political utah podcasts

Episode 236 The Betterment of the Collective

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Episode 236 we had the pleasure of speaking with activist Ermiya Fanaeian of the Utah chapter of Pink Pistols.

Born in Tehran, Ermiya and her family came to the US when she was a year old fleeing religious persecution. They landed in San Diego and then moved to Utah after 9 years. Growing up in Utah she has now graduated from Salt Lake Performing Arts School. After graduating she helped start the chapter of March for our Lives, joined the Ben McAdams campaign, is actively involved in local politics, and is now directing the Utah Chapter of Pink Pistols.

One of the things we love about our guests are the incredible lives they evolve from and are continually growing into. Ermiya took us through her journey of being a ballerina to politics. Her starting point was using bathrooms as a transgender person. It was the big issue while she was in school and the only way she knew how to deal with it is to activate. Her first experience was organizing Queer Prom. Then she shifted to March For Our Lives and then moved into political activism.

Going from March for our Lives to Pink Pistols was a couple year journey. She worked very closely during the gun violence movement with local politicians. She noticed that violence in the Trans community was growing and that the politicians weren’t doing anything and letting attackers go with a slap on the wrist. We wanted to know how and why the shift happened to stepping into the pro-gun community with Pink Pistols.

Photo: Pink Pistols SLC Instagram

Chris and Ermiya had a discussion about being pro-gun and requirements for gun control. People that commit mass shootings are doing it illegally so gun laws won’t change. She has ideas for community based solutions instead of mass legislation. Gun education, lock boxes, education. We aren’t talking restrictive gun control. The question should be, how do we find a middle ground and finding a way to not deny access to people who are educated on the guns they are owning? How do we get to the middle ground instead of either giving 2 year old’s rifles or taking away every one’s guns? Fact is, marginalized groups are always in a fight and armed right wing groups don’t care about middle ground.

Is there a difference between the NRA and Pink Pistols? Pink Pistols was started out of necessity for people in the LGBTQ+ to learn how to protect themselves because others were not protecting the community. Not to be confused with the NRA which is based off of big money in politics.

Most of the organizations community interaction is on their Pink Pistols SLC Instagram. Qualifications to be part of the group include but aren’t limited to, Pro-LGBTQ+/ally and believe in the second amendment. There are currently 18,000 members national, 30 active members in Utah, and about 400 members that are actively engaged at any time. Some of the things they do as an organization are range days and education days with people who have been training for a while.

Ermiya’s most interesting/unique thing that she has discovered about Utah is that we kind of live in a predominate culture but we also have a counter-culture. Salt Lake City has counter worlds that live with each other.

We will ALWAYS love your “likes” BUT don’t forget to click that little SHARE button (or retweet) *sharing IS indeed caring* You can find us and subscribe on Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, or Itunes, IHeartRadio, Google Play, and TuneIN. Leave us a review and Follow us on the Twitter @tnupodcast, Instagram @Tnupodcast, or on Facebook The New Utah Podcast

Music By: Folk Hogan. Bootleggers Dance.

Episode 146 A Sit Down with DA Sim Gill

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In the fall of 2018 we had a few moments to sit down with Salt Lake County District Attorney, Sim Gill, during a tag team interview pre-election for episode 126. 20 episodes, and 6 months later we we were excited to have him for a little bit longer for episode 146! We might just have to start making this a regular thing! Sit in with Sim? How does that sound?

During our time with Sim we were able to talk with him right as the brand new Hate Crimes Bill was going through the House and passed 64-9! What a moment to have him sitting there with us! Sim and a team of people have been working on getting this bill through Utah legislation for years.

We love this photo that was taken just two days after our podcast of Sen. Derek Kitchen and Sim Gill. Photo: Derek Kitchen

We wanted to know about term limits for a District Attorney. Sim explained to us that longevity is important for a DA. You cannot have someone coming in and out of that position all willy-nilly. Sim said f there is going to be change there needs to be length to get through processes, bills, etc. One of our favorite things, of the many, is that Sim has such a zen way of looking at his service to Salt Lake County. He looks at himself as a temporary caretaker. DA Gill loves serving his community, so much that every Friday night he has citizen meetings where you can call into his office and set up time to chat. Whether you want to yell in his face or talk about curry, he has made it a priority to talk to citizens face to face. You can find that number on the DA’s website HERE.

Prop 2 came up, of course! Sim is very passionate about it and told us a story on his last visit with us of a patient that helped him see how important the bill was. Sim told us not to be disheartened, don’t be depressed at what happened with the bill. Gill said don’t be apathetic and finish the conversation by voting them all out! We couldn’t agree more!

We don’t want to give all the good stuff, cause we want you to listen… But a cool little tid-bit of trivia about the office that he works in. When you drive by the building at 35 East 500 South in Downtown Salt Lake, you will notice all of the art that is on the windows. If you look closely on the east side you will see two white roses. This is DA Gill’s homage to the White Rose Society and reminding the community that “the institution belongs to you.”

We will ALWAYS love your “likes” BUT don’t forget to click that little SHARE button (or retweet) *sharing IS indeed caring* You can find us and subscribe on Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, or Itunes, and Google Play and TuneIN. Leave us a review and Follow us on the Twitter @tnupodcast, Instagram @Tnupodcast, or on Facebook The New Utah Podcast

Music By: Folk Hogan. Bootleggers Dance.