Utah’s first openly gay elected Republican is Utah County Commissioner Nathan Ivie, who came out last month in a video posted online.
Ivie says his announcement was motivated by a desire to support and validate other gay Utahns who may be considering self-harm or suicide. But the first-term commissioner — who has advocated for a shift in Utah County’s form of government and has acknowledged an interest in running for Congress — has also stated that he hopes to be defined by his actions and character, and not by his sexual orientation.
On this week’s “Trib Talk," Ivie joins Tribune reporter Benjamin Wood to discuss his impact on state history and the Utah Republican Party, his political aspirations, and why he thinks Utah County needs to get rid of its three-member commission.