal for you, you wouldn’t care; you’d use one fork, one spoon, and enjoy your meal, thank you. So please pass the salt and the new book “Just Good Manners” by William Hanson.
Dining at a restaurant not long ago, Hanson noticed a glaring difference between how his fellow Brits order a meal, and how Americans do it. We might share a language, he says, and we’re a lot alike but we’re also different in many ways. Manners are one of them.
q scopes
SEPTEMBER
BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS
ARIES March 20–April 19
Desire fuels your momentum this month, but remember, a slow burn can be even hotter than a quick spark. Let anticipation build and keep your aim steady. The more you savor the chase, the sweeter the victory.
TAURUS Apr 20–May 20
Comfort feels good, but temptation is tugging you toward something thrillingly unfamiliar. Dip a toe into new waters and you might find they’re warmer than expected. A small risk now could turn into a delicious reward.
GEMINI May 21–June 20
Your mind’s racing, and your heart’s keeping pace. But not every invitation needs a “yes.” Choose the connections that stir something deep inside. Passion
the bookworm sez
It may seem that formal manners are archaic, even quaint, but Hanson says that they’re needed now more than ever. Manners help smooth social transactions. They leave room for grace in many situations, and they help put people at ease.
“Contemporary etiquette,” he says, “is rooted in six key principles.”
Humility is what ensures that everyone at your meeting or dinner is comfortable, not just you. Hospitality welcomes everyone to the table. Knowing one’s rank shows respect. Says Hanson, “politeness takes patience” and humor, as manners evolve. And although it sounds counter-intuitive, manners are somewhat based on passive-aggressiveness, which helps you be direct, but not too much.
Here, you’ll learn how to deal with introductions in different situations and what to do with a pronoun faux-pas. You’ll see that merely greeting someone can be fraught with danger, so be sure you know who’s who before you enter a room. Learn to avoid five “taboo” topics when engaging in small-talk. If you’re interrupted, know how to kindly gain control of a conversation again. Find out how the use of slang tells a listener who you really are. Know how to be a good guest, and the kind of host people appreciate.
will follow when you give your full attention to what excites you most.
CANCER June 21–July 22
Emotional intimacy is your superpower right now. Let someone see the real you: unguarded, open, and ready. The closeness you create will leave a mark that lingers far beyond this month.
LEO July 23–August 22
All eyes are on you, but this time, you’re in control of the spotlight. Use your magnetism to draw people closer, then surprise them with your depth. Seduction is easy, but substance is what keeps them hooked.
VIRGO August 23–Sep 2
You’re meticulous, but this month asks for a little looseness in your grip. Let go of control just enough to invite in a bit of mystery. Sometimes the most memorable moments are the ones you don’t plan.
And yes, you’ll learn about those many, many forks…
You do not live in a bubble. You don’t work in one, either, and smoothing ruffled feathers is needed more than ever in today’s world so maybe it’s time to learn how to do that from a very unruffled source. With “Just Good Manners,” it could even set you apart.
Indeed, author William Hanson makes a case for politeness-as-diplomacy here, in a book that’s very Brit-centric but that includes anecdotes about disastrous situations in other countries. Tales like those are fun to read, in a Schadenfreude way, but they also illustrate why it’s essential to understand other cultures in business settings as well as in many casual events. If that sounds daunting, rest assured that Hanson uses his own advice, putting readers at ease with humor and charm and by taking the scariness out of manners by making them an easy, maybe even enjoyable, challenge. You won’t feel scolded when you read “Just Good Manners,” but you will learn enough to be someone people want around. It’ll give you confidence. Before your next big event, it’ll give you something to chew on. Q
LIBRA Sept 23–October 22
Partnerships are buzzing with possibility, but you can’t pour into others if your own cup is empty. Indulge yourself first, then share your glow. When you’re fulfilled, your connections become irresistible.
SCORPIO Oct 23–Nov 21
Intensity comes naturally to you, and this month, you’re ready to dive deeper. Shed old skins that no longer fit and embrace the thrill of becoming. Your transformation might just turn a few heads.
SAGITTARIUS
Nov 22–December 20
Adventure calls, but it’s not just about miles. It’s about mindset. Ditch stale rules that keep you fenced in. Once you open the gate, you’ll find freedom waiting with open arms.
CAPRICORN
Dec 21–Jan 19
Your drive is unmatched, but pleasure is just as productive right now. Give yourself permission to rest, linger, and enjoy. You’ll return to the climb stronger and with a few sweet memories tucked away.
AQUARIUS Jan 20–Feb 18
Your unconventional ideas are turning heads. Collaborate with those who share your spark and see what magic you can co-create. Chemistry, creative or otherwise, could take you further than you imagine.
PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19
Your fantasies are vivid, and they’re leading you somewhere intriguing. Indulge them without self-censorship. The lines between dream and reality might blur, and that’s exactly where the magic happens. Q
Arsenic dust, salt, and the flight of hope: ‘EB
& FLO’ gives voice to a lake in peril
BY ELAINE JARVIK
WhenI moved to Utah from the East Coast decades ago, I was dismayed to discover that the body of water Salt Lake City was named for looked nothing like the lakes I was used to. Where were the trees? Where were the cozy cottages? Instead, I was shocked by how bleak and alien it was — a barren vastness that made me feel small and exposed. My first excursion out onto the lake itself (the in-laws had come to visit) was a “dinner cruise” plagued by swarms of brine flies; and in the years that followed, the lake periodically offered up what TV meteorologists call “lake stink,” a rotten-egg smell that wafted east, stuffed up my sinuses, and made me want to hide indoors. Mostly, though, the lake was just a vague presence as I gazed west. I ignored it and went on with my life. Then, slowly, I began to see the Great Salt Lake with new eyes. I took a trip to the bird refuge with writer Terry Tempest Williams; I hiked on Antelope Island; I visited the Spiral Jetty, Robert Smithson’s iconic land art sculpture at Rozel Point on the lake’s north arm. Sure, I still preferred a cozy shore lined by greenery, but I found myself on these occasions less afraid of the emptiness and more aware of the beautiful solitude, the encircling horizon, the life hidden there. And then came the devastating news that made me really see the lake for what it is: a sustainer of life for humans
and other creatures, a vital part of our local and global ecosystem. Three years ago, lake scientists began to send out warnings that the Great Salt Lake was so low that its ecosystem might collapse, the victim of a megadrought, a growing population, and farming practices that diverted water that could be flowing to the lake. Arsenic dust in the exposed lakebed, we learned, threatened to sicken the people downwind. This last news, especially, was the alarm bell that wouldn’t stop ringing in my ears. Now the lake’s fate had become personal — because how could my grandchildren continue to live in a place that could kill them? Was the Salt Lake Valley doomed?
One afternoon two summers ago, when my son was visiting from Portland, we drove out to Antelope Island, home to bison and to rocks that are at least two billion years old. We wanted to see for ourselves how the lake had dramatically diminished in size since he had lived here as a boy. We parked the car at the top of a small rise and began walking down toward the lake, first across rabbit brush, then across hardened sand, walking and walking and walking. It seemed like we would never reach the water’s edge. What had before been abstract now became visceral: we were losing our lake and our way. It left me feeling even more scared.
Writing EB & FLO has, again, helped me channel my worries, and has added another level of respect for a lake I once disparaged. The challenge in writing a Great Salt Lake play for children is to make the information exciting rather than pedantic. During my 30-year experience as a journalist — much of it doing long-form pieces — I learned how to not only research and distill data, but also
to marry facts with narrative, presenting human stories that were at once both dispassionate and heartfelt. I have brought this sensibility to EB & FLO.
To keep the play engaging and dynamic, I settled on two main characters: a fantastic flamingo named Flo and a sensible seagull named Eb. Flo was inspired by the real-life adventures, 35 years ago, of a flamingo who escaped from Tracy Aviary and landed at the Great Salt Lake, where he wintered for more than a decade and earned the name Pink Floyd. Like Floyd, Flo is a naïve stranger who arrives knowing next-to nothing about the lake. Eb is inspired by the garbage-eating gulls that are Utah’s state bird, which have no business living in Utah, but are omnipresent because of the lake. The two birds search for other flamingos, and along the way learn about brine shrimp, brine flies, and the endangered “bird highway.” They (and the audience) learn about decreasing water levels, increasing salinity, and the dust that could make people sick. The duo comes up with a song to get the message out.
For most of us in Utah, the lake has been easy to take for granted. Luckily, more and more people are paying attention because we can’t count on the weather to save us.
It’s my hope that, after seeing EB & FLO, students will have conversations with their grown-ups and will grow up trying to keep the lake alive. Q
Elaine Jarvik has premiered numerous plays at Salt Lake Acting Company, Pygmalion Theatre Company, and Plan-B Theatre. Her latest, EB & FLO, receives its world premiere as Plan-B’s thirteenth annual Free Elementary School Tour, serving 100 elementary schools statewide throughout the 2025/26 school year. Free public performances (free, but tickets required) are October 4, 11, 18, 2025, and February 14, 21, and 28, 2026. Details and tickets at PLANBTHEATRE.ORG/EBANDFLO
BY JERRY RAPIER
Igrew up in rural New Mexico, 10 miles outside of a town of 700 people. My world was smaller than small, which probably explains my obsession with geography that began in fourth grade (1981, pre-internet).
That Christmas, one of our family gifts was a world atlas. I pored over it, memorizing each page. I couldn’t get enough of Japan (where my birth family is from), Peru (my mom lived there in fourth grade), and the Great Salt Lake (dominating the western half of the U.S. map). To a fourth grader who had never been to Utah, it was Utah. In 1986, our family vacationed in Salt Lake City, where planes bank over the southern end of Great Salt Lake as they take off and land. I knew nothing of this banking until it happened. I was speechless: the atlas hadn’t done the scale of the lake justice. I couldn’t see the northern shore. We ended up not visiting the lake, so I moped through the vacation until I could see it again on our return flight.
Eight years later, I moved to Utah and visited the lake as soon as I could.
As I drove across the causeway from the southeast shore to Antelope Island for the first time, the road sliced through the lake, water lapping its shoulders on both sides. I hiked to the back of the island, a dead ringer for the Pacific coast of Mexico: an endless expanse of sea stretching to the horizon.
That first visit changed me.
Five years later, I was working part-time for The Nature Conservancy, steward of Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. Early one Saturday morning, I waded those wetlands with the preserve manager. Lying
Can a children’s play help save a lake? ‘EB & FLO’ asks why not?
on our bellies in the shallows, deep in the reeds, we carefully observed birds who’d taken a pit stop en route from Western Canada to Western South America to rest, refuel, and breed. I saw avocets, Wilson’s phalaropes, and eared grebes at eye level.
On that visit, the lake became my friend. Years later, I wanted my son Oscar to remember his first visit to Great Salt Lake, so I waited until he was five. En route, I got him excited about slicing through the lake on the way to the 2018 Spider Festival on Antelope Island (millions of completely harmless Western Spotted Orb Weavers (think Charlotte’s Web) hatch at the lake each year (think bird food). But the waterline was about 100 yards from the road on both sides. He was not impressed.
