Will Carlson Moves On, Leaves Thoughts on Freedom, Equality
(This letter was written by Will Carlson, who has been Manager of Public Policy of Equality Utah and is leaving for a full time position with Sam Gill in the SLC prosecutor’s office. His well written letter is worthy of a read by everyone.)
Dear Equality Utah Supporter,
One of my friends who majored in gender studies once asked of me “what does it mean to you to be a man?” If you haven’t had the privilege of meeting a gender studies major, you might not recognize the trap that had just been set for me. Whether I talked about biology, psychology, ideology, or sociology, there was no way that I could answer my friend’s question without seeming specious.
So often in my life, especially during my time at Equality Utah, I’ve been asked questions that I wasn’t quite sure how to answer. Whether it was a legislator asking if he could sponsor LGBT friendly legislation and still be re-elected, or a parent asking how the law could justify protecting one of her children but not the other, or a transgender Utahn who called to say she was about to lose her job because of her gender expression and asked what her options are. These questions linger long after the conversations conclude.
Fortunately, there are some questions that are easier to answer. When someone asks what I think about Equality Utah’s new Executive Director, Brandie Balken, my answer is that she is amazing and brings skills and savvy that will lead Equality Utah into the next decade. When I’m asked what my plans are, my answer is that starting December 1st, I’ll begin work as a prosecutor for Salt Lake City under the leadership of Sim Gill.
After the amazing victories of the 2009 election and Salt Lake City’s passage of the nondiscrimination ordinances, I feel a bit like Seinfeld leaving the show when it’s at its peak. Just yesterday, Senator Buttars told me he would like to run a bill to protect LGBT Utahns from discrimination in housing and employment. What a great way to end my work at Equality.
Really though, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll continue to serve on Equality Utah’s legal panel. And I’ll continue to work for a fair and just Utah. I will just be here as a volunteer, which is how I began working with Equality Utah. And one thing I’ve learned in my time here is that volunteers are the lifeblood of the equal rights movement.
One of my heroes tried to answer what it means to be a man. Malcom X said “nobody can give you freedom. Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you’re a man, you take it.” I think Malcom X was off the mark for defining a “man.” I know some women, youth, and gender queer superstars who recognize that freedom, equality, and justice are already ours to claim. Such a realization doesn’t take a gender role, but I do think it takes vision. And I appreciate Equality Utah for helping me see that freedom, equality, and justice are never up for debate. They are ready and waiting for us as soon as we’re ready to claim them.
Working for a fair and just Utah,
Will Carlson
Manager of Public Policy