Banished!: Utah's Forgotten History and the Ride to Remember It

Kyle Treasure is the co-organizer of Banished!. What began as a research rabbit hole became a mission to track down every surviving record of what happened. Alongside co-organizer Nick Carpenter, that research turned into an annual event that transforms a painful chapter of Utah history into a celebration of queer joy and resilience. Kyle brings a professional communicator's eye to the project, drawing on his background as a former communications director in Congress and current work as a social media manager for global tech clients.

This talk will discuss a forgotten and disgraceful politics of Utah history. In 1988, a Utah state senator proposed painting AIDS patients red and banishing them to Antelope Island, a moment of history most Utahns have never heard. This lecture traces that story from the Capitol floor to the founding of the "Banished! Ride," and the ongoing effort to make it household knowledge across the state.