When we visited the next year, the waterline was more than a mile from the road. Oscar was convinced I’d fabricated the slicing and lapping. “Papa. How could that be true? The water is so far away, it’s a mirage!”
During the 2020 pandemic lockdown, we drove out to Saltair (a now-defunct resort on the southern shore) and walked a mile from the parking lot to the waterline. Another mirage.
“Papa, why did we have to walk so far to get to the water?”
We drove to the marina: dry dock.
“Papa, why are we standing where the boats should be?”
I realized, in that moment, that my climate grief was manifesting in my now six-year-old. I. Was. Shook. I asked myself, “How am I going to stop this?” And then, “This would make a great play.”
But, we already had four FEST commissions in the works, so it receded to the back of my mind. Then, in December of 2023, Oscar and I heard a story on KUER on the way to school about how the dust from the exposed lakebed was a direct threat to the snowpack.
I texted Elaine Jarvik: “Would you be interested in writing another Free Elementary School Tour play?” (our 2017 FEST offering
was her play for K-3 students, RIVER. SWAMP.CAVE.MOUNTAIN., about two elementary-age siblings trying to make sense of the death of their grandmother).
Thirty seconds later: “Yes! Do you have something specific in mind?”
Fifteen seconds later: “Great Salt Lake!”
Five seconds later: “Absolutely!”
So…why Elaine?
We Utahns live in a world where toddlers track toxic air and our namesake lake is an ecological time bomb. Regardless of political affiliation, most of us acknowledge our collective culpability in Great Salt Lake’s demise: we see it with our eyes and feel it with our lungs.
Our climate grief is communal.
Although science tells us it’s not possible to restore Great Salt Lake to what it was 40 years ago, science also tells us that perpetual, adaptive management — lake speak for stemming loss — will ensure our terminal namesake doesn’t fall prey to its terminal diagnosis.
Elaine has a gift for writing about grief: it’s as though empathy is embedded in her keyboard. Although she usually writes about navigating the impact of loss, she inverts that approach with EB & FLO, extending a hopeful, joy-filled invitation to K-3 students and their adults (and their adults!) to stem the loss of Great Salt Lake.
We are advocates of perpetual, adaptive management: we can’t restore the lake to what it was, but we can preserve what it is.
But first, we must truly become a we.
The key is lake literacy: the more each Utahn knows, the more the lake will be present in conversation and relationships. And relationships may be the only true agent for change. Q
EB & FLO by Elaine Jarvik receives its world premiere directed by Jerry Rapier as Plan-B’s thirteenth annual Free Elementary School Tour, serving 100 elementary schools statewide throughout the 2025/26 school year. Free public performances (free, but tickets required) are October 4, 11, 18, 2025 and February 14, 21, and 28, 2026. Details and tickets at PLANBTHEATRE.ORG/EBANDFLO
David Archuleta brings ‘Earthly Delights’ tour to SLC Sept. 19
David Archuleta is coming home, again. The Utahborn pop star will bring his Earthly Delights North American headline tour to Rockwell at The Complex in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 19. This is his first tour in over five years.
The tour follows the August 15 release of his Earthly Delights EP, a bold and deeply personal project exploring love, sensuality, and self-acceptance. The record features his worldwide hit “Crème Brûlée” and singles “Can I Call You” and “Dulce Amor,” the latter a shimmering English-Spanish fusion capturing the rush of falling for someone new.
“This EP is me embracing what I used to fear: sensuality, connection, vulnerability,” Archuleta said. “There’s something sweet about being naughty. It’s helped me get in touch with the more tender, vulnerable parts of myself.”
The project marks a new chapter for Archuleta, who has been open about questioning the beliefs of his upbringing and stepping into his authentic queer identity. His shows will blend this fresh material with fan favorites like “Crush,” “A Little Too Not Over You,” and “Hell Together.”
VIP packages for the Salt Lake stop, limited to 50–75 fans, include early entry, a meet-and-greet with Archuleta, exclusive merch, and more.
Archuleta’s month-long tour kicks off Sept. 17 and includes stops in New York (already sold out), Philadelphia, Toronto, San Francisco, Phoenix, and more. Opening acts Alexandra John and Rachel Bochner will join him on select dates, with Alexandra John performing in Salt Lake.
Tickets for the Sept. 19 show are on sale now at BIT.LY/DAVIDARCHULETASLC
LGBT OLDER ADULTS AND DEMENTIA
LGBT people have greater health disparities, many of which are risk factors for dementia, including:
l Depression
l Obesity
l Alcohol and tobacco
l Lower rates of preventive screenings
l Cardiovascular disease
l HIV/AIDS
Age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease
An estimated 2.7million LGBT people are over age 50
7.4% of the lesbian, gay and bisexual older adult population is living with dementia
LGBT adults living with dementia face unique challenges in accessing support: Up to 30%experience lower rates of access to care
40%report that their support networks have become smaller over time Alzheimer’s is the most expensive disease in the nation
$ $ $
51%of LGBT older people report being very concerned about having enough money to live on
34% live alone
Fear of discrimination can delay access to care
40% say their health care providers don’t know their sexual orientation
support and resources.
Utah gay singer/ songwriter Spencer Sanders releases new single ‘Healing’
Utah-based gay folk-rock singer-songwriter Spencer Sanders has released his latest single, “Healing,” now available on all major streaming platforms (and in this story below). The heartfelt track explores themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and finding peace after hardship.
“This song began as a letter I didn’t know how to write and became a love note to second chances, forgiveness, and peace,” Sanders said. “I’m honored beyond words that my mama lent her voice to it, bringing this healing journey full-circle.”
