This Day In Gay Utah History March 16th

16 March 

1680-New Hampshire legislators passed the colony's first capital laws. Sodomy was among the crimes deemed worthy of the death penalty.

1925 Sterilization Laws of Utah It took more than a decade to adopt any sterilization law. In 1925, Utah enacted a law to cover inmates of state institutions who were afflicted with "habitual sexual criminal tendencies.  Due process guarantees were included and, unlike the 1912 report’s recommendation, the law was gender-neutral. 

1976 14  Nabbed at 1-15 Rest Stops Homosexual Suspects Arrested in Utah County by Larry Weist. Eight men were arraigned in the Pleasant Grove Precinct Justice Court Monday afternoon on charges of lewdness and sodomy stemming from alleged homosexual activity at the two rest stops on I-15 north of Orem.

Four defendants pleaded guilty to the charges three asked for trials in Orem City courts and one defendant asked for a trial in the Pleasant Grove Justice Court.

Four of the defendants are Orem residents and one each is from Provo, Springville, Logan and Cleveland in emery County. Most of the men are in their 30’s although the oldest is 50 and the youngest is 22 years old.

Two of the suspects were arrested and charged with an act of sodomy. One of them a 54 year old Salt Lake County man died of a self inflicted gunshot to the chest, two days after his arrest, according to Serge Moore, state medical examiner.

Judge Keith Anderson cleared his court of the press and public in Monday’s arraignment saying later he did so because he did not want to see the accused tried in the press.

Orem City Prosecutor Frank Butterfield indicated today that Section 78-7-3 and 4of the Utah State criminal Code says specifically that “sittings must be public” in the courts of justices of the peace with a few exceptions. None of which involve charges of homosexuality.

Mr. Anderson said e had asked Utah County Attorney Noell Wooten to research the matter for him and would allow the press and public to be present at next week’s arraignment if the law says he has to.

Investigation into homosexual activities at the rest stops was begun two months ago after the Highway Patrol office in Orem and the Sheriff’s office in Provo received complaints from tourists and other travelers about their not being able to use the toilet facilities.

It was decided at a meeting of local police chiefs to do what was necessary to clear up the situation and make the rest rooms again more available to travelers according to Sheriff Mack Holley.

Sheriff Holley said the rest stops have been plagued by people who have used them for unnatural sex acts. Property damage to the buildings has also been caused by those people, he added.

With the numerous complaints from citizens and the fact that the situation has been getting progressively worse in recent weeks, Sheriff Holley assigned several men two months ago to begin a preliminary investigation and conduct surveillance of anyone spending an inordinate amount of time at the rest stops.

One the first weekend of this month, a combined force of Sheriff officers and BYU security officers with back up assistance from Highway patrol officers made nine arrests at the two rest stops.

            Last weekend the officers arrested five additional suspects.

Sherriff Holley said the problem at the rest stops proved more extensive and widespread than at first thought. He said after a few weeks of surveillance the officers documented by name through license plates more than 100 men who frequent the rest stops and are believed to engage in homosexual activity.

            The combined force of sheriff officers and BYU officers only worked the rest stops for three nights to make a total of 14 arrests. “I’m sure there will be people who think that we must have something better for our deputies to do but the situation at the rest stops got to the point where there were so many citizen complaints that we had to do something, “ said Sheriff Holley.

The Sheriff added that law agencies always have trouble with outdoor rest stops in warm weather but are probably having trouble with the freeway rest stops because they are heated.

BYU security had reports of students being involved in homosexual activities at the rest stops and when they found out the sheriff’s office was taking action, they wanted to get involved according to the sheriff.

Highway Patrol facilities were used after the arrests for booking and photographing of the suspects.

Officers were used as decoys in the case because a recent law prohibits electronic bugging or photographing of public rest rooms. Such devices would be of little use anyway according to one detective because all signaling between the suspects was nonverbal.

The officers said they hadn’t had enough experience in this field to know all the signs and signals homosexuals use to contact each other but t5hey were able to contact more than enough suspects by just “tapping their toes” reported to be a method of signaling.

One Sheriff officer said that for every one suspect they arrested they had to let three go, “There were so many of them out there Friday night, it was like fish packed in a barrel,” he said.

