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Sen. Dan Thatcher says he ‘fine’ after impassioned Utah Senate floor debate about gender-affirming care

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Sen. Dan Thatcher says he ‘fine’ after impassioned Utah Senate floor debate about gender-affirming care


Thatcher, who’s had a number of strokes since November, appeared to have a medical emergency throughout a debate about whether or not to ban medical doctors for prescribing gender-affirming care to transgender minors.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah state Sen. Daniel Thatcher, left, R-West Valley Metropolis, on the opening day of the Legislative session, on Tuesday. Thatcher informed The Salt Lake Tribune that he needed to take a second to decrease his coronary heart price after showing to have a medical difficulty on the Senate flooring on Jan. 19, 2023.

The Utah Senate was disrupted for a short while on Thursday morning throughout an emotional and contentious debate on a invoice to ban prescribing gender-affirming look after minors who’re transgender.

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Lawmakers rushed to take care of Sen. Daniel Thatcher who appeared to undergo from a medical difficulty. Happily, Thatcher says, the incident was not as critical as it might have first appeared.

“I needed to sit down and take a while to convey my coronary heart price down,” Thatcher mentioned throughout a cellphone name with The Salt Lake Tribune.

The West Valley Metropolis Republican, who has suffered a number of strokes since November, mentioned his coronary heart price jumped into probably harmful territory as he spoke in opposition to the laws, which he believes places transgender youth in danger.

“I sat down, and all people rushed over to see if I used to be okay. I informed them I’m tremendous, simply attempting to convey my coronary heart price down,” Thatcher mentioned.

Right here’s what led as much as the incident on the Senate flooring Thursday:

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Senate Invoice 16 from Sen. Mike Kennedy, R-Alpine, was up for the primary of two flooring debates after successful approval in a Senate committee the day earlier than. Amongst different issues, the laws bars medical doctors from prescribing hormone remedy, reminiscent of puberty blockers to minors who’re transgender. It additionally prohibits body-altering surgical procedures for transgender youth.

Thatcher, who opposed final 12 months’s laws looking for to ban transgender athletes from taking part in youth sports activities, warned his colleagues he could not be capable of proceed due to his well being points and needed to make sure he can be recorded as a “no” vote on the invoice. He then informed his colleagues of a “near-death expertise” that occurred throughout one in every of his strokes.

“I don’t care what your non secular beliefs are. I don’t care if you happen to suppose I’m loopy. I don’t care if you happen to suppose it was a hallucination of a thoughts with out correct blood circulate. I confronted judgement, and I felt worthy. And I don’t suppose I’d really feel worthy if I didn’t stand and converse proper now,” Thatcher mentioned, his voice hesitating and breaking at factors.

Kennedy instantly jumped as much as object to Thatcher’s remarks.

“To impune, the worthiness of those who could vote a method or one other on that is past the pale of appropriateness. Anyone who votes for this invoice will not be worthy to face in entrance of God — that’s the kind of factor I discover solely inappropriate. We should always speak about coverage, not God’s judgment on our coverage,” Kennedy mentioned.

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“If you happen to can converse for God, that’s fairly spectacular,” a clearly irked Kennedy added.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, warned Thatcher to maintain his feedback associated to the invoice. Thatcher mentioned he was talking solely about himself, then continued.

“If you happen to vote ‘no’ on this, there are individuals within the Fb outrage machine that can name you ‘woke’ and name you names. However, frankly, they’re calling Sen. (Daniel) McCay that for working a flag invoice,” Thatcher mentioned.

The Senate superior the invoice on a 22-7 vote with Thatcher becoming a member of the six Democrats in voting in opposition to the invoice.

The Senate is predicted to present remaining approval to the laws on Friday earlier than being despatched to the Utah Home.

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This story is breaking and shall be up to date all through the day.



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Avian flu affecting Utah turkey facilities, UDAF confirms

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Avian flu affecting Utah turkey facilities, UDAF confirms


TAYLORSVILLE — Four new cases of avian flu outbreaks have been reported in Utah, affecting three Piute County turkey facilities, the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food said in a press release.

“Between November 10 to 19, 2024, three turkey farms in Piute County totaling 107,800 turkeys and one backyard flock of 253 birds in Salt Lake County were confirmed positive for HPAI,” the department said. “Though the overall risk to public health remains low, HPAI is a serious disease, requiring rapid response, including depopulation of affected flocks as it is highly contagious and fatal to poultry.”

There are currently five poultry farms in Utah under quarantine, according to the department.

In the backyard flock because it’s so deadly, all but 33 birds died. All the turkeys are being depopulated because it’s highly contagious,” said Caroline Hargraves with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.

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Officials said affected birds were depopulated within 24 hours of the reported outbreaks, and that impacts on food supply are expected to be limited.