Sanders described “Healing” as “a song to bury the hatchet and fall in love with life again.” The track blends rich folk textures with chamber-pop influences, featuring contributions from a team of Utah musicians: Nathan Cox on cello, Ily Olsen Skinner on French horn, Ron Saltmarsh on guitar, and Ashley Tingey on flute. “Thank you for healing the divide between two sounds that really never should’ve worked,” Sanders said of his collaborators.
The single continues Sanders’ signature style of weaving personal narrative into universal themes. “There have been too many late-night regrets, too many crumpled letters and discarded emails, and too many crucial conversations shelved for another time,” Sanders reflected. “We crave vulnerability, connection, and peace, and it’s long overdue. So, this time it’s time for healing.”
The lyrics capture both regret and resolve. In the opening verse, Sanders admits:
“I know there’s so many times you’ve cried / For mistakes that I’ve made, things I’ll regret till I die / And I don’t wanna trouble you no longer / But I can’t forgive myself until I know I’ve made you stronger.”
The chorus drives home the emotional release:
“So many nights I lied awake knowing you were doing likewise / So many times I tried to write the words to dry your eyes / Too many times I bottled up the way that I’ve been feeling / But my darling, this time it’s time for healing.”
About Spencer Sanders
Raised in Utah, Spencer Sanders grew up immersed in music and the arts thanks to the influence of his parents. Some of his earliest memories include perusing art galleries, listening to Rachmaninoff on the way to school, and attending community concerts. By age three, he was banging on pots and pans, and soon after explored instruments including piano, violin, ukulele, and guitar.
Sanders honed his craft as both a writer and musician, producing poetry, plays, and even a two-act musical in high school. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that he fully embraced songwriting, using music as an outlet for self-reflection and emotional processing. His debut album, Almanac: Volume 1, emerged from this period, blending folk, Americana, chamber pop, and indie rock into
an exploration of life’s highs and lows.
As a queer artist living with bipolar disorder, Sanders channels his personal challenges into music that resonates with others navigating mental health struggles, questions of identity, and the complexities of love.
“I believe that in order to climb out of a hole, people need to hear the stories from those who have been stuck there, too,” he said.
Sanders has earned recognition for his lyrical storytelling and his ability to turn deeply personal experiences into art that feels universal. His songs address everything from heartbreak and resilience to self-acceptance and joy.
“My goal is to always leave people better than I found them, and I try to do that with my music,” Sanders said.
With “Healing,” Sanders continues to expand his body of work and connect with audiences through his raw, vulnerable, and hopeful songwriting. For more information, visit SPENCERSANDERS.COM.
LGBTQ+ meetings: Sun. 3p Acceptance Group, All Saints, 1710 Foothill Dr
Tues. 7p Live & Let Live, Mt Tabor Tues. 7p Pride in Recovery, Narcotics Anon. UPC, 68 S Main
Wed. 7p Sober Today, 1159 30th St , Ogden
Wed. 7p Bountiful
Men’s Group, Am. Baptist, 1915 Orchard Dr, Btfl
Fri. 7p Stonewall Group, Mt Tabor Lutheran, 175 S 700 E
Crystal Meth Anon
crystalmeth.org
USARA, 180 E 2100 S Clean, Sober & Proud Sun. 1:30pm
Leather Fetish & Kink Fri. 8pm
Genderbands
genderbands.org
EQ @genderbands
LifeRing Secular Recovery
801-608-8146
liferingutah.org
Weds. 7pm, Sat. 11am
How was your week?
First Baptist, 777 S 1300 E
LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapists Guild
lgbtqtherapists.com
* robin@lgbtqtherapists.com
YOUTH/COLLEGE
Encircle LGBTQ Family and Youth Resource Ctr
encircletogether.org
EQ @encircletogether
91 W 200 S, Provo, 190 S 100 E, St. George 331 S 600 E, SLC 81 E Center, Heber City Gay-Straight Alliance Network
gsanetwork.org
OUT Foundation BYU
theout.foundation
fb.me/theOUTfoundation
Salt Lake Community College LGBTQ+
slcc.edu/lgbtq/ UofU Student Pride Ctr Q uofupride
USGA at BYU
usgabyu.com
fb.me/UsgaAtByu Utah Valley Univ Spectrum
linktr.ee/spectrumqsa
uvu.edu/lgbtq/ * lgbt@uvu.edu
801-863-8885
Liberal Arts, Rm 126
Youth Discord Virtual Hangout
6p Wednesdays
Open to all youth 14-20. Email jay@ utahpridecenter.org to get access
Utah Pride Center
Weekly Programming
MONDAYS
QUEER WOMEN’S PEER SUPPORT GROUP, 7-8pm
Peer-led support group for queer women and fem-identifying people 18+.
TUESDAYS
GAY MEN’S SUPPORT GROUP, 6:30-8pm
Gay Men’s Peer Support Group is open to men ages 18+ who identify as gay, bisexual, or questioning. It is a peer-led support group with discussions guided by volunteer facilitators.
PRIDE IN RECOVERY, 7-8pm
Weekly Narcotics Anonymous recovery meeting for LGBTQ+ adults 18+.
WEDNESDAYS
GAY MEN’S SACK LUNCH, noon1pm
Bring your lunch and enjoy lively conversations with other guys in the community. Open to gay men 18+.
YOUTH DISCORD VIRTUAL HANGOUT, 6-8pm
A welcoming, virtual space where LGBTQ+ youth can come together to talk, share experiences, and support each other. Open to youth 14-20. Email Jay at jay@utahpridecenter.org to get access to the UPC Youth DiSCORD.
