Monday, July 22, 2013

THIS DAY IN GAY UTAH HISTORY July 22nd

James Whales
1896-James Whale, British director of Hollywood Horror Classic Frankenstein was born. Subject of film “Gods and Monsters”. James Whale lived as an openly gay man throughout his career in the British theatre and in Hollywood, something that was virtually unheard of in the 1920s and 1930s. He and David Lewis lived together as a couple from around 1930 to 1952. While he did not go out of his way to publicize his homosexuality, he did not do anything to conceal it either. As filmmaker Curtis Harrington, a friend and confidant of Whale's, put it, "Not in the sense of screaming it from the rooftops or coming out. But yes, he was openly homosexual. Any sophisticated person who knew him knew he was gay." While there have been suggestions that Whale's career was terminated because of homophobia, and Whale was supposedly dubbed "The Queen of Hollywood", Harrington states that "nobody made a thing out of it as far as I could perceive". With knowledge of his sexuality becoming more common beginning in the 1970s, some film historians and gay studies scholars have detected homosexual themes in Whale's work, particularly in Bride of Frankenstein in which a number of the creative people associated with the cast, including Ernest Thesiger and Colin Clive, were alleged to be gay or bisexual. Scholars have identified a gay sensibility suffused through the film, especially a camp sensibility, particularly embodied in the character of Pretorius  and his relationship with Henry Frankenstein (Clive)..