Sheriff Holley said the officers have plans to continue surveillance at the rest stops and officers will be patrolling the area with the idea of reducing homosexual activity at the stops

County law enforcement officers involved agreed that the result of driving homosexuals from the rest stops will drive them to other places such as city and state parks when the weather gets warmer.The Daily Herald (Provo Utah) Page 1

1984- Sue Purcell lectured at 20 Jacob Rue in Salt Lake City on “The Feminization of Poverty.” 

Clair Harward

1986 Sunday- - Clair Harward excommunicated from the Mormon Church when he admitted St. Benedicts Hospital. He was 26 years. Funeral Services scheduled for Tuesday in Salt Lake City. “Right now I have found the peace I need and that I want,” Harward said last January. “I don’t need any organization or any person at all.  I don’t want to go looking out for any more opinions or beliefs.”  He was diagnosed or having AIDS in August 1984. Mormon Church officials in Ogden excommunicated him from that religion last year. After they learned of his Gay life style.  The Mormon Church views homosexuality as a sin in the same degree as adultery and premarital sex said Jerry Cahill, church spokesman. “The only acceptable sexual relations occur within the family between husband and wife.”  After learning he had AIDS Harward said he went to his Mormon bishop to seek spiritual guidance.  But he said Bruce Don Bowen, his lay bishop told him to give up his friends and identify his past sexual partners. Harward said it would be unethical to identify his Gay Friends “When I need my friends the most, they’re asking me to be alone.”  Church officials offered to help Harward through counseling and medical assistance. He had been hospitalized off and on since mid January.  Harward said he had been Gay since he was 17. (03/18/1986 SLTribune 2C)

• Sally Scofield, a McKay-Dee Hospital social worker, said that when she worked with her first AIDS patient, Clair Harward, three years ago, she was a bit fearful. "But as I worked with the young man, who had been excommunicated from his church and lacked family support, the fear vanished, as it did for his other caretakers," she said. Scofield said she was unable to find a nursing home from Brigham City to Salt Lake City that was willing to take the man as a patient. She said the man wouldn't let Hospice help him, but still he was afraid of dying alone. "I know I shouldn't have made the promise, but I did. I told him I wouldn't let him die alone . . . and by the will of God and a nudge, I was there when he died," she said. "He had been comatose, but when I asked him if he knew who I was, he said, "Yes." He then took my hand and gave it a squeeze and a few minutes later he was dead." [Deseret News, November 2, 1989.] 

Tony Feliz & John Butler

1986- The 3^rd meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of All latter Day Saints (the Restoration Church) in Salt Lake City, held at the Crossroads Urban Center. In attendance were David Ewing; Church historian, Ben Williams, Lamar Hamilton; conducting, Gordon B. Jones, Elder Antonio Feliz, John Butler, Bob McIntier,  and Russ Lane.  After the church service later in the evening at 7p.m. Russ Lane hosted the 3^rd meeting of Wasatch Affirmation  which had a larger turn out than the Restoration Church service. Russ Lane moved to Salt Lake City from San Jose to start an Affirmation Chapter that was in harmony with the national charter of Affirmation.  His group called themselves “the Wasatch Affirmation”. (Ben Williams Journal) 

Russ Lane 

1987-Monday-Russ Lane founder of Wasatch Affirmation interviewed on Concerning Gays and Lesbians 

1988 Wednesday. At the Beyond Stonewall planning meeting, Richard Rodriguez and Ben Barr attended to discuss workshops they wanted to hold at the retreat. None of the Lesbians I talked too about doing work shops at the retreat followed through so I am not going to push the issue of making sure the retreat is a non separatist event since I seem to be the only one wanting women at the retreat.  Eric Christensen agreed to do an ad for the Triangle. (Journal of Ben Williams)