THURSDAYS
YOUTH IN PERSON DROP IN HOURS, 4-8pm
Looking for a place where you can curl up with a good book?
Check out the UPC History Library! Need a place to catch up on some homework? Check out our Computer Lab! Just wanna hang out with some friends…then UPC on Thursdays is the place to be!
Reoccurring Programming:
SIT & STITCH, 6-8pm 1st & 3rd Mondays
Get your stitch on with friends! Bring your knitting,
crochet, cross-stitch, or any other craft you’re working on. Meet new people, give/ receive crafting tips, and enjoy snacks, movies, and music in a safe, welcoming space.
GET CONNECTED TO HEALTH INSURANCE, 4-6pm (every-other Tuesday, 7/8, 7/22, 8/5, 8/19) Utah Health Policy Project will help get you connected to an affordable health insurance plan no matter your current economic situation. Open to queer folx and allies. No appointment required.
THE PASTOR IS IN, 6-8pm, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays
LGBTQ+ affirming Pastor Curtis has been a long-time friend and advocate for our community. In his own words: “I am here to talk with you. To listen mostly, but to affirm who you are; to tell you that God loves you just the way you are.”
Monthly Programming:
GAME NIGHT (with Switch & VR): Second Wednesdays, 6-8pm
Bring your friends, games (board or video), snacks to share, or just your fabulous self. Join us for an all-ages, social game night at the new Utah Pride Center. We’ll have board games, card games, Nintendo Switch, VR games, new friends to meet, and a whole lotta fun. No registration required.
QUEER D&D NIGHT: Wed. 9/24, 6-8pm, A fabulous night of Dungeons & Dragons and other role playing games. No experience, equipment, or registration required.
BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER : Wed. 7/30 6-8pm
Put your deduction and deception skills to work with a rousing game of “Blood on the Clocktower.” Can the townspeople stop the demon before it’s too late? Similar to the game “Mafia,” you will either be one of the faithful, innocent townsfolk working to stop the demon, or one of the evil forces picking them off one-by-one. Blood on the Clocktower is perfect for large groups, so bring all of your friends
and their admirers
are a social/service group for those that identify as men, organized to support and promote diversity, inclusion, foster positive involvement in our community, and provide opportunities which enhance the personal growth of our members, the Bear community, and the LGBT community as a whole.
Q mmunityfocus
Utah Rainbow Hikers
In early 2021, three passionate community members — ARIEL MALAN , BRETT QUADE , and CHRISTOPHER MALAN — came together to form Utah Rainbow Hikers, an LGBTQ+ inclusive hiking group aimed at creating a safer, joyful space in Utah’s great outdoors.
“Utah Rainbow Hikers was created because we wanted to create community and enjoy hiking,” said Quade. “Because of COVID, many people felt isolated, and many of the resources and programming in Utah are tailored toward therapy and support groups, but less about social community
gatherings focused on wellness and health. We hope this group continues to be where both LGBTQ+ people and our allies feel safe to enjoy the outdoors and find community.”
Every month, the group organizes hikes announced via social media. These events invite LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, and adventurers of all experience levels to meet at a local trailhead, breathe in the fresh air, and embrace a community built on acceptance and visibility, no RSVP required. A carpooling list was added to remove transportation barriers, further opening access for all who wish to participate.
After four years, the group has over 2,000 followers on Instagram and 1,000 on Facebook.
Beyond hiking, the founders have taken steps toward
meaningful change. Collaborating with the Utah Pride Center, Desert Song, and the Bureau of Land Management, they advocated for improved outdoor accessibility and safety for LGBTQ+ hikers. Their hikes are more than social outings; they’re collective affirmations. As the founders note, these trails offer “visibility, affirmation, and belonging,” and have even moved some participants to tears simply from being seen and supported in nature. Challenges remain, from systemic safety concerns to representation gaps in
outdoor spaces. Still, Utah Rainbow Hikers persist, hoping to pave the way for a future where gender identity, queer expression, or marginalized backgrounds feel safe under the open sky.
In September, Utah Rainbow Hikers will hike Yellow Fork Canyon in Herriman and do the Causey Salmon Run in Ogden. In October, the group will have a three-day weekend in Moab and hike in Canyonlands National Park. Q
Information on the group and future hikes can be found at INSTAGRAM.COM/ UTAHRAINBOWHIKERS and FACEBOOK. COM/UTAHRAINBOWHIKERS
Mindfully Gay
Recently, Mindfully Gay has emerged as an inclusive sanctuary where gay, bisexual, and transgender men gather to explore mindfulness, identity, ritual, and connection.
Founded by three practitioners, each brings unique expertise and vision.
JERRY BUIE , MSW, longtime LGBTQ+ mental health advocate and owner of Utah’s first openly affirming therapy practice Pride Counseling, described Mindfully Gay as “a nurturing space where gay men come together to explore, discuss, appreciate, and celebrate their identities in intimate and supportive settings.”
JOHN COTTRELL , PhD, a clinical psychologist turned yoga therapist, blends body, mind, and spirit in his work.
NICK WALTON , a certified nutritionist, emphasizes evidence-based, budget-conscious nutritional practices tailored to everyday life, inviting sustainable health approaches into the group. Together, the three leaders say they “harness the transformative power that arises when queer men unite to heal themselves, their community, and the world,” through ritual, movement, and mindful practices rooted in spirit and identity.
Mindfully Gay’s evolving calendar spans lighthearted gatherings to deeply spiritual experiences. On August 16, participants were invited to join a Native American-style sweat lodge and pipe ceremony, offering ritualized connection and internal reflection. The group is also preparing for its next major event, a weekend
retreat titled “Drop the Mask. Embrace the Magic. Be Seen, Heard, and Held.” The retreat, scheduled for September 19–21, will take place in Sandy, Utah.