1900-Frank Billings Case No. 599 Third Judicial District Court: Frank J. Billings was charged with the “Infamous “Crime Against Nature”” for having sex with a thirteen year old youth, Stanley May. He pled not guilty on 28 August 1900 and bail was set at $3,000. He was found guilty on 19 September 1900. Billings is not found in 1910 Census of Utah. Stanley May however is listed as being 23 years old in the 1910 Census and a native of Indiana. The Hotel where the assault occurred was the renowned Walker House Hotel built by the Walker Brothers of the Banking fame. Complaint: On this 23rd day of July A.D. 1900 before me J.B. Timmony Justice of the Peace within and for City Precinct, Salt Lake County, State of Utah, personally appeared F.G. Lincoln who, being duly sworn by me, on his oath did say that Frank Billings on the 22nd day of July A.D. 1900, at Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, State of Utah, in and upon Stanley May, a youth of the age of 13 years, unlawfully, wilfully (sic) and feloniously did make an assault, and then and there unlawfully, wilfully (sic), feloniously, wickedly and against the order of nature had a venereal affair with  and carnally knew the said Stanley May and then and there unlawfully, wilfully (sic), feloniously, wickedly and against the order of nature with the said Stanley May did commit and perpetrate the detestable and abominable crime of buggery; contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State of Utah. Signed by F.G. Lincoln. ACCUSED OF VILE CRIME Frank Billings, a roustabout employee of the Walker House, is in the city jail charged with the committing of Sodomy, the victim being a lad of 15 years old named Charles May and an employee of the Walker House, where Billings did some upholstering work a couple of months ago ad to which he but lately returned. It is said by employees of the House, that the evidence against Billings is conclusive, as the lad’s screams, as he was being assaulted, were heard by several. (Daily Salt Lake Tribune 23 July 1900 page 8) Information: Frank Billings having heretofore been duly committee by J.B. Timmony, a committing magistrate of this county, to answer to this charge is accused by Graham F. Putnam, County and Prosecuting Attorney fir the County of Salt Lake, State of Utah, by this information, of the infamous “Crime Against Nature”, committed as follows: That the said Frank Billings on the 22nd day of July, A.D. One Thousand Nine Hundred, at Salt Lake County, State of Utah, unlawfully, wilfully (sic) and feloniously did make an assault in and upon one Stanley May. A male person, and then and there unlawfully, wilfully (sic) and feloniously and against the order of nature did carnally know the said Stanley May and then and there did commit and perpetrate the detestable and abominable “Crime Against Nature”; contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided and against the peace and dignity of the State of Utah. HIS BAIL IS FIXED AT $3000 Frank Billings charged with Sodomy, the victim being Stanley May, a thirteen year old Bell Boy at the Walker House, was given a hearing yesterday afternoon and held to answer to the District Court in the sum of $3000 and in default of bail he was placed in county jail. Billings is an itinerant mattress maker. He admitted when asked by County Attorney Gunter, that he completed a six month’s jail sentence in the county jail at Provo last November, but could not recollect he said whether the charge was for assaulting two little girls or not. The details of the occurrence were revolting. (Daily Salt Lake Tribune 24 July 1900 page 8) SUBPOENA: Sheriff Office I, John F. Howells, Sheriff of the county of Salt Lake, State of Utah, do hereby certify that on September 12th, 1900, at the city and county of Salt Lake, State of Utah, I served the within subpoena on the witnesses, to-wit: Stanley May, Frank Colwell, A. Powers, and F.G. Lincoln, by showing the original to each of them, personally, and informing them of the contents thereof.  Subpoena: May Term A.D. 1900 The state sends greeting to:  Stanley May    Walker House, Frank Colwell Walker House, A. Powers  Walker House, F.G. Lincoln Police Station, We command you, that all and singular business and excuses being laid aside, you appear and attend before Honorable A.G. Norrell Judge of the Third Judicial District Court of the State of Utah, at term of said Court to be held at the Court House in Salt Lake City, on Tuesday the 18th day of September A.D. 1900 at 10 o’clock a.m. Proceedings: Frank Billings: Charge Buggery On this 23rd day of July 1900, filed affidavit of F.G. Lincoln charging the offense of “Buggery” has been committed in the county of Salt Lake, State of Utah, on the 22nd day of July, 1900 and charged the defendant with said offense. Warrant issued. Defendant out in custody, arraigned, and pleads Not Guilty. Examination begun. Stanley May, Frank Colwell, G. Lincoln and A. Powers were each sworn and examined on the part of the State of Utah and Frank Billings was sworn and examined on the part of the defendant. It appearing to me that the offense of Buggery as above charged had been committed and that there is sufficient cause to believe the above defendant Frank Billings guilty thereof. He is held to answer the same in the Third Judicial District and is committed to the Sheriff of Salt Lake County until he gives bail. TRIAL ON CHARGE OF VILE CRIME The trial of Frank Billings who was charged of committing a “Crime Against Nature” upon Stanley May, a boy of fourteen, employed as a Bell Boy at the Walker House on July 21st was begun yesterday afternoon before Judge Norrell and a jury. Billings is a middle-aged man, who follows the occupation of upholsterer. The boy May was on the witness stand yesterday afternoon and told a story too revolting for publication. The trial was proceeding to the hour of adjournment. (Daily Salt Lake Tribune 19 September 1900 page 5) BILLINGS FOUND GUILTY The case against Frank Billings charged with committing an infamous “Crime Against Nature” on a fourteen year old boy named Stanley May last July reached a verdict yesterday about noon in Judge Norrell’s Court and a verdict of guilty was given until Saturday to prepare motion on a new trial. (Daily Salt Lake Tribune 21 September 1900 page 5) TEN YEARS FOR BILLINGS Sentenced by Judge Norrell for Vile Crime Defendant Claimed that He Had Not a Fair Trial But the Court Did Not Agree With Him Frank Billings who was found guilty by a jury on Wednesday of committing a “Crime Against Nature” on Stanley May, a boy fourteen years of age, was yesterday sentenced by Judge Norrell to ten years imprisonment in the State Prison. Before sentence was passed, a motion for a new trial by the defendant’s attorney, Will F. Wanless, was argued and over ruled. The grounds of the motion were alleged errors in admitting certain testimony and excluding other testimony; also that the verdict guilty was contrary to evidence. Billings made a statement to the court complaining that he had not had a fair trial; that witnesses against him swore falsely and that he had not had the opportunity to refute their testimony. Judge Norrell however did not see it in that light, and dismayed the defendant by the severity of the sentence. The minimum penalty for the crime of which Billings was convicted is three years in the State prison and the maximum twenty years. APPLICATION FOR PARDON Salt Lake City Utah Feb 28, 1902 To the Honorable Board of Pardons of the State of Utah I hereby apply to your honorable board for a Pardon and respectfully represent as follows:  First- I am serving a term of imprisonment in Utah State Prison under conviction and sentence on a charge of “Crime Against Nature”. Second- I was convicted and sentence 22nd day of September A.D. 1900, at Salt Lake City County of Salt Lake and State of Utah, 3rd District court, in and for the County and State aforesaid, Honorable Judge Norrell presiding. Third-I was sentenced to Ten years imprisonment and thereafter was imprisoned in the Utah State Prison, Salt Lake City, Utah. Fourth-Honorable Ray Van Cott prosecuted the case Fifth-My full name is Frank Billings. I was convicted under the name Frank Billings Sixth-The names of person charged to have been connected with the same offense are as follows: Not Any Seventh-I have never been convicted of any offense except: Never Convicted Before Respectfully Submitted Frank Billings- Feb 28 1902 Salt Lake City Hon. Heber C. Wells governor of State of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah Dear Sir: As suggested by you, in our conversation of recent date, I herewith transmit “An Application for Pardon”, for the consideration of the Honorable Board of Pardons. In connection with this application I desire to call your attention to the following facts in relation to my case. At the time the crime was alleged to have been committed, I was working at my trade i.e. upholsterer. I had been engaged by the proprietors of the Walker House to repair furniture and mattresses, the day he employed me, he said I could room in the house if I could make arrangements with the night bell boy to occupy his room. I spoke to him about it and he said he was perfectly willing to let me use his room nights, as he slept daytime. The first night that I occupied the room, I retired early, about three o’clock the bellboy, Stanley May, entered the room, climbed on a chair and made a leap onto the bed, breaking it down. I remonstrated with him at which he called me several abusive names, which made me very angry. I then got up and gave him a trouncing; this created an uproar, which was heard throughout the house. After this he got into bed, he arose about five o’clock that morning, and went downstairs to the office and reported to the night clerk that I had assaulted him, shortly after that an officer (F.G. Lincoln) was called and I was placed under arrest. To the officer he gave a story entirely different from what he had told the clerk at the hotel.  On the witness stand, Stanley May confessed that the charge was a joke concocted with the help of the hotel. I wish further to say that at no time was this man or boy was examined by a physician to substantiate the charge on which I was convicted. I have always been a hard workingman; have worked for Doyle Furniture Co. of Ogden Utah, and also for Dinwoody and Co. of the city.  This is the first time I was ever in trouble and think that under the circumstance I am being unjustly punished. As I have no means with which to employ an attorney to represent me, I must depend on your kindness to give my case the proper attention. I assure you that I have suffered plenty during my confinement  and in future be very careful of the company I keep.  I have never been out of employment for a very longtime. I have never before had a word said against my character and if I am released from here I will try to prove myself innocent of this crime. Would also add that my principle witness, a man by the name of Fairchild disappeared from the court room before his testimony was given, Judge Norrell gave us twenty minutes in which to produce him, he could not be found. I am satisfied that if he had testified I would have been acquitted. I am of the opinion that he was got out of the way by the prosecution. I think that if you had a copy of the evidence taken at my trial you would be convinced that I am being unjustly punished. I present these facts to you and beg that you give them your kind attention and do as much for me as you consistently can. If your Honorable Board cannot grant me a pardon I beg of you to at least commute my sentence to a reasonable term. Respectfully Frank J. Billings Utah State Prison-
  • The mention of Fairchild is extremely intriguing because ten year later H.D Fairchild was charged with a “Crime Against Nature”. If the two were the same man and it is highly likely they were because Fairchild was an very uncommon name in Utah according to the 1900 and 1910 Federal Census for Utah, then all sorts of speculation presents itself. Did Fairchild leave the courtroom fearful of being recognized? Had Fairchild been strong armed by the prosecuting attorney? 8 April 1902 Ray Van Cott, Attorney at Law The Honorable State Board of Pardons,  Gentlemen: Your favor of the 5th inst. With reference to the application of Frank Billings, for pardon, was duly received. The applicant was convicted September 19th, 1900. The crime is recognized to be one of the most heinous known to the law as evidenced by the sentence of ten years, which was imposed by the Hon. A.G. Norrell, Judge on September 22nd, 1900. A motion for a new trial was made and fully argued by able counsel for the defendant, but the same was denied. I have never had any doubt as to the guilt of the applicant, and know no reason or circumstance, which would prompt me to recommend his pardon. Very Respectfully yours Ray Van Cott 14 April 1902: Frank Billings at Present first grade, although his conduct during imprisonment has not been exemplary. Warden Dow State Prison Sugar House Substation I had not found any further information on this case. I am going to try and get to the state prison this week to see if I can find a release date to see whether Billings served a full ten years for a crime of which he said he was innocent.  
1964 Salt Lake Police vice control division officers were informed Tuesday that the police deportment will not engage in a morals crusade during the absence of any judge (Judge  Horace C. Beck) or another from the panel of city judges