Gordon Church

1990 STIFF SENTENCE WILL GIVE MURDERER PLENTY OF TIME TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL By Michael Morris, Staff Writer Lance Conway Wood will have ample opportunity to achieve his goal of earning a high school diploma.On Thursday, 4th District Judge Boyd L. Park guaranteed the convicted murderer plenty of study time when he sentenced him to three life terms, including two minimum mandatory terms of 10 years each. Wood escaped the death penalty Wednesday when a 12-member jury was unable to unanimously recommend that he die. On Saturday, the jury found the 22-year-old Bountiful native guilty of the murder, aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping of Gordon Ray Church on Nov. 22, 1988. Park ordered Wood to serve two consecutive terms of 10 years to life for aggravated sexual abuse and aggravated kidnapping, followed by a third life term for capital homicide. The defendant, who witnesses testified Wednesday hopes to earn his high school diploma, sat silently during sentencing while his attorney argued that the three sentences should be merged into one. Marcus Taylor argued that aggravated sexual abuse and aggravated kidnapping were merely supportive elements of the first-degree murder conviction. "I see no result other than merger," he said. "I think it's mandated by law." Not so, replied Park in rejecting Taylor's argument. He said separate aggravating circumstances, including object rape and the "exceptionally depraved" manner in which the murder was committed, elevated the killing to first-degree murder. Aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping, therefore, are separate and independent of the murder, Park said. Park had the option of ordering minimum mandatory terms of five, 10 or 15 years on the aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping charges. Taylor argued for five-year terms, while Millard County Attorney Warren Peterson, calling the torture and beating death of Church "a crime almost without description," argued for 15-year terms. Park granted Wood credit for time served since his arrest a few days after the murder, and he ordered the defendant to pay restitution for costs of Church's funeral. 

1990 JORDAN PRINCIPAL FACES TRIAL ON SEX CHARGE  A Jordan School District principal faces trial next month on a charge he fondled an undercover police officer at a Salt Lake park. Bernett L. Baldwin, 51, is charged with disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor, and will stand trial April 11 before 3rd Circuit Judge Philip Palmer. Baldwin, principal of Southland Elementary School, was issued a misdemeanor citation on Feb. 9 after an incident at Jordan Park, 1000 S. 900 West. According to a police report, a man offered to give an undercover policeman his work phone number. The man told the officer they "could meet for a sexual encounter" and then reached over and groped the officer, according to the report. Two days later, another Jordan School District principal, Edwin C. DeBoard, was arrested after offering a female vice decoy $15 for a sex act. DeBoard has since pleaded no contest. He was fined $250 and ordered to take tests for sexually transmitted diseases. Both men remain on administrative leave without pay pending a review by the school board. 

1995- Peggy E. Tingey, 34, died of AIDS, peacefully, surrounded by her family on March 16, 1995. Born July 30, 1961 in Salt Lake City to Theron and Jeanne Moss. Married William Tingey July 17, 1989. Peggy tirelessly gave of herself to AIDS education and prevention of the spread of the disease by speaking to students, educators, nurses and doctors. Peggy's family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Andy Pavai and the staff on 5 South at the University of Utah Hospital and her Home Health Care Nurse, Laurie Cohibeck.  She is preceded in death by a son, Chance W. Tingey. She is survived by her husband, Bill Tingey; daughter, Amanda E. Moss; parents, father Theron A. (Shirley), and her mother, Jeanne Moss; sisters, Jody and husband, Mel, Mary and husband, Steve, Becky, Sarah and Shannon; brother, Bob and a special friend, Kim Merritt.  Memorial services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at St. James Episcopal Church, 7486 S. Union Park Ave. Funeral Directors: Evans & Early. 03-21-95 Page: C3  She was the sister of Becky Moss. She and Cindy Kidd sued the state to overturn the prohibition of people with AIDS marrying.

1999 Youth Empowerment Project 7pm upper level at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center; 1999 Gay Men's Singles Mixer 7pm Coffee Shop at the Center      Conversation, Videos and "WILL & GRACE" bring treats

16 March 2000 Salt Lake City Oxbow Park. This was taken from the Salt Lake Tribune. "Police cracked down on a stretch of the Jordan River Parkway where men engage in homosexual trysts. In the past two weeks, police have arrested 21 men in the area of Oxbow Park. The men have been charged with lewdness or gross lewdness and must take an HIV-test before appearing in court, said South Salt Lake police Officer Darin Sweeten."

