Jaxon Smith, left, works on his paperwork with lawyer Derek Parry throughout Gender Marker Change Day on the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday. The day provided queer Utahns the chance to obtain free assist in legally altering their gender markers and/or names. (Laura Seitz, Deseret Information)
Estimated learn time: 4-5 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — On Friday, Shannon Woodbury legally confirmed the identify and gender she has been utilizing for over a decade.
“I got here out as transgender method again in 2008,” she stated. “My outdated identify, I have never passed by that in a very very long time. Even my financial institution and my job have used my new identify for paychecks and stuff. I’ve had jobs which have put me down as my most popular gender, as feminine, for years. However clearly, I’ve needed to do it formally for a really very long time.”
Woodbury was one in all dozens of people who participated in Gender Marker Day. The day provided queer Utahns the chance to obtain free assist in legally altering their gender markers and/or names. Organizers stated the occasion is the primary of its form not simply in Utah, however anyplace on the earth.
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Shannon Woodbury, proper, works on the mandatory paperwork with lawyer Kent Brown throughout Gender Marker Change Day on the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday. (Photograph: Laura Seitz, Deseret Information)
“It has been months of planning and many wrangling cats, however the those that I’ve engaged with, the individuals, it is an unimaginable inhabitants of individuals,” stated lawyer Angela Elmore, one of many foremost organizers for the occasion. “They’re simply so grateful, simply tremendous candy folks.”
The occasion had 57 slots that stuffed up inside a couple of days, however demand was so excessive that an estimated 20-60 confirmed up the day-of in hopes of getting assist, Elmore stated. She plans to proceed the occasion on a yearly foundation, probably every Might, and to develop it to incorporate different assets for trans people.
Members stated the occasion is a much-needed useful resource for Utah’s LGBTQ neighborhood because the course of to alter identify and gender markers may be daunting and costly. The Utah Authorized Clinic, for instance, has an $885 flat charge for an grownup identify and/or gender change.
Elmore stated the occasion had a variety of small donors and nonprofits who coated the price of people who didn’t qualify for charge waivers.
Woodbury initially tried to file a reputation and gender marker change with out authorized assist however found she had accomplished so incorrectly after receiving assist from the Gender Marker Day volunteers.
“It is simply been arduous to know what order to do stuff in,” she stated. “(The occasion) is extraordinarily useful as a result of I had no thought what to do. It is nice; I am glad I am right here.”
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Avery Kjar, from left, Meredith Thomas, Ronnie Robledo and Niko Ahquin wait for his or her paperwork to get filed throughout Gender Marker Change Day on the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday. (Photograph: Laura Seitz, Deseret Information)
Sandy resident Jaxon Smith additionally stated the identify and gender marker change course of was intimidating. The method contains:
Getting a physician’s letter stating that the person has acquired applicable scientific care or therapy for gender transition
Getting a licensed letter from the Division of Corrections verifying that the person is just not on the intercourse and kidnap offender and Youngster Abuse Offender registries
Attending a court docket listening to
Submitting a court docket order with Utah Very important Data and Statistics
Updating the person’s identify and gender with the Utah Driver License Division, Social Safety Administration, banks, healthcare suppliers, insurance coverage corporations, employers and different establishments.experiences
“I am actually excited that that is such a giant step ahead within the course of, however there’s nonetheless a lot to do,” Smith stated after exiting his court docket listening to. “And it may be just a little bit unclear about what the method is exterior of the court docket. I get my court docket order — I alter my identify and gender and that is nice — however then the steps after that, how do I replace my Social Safety, start certificates and license and replace my identify with the banks, my employer, my funding accounts and 401k? All these issues — that half continues to be very daunting.”
The authorized change means Smith’s id is lastly mirrored on his authorized ID. Since transitioning, Smith has had a number of encounters the place people query his ID, with the dialog usually being taken to a supervisor.
Jaxon Smith exhibits a card that he makes use of when he will get questions on his driver’s license picture whereas ready throughout Gender Marker Change Day on the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse in Salt Lake Metropolis on Friday. (Photograph: Laura Seitz, Deseret Information)
“On one hand, there’s just a little little bit of happiness as a result of I am passing so effectively that they do not consider it is me, so that’s validating in my transition,” he stated. “However however, it is actually irritating when there’s nothing I can do. I do not seem like that anymore. I do not sound like somebody who appears like that anymore.”
Though these expertise have assorted in depth, Smith stated they illustrate the significance of a authorized identify and gender marker change.
“Folks will ask me, ‘Properly, why does it matter?’ And in some methods, it does not often because nobody’s checking my ID to be my good friend, proper? Nevertheless it does in plenty of different methods,” he stated. “Even just a bit occasion of getting misgendered or being questioned — whether or not it is going right into a bar or if you get pulled over — these are literally actually tough to take care of. Though I’m misgendered much less and fewer ceaselessly now, each time I’ve to indicate my ID, it is like one other set off.”
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Sydnee Gonzalez is a multicultural reporter for KSL.com overlaying the variety of Utah’s folks and communities. Se habla español. You’ll find Sydnee at @sydnee_gonzalez on Twitter.
According to Jake Fischer during his NBA rumors chat on Bleacher Report, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson are both available. But he also says that the Utah Jazz would prefer to keep Walker Kessler. (Big shoutout to David J. Smith for the notice on this one.)