“State and federal personnel are on-site to ensure all requirements for disinfection and proper disposal are followed,” the department said.

Officials said that poultry owners should “practice strong biosecurity and monitor flocks for signs of illness.”

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food asked poultry owners to report sick birds to the State Veterinarian’s Office at statevet@utah.gov. They also said that people interacting with sick birds should take special precautions including using personal protective equipment.

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Voices: Utah’s LGBTQ+ community has faced adversity before. We can do it again.

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Voices: Utah’s LGBTQ+ community has faced adversity before. We can do it again.


Displayed at the Utah Pride Center is a quilt panel honoring Michael Spence, also known as the drag queen Tracy Ross. This display helped me connect the recent news of Donald Trump’s reelection with a reminder of a past defined by marginalization and a future where hard-won rights are again at risk.

During his first term, the Trump administration worked to undermine LGBTQ+ protections. I fear a second Trump administration will roll back rights for LGBTQ+ citizens, particularly for transgender individuals.

But we have been here before. By the 1980s, few states recognized hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals. Homosexuality — or sodomy — was criminalized, and many states enacted policies to block lesbian and gay educators from public schools or discussing their private lives at work. Protections in housing and employment in Utah were only won in 2015.

Today, we face a similar fight, though we now have the historical context and resources to help us resist.

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Reflecting on Michael Spence’s life and legacy led me back to Utah’s response during the AIDS crisis. Utah did not begin recording cases of HIV/AIDS until 1983 with Robert Michael Painter and one other person. After about six years of deflecting the problem, President Ronald Reagan helped Congress pass its first substantive federal funding with the AIDS Service Demonstration Grants — of which Utah received $6.4 million for research — and then with the CARE Act, named after Ryan White in 1990. While much of the nation exhorted condemnations and cautionary tales about AIDS, I have found no comments on the epidemic from Governors Scott Matheson or Norman Bangerter. Meanwhile, Utah Bureau of Epidemiology Director Craig Nichols refused to connect advocacy groups considered to be too centered on gay and lesbian rights with federal grant funds. Utahns with AIDS were left on their own and could only rely on the state to count them as a statistic to report.

The lack of government support galvanized Utah’s lesbian and gay community to step up to meet the crisis. In 1985, Dr. Patty Reagan founded the Salt Lake AIDS Foundation (now the Utah AIDS Foundation). Other groups, like the People With AIDS Coalition; AIDS Project Utah; Gay and Lesbian Community Center and Clinic; and ACT-UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) worked to support and educate the public. Tensions often rose between leaders and volunteers, with overlapping missions and limited resources, thus creating friction. Yet, the efforts of activists like Dave Sharpton and Sheldon Spears, mobilized a community determined to survive. Sharpton, along with others, founded Horizon House, a sanctuary for those with HIV/AIDS who had nowhere else to go.

Utah’s first public memorial event was a 1989 candlelight vigil that began at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral and passed Temple Square before ending at the Salt Palace, where an enormous section of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt was displayed. Religious and civic leaders joined this event, marking a significant moment of public solidarity and inspiring the first Pride march two years later. Another vigil, in 1990, took place in Memory Grove, where hundreds gathered to honor lives lost. These memorials provided a rare, public space for grieving and solidarity amid the ongoing crisis and the humanization of public health statistics. Now annual fundraisers, marathons and walk-a-thons are held across the state.

In my research, I have so far found names for only 366 Utahns who died from AIDS — many who were born and raised in Utah, but were far from home in their last days. Today, the AIDS Memorial Quilt remains a testament to lives cut short and our chosen community’s resilience, standing as both a memorial and a reminder of how far we’ve come.

In the face of a familiar future, I recall the strength that Utah’s lesbian and gay community displayed during the AIDS crisis. While we have come a long way, the familiar challenges ahead require a unified response. Utah’s LGBTQ+ community now has more tools than ever: social media, massive fundraising resources and effective grassroots organizing. The COVID-19 pandemic also strengthened our sense of community and readiness.

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As an historian of LGBTQ+ Utah, I am inspired by the strength, unity and resilience that our community has shown throughout history. We have confronted adversity before, from organizing during the AIDS crisis to advocating for marriage equality and nondiscrimination protections — and we can do it again.

Randell Hoffman (he/they) is a historian, preservationist and quilter committed to making history accessible and relevant to diverse communities.

Randell Hoffman (he/they) is a historian, preservationist and quilter committed to making history accessible and relevant to diverse communities. As an independent researcher of Utah’s LGBTQ+ history, Randy focuses on amplifying overlooked narratives and fostering spaces where historical preservation intersects with community empowerment.

The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.



