Today we conclude our first Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility series with two storytellers, Sylvia Bentley and Matthew A. Jonassaint! KZMU is truly grateful to all the local storytellers who have shared their vulnerability, emotional truths, and resiliency on our airwaves throughout this project. We hope Lift Up has helped deepen understanding and empathy within our community and reinforced a sense of belonging. (And yes, we do plan to have a second Lift Up series in the future!)

Sylvia Bentley was born and raised in Moab but left when she was 18 to pursue a degree at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah County. Later she found herself in the dry north coast of Peru digging up bones, which somehow landed her in the rainy north coast of Spain teaching English. About five years ago, she returned to the desert where her essence, soul and DNA feels at home. Since then, she has built on her DIY skills, served in local restaurants, started her own business and joined Grand County EMS. She spends her time with family and loved ones and occasionally wanders the desert, wondering how to chase the horizon and put down roots at the same time.

Matthew A. Jonassaint was born in the Utah Valley to Caribbean parents. As an undergrad he co-chaired his university's queer student association, and his capstone project involved archiving queer history, literature, philosophy and films. His work has been published in various places including peculiar – the first queer literary journal in Utah. He first landed in Moab during Pride Week in October 2012 and has been living here permanently since 2018. He works at the Grand County High School and Back of Beyond Books. He is also a community youth mentor and DJ at KZMU.

Ginger Allen and Serah Mead co-produced today’s piece.

And later, the Weekly News Reel, where we check in with reporters about their latest stories of the Moab area. Doug McMurdo of The Times-Independent discusses the second body camera footage of the August 12th Petitio-Laundrie incident in Moab, the Moab Valley Fire Protection District considering expanding, and Utah’s gender wage gap. Alison Harford of the Moab Sun News highlights their voter guide, which has information on candidates running for city council and mayor, as well as voter registration and ranked choice voting.

Show Notes:

Photo: Sylvia Bentley and Matthew A. Jonassaint are our final storytellers in KZMU’s first Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility series. Sylvia returned to the desert about five years ago, where her essence, soul and DNA feels at home. Matthew first landed in Moab during Pride Week almost 10 years ago and works in youth education.

Lift Up: LGBTQ+ Visibility

https://www.kzmu.org/lift-up/

Music featured in today’s newscast includes:

Chicago by Scott Holmes Music

Pennies by Ketsa

Guestlist by Podington Bear

Weekly News Reel Mentions –

The Times-Independent: Advocate – MPD handled Petito stop ‘appropriately’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/advocate-mpd-handled-petito-stop-appropriately/

The Times-Independent: Should Moab’s fire department expand to the Book Cliffs?

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/should-moabs-fire-department-expand-to-the-book-cliffs/

The Times-Independent: Utah’s gender wage gap ‘highest in the nation’

https://www.moabtimes.com/articles/utahs-gender-wage-gap-highest-in-the-nation/

Moab Sun News 2021 Voter Guide:

https://www.moabsunnews.com/news/article_53221654-2977-11ec-9498-d79634d85cc3.html