Samantha Murdock has known since the age of 11 that she is pansexual, meaning capable of being attracted to people of any gender. At the time of her testimony before Utah’s legislature in support of nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, Samantha was the secretary of her school’s Gay-Straight Alliance. Samantha was planning to major in early childhood special education, and she explained that she was terrified of being denied housing or employment simply because of who she is or who she loves.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected, and I hope someday I and the people I love will be,” she said.