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topicnews · October 25, 2024

Debate in Utah’s 4th Congress sparks emotional debate over transgender rights • Utah News Dispatch

Debate in Utah’s 4th Congress sparks emotional debate over transgender rights • Utah News Dispatch

Two of the candidates running for Utah’s 4th Congressional District found common ground on many issues during the debate phase. But when clashes did occur, they were vocal, particularly when it came to LGBTQ+ issues, abortion and school choice programs.

In their debate Thursday night, hosted by the Utah Debate Commission on the University of Utah campus, Democratic candidate Katrina Fallick-Wang, who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a mother, faced Republican Rep. Burgess Owens Utah in its spot since 2021. At one moment, Fallick-Wang’s voice broke as she talked about her sixth-grade transgender child and his ability to play sports in school.

“I understand the high-level discussion about sports, but with young kids, it hinders their future,” Fallick Wang said, looking directly at Owens, who had just expressed concern about what he called “this next step for trans people.” .

For Owens, talking about transgender issues doesn’t make sense to some people.

The problem, Owens said, becomes more problematic “when you suddenly can’t define what a man or a woman is, when you have men competing against women, when you have to talk to our children who are literally 5 years old .” or 6 years old about transitioning when you can’t go to a school without having this indoctrination of sex that shouldn’t belong in those spaces.”

Fallick-Wang later told reporters that the conversation in Utah should focus more on caring for members of the transgender community.

“Nobody out here chooses to be transgender. It’s incredibly difficult. It is difficult. It’s a hard, hard life. Men here don’t say they want to wear dresses so they can play women’s basketball, that just doesn’t happen,” Fallick-Wang said. “We have young people and even older people who are just trying to live their authentic selves. And this is America, right? This is freedom.”

Democratic candidate Katrina Fallick-Wang smiles before the 4th Congressional District debate at the Eccles Broadcast Center on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)

Owens — a former NFL safety whose career included a Super Bowl victory with the Oakland Raiders — said the discussion should instead focus on fairness because he believes gender differences in sports create unfair competition.

When asked if he would support a statewide ban on biological boys participating in girls’ sports, he said he would.

“Any of us who have studied science and ever competed understand this difference,” Owens said. “My biggest concern is when we get to the point where young men think it’s OK to beat up women, want to beat women, compete against women, get their trophies, get their honors, and it depresses them and leaving them demoralized because they have worked so hard to get to this point.”

However, Owens does not support a statewide ban on another controversial issue that has divided voters in several elections – abortion.

Abortion decisions should not be in the hands of the federal government, Owen said. The decades-long precedent of Roe v. Wade, a former landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that protected the constitutional right to abortion, was “an overreach,” he said.

“We the people are part of the solution, not some bureaucrat or justice in Washington dictating everything to all of us. So we totally agree on that,” Owens said during the debate. “Let it pass to the states. Let’s have the opportunity to talk about it. And if we don’t like what the state has, we can always move.”

Incumbent Republican Rep. Burgess Owens speaks during the 4th Congressional District debate at the Eccles Broadcast Center on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)

Fallick-Wang, who called abortion life-saving health care, also opposes a national ban and would support a federal right to abortion care. Decisions should be left to doctors who know what is best for patients, she said.

“The federal government has no place in my doctor’s office. It has no place in my bedroom. It has no place in my bathroom,” she said. “In my opinion, this is a huge overstep.”

In Utah, abortion has remained legal until 18 weeks of pregnancy, while a almost complete ban The decision passed by the Utah Legislature remains on hold. Lawmakers have expressed interest by lowering the state’s legal abortion deadline to 6 weeks.

Another point of contention has been the Utah Fits All school choice voucher program currently in operation challenged in court by the state’s largest teachers union.

Owens described the program as a bolder way to give children the opportunity to think and succeed according to their talents.

“Every parent should be able to take a look at their child, figure out what their talents and interests are, and figure out how best to achieve their dreams,” Owens said. “And anyone who is against it must know that they are not a friend of American society, of American culture, of the American way of life.”

A vote to amend the Utah Constitution to eliminate the state’s constitutional earmark of income tax revenue that sets it aside for public education and other programs, potentially freeing up more money for vouchers. was stopped after a judge found the state failed to properly inform voters before the November election.

However, for Fallick-Wang, high-quality education should be omnipresent and school financing should not be left to the states.

“I don’t think the quality of education available to you should depend on the state or zip code in which you live. “We need to make sure we fund our public education system well,” she said.

From left, Katrina Fallick-Wang, Democrat, and Rep. Burgess Owens, Republican, attend the 4th Congressional District debate at the Eccles Broadcast Center on the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Photo by Marco Lozzi for Utah News Dispatch)

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