dav.d photography

Posts Tagged ‘equality utah’

Saturday night Equality Utah held a Song & Spoken word at the Utah State Capitol. And there was an excellent turn out to the event. And of course I brought my camera – cause I have nothing better to do with my life ;)

You can see the full gallery of photographs on my SmugMug site – and they are for sale as prints and web downloads.

Utah Capitol Rotunda

Utah Capitol Rotunda

Dustin Lance Black, Oscar winner for his screenplay of Milk, was the special guest for this event. And if you weren’t there you really missed something special. He will be the voice of a generation for the GLBT community. He is also the narrator for the new documentary 8 The Mormon Proposition.

Song fills the Utah Captiol Rotunda

Song fills the Utah Captiol Rotunda

Dustin Lance Black writes some notes

Dustin Lance Black writes some notes

Dustin Lance Black addresses the audience

Dustin Lance Black addresses the audience

We stand on Common Ground

We stand on Common Ground

Bring the coffee, stat!

Bring the coffee, stat!

The audience

The audience

A view from the second story of the rotunda

A view from the second story of the rotunda

Eric Ethington and family

Eric Ethington and family

Utah Capitol at night

Utah Capitol at night

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11th October 2009

Utah’s National Equality March – Day 39 of 365

written by dav.d

Check out the full gallery of photographs at my SmugMug gallery. And they are for sale – it helps me with photography.

Listening to speeches before the march

Listening to speeches before the march

On October 11 Washington DC played host to the National Equality March. Early rumors put about 200,000 people who were able to attend the rally. For those in Utah who were unable to make that march were able to hold their supporting march in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. We began at the Utah Pride Center and then marched down 300 West and passed the Gateway and to Club Sound where we listened to the speeches from Washington DC.

A lesbian couple marches

A lesbian couple marches

If you have never participated in a political march I highly recommend it. They really are fun. I think most people just don’t want to bother with politics and never get involved. Granted you can sit and home and complain. But if you really believe in something it would seem like you should get involved and DO something.

Equality marches past the Gateway

Equality marches past the Gateway

Utah's Equality March goes past the old Delta Center

Utah's Equality March goes past the old Delta Center

There were a ton of speakers. Including Senator Scott McCoy from Utah – the first openly gay Utah State Senator. Bruce Bastian, Dustin Lance Black, and Lady Gaga were some of the notable speakers.

Watching the National Equality March at Club Sound

Watching the National Equality March at Club Sound

Watching the big screen

Watching the big screen

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25th September 2009

Beyond the Division Panel Discussion – Day 23 of 365

written by dav.d
An audience member asks a question for the panel

An audience member asks a question for the panel

Equality Utah, the ACLU, members of the LDS Church, and Bill Allred of X-96 radio hosted a panel discussion at Utah Valley University. The discussed whether it is possible to move beyond the division and what can be done to find common ground in the wake of Prop 8.

And the discussion was remarkable. The covered issues of right to work, right to not be fired for being gay or lesbian or transgender (it happens). There are about a thousand rights that are given to couples that marry – rights that are denied second class gay citizens.

Sign language translators can be very animated – and in this photograph it looks like she is picking the brain and spine of one of the panelists. Photographers need to pay attention to all the details. I was paying attention – I really thought it was funny. ;)

And you can see the rest of the photo gallery on SmugMug.

A panelist answers the question while the sign language speaker...

A panelist answers the question while the sign language speaker...

I always wonder what people in the audience are thinking. You wonder where they are political, religiously, gay, straight, or other. You wonder what prejudices people bring to the discussion.

The audience listens to the panel's discussion

The audience listens to the panel's discussion

And below is a photograph of Rep. Christine Johnson – she is just awesome.

Representative Christine Johnson answers a question

Representative Christine Johnson answers a question

And playing master of ceremonies was Bill Allred of X-96’s Radio from Hell. He did a really good job – and I even thought he was a hippie professor at first.

