This Day in Gay Utah History July 31st

July 31st

1932-Barbara Gittings, one of the pioneers of gay and lesbian activism. Barbara Gittings (July 31, 1932 – February 18, 2007) was a prominent American activist for Gay equality. She organized the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis (DOB) from 1958 to 1963, edited the national DOB magazine The Ladder from 1963 to 1966, and worked closely with Frank Kameny in the 1960s on the first picket lines that brought attention to the ban on employment of Gay people by the largest employer in the US at that time: the United States government. Her early experiences with trying to learn more about lesbianism fueled her lifetime work with libraries. In the 1970s, Gittings was most involved in the American Library Association, forming the first gay caucus in a professional organization, in order to promote positive literature about homosexuality in libraries. She was a part of the movement to get the American Psychiatric Association to drop homosexuality as a mental illness in 1974. Her self-described life mission was to tear away the "shroud of invisibility" related to homosexuality that associated it with crime and mental illness. She was awarded a lifetime membership in the American Library Association, and the ALA named an annual award for the best gay or lesbian novel the The Barbara Gittings Award. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) also named an activist award for her. At her memorial service, Matt Foreman, the directory of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said, "What do we owe Barbara? Everything."

1969-At a second meeting of New York’s Gay Liberation Front “the chairmanship was constantly switched around because there was a rather sharp division in the meeting as to whether the purpose of the group should be self enlightenment (as kind of consciousness-raising type thing) or integration immediately with other revolutionary or militant movements.” 52 per cent of the meeting voted for staying with their own problems.  Then there was a lot of shouting,  disruption, chaos! People were quite adamant that if one is radical about one thing then  one must be radical about everything. While the majority voted to lay low before joining the rest of the revolution the minority people were determined and they moved off into another room. Bill Weaver said “a lot of young people were in GLF who had been in the radical and peace movement for a while- people who would naturally consider Mattachine and similar organizations “arch-conservatives.”  But some of the New

Jerry Hoose

GLFers who had been in the Movement “were very upset,” added Jerry Hoose, “because they couldn’t be open homosexuals and be in the Movement at the same time.” By helping to create GLF as a radical front they now could be. The combination of radicalism and homosexuality in GLF created problems unique to the organization because of some being radicals first and homosexuals second…they were people with no homosexual awareness. Marcus Overseth of the San Francisco Free Press stated that people whose emphasis is on the left rather than being Gay might be called Gay Leftists. The primary orientation of left Gay social revolutionaries is Gay. Their major interest in Gay liberation is just what the name implies-to end

discrimination against homosexuals to free their brothers and sisters from self doubt and self hate and to build the Gay counter culture.  Gay Leftists however look upon the Gay liberation movement as a means of furthering their peculiar notions and political revolution.  They look at Gay liberation through leftist lenses from a frame work of Marxist-Leninist thought.  To such persons the most important reason for their involvement is not freedom for Gay brothers and sisters but for blood in the streets revolution. The call of a liberation appealed in 1969 to a variety of young or young minded American homosexuals whose sole common denominator was impatience. They had shed or were shedding all vestiges of homosexual shame, wanted to live in the light. They were ready for a confrontation with anybody who might challenge or even delay their right to do so. GLF did not become SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) revolutionary.

1974-The Center for Disease Control  reported that Gay and bisexual men account for 1/3 of all cases of syphilis in the US.

1986 Jeff Levi, executive director of National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, addressed the Senate during hearings on the nomination of William Rehnquist to the Supreme Court. Strom Thurmond questioned him on why NGLTF doesn't work for something constructive such as changing homosexuals into heterosexuals.

1988  I woke up about 7:30, got dressed, and went over

  to the lodge for breakfast of sausage and scrambled eggs.  At 10 a.m. Affirmation held a non-sectarian devotional up at the outdoor chapel on the hillside. It was so spiritually moving to be surrounded by nature. Rocky O'Donovan talked about Jose Sarria who sang “God Save Us Nelly Queens to Gays locked up in the San Francisco jail, before Stonewall. Chip Prince spoke about nature and the spirit. I spoke how I feel we as Gay people must help the Lord complete his mission of Liberating the Captives and Binding Up the Broken Hearted by liberating the oppressed in our communities and bind up the broken hearted among us. Dave Malmstrom was moved to speak about his suicide attempt years before and how he knows that God saved him for better things. People were in tears from Dave simple talk.  After the devotional we came back to the camp, had a lunch of creamed beef and baked potatoes with a cheese sauce.

