Derek Kitchen

Last updated
Moudi Sbeity
​
​
(m. 2015;div. 2019)​
Derek Kitchen
Member of the Utah State Senate
from the 2nd district
In office
January 2019 –December 2022
Alma mater University of Utah
Website derekkitchen.com

Derek Kitchen (born August 30, 1988) is an American politician from Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a former member of the Utah State Senate who represented Utah's 2nd Senate District, and was formerly a Councilmember on the Salt Lake City Council representing Council District 4.

Contents

In 2023, Kitchen was appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as Senior Vice President of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Export-Import Bank. [4] [5]

Kitchen and his restaurant Laziz Kitchen was featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives. [6] [7]

Education and career

Kitchen graduated in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Utah.

Kitchen and his partner, Moudi Sbeity, opened Laziz Foods in 2012 to provide Lebanese food to local grocery stores and the Farmers Market in Salt Lake City. It was in 2016 they opened Laziz Kitchen, a Lebanese restaurant downtown. Laziz Kitchen has a partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to hire refugees and New Americans from Iraq and Syria. [8] Laziz Kitchen appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives.

In 2019, Kitchen completed Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

Kitchen v. Herbert

In 2014, Kitchen and his partner sued the State of Utah for marriage equality with Kitchen v. Herbert. This case legalized same-sex marriage in Utah and five other states in the western U.S., establishing a groundbreaking case-law that led to nationwide marriage equality in 2015. Following the lawsuit, Kitchen was the subject of a documentary about the lawsuit that legalized gay marriage, called Church & State. [9]

Salt Lake City Council

In 2015, Kitchen was elected to represent Council District 4 in Salt Lake City [10] where he led the effort to create a historic $21 million fund to create affordable housing in October 2016. [11] He also worked to expand housing options in Salt Lake City with an update to the Accessory Dwelling Unit/Mother-in-law ordinance in 2018. [12] He formerly served as a chair for the redevelopment agency. [13]

Utah State Senate

In 2018, Kitchen announced his bid for Utah State Senate District 2. [2] He was endorsed by the outgoing senator Jim Dabakis, then the only openly gay member of the legislature, and won the close Democratic primary in July, winning 53 percent to his opponent Jennifer Plumb's 47 percent. [14] On November 6, Kitchen won in the general election and was elected to serve in the 2019-20 Utah Senate Minority Leadership as Senate Caucus Manager. [15] In 2020, Salt Lake police searched Kitchen's Venmo account after he gave $10 to a woman who was accused by the police of buying paint. This was after protests against killings by police in which the street in front of the district attorney's office was painted red. [16] During his term, Kitchen proposed raising the minimum age for buying a gun from 18 to 21 and repealing the statute banning marriage for same-sex couples that is still on the books. [17] [18] In July 2022, he received 49.6 percent of the vote to Plumb's 50.4 percent in the Democratic primary for the Utah Senate's new 9th district. [19]

Personal life

Kitchen and Moudi Sbeity met in 2009 and married in 2015. They divorced in 2019. [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt Lake County, Utah</span> County in Utah, United States

Salt Lake County is located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 1,185,238, making it the most populous county in Utah. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. The county was created in 1850. Salt Lake County is the 37th most populated county in the United States and is one of four counties in the Rocky Mountains to make it into the top 100. Salt Lake County has been the only county of the first class in Utah – under the Utah Code is a county with a population of 700,000 or greater. Although, Utah County directly to the south has recently reached this threshold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States congressional delegations from Utah</span>

Since Utah became a U.S. state in 1896, it has sent congressional delegations to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. Each state elects two senators to serve for six years. Before the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were elected by the Utah State Legislature. Members of the House of Representatives are elected to two-year terms, one from each of Utah's four congressional districts. Before becoming a state, the Territory of Utah elected a non-voting delegate at-large to Congress from 1850 to 1896.