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5th shutout against Utah HC prompts internal reflection

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5th shutout against Utah HC prompts internal reflection


For the third time this month and fifth time this season, the Utah Hockey Club failed to score a single goal in a game. This time they fell 1-0 to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

The band 4 Non Blondes said it best: What’s going on?

“In the first period we had good momentum, we created good offense and then we started to get in the box way too much,” said head coach André Tourigny after the game. “That cost us momentum.”

The third period was full of chances for Utah HC, but they just couldn’t capitalize.

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At one point, a give-and-go created a perfect opportunity for Maveric Lamoureux at the top of the crease, but his shot went off the underside of the crossbar and out.

On another occasion, a power play bid from Nick Schmaltz hit a body in front of the net and bounced just wide. UHC just couldn’t buy a goal.

The Bruins are glad to get a win in their first game under interim head coach Joe Sacco. Additionally, Elias Lindholm scored the game’s lone goal, breaking a 17-game personal goal drought.

It was a big step in the right direction for the Bruins.

How this works

This is a three-part article geared toward three different audiences.

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  • First, we’ll have “Utah hockey for dummies” for all you new hockey fans. Welcome, by the way — we’re glad you’ve taken an interest in the greatest sport in the world.
  • Next, we’ll have a section titled “Utah hockey for casual fans,” aimed at those who have a basic understanding of the sport.
  • Finally, we’ll have “Utah hockey for nerds.” That will be for those of you who, like me, think about nothing but hockey all day, every day.

Feedback is welcome, so let me know what you think in the comments of this article or the comments section on “X.”

Utah hockey for dummies

Before we get into the nitty gritty details of the game, let’s take a moment to appreciate Robert Bortuzzo and Mark Kastelic. You’d think a game with only one goal would be relatively boring, but these two ensured that was not the case.

Bortuzzo and Kastelic fought each other twice. They had been engaged in some confrontation in the previous game between the two teams on Oct. 19 and they got their opportunity to finish their business a month later.

On the first bout, Bortuzzo left the bench for the purpose of fighting. As Conor Geekie learned in the preseason, that’s not allowed. Geekie got a one-game suspension and I’d expect the same for Bortuzzo.

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Utah hockey for casual fans

Karel Vejmelka was Utah HC’s best player Thursday, and it wasn’t even close. That’s a major positive point for Utah as Connor Ingram did not accompany the team on this road trip due to an upper-body injury.

Vejmelka will guard the net for the immediate future with Jaxson Stauber backing him up. Tourigny is not worried about giving Vejmelka the net.

“He’s played 50 games twice in his career, so it’s not like he’s a rookie goalie,” Tourigny said before the game. “He did it in the past and he’s capable of doing it again.”

It’s clear that Vejmelka thrives on high shot volume. He stopped all 15 shots he faced in the first period on Thursday, and then stopped 15 of the 16 that came in the ensuing periods.

Thursday’s performance comes after he made headlines against the Carolina Hurricanes last week when he stopped 49 of 50 shots.

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Ingram’s injury is considered day-to-day. He should be back soon, but the net may belong to Vejmelka anyway. Vejmelka has been the much better goalie over the last handful of games.

Utah hockey for nerds

On their last 25 power plays, Utah HC has scored just one goal, and with the amount of penalties they’ve been taking, they’re not putting themselves in a position to succeed.

Let’s break this down, piece by piece, starting with the power play.

Utah HC seems to have no problem setting up in the zone on the power play. They move the puck well and they even get lots of high-quality shots. Why isn’t the puck going in?

Tourigny believes it’s a question of urgency.

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“The guys have to realize (that) if we want to score goals, we have to get in the dirty areas,” he said. “We need to get there with passion. Not just get there — get there with burning desire to score goals.”

As far as the penalties go, they need to be more disciplined. Sure, there are necessary penalties and yes, accidents happen, but taking eight minor penalties in one game is a recipe for disaster.

“I don’t know,” Schmaltz said after the game when asked about accountability for how many penalties the guys were taking. “I feel like we’re beating a dead horse a little bit on that topic.”

The Bruins only had one power play goal, but keep in mind that spending almost an entire period shorthanded significantly limits the amount of scoring chances you get.

Schmaltz also pointed out that when the other team gets so many looks on the power play, their top players are extremely involved in the game while your top players sit on the bench.

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What’s next?

Utah HC gets a day to regroup before visiting Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

As good as Crosby is, he hasn’t been enough to drag the Penguins into the fight. They’ve struggled in a number of areas on the ice, prompting all sorts of trade rumors — even some involving Crosby, who has been a Penguin since 2005.

Utah HC’s job going into Pittsburgh is to get back on track. They need to find ways to score (especially on the power play) and they need to be disciplined away from the puck. If they do this and continue to get solid goaltending, they could receive a much-needed confidence boost.

The game starts at 5 p.m. MDT and will be streamed on Utah HC+ and Utah 16.





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