16 March 2000 The Salt Lake Tribune Page: B4 Police Crack Down on Trysts Along Jordan River Parkway BY MICHAEL VIGH   THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE    After the area appeared on a pair of alternative-lifestyle Web sites, South Salt Lake police cracked down on a  stretch of the Jordan River Parkway where men engage in homosexual trysts. In the past two weeks, police have arrested 21 men in the area of Oxbow Park, 1115 W. 3300 South. The men have been charged with lewdness or gross lewdness and must take an HIV-test before appearing in court, said South Salt Lake police Officer Darin Sweeten. The men have sex in the bushes just a few feet from where children Rollerblade, parents push strollers and people walk their dogs, Sweeten said. Undercover officers have made arrests after walking in on the encounters and after they have been propositioned. Investigators have found used contraceptives and needles along the parkway. Sweeten said the area has been known to police for several years as a place for Gay romance, but police began their crackdown after business owners and residents complained three weeks ago about increased "traffic" in the area. Many of the men -- clad in business suits and ties -- were seen milling around the area at lunch time and in the early evening. Neighbors also became concerned when they noticed the parking lots full of cars at odd hours. After one arrest, a man told police that he discovered the Gay hangout while surfing the Internet. "He told us about a couple of Web sites and we looked them [up] and they list our area -- as well as several others in Utah  -- as a place to go and engage in that activity," Sweeten said. Police have now asked the Utah Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Salt Lake City to help spread the word. Executive director Paula Wolfe said she is setting up a meeting with various police agencies and the health department to discuss the problems of public sex. But Wolfe said it is difficult for her organization to offer much help. "From my understanding, 80 to 90 percent of them would not identify themselves as homosexual, most see themselves as heterosexual," Wolfe said. Added Sweeten: "A lot of these men have wives and kids at home."

• 2003 The Salt Lake Men's Choir is joining the Global Candlelight Vigil for Peace this Sunday, March 16. Following the concert, the audience will be asked to join the vigil on the sidewalk in front of the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center at about 9:30pm. All are welcome to join. The concert is about diversity and is being sung in several languages. Two dance companies will join the choir to perform international dances. Doors open at 7pm. Vigil begins after the concert, about 9:30pm Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Reverend Robert Edgar, and other religious leaders call for candlelight vigils around the world on march 16th to say yes to peace -- and no to war with Iraq. -Michael Aaron
• 2003 Salt Lake Men's Choir Newsletter March 2003 The Us of Me Music of Diverse CulturesSalt Lake Men’s Choir spring concert Special guests Narodna International Dancers, SLCC Dance Company Sunday, March 16, 7:30pm Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center 138 West Broadway, SLC Salt Lake Men’s Choir spring concert celebrates diversity and common bonds Two dance companies, songs in twelve languages and sixty singers all  add up to what will be a fabulous evening of music and movement as the  Salt Lake Men’s Choir (SLMC) presents its spring concert. On Sunday,  March 16 in the Choir’s new home stage – the Jeanne Wagner Theatre –  the Narodna International Dancers and Salt Lake Community College  Dance Company join SLMC for “The Us of Me – Music from Diverse  Cultures.” The concert is named for one of the songs to be performed, The Us of  Me, written by David L. Brunner for the Orlando Gay Chorus in 1996. The festive work is an anthem to the common experience for all human beings, the potential in each of us and the necessity to affirm, support and nurture each other. The concert will feature more than two dozen songs, many in their native languages, and five dance performances. “Coming off of our first international ‘tour,’ this concert has a new  and special meaning to us,” said Jonathan Stowers, SLMC  president. “Joining choirs from around the world, many of which were  not from English-speaking countries, brought us closer to understanding and appreciating our differences as well as our  similarities.” “All of us are affected in some way by the many cultures on this  earth. Our being and understanding of our place in this world is  comprised of everything around us, everything that has come before us,  and we continue that thread as we touch everyone we come in contact  with.” Among the Choir's primary goals is to “build bridges of understanding and tolerance among diverse communities through music,” according to  its mission statement. The offering of this multi-cultural concert to the people of Utah extends their desire to celebrate the diversity of the world and of this community. “Many of the songs we sing have dual meanings or different messages for different ears,” explains artistic director Lane Cheney. “When one hears Nigra Sum, which translates simply to ‘I am Black,’ they are listening to a song about how we are all born of love. ‘The winter is past, the rain is over and gone, and flowers appear on the earth’ could very well speak to the hope and promise of the future." Narodna, an international dance group run by fellow Choir member Adrian Ruiz, will perform Russian and Slovakian folk dances. The Salt Lake Community College Dance Company will present an Irish step dance, modern dance, and a piece with African drums. The Us of Me Music of Diverse Cultures Salt Lake Men’s Choir spring concert Sunday, March 16, 7:30pm Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center 138 West Broadway, SLC 

Paul Canuto

2003 Hello all! I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for the great time that I had on Saturday. It was wonderful getting together and I hope that we can all come forward as a group to make a difference in our community. I also wanted to forward on my phone number so that if any of you need any kind of help from the UGRA, know that we are here! You can call anytime  Can't wait to see you again at the next meeting. Paul Cucunato President UGRA 2003 