<i>The Salt Lake Tribune</i> Daily newspaper in Salt Lake City, Utah

The Salt Lake Tribune is a newspaper published in the city of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Tribune is owned by The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc., a non-profit corporation. The newspaper's motto is "Utah's Independent Voice Since 1871."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah Constitutional Amendment 3</span> 2004 referendum

Utah Constitutional Amendment 3 was an amendment to the Utah state constitution that sought to define marriage as a union exclusively between a man and woman. It passed in the November 2, 2004, election, as did similar amendments in ten other states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ rights in Utah</span>

The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people in the U.S. state of Utah have significantly evolved in the 21st century. Protective laws have become increasingly enacted since 2014, despite the state's reputation as socially conservative and highly religious. Utah's anti-sodomy law was invalidated in 2003 by Lawrence v. Texas, and fully repealed by the state legislature in 2019. Same-sex marriage has been legal since the state's ban was ruled unconstitutional by federal courts in 2014. In addition, statewide anti-discrimination laws now cover sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and housing, and the use of conversion therapy on minors is prohibited. In spite of this, there are still a few differences between the treatment of LGBTQ people and the rest of the population, and the rights of transgender youth are restricted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah State Legislature</span> Legislative branch of the state government of Utah

The Utah State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. It is a bicameral body, comprising the Utah House of Representatives, with 75 state representatives, and the Utah Senate, with 29 state senators. There are no term limits for either chamber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merrill Cook</span> American politician (born 1946)

Merrill Alonzo Cook is an American politician and businessman who served as a Republican Party member in the United States House of Representatives from Utah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Davis (politician)</span> American politician (born 1945)

Gene Davis is a former Democratic member of the Utah Senate, representing the 3rd District from 1999 to 2022. He previously served in the Utah House of Representatives from 1987 to 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States Senate election in Utah</span>

The 2010 United States Senate election in Utah took place on November 2, 2010, along with other midterm elections throughout the United States. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Bennett was seeking re-election to a fourth term, but lost renomination at the Republican Party's state convention. Mike Lee proceeded to win the Republican primary against Tim Bridgewater and the general election against Democrat Sam Granato. As of 2024, this is the most recent U.S. Senate election in which a political party held the seat after denying renomination to the incumbent senator.

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Utah since October 6, 2014. On December 20, 2013, the state began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as a result of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah's ruling in the case of Kitchen v. Herbert, which found that barring same-sex couples from marrying violates the U.S. Constitution. The issuance of those licenses was halted during the period of January 6, 2014 until October 6, 2014, following the resolution of a lawsuit challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage. On that day, following the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear an appeal in a case that found Utah's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state to recognize same-sex marriage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Nelson (Utah activist)</span> American LGBT activist (1962–2024)

David Keith Nelson was an American LGBT and gun rights activist. He founded or helped found several LGBT-related nonprofit organizations in Utah and helped direct others. His work with the Democratic Party encouraged many LGBT Utahns to serve as party leaders. His work as a legislative and executive lobbyist accomplished the adoption of several LGBT- and weapon-friendly state and local laws, rules, ordinances and policies, and the rejection of other legislation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Dabakis</span> American politician

Jim Dabakis is an American politician from Salt Lake City, Utah. While now a Republican for primary voting purposes, he served as a member of the Utah State Senate as a Democrat, where he represented the state's 2nd senate district.

<i>Kitchen v. Herbert</i> American legal case

Kitchen v. Herbert, 961 F.Supp.2d 1181, affirmed, 755 F.3d 1193 ; stay granted, 134 S.Ct. 893 (2014); petition for certiorari denied, No. 14-124, 2014 WL 3841263, is the federal case that successfully challenged Utah's constitutional ban on marriage for same-sex couples and similar statutes. Three same-sex couples filed suit in March 2013, naming as defendants Utah Governor Gary R. Herbert, Attorney General John Swallow, and Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen in their official capacities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuart Reid (politician)</span> American politician

Stuart C. Reid is a former American politician and a Republican member of the Utah State Senate representing District 18 from 2011 to 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States Senate election in Utah</span>

The 2022 United States Senate election in Utah was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Utah. Incumbent senator Mike Lee, who was first elected in 2010, won re-election to a third term, defeating Evan McMullin, an independent candidate who was endorsed by the Utah Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erin Mendenhall</span> American politician