Then we sang Chris Williamson’s ‘Song of the Soul’ song, packed up our gear hauled down the Gay Flag from the flag pole and ended the first Gay Retreat in the history of Utah. It was wonderful and I feel some healing, nurturing, and educating went on this weekend.  John Reeves before we left signed a contract with Lorraine Clark, the camp director for next year for the dates August 4, 5, and 6^th. We all came off

the mountain better people. Indeed the Gay Spirit divine was with us this weekend. Back in Salt Lake City, in the evening went to KRCL where Becky Moss and I taped two shows, one with Dan Fahndrich about Beyond Stonewall, and another with Russ Lane about the National Conference of Affirmation to be held this year in Hollywood, California. At Affirmation they were watching the video Making Love with Kate Jackson and Harry Hamlin  [Journal of Ben Williams]

Urvashi Vaid

1989-Urvashi Vaid replaced Jeff Levi as the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Joe Redburn

1991 The Trapp a bar located at 102 South 600 West in Salt Lake City opened for business. Joe Redburn was the owner and manager and Frank Chugg was the manager. Redburn was the original owner of the Sun Club, Club Bricks and a talk show commentator as well as Gay community activist. 

2002 David Nelson: Press Release: Pride rumblings, July 30. By many accounts, the Utah Pride Inc. 2002 celebrations that were produced last month were the most satisfying ever. The unseasonably cold weather aside, it seemed that never have so many enjoyed the work of so few. Outside observers might be tempted to vaunt the group as a model of non-profit management which struggled valiantly to return from the brink of fiscal and managerial malfeasance. As interviews today suggest, they'd be wrong. With a group board-of-directors meeting scheduled for Thursday and a separate, closed board meeting on Friday or Saturday, community leaders are watching tentatively for signs of independence and stability following the resignation today of group Executive Co-Chair Billy Lewis and other troubling news. Amid charges that the group executive committee, not its board, is now the final arbiter of corporate decisions, I wonder

Billy Lewis

also about possible conflicts of interest that the committee members might harbor. One of the hallmarks of any non-profit corporation -- and certainly of those with fiduciary trust and responsibility -- is the separation of its asset management from other groups, especially other non-profit corporations. Yet, there's reportedly $3,400 of unsold bottled water being stored at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah Inc. office. Utah Pride Inc. owns the water and rents a storage unit for its other needs, but for as yet unknown reasons, the water is kept by the center. Maybe, with the overall Utah Pride Inc. budget, some thousands of dollars of water is inconsequential, but with no verified audit of the group's financial activities released yet to the public -- let alone to its board -- it's easy to see where the guessing game, and finger-pointing begin. Reports suggest that an audit would prove a deficit -- the first in the group history. Finally, it's reported that the group committee has subsumed complete authority of group financial matters. State corporation laws require that non-profit corporate directors exercise that authority. If, in fact, these directors aren't the group governing board, let them say so. I believe it's good for our Utah Pride Inc. leadership to be independent, open and honest. They may still claim this by storing and managing their own assets, allowing for public advice on the selection of new leaders to fulfill the vacancies left  by the resignation of Lewis and others, allowing for open and publicized meetings, and proving due diligence in the timely publication of the group accounting reports. That means obviously that the two meeting that are planned for this week should be postponed until public notice about their rescheduling has be made. Anything less, and I'm afraid their valiant struggle was, indeed, for not. David Nelson

•  Subject: I have some questions as to the source of the information in this posting??  What interviews are you talking about and where can we see these interviews??? Which Community "leaders”? What other troubling news? Who is making these charges? Reported by who? Who's finger pointing besides you? What reports and from where, if as you say, nothing is being released?? Reported by whom and to whom?? Who else has resigned?? ?” 
• David Nelson Re: Pride rumblings, July 30The source of the information contained in my report asked for and will remain in deep background. While I encourage full disclosure by my source in time, I recognize and respect the need for anonymity.

 2003 Cache Valley Alliances’s DAY TRIP TO BEAR LAKE When:  Thursday July 31, 10:00 am Where:  Carpool from Kelly [Byrnes]& Courtney [Moser]'s WE will go to the North Beach, Bring either money to buy lunch or a picnic and Plenty of Sun Screen and Sand Castle Building equipment etc.

2004 Glen Warchol, Salt Lake Tribune Business Desk reporter, did a nice write up on Salt Lake Metro. The print version has a great picture of Michael Aaron holding the blow-up of the inaugural issue.