1980- Guest speakers from the LDS Church Social Services discussed at a Salt Lake Affirmation meeting the current Church attitude towards Gay members and their programs for curing homosexuality. A notice read “Rowdies Need Not Attend!!”

1985-Two Australian domestic airlines announced they would no longer serve passengers with AIDS.

1986- Chicago Cardinal Joseph Bernardin announced his personal opposition to a gay rights bill before the Chicago city council on the grounds that it would interfere with the rights of those offended by homosexuals.


1990 Sunday This is a published correction on Tuesday, July 24, 1990, page B1. Because of ambiguity in a police report, the Deseret News incorrectly reported that a 17-year-old youth who was beaten unconscious in Memory Grove on July 17 is gay. The victim, who was not identified in the story, told police he is not gay. Police said the assailants, who have subsequently been arrested, were "gay bashing" in at least two locations that night in Salt Lake City but evidently made a mistake in thinking this victim was gay. The Deseret News regrets the error. SKINHEADS BEAT 2 YOUTHS Two 17-year-old Salt Lake youths were severely beaten by men described as skinheads in separate attacks early Tuesday morning. The first victim was with two female friends in Memory Grove shortly after midnight when two men dressed in camouflage clothing approached him after driving by and shouting obscenities, police reports say. The victim, who told police he is gay, was hospitalized after one of the men beat him unconscious with nunchakus, a martial arts weapon. Minutes after the first attack, the same car cruised by a group of at least 11 people who were sitting on cars and planter boxes at 300 S. Main. There, three men got out of the car with nunchakus and started a fight. After slightly injuring one youth, the three assailants turned on another, who witnesses said received a bad beating. Police are investigating the incidents.

