 |
| 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 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
- 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
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
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
 |
| Brian Barnard |
1995 BYU May Face Decision On Gay, But Celibate, Language
Professor Byline: By
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.
 |
| Thomas J Mathews |
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
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.
 |
| Wendy Weaver |
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 Utah 's
lewdness statutes at Bare
Bum Beach
- 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
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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