By Sheena McFarland
© The Utah Chronicle, 12 October 2003

Franck’s “The Kiss”

The [University of Utah's] student government's Diversity Board has decided to add a photograph of two men kissing to its Pride Week art show after the artist said the board was censoring her.

The artist, Heather Franck, originally submitted six pieces of art. Three were chosen, but the two Franck deemed most controversial-the two men kissing and a drag queen-didn't run.

"This is censorship, and it's wrong. Not only is it censoring me as an artist, but it's censoring the gay community," said Franck, who is a co-vice president of the Lesbian Gay Student Union.

In response, Franck took down her other pieces in the show, and in their place put up a poster saying that the Associated Students of the University of Utah Diversity Board doesn't support diversity.

Jasmine Linam, a diversity board member and also co-vice president of LGSU, said she alone had the decision of what to run.

"I talked to other peers on campus, and we all agreed that the photo was too in-your-face. We didn't want people to walk in to the show, see the two men kissing, get offended and walk out without seeing the other art," Linam said.

After seeing Franck's response, Linam decided she would place the photo in the art show, even though she didn't want such an abrasive tone to the show.

Adrian Johnson, president of the Associated Students of the University of Utah, says ASUU fully supports diversity. He also says he supports both Linam's decision to hold the photo, and the decision to hang it.

"I will fully concur that censorship is a wonderful and necessary thing, and I don't think this is a big deal. But I personally think having the photo up is totally appropriate," he said.

Umu Tukuafu, director of the diversity board, says she also supports the photo going up.

"This art show is a form of expression, and it's an opportunity for students to participate in Pride Week. I don't think it's too in-your-face, and it's an important photo to be put up," she said.

Charles Milne, director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center, which is helping sponsor the show, says the image of men kissing is not "outrageous or risqué."

"That is part of life in the gay community, and it should be there for people to see it. It shouldn't be ourselves censoring ourselves," he said.

Milne agrees the image may make some feel uncomfortable, but he says that discomfort helps people learn and grow.

Franck is relieved to know that the photo will hang in the show.

"That's all I wanted. I just wanted to be able to express myself as an artist."