1991 Monday David Sharpton dropped by around 11 a.m. and what a surprise. I don't even remember telling him by new address. It was good to see him up and about. The reason he came over was to give some healing stones and crystals that people had been giving him. He said he knew I was "into" that New Age stuff and he wanted me to have them. That meant a lot to me. He said he has walking pneumonia but its under control now. He looked strong and vital. We visited until 2 pm and talked about everything under the sun. Just really catching up on our busy lives. We take the ones we love for granted. He said he and Michael have moved into their new apartment at the Riviera up from Murray. I'm glad. Nobody goes out to Murray. I'm glad he's back downtown. He said that he and Michael get along most of the time but have their moments. He said he really loves Michael and that there's not that many kids his age who would take on the responsibility he has of looking after David.

1993 The state wants two women to drop their lawsuit challenging a Utah statute that invalidates marriages with partners who have AIDS. In return, the Legislature would repeal the 1987 law during its next session. The Utah attorney general's office, meanwhile, would not enforce the law. ``Sounds fine except for one thing -- I've got a reason to rush,'' says plaintiff Cindy Kidd, 36, who was diagnosed with AIDS two months after her marriage. ``Criminy. It's AIDS. I may be dead by then.''  Attorney Brian Barnard filed the lawsuit on behalf of Cindy and Brian Kidd, another couple and children of both marriages who under the law could lose health-care, insurance and Social Security benefits if their mothers die. Mr. Barnard contends the law violates his plaintiffs' rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The state is inclined to agree, said Palmer DePaulis, spokesman for the state attorney general's office. ``We want to work with Brian,'' he said. ``We'd use our best
Brian Barnard
efforts to persuade law makers to repeal it. In the interim, we would make sure his clients were not affected. That should take away any possibility that anyone would be harmed.'' But Mr. Barnard said his clients cannot wait for the Legislature. ``First of all, there's no guarantee the Legislature will repeal it,'' Mr. Barnard said. ``Even if they do, the new law won't go into effect until May or June. That's nine months. My clients may not have that long.''    What's more, he said he already has been contacted by a dozen Utahns in circumstances similar to his clients' and he expects to hear from others.  Health workers estimate nearly 6,500 Utahns have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. Rather than wait for lawmakers to convene in January,  Mr. Barnard has asked Gov. Mike Leavitt and Utah Atty. Gen. Jan Graham to sign a consent decree requesting an immediate court ruling on the constitutionality of the law. ``It's not the state we're worried about,'' said Ms. Kidd, who believes she contracted HIV ten years ago from a former boyfriend. ``We're worried about insurance companies. They won't have to pay benefits if state law says we're not married. My kids are in limbo right now.'' Ms. Kidd did not know she was ill when she was married in Alta in 1991. Her husband adopted her 8-year-old twins. But under current law, the children would have no legal claim to their adoptive father's estate should their mother die, according to the lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court.  Another woman, identified in the lawsuit as ``T.E.P.(Peggy E. Tingey)'', was married in Farmington in 1989. She has since been diagnosed with AIDS. Mr. Barnard said the couple's biological child could be considered illegitimate under the law. Lawmakers passed the statute six years ago --despite warnings by their own staff attorney it might be unconstitutional. But sponsoring Sen. Stephen Rees, R-Salt Lake, argued the state had a more compelling right to protect public health. Now he says he would sponsor a repeal. ``I don't know what we were thinking,'' he said. Utah is the only state that annuls a marriage if a partner contracts AIDS. Other states have passed laws requiring HIV testing before marriage, but most of those laws were overturned by state supreme courts. ( 07/22/93 B1 SLTribune)

1995 BYU May Face Decision On Gay, But Celibate, Language Professor Byline: By
Thomas J Mathews
Peggy Fletcher Stack THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Page: C3 Brigham Young University may soon have to face the question of what to do about an avowed homosexual, but celibate, professor. Three weeks ago, officials at the Mormon Church-owned school summoned Thomas Matthews, an assistant professor in the Spanish department, to a discussion about his homosexuality. Matthews received a call from John Rosenberg, his department chair, who was doing research in Spain. Rosenberg told him that he needed to set up a meeting with Todd Britsch, BYU's academic vice-president. Matthews met with Britsch on June 30 for what he describes as ``a friendly, cordial discussion.'' Matthews has a current temple recommend, a requirement for all BYU faculty. In order to receive a recommend, an authorization of worthiness to enter the temple, individuals must attest to meeting certain standards, such as chastity if single and fidelity if married. And though Matthews says he has been celibate, he is increasingly public about being gay. ``I started coming out in private conversations about a year ago,'' he said this week. ``I was tired of answering questions about why I am 39 and not married.'' In addition to discussions with friends, and attending a support group for LDS gays, known as ``Family Fellowship,'' Matthews marched in Utah's gay pride parade in Salt Lake City last month. Matthews said that Britsch made no threats, but rather ``was just trying to find out the situation and my feelings.'' Britsch is out of the country and unavailable for comment. The discussion was prompted by another person's call to the church's general authorities, Matthews said. He said he did not know who that person was.  ``But rather than calling me, the authorities called my department chair,'' he said.   Until he hears otherwise, Matthews is planning to continue teaching. He recently passed his three-year review; in another three years, he would be eligible for continuing status, or tenure. But he has begun to look for another job. ``I am going to be honest,'' he said. ``I can't worry about who knows and who doesn't.''    BYU has no policy on celibate homosexuals among the faculty, said spokeswoman Carrie Jenkins. The policy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that there is a ``distinction between immoral thoughts and feelings and participating in either immoral heterosexual or any homosexual behavior.''    In other words, said church spokesman Don LeFevre, ``the church is more concerned with behavior than tendencies.'' Matthews said if he can find another job he will leave BYU ``for personal reasons.'' ``I don't know if I am capable of committing to live the rest of my life alone,'' he said.
  
