I THRIVE
Civil Disobedience & Survivor Rights
Civil disobedience is the intentional, peaceful refusal to obey specific laws or demands, often used to protest perceived injustice. This nonviolent approach has been a powerful tool for social change, drawing attention to issues needing reform. By resisting unjust policies, participants in civil disobedience raise moral concerns and push for societal shifts.
Protecting the rights of survivors of sexual violence, mental illness, and trauma is essential for building a just and compassionate society. Survivors often face stigma, discrimination, and barriers to justice and support. Advocating for their rights ensures they are treated with dignity and fairness, fostering a culture of safety and empowerment that enables healing and growth.
Our Stand for Survivor Rights in Utah
Heather Curtis, MD, founder of I THRIVE, is committed to advocacy for survivors of trauma, mental health support, and community safety. Through her work, Heather addresses the systemic barriers survivors face and promotes vital changes that create safe spaces, ensure survivors’ rights, and protect those affected by trauma. I THRIVE’s mission extends to advocacy in public health, pushing for a culture that prioritizes transparency, ethics, and accountability.
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Central to Heather’s advocacy has been the use of civil disobedience—a time-honored, peaceful, and intentional refusal to comply with unjust mandates to bring attention to social injustices and inspire reform (Sharp, 2012). Heather’s work is deeply informed by documented failures of institutions, particularly the University of Utah, in responding to reports of domestic violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and assault (U.S. Department of Justice, 2020). This history of neglect influenced I THRIVE’s mission to advocate for survivors’ rights and community safety, particularly in Utah.
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In 2020-2021, Heather began reporting misconduct within the mental health community, including allegations involving professionals Stamatios Dentino, MD and Parth Gandhi, PhD. These reports led the University of Utah to respond with a cease-and-desist notice, highlighting the challenges advocates face in raising awareness about institutional negligence. In October 2024, after publicly disclosing these concerns, the university attempted to criminally cite Heather, further underscoring the barriers that prevent advocates from achieving transparency and accountability (University of Utah, 2024).
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Despite these challenges, I THRIVE’s dedication to peaceful resistance and civil disobedience has remained steadfast. Through initiatives like the Looking Glass Project, which uses performance art to highlight the need for ethical change, and the Kintsukuroi Project, which emphasizes post-traumatic growth, I THRIVE continues to strive for peace and safety within Utah’s campuses, communities, and psychedelic therapy settings. Heather and I THRIVE welcome open dialogue and work to create environments where survivors’ voices are honored and safeguarded, while also advocating for safe and ethical psychedelic practices in Utah and beyond.
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While I THRIVE’s project seeks to expose harms, it is also essential to respect the rights and boundaries of others. In line with this commitment, I THRIVE adheres to a strict policy of respecting entities’ requests for non-contact. We engage with only voluntary connections through messaging platforms and social media, ensuring that we honor the preferences and boundaries of those involved and at the University of Utah to the best of our ability with our continued peaceful protest and nonviolent stand for justice and survivor rights in Utah. We continue our stand for truth, transparency, and restorative justice on our site to ensure we learn from past harms and local tragedy and to ensure for the safe implementation of the psychedelic sciences in Utah.
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Disclaimer: Disclosing personal experiences of harm is a protected right, and speaking about one’s trauma is not a criminal act. However, perpetrators may attempt to weaponize psychiatry, the law, or institutional policies to undermine or silence survivors. Retaliatory actions can include reframing disclosures as criminal acts, which can harm victims further and discourage advocacy efforts (Smith & Freyd, 2014; Herman, 1992). I THRIVE encourages a balanced approach that recognizes the importance of survivors’ voices while upholding respect for community guidelines and the dignity of all individuals involved.
References
• Herman, J. L. (1992). Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence—From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. Basic Books.
• Sharp, G. (2012). The Politics of Nonviolent Action. Porter Sargent Publishers.
• Smith, C. P., & Freyd, J. J. (2014). Institutional betrayal. American Psychologist, 69(6), 575–587.
• U.S. Department of Justice. (2020). Report on the University of Utah’s handling of sexual assault complaints.
