Following rally in St. George against transgender bathroom bill, governor signs it into law

Written by Chris Reed
January 30, 2024

ST. GEORGE — On an unseasonably warm day on the campus of Utah Tech University, a group of 70-100 people gathered at noon Tuesday at Gardner Plaza to share what they said was a love for each other and a dislike for a new bill just passed by the Utah Legislature and on the desk of Gov. Spencer Cox. 

Attendees hold up signs during a rally at Utah Tech’s Gardner Plaza in support of transgender individuals and against a passed Utah bill that would regulate how they can use public bathrooms, St. George, Utah, Jan. 30, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

With spoken word and music, organizers of the “I’ll Go With You” said the event had three purposes: To provide a safe and inclusive space for transexual individuals, raise awareness about what they said was the discrimination and violence they face and urge the governor to veto the sex-based designations for privacy, anti-bullying, and women’s opportunities bill, designated as HB 257, which was passed by both houses of the Utah legislature last week.

One of those three purposes was rendered moot about four hours after the rally ended when Cox signed HB 257 into law around 6 p.m.

“We want public facilities that are safe and accommodating for everyone and this bill increases privacy protections for all,” Cox said in a statement.

Along with establishing designations for what are a man and a woman that don’t include transgender individuals’ gender identity and codifying Title IX into state law, the new law bans transgender individuals from entering a public restroom or locker room in the state unless it is the gender of their birth, or they have proof of gender reassignment surgery and that gender on their birth certificate.  

“We are trying to say to our queer family and trans family here that we love you and that we are here standing with you and we will go with you if you are afraid, and we are so happy that you are here,” said Utah Tech student Benji Welch, who organized the event over the weekend.

They said the bill, which supporters say is designed to make all people feel more safe in public restrooms, will make transgender individuals feel less safe.

“The bill is definitely making safe spaces more important,” Welch, who identifies as non-binary, said. “I do have a lot of friends out there who are extremely nervous and are feeling terrified. So I am working to lift them up and to really support them in this time and hoping that the governor takes into mind the people that can be hurt by this bill and considers making the right decision.”

Organizer Benji Welch speaks at a rally at Utah Tech’s Gardner Plaza in support of transgender individuals and against a passed Utah bill that would regulate how they can use public bathrooms, St. George, Utah, Jan. 30, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

While many on hand were students, the event also drew older residents from throughout the community who said they may not identify as LGBTQ but were either an ally or had a family member affected by the new legislation. That included St. George City Council member Dannielle Larkin.

“I have both non-binary and transgender friends and family. They deserve to be able to relieve their bowels in the bathroom they feel comfortable entering, without government interference,” Larkin said. “There is no evidence to suggest that allowing individuals access to the facilities that align with their gender identity increases the incidence of violence. It ostracizes transgender people if we credit the misperception that they are a threat. Worse, it takes focus away from the work we can do to keep every single one of our residents safe.”

Speakers addressed the rights of some individuals being taken away by the bill. People at the rally held up signs reading “Let me pee in peace,” “Love thy neighbor, even trans” and “Trans rights are human rights” among the waving of several transgender flags in white, light blue and pink. 

Supporters of the bill have said it is designed to make public restrooms safe for everyone and prevent what they say is either the discomfort of people who may have to see genitals of the opposite sex in their restroom or prevent assaults by what they say are either transgender people or people posing as transgender people. 

Studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Preveniton , the U.S. Department of Justice and UCLA have said there is little to no evidence of transgender individuals or those posing as transgender individuals assaulting others in public restrooms, but at least one of every four transgender teens have reported being assaulted themselves in public restrooms and locker room facilities. 

L-R: Judith Rognli and Aiden Barrick perform as the folk rock duo of The Mended Hearts during a rally at Utah Tech’s Gardner Plaza in support of transgender individuals, St. George, Utah, Jan. 30, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

Local indie-folk singer Aiden Barrick was among the musicians performing at the rally. Even though as a transgender man who has undergone gender-affirmation surgery, he can legally enter a men’s room even after the bill is passed, Barrick says the bill is making him and other transgender individuals live in fear.