1997-Three same-sex couples in Vermont filed a lawsuit claiming the ban on same-sex unions violates the state constitution.

1997 Nebo School District officials, sent teacher Wendy  Weaver a memo warning her
Wendy Weaver
not to discuss her sexual orientation with students, staff nor parents. — even at home or she would be terminated. Nebo District director of Human resources, Almon Mosher, forbade Wendy Weaver from discussing her “homosexual orientation or lifestyle” on or off campus.

1997 Page: B1 Bare-Naked Sunbathers Busted In Raid at `Bare Bum Beach' ``Bare Bum Beach,'' a nude sunbathing spot on the southern shores of the Great Salt Lake, was raided Saturday after police finished an, ahem, undercover investigation. ``They kept their clothes on, trust me,'' said Salt Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Rod Norton of the deputies who busted 34 nude people for misdemeanor lewdness. The strip of beach about three miles northeast of the Saltair building has long been known as a gay sunbathing and pickup spot. Deputies decided to crack down after receiving complaints from tourists who were angry their children were exposed to nudity and sexual conduct, Norton said. One couple was seen engaged in sexual acts during Saturday's raid, but deputies couldn't move fast enough to catch them, said Sgt. Mike Wardle. Before Saturday's action, sheriff's deputies used binoculars to scope out the frolicking at Bare Bum. Some officers posing as tourists also went up for a close-up view. By sundown Saturday, the police had rounded up 31 men and three women and charged them all with ``lewdness,'' a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.  A warning to the unclad: Deputies have promised further enforcement of Utah's lewdness statutes at Bare Bum Beach. ``The people who are out there don't care if anybody sees anything,'' Norton said. ``This isn't a new problem. It's been a problem for many, many years.''

1997 Tuesday, 31 men, 3 women arrested in raid on `Bare Bum Beach'   Tourists had complained about strip of shore known as gay sunbathing  spot. Thirty-one men and three women were arrested at a nude beach near Saltair over the weekend after officers received complaints from tourists. Salt Lake County deputy sheriffs peered through binoculars and walked the beach posing as vacationers before making the arrests Saturday, citing the violators with lewdness, a class B misdemeanor. Sgt. Rod Norton said the individuals were released after being cited, but one woman was taken to jail for obstruction of justice. The misdemeanor lewdness charges are punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Known in the gay community as "Exit 111" and "Bare Bum Beach," the strip of shoreline about three miles northeast of the Saltair building has long been known as a gay sunbathing and pickup spot, Norton said. "This isn't a new problem," he said. "It's been around for years. We deal with this at  least once a year." Deputies decided to crack down after receiving complaints in recent weeks from tourists who said their children were exposed to nudity and sexual conduct, Norton said.
  • 1997 S.L. Sheriff cracking down on Great Salt Lake nud  By DEREK FAY Universe Staff Writer Officers arrested 34 people Saturday for indecent exposure and lewdness at a strip of beach on the Great Salt Lake, notorious for nude sunbathers and sexual activity. "This is something that has gone on for many years. On any given year we'll try to increase enforcement activity there," said Sgt. Rod Norton of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office. Cracking down on the nude bathers hasn't been extremely consistent because of several factors, including the remoteness and isolation of the location, Norton said. The beach, on the east side of the Great Salt Lake near the Saltair, has been host to nude sunbathers for several years, but there have also been problems with sexual activity, said Sgt. Dan Haggin of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.  "We've got a problem with people going out and taking their clothes off. We've  also got a problem in an area with homosexual activity and they're kind of  side-by-side," Haggin said. Most residents are shocked to find out that there is a "nude beach" on the Great Salt Lake because they've never heard of it, Norton said.  "We're looking at some continued enforcement activities, a little bit more than we've done in the past. We'd like to have a little more success with it this year. Maybe we'll have a little more impact to clean that up," Norton said. There have been problems with tourists seeing the nude sunbathers and wanting to join in, not knowing it is against the law, Norton said. Homosexual and heterosexual activity takes place publicly on the beach sometimes, and participants don't seem to mind that there are other people around, Norton said. People of all ages have been known to come to the beach. They hear about the beach and decide to go and visit and see what it's all about, Norton said. Nude sunbathing and lewdness are class B misdemeanors. "They're about the same as a speeding ticket," Norton said. The West Patrol Division of the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office made the arrests. This story was posted on Tuesday, July 22, 1997