Erin Mendenhall is an American politician and activist who has been serving as the mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah since 2020. Upon taking office as Salt Lake City’s 36th mayor, Mendenhall became the city’s third and youngest woman in the role. Prior to assuming office, Mendenhall represented the city’s 5th district on the Salt Lake City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">63rd Utah State Legislature</span>

The 63rd Session of the Utah State Legislature took place from 2019 to 2020 with a total of eight sessions, two constitutionally mandated general sessions and six special sessions. While it's typical that the legislature has at least one special session per year, the high number of sessions was the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">64th Utah State Legislature</span>

The 64th session of the Utah State Legislature sat from 2021 to 2022. House members were elected at the 2020 Utah House of Representatives election. Fifteen Senate members were elected at the 2020 Utah Senate election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Utah Senate election</span>

The 2022 Utah Senate elections were held on November 8, 2022, as part of the biennial 2022 United States elections. 15 of the 29 seats in the Utah Senate were up for election. The Democratic Convention was held on April 9, 2022. The Republican Convention was held on April 23, 2022. Primary elections were held on June 28, 2022. The elections coincided with elections for other offices in Utah, including the US Senate, US House, and the Utah House.

Jennifer Plumb is an American politician and pediatric trauma doctor from Salt Lake City, Utah. She represents Utah's 9th senate district in the Utah State Senate.

References

  1. ↑ "Salt Lake City Council chooses Analia Valdemoros to fill vacant Council District 4 seat". fox13now.com. January 23, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Tim Fitzsimons. "The 0.1 Percent: Gay ex-Mormon Derek Kitchen looks to shake up Utah politics". NBC News. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  3. ↑ Utah Senate (August 30, 2019). "Happy Birthday Senator Derek Kitchen and Senator Kathleen Riebe! Hoping your birthday is filled with happiness, joy and cake". Facebook . Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Former Utah Senator Derek Kitchen heads to D.C. to serve Biden Administration". ABC4 Utah. 2023-05-24. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  5. ↑ "Officers | EXIM.GOV". www.exim.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  6. ↑ "Here's Every SLC Restaurant Featured On 'Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives'". iHeart. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  7. ↑ "'Round the World Roundup". Food Network. Retrieved 2024-03-02.
  8. ↑ Jennifer Dobner. "Derek Kitchen and Moudi Sbeity: Two entrepreneurs who make hummus and made history". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  9. ↑ Sean P. Means. "'Church & State' documentary tries to sort truth from myth in the story of how same-sex marriage became legal in Utah". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Council District 4 | Central City, Downtown, East Central".
  11. ↑ Tony Semerad. "'The solution to homelessness is housing': Salt Lake City sets aside $30M to address homelessness, affordable housing". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  12. ↑ Tony Semerad. "Concerned about housing costs, Salt Lake City loosens rules on 'mother-in-law' apartments". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  13. ↑ "About the RDA – SLCRDA".
  14. ↑ Stevens, Taylor (July 10, 2018). "Final election results show Salt Lake City Democrats Derek Kitchen and Jen Dailey-Provost won their close primary elections". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  15. ↑ Jon Hennington. "Utah Senate Democrats Announce New Leadership Team". Utah Senate Democrats. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  16. ↑ Reavy, Pat (August 19, 2020). "Utah Sen. Derek Kitchen accused of helping pay for paint used by protesters". Deseret News. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  17. ↑ Burningham, Grant (May 25, 2022). "The Daily Buzz: Why Utah's Sen. Kitchen wants to raise the age to buy a gun to 21". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  18. ↑ Schott, Bryan (June 7, 2022). "Worries about possible Supreme Court action has Utah lawmaker pushing to repeal the state's ban on same-sex marriage". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  19. ↑ Apgar, Blake (July 12, 2022). "Jen Plumb ousts Derek Kitchen with paper-thin margin in Democratic primary for Senate District 9". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  20. ↑ Rodgers, Bethany (September 29, 2019). "Sen. Derek Kitchen and his husband announce they are separating but remain proud of their fight for marriage equality". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.