Priced at $300, it promises yoga, sound healing, sharing circles, rituals, a sweat lodge, and communal living at a private residence. Earlier this year, Mindfully Gay hosted “Building Community: A Retreat for Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Men” from May 2–4, combining yoga, sound healing, rituals, and sharing circles. Beyond these large retreats, the group also organizes inclusive social events, ranging from movie nights and meditation sessions to baking parties and group hikes.
Mindfully Gay stands out for its holistic and affirming approach. Anchored by a therapist, yoga psychologist, and nutritionist, the group integrates mind-body-spirit practices while creating a safe and supportive environment. By blending rituals such as sweat lodges and ceremonial circles with modern practices like yoga, breathwork, and mindful nutrition, the group bridges spirituality and wellness in uniquely accessible ways. At the same time, it balances deeper practices with playful opportunities for connection, ensuring members can both heal and celebrate together.
With events in development year-round, from ritual ceremonies to immersive retreats, Mindfully Gay continues crafting spaces where queer men in Utah can feel seen, heard, and deeply held. More information can be found on their website, MINDFULLYGAY.COM
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The Salt Lick: weekly queer country dance night
WEDNESDAYS · 7–10 P.M.
MILK+, 49 E 900 S, Salt Lake City
Kick up your boots and join The Salt Lick, a weekly QUEER COUNTRY DANCE NIGHT at MILK+. Each week features lessons in the two-step and three classic line dances—no experience required. Just bring your boots (or sneakers), a little yeehaw energy, and get ready for a night of country moves and community connection.
Whether you’re rolling in with friends or showing up solo, you’ll find good music, good moves, and good people. And the best part it’s free!
RSVP: LINKTR.EE/THESALTLICK
Queer Latin Nights
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 8 PM
Metro Music Hall | 615 W 100 S
Get ready, Salt Lake City a brand-new dance tradition is here! QUEER LATIN NIGHTS is launching with a celebration full of music, movement, and community. The evening begins with an all-levels Bachata Fusion class, welcoming dancers of every background and experience level. No partner? No problem. This is a come-as-you-are space designed to uplift queer joy and connection through dance.
After the class, the floor opens up for social dancing until close with an irresistible mix of Bachata, Salsa, Cumbia, and Reggaeton curated by local queer and POC favorites DJ Rue and DJ Causita. More than just a party, Queer Latin Nights is a sapphic-powered space reclaiming Latin dance traditions for the LGBTQ+ community, blending rhythm, culture, and pride into one unforgettable night.
Come be part of the movement, celebrate community, and make your mark on the dance floor.
Info and tickets at LINKTR.EE/SLCQUEERLATINDANCE
Davis County Pride to present Spencer Sanders, ‘The Road to Heal’ fundraiser
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2025 – 7 P.M. Syracuse, Utah (Garden Venue – address provided to ticket holders)
Join Davis County Pride for The Road to Heal, a magical evening featuring Salt Lake City singer-songwriter SPENCER SANDERS Known for his emotive folk-pop and genre-blurring soundscapes, Spencer draws from his experiences as a queer man living with bipolar disorder to create music that is deeply personal, universally resonant, and unforgettable.
The concert will take place in the serene garden of Davis County Pride board members Colleen and Jolene Mewing. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket, enjoy sunset views, and share a bottle of wine if desired. Street parking is limited; exact details and the address will be sent to ticket holders three days before the show.
This fundraiser aims to support Davis County Pride’s year-round programs, including the creation of a pop-up Pride Center for the local LGBTQ+ community. Help them raise $4,000 to expand these vital services while enjoying an evening of music, community, and connection.
Tickets & info: GIVEBUTTER.COM/0KZBYL
Learn more about Spencer Sanders: SPENCERSANDERS.COM
BIPOC mental health cabaret fundraiser: Love as Liberation
Presented by Utah Center for Evidence-Based Treatment
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
7–9:30 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.)
West Valley Performing Arts Center, 3333 Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City Celebrate music, joy, and community while supporting mental health advocacy at the 2nd Annual UTAH BROADWAY CABARET
This year’s theme, Love as Liberation, honors Suicide Prevention Month and raises funds for BIPOC mental health initiatives in Utah. Enjoy an evening of incredible performances from local talent while helping empower communities.
Proceeds will benefit: GK Folks Founda-
tion – Empowering African immigrants and refugees with advocacy and access to mental health resources; The Nuanua Collective – A social support group for LGBTQ+ Pacific Islanders in Salt Lake City; and Be Better Utah BIPOC Scholarships – Supporting diversity in the mental health profession.
Tickets: Adults $24.50 | Children $15 at UCEBT.COM/CABARET
Get ready, Salt Lake City, KORNBREAD “THE SNACK” JETÉ from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 is serving up a night of fierce drag, laughs, and high-energy performances! Hosted by Kay Bye, the evening features an all-star lineup including Veronika Davil, Liam Manchesthair, Sophia Azul, Divina 2.0, Willie Touchya, Cvntcealed Carrie, and Kawaii Kiki Blink, with beats by DJ Justin Hollister.
Tickets: General Admission: $26.04, Meet & Greet + GA: $43.22 (includes photo op, exclusive laminate, and event entry); Booth Reservation: $116.14 (seats 6; admission tickets sold separately) 24TIX.COM
Freedom to Flag drag & burlesque show
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Doors at 8 p.m. | Show at 9 p.m.