2003 Study to examine homosexuality and Mormons The Associated Press     POCATELLO, Idaho -- An Idaho State University researcher is soliciting participants for a study on the effect of homosexuality among devout Mormons.     Ron Schow said 100 people have already responded to the project called "Homosexuality Among Highly Religious Mormons." "This topic has been somewhat ignored in the Mormon Church," Schow said. "People don't want to know much about it because it deals with a kind of sexuality that seems frightening." For another five weeks, Schow is accepting responses from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have same-sex attractions and from family, friends or others who have dealt with those Mormons. Schow is looking for people who are active members.

2003 Tuesday, Subject: Meeting Chad Keller to Jim Dabakis Hey Jim; Hope you're back safe in Salt Lake!! I tried the number listed here in you past email and it refered me to another number that was stating you’re out of the service area...Russia would be out of area (LOL) Anyway is there a way that we can meet up later this week or next week. We have been able to secure New York Times Best Selling Author Eric Marcus for our Keynote speaker for the USHS weekend, and I need some advice and assistance. Let me know. CK
  • Subject: Meeting Jim Dabakis to Chad Keller “hi Chad I am happy to get together. I was in Salt Lake for 2 days and now am in Mexico until Tuesday. I will call you next week. My number I think I changed it and the new number is on the old one. Anyway, next week. Jim
  • Subject: Meeting Chad Keller to Ben Williams Meeting with Jim Dabakis Friday at 4:00 over cocktails. The Trapp CK

2004- The House will vote TODAY sometime between 1 - 2:30pm, Thursday July 22, on H.R. 3313, the so-called "Marriage Protection Act."  This is a sneak attack on the GLBT community - proponents of the bill think that nobody is paying attention, since the Federal Marriage Amendment failed so spectacularly last week in the Senate.  It is crucial that we show Representatives that we ARE paying attention to their vote. PLEASE call Representative Jim Matheson RIGHT NOW, before you do anything else today - and then send this message to others in your community. Rep. Matheson's phone number is:  (202) 225-3011 Here's what you should say:  "My name is <YOUR NAME> and I am a constituent of Representative Matheson's.  I am calling to urge him/her to vote AGAINST H.R. 3313, the Marriage Protection Act.  This bill would undermine the Supreme Court as well as other federal courts - it's simply un-American to try to deny an entire group of citizens their day in court. Can you tell me how Representative Matheson will vote?" Then e-mail field@hrc.org to tell us how the staff member says Representative Matheson will vote on the Marriage Protection Act.

2005 Two approaches to gay activism create tug-of-war Different ideas about gay liberation Meditating on the meaning of life By Leon D'Souza The Salt Lake Tribune Formed in the cultural ferment of the 1970s, the Village People were something of a musical declaration of independence for the timid homosexual. With their flamboyant costumes and bizarre antics, the gay-themed disco band's performers - a policeman, a sailor, a cowboy, a Native American, a leather enthusiast and a hardhat - stood as emblems of an offbeat, sexualized masculinity. But the Village People also may have given expression to a struggle within the gay community; a tug-of-war between "homophiles," who politely picketed for social freedoms while dressed in their Sunday best, and drag queens and the like who subscribed to a theatrical form of activism. "We're not divided on the issue of basic civil rights and opportunities," University of Utah history professor Elizabeth Clement told a packed assembly hall at Salt Lake City's First Unitarian Church on Sunday. "We are often divided over tactics and ideologies. So while we want civil rights, we disagree over the basic meaning of liberation itself." Central to that debate, in her view, are questions of identity: "Are gays the same as straight people? Do they have different ideas about the appropriate roles of men and women? And do those differences in understanding gender influence the way gays think about family, marriage, and sexual relational practices like monogamy?" Answering those questions may get at the bigger issue of whether gay Americans could help strengthen the family "by incorporating more flexibility in understanding gender, parenting and relationships." That's food for thought. And now, heard in the pews. FIRST UNITARIAN Continuing her presentation on the dissentious history of gay liberation in the United States, Clement pointed out that the homophile strategy of emphasizing similarities between gays and heterosexuals found hardly any takers within the community itself. "The largest expression of organization in 1950s gay culture was in the bars," Clement said. "That culture tended to be very accepting of, and in fact, almost requiring gender experimentation and difference. This is the era of butch-femme role playing, where you have very, very butch women and very, very feminine women pairing off." Homophiles viewed this vibrant bar culture with a lot of disdain. "One organization called the 'Daughters of Bilitis' published a newsletter in which they argued that, 'The kids with butch hair cuts and mannish manner are the worst publicity we can get.' '' But that dour attitude presented a recruitment problem. "When working class, particularly butch or drag queens, wandered by a homophile meeting and thought of joining, they had great difficulty understanding what the homophiles stood for," Clement explained. "[The drag queens] already were living much more political lives." Their soberly dressed counterparts just weren't provocative enough. Look at it this way: "The last thing you really wanted to be in the 1950s was a butch-lesbian construction worker with a nice femme girlfriend that other heterosexual men might actually be interested in," Clement said. "That's a recipe for getting the snot beat out of you on a regular basis." Still, what better way to be front and center?

