The Republican-controlled Utah Senate abruptly fired a legislative staffer assigned to the chamber’s six Democrats this week. No reason was given, the now-former staffer said of his Tuesday evening firing, but it appears the dismissal was related to an incident during floor debate on a GOP-backed bill that banned gender-affirming health care for transgender minors.
Just days after the start of the 2023 Legislature, senators swiftly approved Senate Bill 16, which bans most minors in Utah from receiving gender-affirming health care. During the final Senate vote on the bill, Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, read aloud from a letter penned by his intern Ari Webb, who is transgender.
“Even before SB16 has passed the Senate, this bill has negatively impacted my health and well-being and is causing adverse effects on Utah’s trans community,” Blouin read.
“I will have to face each of you on this floor after this vote, and each of you will have to face me and many other transgender people after today, whether you know it or not,” the senator said, reading Webb’s words.
Off to the side of the Senate floor, away from the public and out of view of the cameras that record and live stream the proceedings, a small group of interns stood silently to show their support for Webb. Democratic staffer Bennett Johnson joined them.
Two and a half weeks later, he was fired.
Johnson confirmed to The Salt Lake Tribune that he was dismissed by Senate Chief of Staff Mark Thomas and a human resources representative on Tuesday evening, adding the reasons he was let go were not made clear to him.
Johnson makes it clear the off-floor demonstration by the interns was not a protest, and he had no part in its organization.
“It is not true in any way, shape or form that I organized, contributed towards or participated in any type of protest. I was approached by an intern who expressed a desire to have a small group stand in support of a fellow intern who was having a statement read in on the floor,” Johnson said in a text message.
“Following this request, I directed them to an area which is common for interns to stand and observe just outside the chamber and stood with them. I was not told there would be a protest, and no protest or any disrespectful behavior took place,” Johnson continued.
Thomas refused to comment on why Johnson was fired when contacted by the Tribune. Johnson was employed by the Senate Democrats in various positions starting in 2020.
“The Utah Legislature is an at-will employer, and employees can be terminated with or without cause. To respect the individual’s privacy, we are not commenting further on personnel matters at this time,” Thomas said in an email.
Senate Minority leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, declined to comment on Bennett’s dismissal. Multiple Senate sources who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation said the firing caught the minority Democrats by surprise.
Johnson’s dismissal leaves the six Senate Democrats with just one dedicated staffer for the remaining three weeks of the 2023 session. On the state’s transparency website, Johnson is listed as a “Senate Minority Communications Specialist.”
Three paid legislative assistants are shared among the 19 Republican senators, while a fourth is assigned exclusively to Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton. Two other staffers handle communications for the Senate.
Gov. Spencer Cox signed and enacted the ban late last month.
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/zWMoPrN
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