2004  Tuesday Subject: Re: [Utah_Stonewall_History] Hitler Given Proxy LDS Baptism! Yikes! Braun and Hitler sealed Chad Keller Wrote: Having long ago discussed this with my Grand Father, a temple worker and a member of the temple presidency. A while ago lists were to be reviewed for anyone notable. Very notable names were to go to a special list. That was ten years ago, and as we know it probably is still practice. They wouldn’t want some kid running around his ward saying "I was baptized for Rudolph Valentino or Charlie Chaplin." It would have proven too embarrasing, and would have moved the practice to secret ceremony. How do you think someone decided it might be time to check on Anne Frank and the other victims of Adolf. In his older days he hated being stuck in the Baptismal, Said it was really boring to sit there all day. So then or now I really don't think those in the room may have recognized at the speed they crank them out that some one just offered eternal salvation and to come to the Mormon version of Christ. After all Pollyanna of Harrington....aka Glad Town, would probably believe that Adolf Hitler was just a name made bad by someone else. 

Buckley Jeppson and Mike Kessler

2006 Thursday Mormon may be disciplined for gay marriage By Jennifer Dobner The Associated Press Salt Lake Tribune A gay man who is a lifetime member of the Mormon church could be facing disciplinary action and excommunication after legally marrying his partner in Canada. Buckley Jeppson, 57, said he's been informed verbally by a senior church leader that his life is incompatible with the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that a disciplinary council will address the matter. Jeppson, of Washington, D.C., married Mike Kessler in Toronto on Aug. 27, 2004. It is believed that if Jeppson is excommunicated, it would be the first time a Mormon in a legal, same-sex marriage was punished by the church, said Olin Thomas, executive director of Affirmation, an advocacy and education group for gay Mormons. Jeppson said that over the past five months Nolan Archibald, the senior leader - or president - of a group of Mormon congregations in the Washington area, has encouraged Jeppson to resign his church membership, which would avoid disciplinary action. Jeppson is unwilling to do that. ''It's not going to be my choice to deny my heritage and my faith,'' Jeppson said in a telephone interview from his home. Contacted by The Associated Press, Archibald declined specific comment, saying he has a sacred duty to keep matters involving church members confidential. ''I would like to say, it's a total misrepresentation of the conversation we had,'' Archibald said. The Mormon church only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman, Salt Lake City-based church spokeswoman Kim Farah said. Where other forms of marriage are legal, only those in heterosexual marriages could be members of the church, she said. Baptized church members promise to live the principles of the Gospel, Farah said. 

Michael Picardi

2006 Dear Friends, Please go to the following link to sign the petition to oppose Larry H. Miller's Keynote: On Friday, April 21st, Larry H. Miller has been invited to give a keynote address during the annual "Discover U Days" celebration. We, the undersigned, feel that this invitation is a direct violation of the University of Utah's mission statement, which states that "the University is fully committed to the goals of equal opportunity and affirmative action, which are designed to ensure that each individual be provided with the opportunity for full, unhampered, and responsible participation in every aspect of campus life." Recently, Mr. Miller's outspoken homophobia and blatant bigotry have received national press. He has unapologetically alienated a vibrant, important part of our campus community: our faculty, our students, and our staff. By extending Mr. Miller this opportunity, the University of Utah is condoning the use of hate speech and insidious tactics of segregation. We believe that institutions of higher education, most especially those dedicated to ideals of equal opportunity, must take a stand against all forms of prejudice and hate. We request that the University of Utah rescind this thoughtless invitation and issue a formal statement of apology to members of the LGBTQ population and their many allies- Michael Picardi 

Tim Keller 

2006 Tim Keller wrote: Hi Ben, Sorry we haven’t connected this week. You're as hard to reach as I am.  Anyway, here is the retreat schedule. You are welcome to attend all or just the part you're presenting. Which will be Saturday from 5PM to 730 P. Gay Identity and Getting Involved: What being gay means to us, helping hands, where we came from and where we're going and why it matters. Friday March 31 4 PM till 6 PM Check In 6 PM till 7:30 PM Dinner and Icebreaker 7:30 PM till 9:30 PM Sexuality and Safe Sex with Courtney and Tim 9:30 PM On Free Time Saturday April 1 9 AM till 10:30 AM  Yoga with John 10:30 AM till 11:30  Breakfast and Physical Fitness Talk 11:30 AM till 1 PM Self Defense with Tim 1 PM till 2 PM Lunch 2 PM till 3 PM Safety Discussion 5 PM till 7:30 PM  Getting involved (Political and the Gay Identity) with Ben Williams 7:30 PM till 8:30 PM Dinner 8:30 PM on Free Time Sunday April 2 9 AM till 10 AM Breakfast 10 AM till 11:30 AM Relationships 11:30 AM till 1 PM Closing Wrap up with Tom Prices:  $20 Students  $25 Non-Students $5 Discount if RSVP'd by Monday March 20^th 

2006 McDonough, Ted "Paper War — Is Salt Lake City gay enough for two biweekly gay newspapers?". Salt Lake City Weekly. 2006-03-16. Retrieved on 2007-01-17.