2010 'Rash' of Gay Mormon suicides? By Glen Warchol The Salt Lake Tribune July 22, 2010 11:07AM Reed Cowan, filmmaker of 8: The Mormon Proposition, tells the LAWeekly that a wave of suicides has swept through the Gay-Mormon community. The latest, Cowan says, is a 28-year-old who killed himself on July 19 in Utah. Cowan knew the man because he was to have been in 8, but never showed-up for his interview. "We don't know why he left, but we had a lot of people who decided they couldn't go through with it." Cowan says the man is only one in a "rash" of suicides among gay Mormons in the last few weeks. "In Mormon culture, when one of these kids commits suicide, you never know at first if he's gay because his sexual orientation won't be in the obituary and families will sweep it under the rug. But you hear from friends that he is gay and that's why he killed himself."

2010 Poll: Majority of Californians back gay marriage By Rosemary Winters The Salt Lake Tribune A new poll shows that if a vote were held now, 51 percent of Californians would endorse gay marriage. In 2008, voters in the Golden State narrowly passed Proposition 8, which eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry in California after it had been granted by the state's Supreme Court. The random survey of 3,351 adults, conducted by Public Religion Research Institute in June, also shows that only 22 percent of Californians think that Prop 8 was a good thing for the state. There is a link to the complete poll here. California is awaiting a ruling in a federal lawsuit on whether Prop 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. And supporters of same-sex marriage could place the issue on the ballot again in the future. "We have some good evidence here of the way the wind is blowing ... in a more positive direction for the rights of gays and lesbians," Robert P. Jones, chief executive of the Public Religion Research Institute, told the Los Angeles Times. One-fourth of respondents said their support for rights for gay and lesbian people have grown over the past five years. Only 8 percent said they have become more opposed. Among religious and ethnic groups, Latino Catholics and white mainline Protestants were largely in favor of gay marriage. Solid majorities of Latino Protestants, white evangelicals and African-American Protestants said they would vote to keep gay marriage illegal.

2010 Queer Gnosis Q Salt Lake A Conversation with Jim Dabakis by Troy Williams If you
don’t know Jim Dabakis, you don’t know gay Utah. He is one of the co-founders of the Utah Pride Center and Equality Utah. He is a former talk radio host on KZJO. He’s a world traveler and a fancy-pants dealer in Russian art. But Jim’s main talent is bringing people together. Even enemies. In the early 80s he traveled to the Soviet Union and developed a friendship with the Russian people. More recently, Jim and the so-called “gang of five” opened a dialogue with LDS Church leadership, which led the church to endorse nondiscrimination ordinances in Salt Lake City. Soon, Jim is taking off to a university in Iran for a six-month teaching gig. Humble yet outspoken, he commands the room with an over-the-top personality that makes him an irresistible force. We spoke recently on KRCL’s RadioActive.