“I have a fear of using the bathroom because we don’t want to be assaulted in the bathroom. It’s a very real fear,” Barrick said. “I’ll be cognizant of how much water I drink throughout my shift at work, so I don’t have to use the bathroom often. It sucks. It really sucks. I have every right to live.”

Barrick, known for being prominent in the local music scene, was performing new songs as a part of his new duo The Mended Hearts Club, with fellow musician Judith Rognli. Among the new songs performed was one called “This Town” about St. George.

Barrick grew up here but has been away for a bit, living for a time in Salt Lake City and also going on a European tour over the summer. But he said he wanted to come back because of his love for “this town” but also says he’s saddened by those here who hate him because of his gender identity. 

“The song is about how much we love it here and also how much it can be difficult as a queer person to feel fully heard, fully seen in this space,” Barrick said. “How we vent out our frustrations is usually through music.”

Standing in the crowd watching her son Barrick was Linda Stay, known locally and honored for her efforts for the local homeless population as the development director of Switchpoint. 

Linda Stay, left, development director of Switchpoint watches her son Aiden Barrick perform and other speakers during a rally at Utah Tech’s Gardner Plaza in support of transgender individuals, St. George, Utah, Jan. 30, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

Stay said while some supporters of the sex-based designations bill say being transgender is a choice, she knows as the mother of a transgender man that it is not. She added that most supporters of restricting transgender individuals’ rights may not feel the same if they actually met a transgender person.

“When people know you and they love you, they won’t vote against you when they understand you,” Stay said.

She added she is most fearful for younger transgender individuals who must have proof of surgery to be able to use the bathroom of their gender but were also banned last year from having such a surgery until they are adults. That bill is currently being battled in the federal court.  

“(My son) is 40. And I can’t imagine our youth, our teenagers having this added pressure to hide themselves, who they are. Feeling like I will never fit in this world,” Stay said. “We just had to come out and show them and show St. George and show the state of Utah that our transgender people are part of our community, and they deserve to be here. They deserve the same rights and protections as the rest of us.”

Along with mothers at the rally were sisters. 

Utah Tech student Sarah Ostler, left, holds a sign during a rally at Utah Tech’s Gardner Plaza in support of transgender individuals and against a passed Utah bill that would regulate how they can use public bathrooms, St. George, Utah, Jan. 30, 2024 | Photo by Chris Reed, St. George News

Utah Tech student Sarah Ostler said she attended the rally for her sister. She said transitioning helped bring her sister out of a deep mental health hole. And there was the danger of her joining many others who have made LGBTQ youth among the largest number in a state that has long been among the largest when it comes to teens taking their lives. 

“Her mental health was declining and it was really hard for her to find acceptance and love. It’s nice to be able to show her that love that she deserves,” said Ostler, who nevertheless fears what the new bill will do for the mental health of her sister and other transgender individuals. “She was already suicidal and I think that this would have just made her mental health even worse, which is super scary to think about.”

Ostler was holding up a sign that read,”My pal Jesus said love everyone.”

“I was raised LDS and I was taught that Jesus loves everyone,” Ostler said. “So I think that applies to everyone, including our transgender individuals.”

Check out all of St. George News’ coverage of the 2024 Utah Legislature by clicking here.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Reed serves as a reporter for St. George News, where he has been honored with several awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his work, including first-place accolades. He started his journalism career as a sports reporter and editor in Southern California where he once compared shoe sizes with Shaquille O'Neal and exchanged mix tapes with members of the Los Angeles Kings. After growing up in the San Fernando Valley learning karate skills from Mr. Miyagi and spending a decade in Las Vegas mostly avoiding the casinos, he came to St. George for love and married his soulmate, a lifetime Southern Utah resident. He is the proud father of two boys, his youngest a champion against both autism and Type 1 diabetes.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGNews

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