Bruce Harmon

2011 Bruce Harmon, long time activist and fund raiser for the LGBT community died March 16 in Oroville, Calif. at the age of 60 from a massive heart attack. He had a civil union with his partner Rev. Bruce Barton of 34 years. They have one son, Troy. Harmon was involved in all aspects of the gay community here in Utah. His partner was the pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church and through their efforts they managed to buy the first public property owned by the gay community.  He was also heavily involved in the charity work of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire serving as a Prince Royale and Emperor XV of that organization. Harmon served on numerous boards of gay and non-gay non-profit organizations including the Utah Memorial AIDS Quilt, Utah AIDS Foundation and the Utah Stonewall Center. Harmon might be best remembered for creating and chairing the annual Gay Pride Day Parade in 1993. His partner Rev. Bruce created and nearly single-handedly sewed the 300-foot long Pride Flag that is often a staple of the parade. In 1995 he received the highest honor our community can bestow, the Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award, for exactly that – community service. Harmon once described himself stating “I am one of the real nice guys in the world. I’m easy going and it takes a lot to get me irritated. I’m a very passionate person and when I get involved in something, there is generally no stopping me.”

Sophia Hawes

2014 City Weekly Sophia Hawes Wants To Be Utah's First Transgender Legislator by Eric S. Peterson If elected to replace outgoing Democratic House member Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Salt Lake City, Sophia Hawes could make history for her community and for Utah. After a legislative session where a non-discrimination bill for LGBT Utahns was not even heard once on the hill, Hawes would not only put a face to Utah's trans community but could also share her own story of workplace discrimination. As City Weekly previously reported, in 2011 Hawes underwent male-to-female gender reassignment surgery and fought for partial coverage from SelectHealth. Not only did her insurance deny the coverage but SelectHealth went back over her file and denied coverage for unrelated treatments she had before her surgery including a test for a blood disorder she's had all her life. Hawes moved on from her fight for coverage to becoming a fighter for her community, joining the Transgender Advocates of Utah in March 2013 as a Volunteer Coordinator. Now Hawes has her eyes set on the Legislature to represent House District 40, a reliably democratic district covering parts of Taylorsville and Holladay. Hawes hopes that her presence on the hill can make lawmakers more empathetic to LGBT Utahns but also show them that's not her only issue. “  What it should do is break up stereotypes,” Hawes says. “People should also say 'here is someone who is conscientious and is active about things that affect all Utahns.'” But Hawes admits equality affects everyone and she could fight that battle better than most on the hill. Hawes would also definitely shatter some pre-conceived notions about a trans person. While her resume includes more than 20 years as a software engineer and her recent work as a community advocate, she's also a veteran of the United States Navy having served from 1989 to 1993. At the end of her service she worked on a ship that patrolled the waters off Mexico and South and Central America coordinating drug seizures and monitoring air traffic to track down smugglers. She recalls in some instances the ship would pull into unsecured ports where her and her crew mates had been warned of security threats that caused Hawes to conduct her rounds on the vessel with a firearm at her side. “It was a scary time,” Hawes says. As for the battle ahead, Hawes is focusing her platform equality, air-quality, healthcare--especially mental health services--and championing for more domestic violence support and prevention programming for battered women. She recognizes she has an uphill battle when she goes to the Democratic caucus on March 18 since her opponent is Justin Miller. Miller is not only the precinct chair for the District, but has also worked on Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams' campaign and currently works for him as an Associate Deputy Mayor. For Hawes, winning will mean convincing delegates, especially ones concerned about equality, that more can be done if they support the right voice for their values. “Watching this last session I realized that we need some Democrats who will fight for what needs to be done,” Hawes says. Salt Lake County's Democratic Neighborhood Caucus Night is Tuesday, March 18, at 6:30 p.m. Visit SLCountyDems.com to find your caucus location.