Bill Allred of X-96 Radio was host of the discussion

Bill Allred of X-96 Radio was host of the discussion

Audience members listen to the panel discussion

Audience members listen to the panel discussion

The next photograph is a transgender woman who talked about a recent road trip across the country. She is married to a woman. When they married she was physically and still legally a man. Since her transition she and her partner now face unique challenges. In Massachusetts they are recognized as a married lesbian couple. In Ohio they are recognized as a married straight couple, in Utah they are not recognized in Utah. Will federal intervention decide the fate of gay marriage?

A transgender woman asks about federal marriage issues

A transgender woman asks about federal marriage issues

In the audience were members of Equality Utah – including Keri with her new bundle of joy Glory. Keri and her partner recently adopted her in California and she is precious!

A new mother tends to junior

A new mother tends to junior

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22nd June 2009

Human Rights Campaign Gala Dinner 2009

written by dav.d
Glassware and lights create a very cool photograph

Glassware and lights create a very cool photograph

Saturday night I photographed the Human Rights Campain Gala Dinner in Salt Lake City, Utah. I will say that I rock as an event photographer – and I am not afraid to toot my own horn. I should change my business cards to say dav.d, ninja photographer.

I get everywhere and I try to photograph everyone and everything. And I try to be as unobtrusive as possible. (more…)

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29th May 2009

Equality Utah bids farewell to Mike Thompson

written by dav.d

A toast to Mike Thompson and his work at Equality Utah

A toast to Mike Thompson and his work at Equality Utah


Equality Utah bid farewell to one hell of a leader this week. Mike Thompson has lead the fight for equal rights in the gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual community here in Utah for the last few years. He is leaving Utah with 3 openly gay legislators and a number of allies in the legislature.

Thousands of people state wide have benefited from his leadership and from his knack for fund raising. Politics is fund raising and he has been a champion.
(more…)

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20th February 2009

Equality Utah vs. Sutherland Institute Debate

written by dav.d

Lively debate – what a country! And there is no surprise – I will admit I am biased. I am rooting for Equality Utah. I believe that we must fight for the rights of gay, lesbian, transgender and other people in the community.

The debate was spirited. I will stop my commentary now and I will let the photos speak for themselves. Tonight the news channels will have their sound bytes and channel 9 should replay the debate in full.

Click any of the following photos to go to my SmugMug gallery with about 168 photos.

Photo of the Equality Utah vs Sutherland Institute Debate

Photo of the Equality Utah vs Sutherland Institute Debate

Photo of the Equality Utah vs Sutherland Institute Debate

Photo of the Equality Utah vs Sutherland Institute Debate

Photo of the Equality Utah vs Sutherland Institute Debate

Photo of the Equality Utah vs Sutherland Institute Debate

Photo of the Equality Utah vs Sutherland Institute Debate

Photo of the Equality Utah vs Sutherland Institute Debate

Photo of the Equality Utah vs Sutherland Institute Debate

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24th January 2009

Rally for Common Grounds Initiative

written by dav.d

Rain, rain, go away.

Well, the rain didn’t go away. However, it did not drench the spirit of several hundred people who marched from Washington Square to the Utah State Capitol. At the capitol we listened to testimonials of several individuals including gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender.

Several of these people have faced discrimination in the workplace. One person was fired from his job because he was bisexual. We are not fighting for “special” rights. We are fighting for the same rights as everyone else. The right to work, live, and several others. Click any of the following photos to see the full gallery.

I had brought my Lowpro backpack – which helped protect my lenses. Because of the rain I used my Nikon D300 and the Nikkor 18-200mm lens. The primary benefit of the 18-200 is not having to change lenses in bad weather.

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23rd January 2009

Equality Utah, A Private Reception

written by dav.d

Equality Utah held a private reception with Kate Kendall from the No On 8 campaign. The venue was hosted at the Alta Club in Salt Lake City. The top supporters and contributors were invited for a more private and intimate setting.

There was a question and answer session. Kate talked about factors on both sides that helped and hurt the campaign.

Kate discussed the future of the campaign in court and what to do depending on the California’s Supreme Court eventual ruling.

Click any of the following photos to see the full gallery.

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