The Pearl on Main, 7711 S. Main St, Mdvl 21+ | Bring cash for tipping Madazon & TDC present FREEDOM TO FLAG, a one-night-only drag and burlesque experience blending education and performance. Dive into queer history and kink culture with lessons on the classic hanky code, each flag brought to life on stage through high-impact, custom acts. It’s drag, burlesque, kink education, and queer history rolled into one unforgettable night.
Dress to impress. Hankies encouraged, but never required.
Tickets: $41.10 Advance, $46.74 Day of
Show, $46.74 VIP Presale, $52.39 VIP Day of Show at THEPEARLONMAIN.COM
Sasha Colby: Stripped II
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 8PM
The Depot, 13 N 400 W, Salt Lake City Experience an unforgettable evening with Sasha Colby, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 and the prestigious 2012 Miss Continental title. Known for her captivating performances and groundbreaking artistry, Sasha brings her acclaimed show Stripped II to Salt Lake City for one night only.
Tickets: $45.40 at DEPOTSLC.COM
Hairy Situation: A Comedy Show by ALOK
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1
Showtimes: 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Wiseguys Comedy Club, 194 S. 400 West ALOK (they/them) is an internationally acclaimed poet, comedian, public speaker, and actor whose work explores themes of gender, identity, and belonging. With celebrated books such as Beyond the Gender Binary, Femme in Public, and Your Wound, My Garden, ALOK has captivated audiences worldwide, performing in more than 40 countries. Their comedy special Biology! was executive produced by Christopher Guest, and they have appeared on HBO’s Sex Lives of College Girls, Hulu’s Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne, and Netflix’s Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness.
Don’t miss this chance to see ALOK live in Salt Lake City, bringing their sharp wit, heartfelt humor, and unapologetic truth to the Wiseguys stage.
Tickets: $35 at WISEGUYSCOMEDY.COM
Berryman Institute hosts conversation about being Gay at BYU in the 70s
The Mildred Berryman Institute for LGBTIQ+ Utah History will present Gay at BYU in the 1970s: A Conversation with Loreen Major & Dale Miller on Thursday, August 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Signature Books, 508 W. 400 North in Salt Lake City. The discussion will also be available via Zoom.
The event will feature two former Brigham Young University students sharing their personal stories of navigating the campus’s academic, religious, and social pressures as queer students during an era when institutionalized shame and repression were the norm. Historian and Berryman Institute Chair Connell O’Donovan will lead the structured conversation.
Major, a California native, attended BYU from 1975–79, earning a BS in Educational Psychology with a focus on Special Education. She taught K–12 for 33 years and is one of the first women in a same-sex couple to legally marry in Utah. She is the mother of two and now lives in Lehi.
Miller, who grew up in a small town in East Texas, came to BYU in January 1973 after joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Drawn by the school’s nationally recognized dance program and low tuition, he soon discovered that both BYU and broader society tolerated gay people only if they stayed hidden.
Organizers say the evening will shine a light on lived history often left unspoken, adding to a fuller understanding of Utah’s recent LGBTIQ+ past. Seniors Out And Proud (Utah) is sponsoring the panelists’ honoraria.
For those unable to attend in person, the Zoom link is available at UTAH.ZOOM. US/J/99857636037. Past lectures can be viewed on the Berryman Institute’s YouTube channel or its Lecture Series webpage, or MILDREDBERRYMANINSTITUTE.ORG
WORDS EXPRESS HOW IT FEELS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE...
JOIN US EACH THURSDAY!
First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City
777 S. 1300 E., 6:45pm NO AUDITION REQUIRED
Recent events: Snowshoeing, Bingo, Valentines Pot Luck & Dance, Movie Night, Walking Groups, Theater groups
JOIN OUR GROUP OF ACTIVE OUT SENIORS
Our Vision is to reduce social isolation and loneliness, improve the health and well-being of older adults and to empower them to lead meaningful and connected lives in which they are engaged and participating in the community.
Our Mission is to reimagine aging by empowering older adults to live life to the fullest potential guided by these five pillars:
• Cherish the Journey
• Encourage the Body
• Inspire the Mind
• Nurture the Spirit
• Empower the Future
Find us at SeniorsOutAndProudUtah.org and Facebook.com/SOAPUtah
Utah LGBTQ+ Economic Summit & Expo returns with business awards, job fair, resources for growth
The Utah LGBTQ+ Economic Summit & Expo is set to return Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, bringing together LGBTQ+ and allied business owners, professionals, and job seekers for a day focused on economic empowerment, networking, and inclusion.
Held at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the annual event is hosted by the Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce and is expected to draw hundreds of participants from across the state.
The day kicks off with an Awards Luncheon and Keynote from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., where the Chamber will recognize standout LGBTQ+ and allied businesses with its 2025 Business of the Year awards. Nominations are currently open through Aug. 22. A keynote speaker is ex-
pected to be announced soon.
Following the luncheon, the Expo, Market & Job Fair will run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., offering a mix of business development resources, vendor booths, and employment opportunities. Attendees can expect access to expert-led sessions on growing and maintaining a business, networking with industry peers, and learning about certification as an LGBT Business Enterprise (LGBTBE)—a program of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce that can connect LGBTQowned businesses to supplier diversity opportunities.
The Summit is part of the Chamber’s ongoing effort to support economic resilience and inclusion for Utah’s LGBTQ+ community.