2005 The RCGSE Along With Empress 30 Krystyna Shaylee  Present BBQ & Volley Ball in the Park: When: Sunday July 31^st Time: 1:00 pm until when ever Cost: $5 to Benefit the PWA Christmas Fund Where: Sugar House Park (first Terrace area on the left after the first hill by the Duck Pond)

Scott McCoy 

2006 Monday AND THE BANNED PLAYED ON - JULY 31ST OUR 4TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISER CELEBRATING the First Amendment is focused one again on banned music, featuring Kirt Bateman, Kurt Bestor, Debi Graham, Lisa Marie, Lori Reese, Chelsi Stahr, Aaron Swenson, and Danny Terasevich singing songs by Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Cole Porter, Paul Simon, Rolling Stones and Prince, as well songs from ASSASSINS, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, and BIG LOVE. Hosted by Mayor Rocky Anderson and Senator Scott McCoy Monday, July 31st, 7pm Jeanne Wagner Theater  Tickets $30 and include a post-show reception by Lavendar Catering Call 355-ARTS


2018  Confusion over gender-inclusive restrooms at the LoveLoud

Bobbee Trans Mooreman

Festival led some LGBTQ groups to leave the event early By Jessica Miller Salt Lake Tribune She just wanted to use the restroom before a celebrity meet-and-greet at Saturday’s LoveLoud Festival. But Bobbee Trans Mooremon had a hard time finding a gender-inclusive one. The transgender woman, who is disabled and uses a walker, was told by a festival staffer to go to a nearby men’s restroom. Mooremon, who was volunteering with the nonprofit QueerMeals, had been told all of the facilities at the University of Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium would be gender-inclusive for the event created to raise awareness of — and support for — at-risk LGBTQ youths. So Mooremon went inside. But as she was washing her hands, Mooremon said a man wearing LoveLoud volunteer credentials told her she was in the wrong restroom. He told her, if she wanted a gender-inclusive restroom, there were two in the general population area of the concert venue. This one was for men. “I felt very frustrated and very unsafe,” Mooremon said Monday. “It was a big event for LGBTQ people, and this concert was supposed to be addressing things like that and making it better for us.” After her run-in, Mooremon said she felt she couldn’t stay at the concert — and QueerMeals and other organizations that had been at the festival packed up their booths early and left. They are now pressing LoveLoud to make changes moving forward. “A couple of organizations took it seriously and were not going to stand for transphobia in LGBTQ spaces,” Mooremon said. “Which was great.” One of the organizations that left was Provo Pride. Representative

Brianna Cluck

Brianna Cluck said concerns about the festival’s inclusion of transgender people began before Mooremon’s experience that Saturday. Cluck said the groups had been told days in advance that all the restrooms would be gender-inclusive — but on the day of the event, there were only two. Wading through a sea of 35,000 concertgoers to find one of two gender-inclusive restroom in a large venue would be impractical and uncomfortable, she said.  “On the outside looking in, it can seem to be a little petty,” Cluck said. “It’s about more than that. It’s about respect and equality.” Since then, several LGBTQ groups — including Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Provo and Ogden Pride — have released statements expressing disappointment and asking LoveLoud for change. “We have confidence that the organizers of LoveLoud will be able to learn from this event and do better in the future,” PFLAG Provo wrote in a Facebook post. “For our part, we intend to ask more questions and get detailed answers when we participate in any future community events." LoveLoud representatives said in a statement Monday that they were “saddened” to hear of reports of discrimination at the festival. “We have a zero-tolerance policy toward any behavior that makes anyone feel unsafe or unwelcome,” the statement reads. “As an organization dedicated to creating safe and affirming events for our LGBTQ+ friends and families, our staff, volunteers, and charity partners were asked to participate in an LGBTQ+ cultural competency training. We are committed to learning from our mistakes and will continuously work to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people in our community and beyond.” The statement added that if concertgoers wished to shared their experience “so that we know where we excelled and where we have room to grow,” feedback could be sent to info@loveloudfest.com. Mooremon said Monday that she hopes her experience will lead to changes at future LoveLoud events — including mandatory gender-inclusive restrooms. She hopes the organization might also consider creating a working group to focus on issues involving underrepresented groups, like the transgender community, people of color and those who are disabled. Cluck said Provo Pride will still come back next year to the LoveLoud Festival but added that she hopes the restrooms will be gender-inclusive and the volunteers better trained. “These are issues that happen, that hurt the community and make people uncomfortable,” she said. “But these are issues we can learn from and LoveLoud can learn from.”

2019 Pepper Prespentt, first Emperor of the Royal Court, presented her Utah Queer Historical Society's "Oratory" (public oral history Wednesday night, 6:30 pm at the Utah Pride Center. All are welcome! The event is free but donations to the Historical Society are also accepted. Light snacks served. Pepper has been an LGBTQ rights activist since the 1970s. She helped to fund and support the establishment of the Gay Help Line in the 70s and 80s. In 1976, Pepper was one of the founders of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire and is one of its most active members to this day, having earned a Lifetime Reign as Emperor 1 and King Father of Utah of the Golden Spike Empire. In May, Pepper received the Kristen Ries Community Service Award for her many years of activism.