Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Matt Livingston Receives Scholarship
“He's an amazing young man”

by Seba Martínez
March 2006

Matt Livingston

Matt Livingston, the 17-year-old LDS who was bullied by Kanab's mayor for criticizing the politician's support of a controversial "natural family" resolution has been awarded a scholarship. According to a story in the Salt Lake Tribune, the Utah Press Association awarded Matt Livingston the $500 Super Journalist Scholarship at its annual meeting in St. George.

"I'm not going to let the scholarship go to my head, but keep doing what I'm doing," Livingston said.

An intern at the Southern Utah News, Livingston challenged Mayor Kim Lawson and the Kanab City Council's passage of the nonbinding family resolution. The mayor was so steamed that he sent letters of complaint to the Kane County School District and Livingston's stake president.

UPA Vice President Laurie Wynn praised Livingston, a senior at Kanab High, for taking a bold stand against a community leader.

"He's an amazing young man," Wynn said.