  • Troy Williams: Tell me about your former radio show on KZJO.
  • Jim Dabakis: I started in 1976. Joe Redburn was actually the first guy ever to do a talk show in Salt Lake and I used to listen to him. And that’s what I wanted to do. I had a lot to say and nobody to listen to me!
  • TW: I know the feeling! KZJO is now K-Talk?
  • JD: Yes, and I worked for KALL as well. Talk radio was different then. It was less vitriolic. You had a conservative for one hour, a liberal the next, and they were friends. It was much more congenial.
  • TW: Was your show balanced, liberal, or just you ranting?
  • JD: It was maybe 20 percent political. But there is a giant world out there with lots of interesting things. TW: Were you “out” back in those days?
  • JD: I’ll tell you how I came out. I was on KALL radio filling in for Tom Barberi. The scheduler had made a mistake and they had another host, Gayle Ruzicka. So, both of us were in the studio together and we didn’t have the best rapport. Two or three days later, I was filling in again with my co-host John Prince. And someone called in who sounded suspiciously like Gayle Ruzicka, and said, “Are you gay? Yes or no — just answer it!” And poor John, a very straight guy, was paralyzed. And I said, “Whoever you are, and I think I know, of course I’m gay, but don’t worry, your husband is too old for me!” And that was it. KALL never called me back again.
  • TW: Was that the death of your radio career?
  • JD: I was on air for thirteen years, said what I wanted to say, and I packed up and moved to Russia in 1989.
  • TW: I read that in the early 80s you traveled to Russia and snuck away from your bus tour dressed in D.I. clothes to meet the people.
  • JD: I got bored and I didn’t want to go on the Red Square tour, so I escaped and wandered around. I ended up at the English speaking part of Radio Moscow and I met a guy named Vladimir Pozner who was their chief propagandist. We became buds. Eventually I invited him to the states.
  • TW: Did people ever say, “You’re crazy!”
  • JD: I remember on the streets of Leningrad, there was a guy who was obviously following me. I knew it, and he knew that I knew it. The Russians eat ice cream from the street no matter what the weather is. I bought two ice cream cones, held one out, he walked by and took the ice cream cone. I walked on and he continued to follow me.
  • TW: You bought an ice cream cone for the KGB?
  • JD: Yeah, [laughs] it could have got me in a lot of trouble!
  • TW: Jumping forward. You were one of the co-founders of Equality Utah. Over the last six months they have passed seven nondiscrimination ordinances in both workplace and housing.
  • JD: I leave the organization and they flourish!
  • TW: It was really made possible by the endorsement of the LDS Church. You were instrumental in bringing them to the table to talk.
  • JD: After Prop 8 and the kiss-in at Temple Square with Matt [Aune] and Derrick [Jones], they reached out to us. And when we met them, one of them said, “It’s such a pleasure to meet the BLT community.” They were trying.
  • TW: Do you see cracks in the prejudice that some church leaders have?
  • JD: I think there is a great diversity of opinion among the top church leaders. It’s an evolving position that goes back and forth. Let’s just hope it continues to move forward.
  • TW: After the church endorsed these ordinances, there was a poll that said 67 percent of Utahns also supported the ordinances. Which was an 11 percent jump. Which is cool — but also suggests a theocratic group mindset. That’s also scary.
  • JD: Yes, but if you can convince one person and change everything, isn’t that easier than a thousand demonstrations and a million chants? Do you want to be effective or just be out there enjoying the agitation? Remember, it was the church that single-handedly turned the country around on the M-X missile due to Ed Firmage in the mid 80s. He convinced the church that this was not in their best interest. Those buffoons Orrin Hatch and Jake Garn were all for hiding these bombs all over Southern Utah in little shelters so that the commies would never know where they were. Hatch and Garn couldn’t be more for it until the church said they were against it. Then they switched gears.
  • TW: Coming up, The Great Satan is meeting the Axis of Evil. You are heading to Iran to teach for six months?
  • JD: Last May, I was asked to participate in a seminar in Tehran on “Sexual Minorities in Religious Communities.” I loved it. Every experience there was fabulous. After the seminar, we rented a vehicle and traveled all over Iran, and met amazing people. Invariably, wherever we were, people wanted to talk to us, invite us to their home, tell us how crazy their president was, recite poetry. These are a very spiritual people. Their culture is fabulous. I loved it and I’m going back.
2010 Q Salt Lake Utah Pride to Go Virtual? In 2009, organizers of the Southern Utah Pride Festival announced that the popular celebration would go on hiatus to give the committee time to rest and to focus on building a Pride Center in St. George. Sadly, one year later the festival’s hiatus has gone from temporary to indefinite. According to Chris McArdle, former president of the corporation behind the festival, the festival board has essentially dissolved, and the event itself has “pretty much shut down.” But McArdle was quick to add that pride itself has not shut down in Southern Utah. Currently, he said he is at work on creating a website that gay and transgender-friendly organizations in the area (and elsewhere in the state) can use to announce their events and stay in touch. McArdle registered the domain name (which currently leads to a bare bones page) and plans on launching the site with a small grant from a New York City-based foundation that contributed to the Southern Utah Pride Festival. “[The site is] kind of acting as our community center that hasn’t seemed to come into fruition,” he said. “It’s from Southern Utah and linking us together as one entity rather than many entities that can’t seem to pull their weight alone.” When fully up and running, the site will contain a calendar of community events from around the state, which can be added by any groups that ask for and obtain special posting accounts. McArdle mentioned Southern Utah’s PFLAG chapter as an example. “[PFLAG president] Claudia [Bradshaw] could log in and write about the meeting instead of calling a bunch of people to let them know it’s happening,” he said. He also said that the site will allow individuals to register accounts to comment on events. Although the Southern Utah Pride Festival won’t be happening this year, McArdle said that he hopes it will open its doors again someday. In the meantime, he said that SUP, Inc. is still a viable corporation, and the “little bit of money” left over from festivals past is waiting in a bank account managed by a former board member. All the community needs, he said, is for an interested person to step forward who can demonstrate the “interest, ability and action” to help organize the festival again. “It can be anybody and once they show themselves deserving,” he said. “But so far, not one person has stepped forward.” He noted, however, that the festival had gone a long way in helping gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Southern Utah be visible. “It’s no longer a small town. Gay people aren’t willing to hide in Washington County anymore and that’s a cool thing,” he said. “The whole premise [of Southern Utah Pride] was if we could save one person’s life, we did our job. I know we put couples together and there’s a lot of stories. “That’s the cool thing about these events: you never know,” he continued. “You save one kid’s life and he goes off to cure cancer. You don’t know how you’re affecting history.”

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