Anger. Sadness. Fatigue. Despair.
All of this and more, but I begin with a question: Why do Utahns seem to observe a 45-day period of ritual mourning every year, otherwise known as the legislative session?
During these 45 days, too many Utahns hold their breath, afraid that the Legislature’s commemorative gun will fire into the crowd and hit them — as it often does. Over the past few years, the Legislature has restricted the bodily autonomy of women and trans kids, stripped authority from other branches of government, overturned citizen initiatives, stifled academic freedom, allowed a pandemic to run rampant, and gerrymandered our votes into irrelevance.
This year is no exception. The Legislature has perpetuated inequity while calling it “equality” and has further traumatized our trans community by criminalizing their use of a gender-conforming bathroom.
Bills in progress will, in the name of “religious freedom,” allow refusal of public services to marginalized groups. Others will suppress voter participation or ensure that certain votes and voices matter more than others. The Equal Rights Amendment will languish in the Rules Committee and bills aimed at curbing gun violence will fail. Utah will be declared a sovereign state, free to ignore federal laws. Coal will continue to pollute our air, blessed by our Legislature while not enough will be done to stave off the death of the Great Salt Lake. Schools face ongoing academic censorship and efforts to abolish the income tax — the sole source of their already marginal funding.
Why? In short, because we allow it.
The super-majority will continue to consolidate power every year its members remain in office, making it increasingly harder to moderate their actions. Speak up and show up now while some egregious bills can be stopped. Then vote for real change in November—if you still can.
Ellen Brady, Women’s Democratic Club of Utah, Murray