Registration and more information is available at UTAHLGBTQCHAMBER.ORG
Matrons of Mayhem drag bingo to raise funds for NUSAFE in September
A lively evening of drag, bingo, and family-friendly fun is set to support a local animal rescue nonprofit next month. The Matrons of Mayhem will host their next Drag Bingo night on Friday, August 15, at First Baptist Church, located at 777 S 1300 E in Salt Lake City. Proceeds from the event will benefit Northern Utah Sexual Assault and Forensic Examiners, whose mission is to provide free of charge, personalized, trauma-informed, forensic medical assessments for adolescent and adult victims of sexual assault, domestic/ interpersonal violence with strangulation for the residents of Weber, Davis, Morgan, Box Elder, Cache, and Rich counties. Learn more at: NUSAFE.ORG Doors open at 6:00 p.m.,
with bingo starting around 7:00 p.m. and continuing until about 9:00 p.m. Admission is $5 per bingo card, covering seven rounds of play. Additional fundraising options include “Party Foul Insurance” and the “Flamingo Hat of Shame,” each priced at $5. For $50, attendees can nominate a friend for a lighthearted “Drag-in-a-Bag” makeover during intermission.
The evening will also feature kitchen concessions of hot dogs, nachos, pretzels, and soft drinks for purchase. The event is alcohol-free and ATM-free, so guests are encouraged to bring small bills. The event is open to all ages. Matrons of Mayhem at FACEBOOK. COM/MATRONSOFMAYHEM
Thethe perils of petunia pap smear
The tale of a Goofy bratwurst
BY PETUNIA PAP SMEAR
road
home from Florida is fraught with danger and excitement.
At last, our Caribbean cruise was finished, and it was time to fly back from Orlando. It just so happened that we had nine hours to kill while we waited for our flight back to Utah. One intrepid member of our group had the bright idea that, rather than spending nine torturous hours in the airport, we could relax by the pool at Club Orlando, a “gentlemen’s club.” What a scathingly brilliant idea, we all exclaimed! Subsequently, we arrived at the club with all our luggage in tow. Gratefully, the hunky young man at the desk allowed us to bring all our luggage inside with us. I was the last member of our group to check in, and by the time I had slogged all of my luggage and Queerteeny, my mobility scooter, through the door, my companions had all disappeared into the deepest darkest recesses of the club. I contemplated just napping in my room for the day, but the loud thump, thump, thump of the house music distracted me, and then I thought, “What the heck, I can just cruise the hallways on Queerteeny.” So, I changed into a large, beach-sized towel, big enough for a whale, mounted Queerteeny and sped off down the maze of very dimly lit hallways, to see ‘the sights’ of Orlando. Oh, the thrill! Out of courtesy for the other patrons, I elected not to turn on Queerteeny’s headlight. I figured that the glow from my lily-white body would be enough to warn anyone I was approaching. I carefully negotiated the narrow dark hallways, deftly dodging the other scantily clad hunky patrons. After I had made about three full rounds of the maze, my confidence began to grow, and I picked up my pace. The place was indeed full of beautiful, scantily clad, off-duty Disney World workers. I most likely was driving too fast for the dark conditions. When
I sped around a very sharp corner in near blackness, I abruptly collided with something, and I heard a loud oomph as Queerteeny came to a sudden halt! I turned on the headlight so that I could see what damage I might have done. There, in the glare of the beam of light, pinned up against the wall, was the most beautiful man I have ever seen. His towel had been knocked to the floor by the impact; thus, he was totally in the buff, and his substantial bratwurst was at full attention. You know in the movie “A Christmas Story” when everyone tells Ralphy that he’ll shoot his eye out with the BB gun, well, the same sentiment could have applied to me. “You’ll get your eye poked out,” if you ride that scooter speeding through a bathhouse. I begged the beautiful man for forgiveness. Luckily for me, he had only been startled rather than injured. He ended up inviting me to join him in the swimming pool for a refreshing soak. Turns out, he told me that he works at Disney World as Goofy, and he regaled me with stories of weird interactions with kids at the theme park that were even more bizarre than being hit by a drag queen on a scooter in a bathhouse.
After several delightful hours of relaxation, it was time to go to the airport. We called an Uber. Trying to load all the luggage plus Queerteeny into the van was like playing a game of Giant Tetris. We had to load and unload the entire mess at least three times before it would all fit in. This took up valuable time. We needed to hurry. But to my dismay, there was extremely heavy, standstill traffic on the way to the airport. I could see the clock ticking. My anxiety began to grow. We finally got to the airport about thirty minutes before takeoff.
I’m not a well-seasoned traveler, thus when it comes time to check in at airport security, I am clueless. We got caught in
a long line of people. I worried that we would never make the flight. I thought that since I was on the scooter, there might be a separate line for gimps. So, I drove the scooter right up to a counter, and the attendant began to help me. After I got through, others in our group pointed out that I had jumped the line ahead of about a hundred other passengers. Apparently, when you act confidently that you are allowed to do something, and you have a scooter, so it looks like you are an invalid, the crowd won’t kill you when you jump the line. The clerk radioed the plane to tell them to expect a latecomer on a scooter. I sped as fast as Queerteeny could go, while my accomplices sprinted behind. I may have ‘bumped’ several Mickey Mouse ears-wearing kids in the process. I screamed “sorry” as I sped past. We arrived at the plane just as they were preparing to close the door. The flight attendant remarked to me that she was surprised that we made it.
As I settled back in my seat and the plane took off, I began to relax a little from the harrowing romp through the Orlando airport, and I began to doze and dream about Goofy and ‘bratwurst’.
This story leaves us with several important questions:
1. Should I install emergency hazard lights on Queerteeny for dark hallway situations?
2. Should I mount a large soft squishy dildo to the front of Queerteeny for any possible future bathhouse collisions?
3. Just how fast would I need to be going for a ‘bratwurst’ to poke my eye out?
4. How would I explain to the EMTs how my eye got injured?
These and other eternal questions will be answered in future chapters of The Perils of Petunia Pap Smear.