Enjoyed @JakeLFischer‘s NBA rumors chat. He says Sexton and Clarkson are both available, but that he thinks the Jazz prefer to keep Walker Kessler. It would take a major package to entice them to move him (So not the ones I see many LAL fans suggesting).https://t.co/dQnlHeInf3
This is not something new regarding each of these players but it does provide some clarity with Kessler. But this idea that it would take a “major package” to get him reminds me of something. Oh, that’s right, all of last offseason where we heard the same thing with Lauri Markkanen. That ended up turning into nothing, and we’re seeing the same playbook. Utah is happy with Kessler, but if there’s a team out there to give a major overpay, it sounds like Utah won’t turn that down. Looking back at this offseason and how it panned out. Teams like the Warriors and Kings, who were very interested in Markkanen, certainly look like they might regret not paying the huge price tag.
As far as Sexton and Clarkson, it seems pretty obvious that Utah is likely going for the highest possible package they can get for Collin Sexton. That may take time but Utah needs to think about the ramifications of having Sexton potentially costing them losses down the road. Utah is in an extremely tight race for Cooper Flagg and should think about making a move sooner than later to make that more possible.
TikTok has long known its video livestreams encourage sexual conduct and exploit children yet turned a blind eye because it “profited significantly” from them, according to newly unsealed material in a lawsuit by the state of Utah.
The accusations were made public on Friday, ahead of a scheduled Jan. 19 ban on TikTok in the United States unless its China-based owner, ByteDance, sells the popular social media app.
President-elect Donald Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to put that ban on hold.
TikTok has long known its video livestreams encourage sexual conduct and exploit children yet turned a blind eye because it “profited significantly” from them, according to newly unsealed material in a lawsuit. AFP via Getty Images
TikTok, for its part, has said it prioritizes safe livestreaming.
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Utah’s original lawsuit accusing TikTok of exploiting children was filed last June by the state’s Division of Consumer Protection, with state Attorney General Sean Reyes saying the TikTok Live streaming feature created a “virtual strip club” by connecting victims to adult predators in real time.
Citing internal TikTok employee communications and compliance reports, Friday’s largely unredacted complaint said TikTok learned of the threats Live posed through a series of internal reviews into the feature.
It said a probe known as Project Meramec uncovered in early 2022 how hundreds of thousands of 13-to-15-year-olds bypassed Live’s minimum-age restrictions.
It said many children were then allegedly “groomed” by adults to perform sexual acts, sometimes involving nudity, in exchange for virtual gifts.
The complaint also said a probe launched in 2021, Project Jupiter, found that criminals used Live to launder money, sell drugs and fund terrorism including by Islamic State.
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According to the complaint, a probe known as Project Meramec uncovered in early 2022 how hundreds of thousands of 13-to-15-year-olds bypassed Live’s minimum-age restrictions. Shutterstock
In addition, an internal December 2023 study “documented what TikTok admits is ‘the cruelty’ of maintaining Live with its current risks for minors on the app,” the complaint said.
User safety
TikTok had fought the disclosures, citing confidentiality concerns and its interest in “preventing potential bad actors from getting a roadmap” to misuse the app.
A Utah state judge, Coral Sanchez, ordered the release of much of the previously redacted material on Dec. 19.
“This lawsuit ignores the number of proactive measures that TikTok has voluntarily implemented to support community safety and well-being,” a TikTok spokesperson said on Friday.
“Instead, the complaint cherry-picks misleading quotes and outdated documents and presents them out of context, which distorts our commitment to the safety of our community,” the spokesperson added.
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Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes says the TikTok Live streaming feature created a “virtual strip club” by connecting victims to adult predators in real time. AP
In October, a bipartisan group of 13 states and Washington, DC, separately sued TikTok for allegedly exploiting children and addicting them to the app.
“Social media is too often the tool for exploiting America’s young people,” Reyes said in a statement on Friday.
“Thanks to Judge Sanchez’s ruling, more of TikTok’s shocking conduct will now be public through this unredacted complaint,” he added. “(The) full extent of its culpability can be demonstrated at trial.”
President Joe Biden signed a law authorizing the TikTok ban last April, addressing concern TikTok could gather intelligence on American users and share it with the Chinese government.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether to put the ban on hold on Jan. 10. It is expected to rule quickly.
Utah Hockey Club (17-15-6, in the Central Division) vs. Dallas Stars (23-13-1, in the Central Division)
Dallas; Saturday, 8 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: The Utah Hockey Club visit the Dallas Stars after Lawson Crouse’s two-goal game against the Calgary Flames in the Utah Hockey Club’s 5-3 win.
Dallas is 23-13-1 overall with a 10-3-1 record in Central Division play. The Stars have a 13-6-1 record in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.
Utah has a 4-6-1 record in Central Division games and a 17-15-6 record overall. The Utah Hockey Club serve 10.9 penalty minutes per game to rank second in NHL play.
Saturday’s game is the third time these teams square off this season. The Stars won the previous matchup 3-2.
TOP PERFORMERS: Matt Duchene has 15 goals and 20 assists for the Stars. Roope Hintz has seven goals and one assist over the past 10 games.
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Dylan Guenther has 16 goals and 18 assists for the Utah Hockey Club. Clayton Keller has five goals and eight assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Stars: 6-3-1, averaging 2.8 goals, five assists, 2.7 penalties and 5.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.1 goals per game.
Utah Hockey Club: 5-4-1, averaging 2.8 goals, 5.3 assists, 4.1 penalties and 9.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game.
INJURIES: Stars: None listed.
Utah Hockey Club: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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