This Day In Gay Utah History October 15

October 15th

1889 One Year For a Heinous Crime- Evan Thomas convicted of the terrible crime against nature was sentenced to one year in the Pen. Judge Judd remarked that in all his practice in Tennessee he had never heard of such a case of this, but in view of the fact that the defendant was drunk at the time he had imposed a light sentence. Provo Daily Enquirer

1952-One, Inc. was founded in Los Angeles to publish One Magazine. The magazine was published until 1969. One, Inc. still continues as an educational institution.

1963- State Files Brief Upholding Contempt Ruling. A brief upholding a contempt of court conviction against Mrs. LaRae Peterson for refusing to answer questions about her relationship with Jean Sinclair, since convicted of 1^st degree murder, was filed Monday. The office of Attorney General A Pratt Kesler filed the brief with the State Supreme Court. Filing of this brief answers an earlier brief filed by Jimi Mitsunaga, attorney for Mrs. Peterson. The case will argue next month before the high court. Mrs. Peterson was convicted by 3^rd District Judge Marcellus K Snow of contempt of Court for failing to answer the questions and was sentenced to serve five days in jail. Wrote Brief- Ronald N Boyce, Chief Assistant Attorney General, wrote the brief filed Monday. It contends:- Under the state constitution, Mrs. Peterson would be exempted from answering questions as to whether she had engaged in homosexual acts with Miss Sinclair only if she could be convicted of a felony if she answered in the affirmative. No felonious conduct was involved, Mr. Boyce asserted. The answer was pertinent since a jealous homosexual relationship between the two would establish a motive for the murder. Under these circumstances, Mrs. Peterson could not claim the privilege of refusing to answer the question. Cites Cases- Mr. Mitsunaga in his brief cited case which he claimed would entitle Mrs. Peterson to refuse to answer the questions. [Deseret News 12 A Oct 15, 1963] Photos of Jean Sinclair and LaRae Peterson

1969- Salt Lake City's Gay Liberation Front joined a moratorium protest against the war in Vietnam.

GAA Headquarters 

1973-The formation of the National Gay Task Force was announced in New York City. It was founded in 1973 by Dr. Howard Brown, Dr. Bruce Voeller, who was the organization's first director, Reverend Robert Carter and Dr. Frank Kameny, in New York. 

1974-The Gay Activists Alliance New York City headquarters, the Firehouse at 99 Wooster Street in Soho, was burned down by arsonists.

1977-The Santa Barbara board of education voted to ban discrimination against Gaystudents, making it the first school board in the nation to do so.

Spencer Kimball

1982 - LDS First Presidency instruction to all stake and mission leaders that many letters from church members "indicate clearly that some local leaders have been delving into private, sensitive matters beyond the scope of what is appropriate.... Also, you should never inquire into personal, intimate matters involving marital relations between a man and his wife." Letter continues that even if a church member volunteers such intimate information, "you should not peruse the matter but should merely suggest that if the member has enough anxiety about the propriety of the conduct to ask about it, the best course would be to discontinue it." In response to widespread complaints from married couples being asked if they have oral sex, this returns First Presidency stance to what it was prior to presidency of Spencer W. Kimball, now incapacitated.

1982 Mac Hunt, Wirt Gilliam and F. Meinhart open a gay dance club called "Backstreet" at 108 South 500 West in SLC Utah. It becomes the home bar of the Royal Court. The back dance floor had a stage and a make up dressing room.

Ronald reagan and Larry Speakes

1982 The following press conference is the first public mention of AIDS in the Reagan White House. At that time 200 Americans had died of the new infectious disease. Reagan himself did not mention AIDS for three more years. Te banter back and forth was indicative of the lack of concern about the epidemic in the Reagan White House. The White House Office of the Press Secretary Press Briefing October 15, 1982 The Briefing Room 12:45pm EDT

Q: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement ­ the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, that AIDS is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?

Speakes: What's AIDS?

Q: Over a third of them have died. It's known as "gay plague." (Laughter.) No, it is. I mean it's a pretty serious thing that one in every three people that get this have died. And I wondered if the President is aware of it?

Speakes: I don't have it. Do you? (Laughter.)

Q: No, I don't.
Speakes: You didn't answer my question.

Q: Well, I just wondered, does the President ­

Speakes: How do you know? (Laughter.)

Q: In other words, the White House looks on this as a great joke?

Speakes: No, I don't know anything about it, Lester.

Q: Does the President, does anyone in the White House know about this epidemic, Larry?

Speakes: I don't think so. I don't think there's been any ­

Q: Nobody knows?

Speakes: There has been no personal experience here, Lester.

Q: No, I mean, I thought you were keeping ­

Speakes: I checked thoroughly with Dr. Ruge this morning and he's had no ­ (laughter) ­ no patients suffering from AIDS or whatever it is.

Q: The President doesn't have gay plague, is that what you're saying or what? 
Speakes: No, I didn't say that.

Q: Didn't say that?

Speakes: I thought I heard you on the State Department over there. Why didn't you stay there? (Laughter.)

Q: Because I love you Larry, that's why (Laughter.)

Speakes: Oh I see. Just don't put it in those terms, Lester. (Laughter.)

Q: Oh, I retract that.

Speakes: I hope so.

Q: It's too late.

This transcript was quoted at the beginning of Jon Cohen's book, Shots in the Dark: The Wayward Search for an AIDS Vaccine, 2001.

Eddie Murphy

1983-Eddie Murphy's HBO special "Delirious" airs. It raised controversy because of several tasteless AIDS jokes and a long diatribe about "faggots." The first joke that a 22-year-old Murphy tells when he gets onstage in Delirious is, “I got rules. Faggots aren’t allowed to look at my ass while I’m onstage.“ He then launches into a fifteen-minute bit of grotesque, aggressive homophobia that includes jokes like “I’m afraid of gay people,” “I have a nightmare I go out to Hollywood and find out Mr. T is a faggot,” and ends with a riff about how he doesn’t really like women hanging out with homosexuals because what if they go home to their man “with AIDS on their lips.”

David K Nelson

1984 - Salt Lake City Mayor Administrative Assistant Dolly Plumb agreed to work with David K. Nelson age 22, as the city’s 1st Gay liaison. Nelson’s first work dealt with reporting the increase of anti Gay and Lesbian Violence in Salt Lake City. Appointment was hailed “as the event of the year and possibly the biggest event Utah’s Gay community has ever seen.”

1987-Ken Dawson, who had been director of "Senior Action in a Gay Environment "SAGE for six years, resigned. When he began the organization had an annual budget of $45,000 and 100 volunteers, when he resigned the annual budget was $750,000 and 600 volunteers. 

1993-Federal district court Judge Kimba Wood ruled that shareholders of Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores Inc should be allowed to vote on retaining a company policy that would forbid employment of gays and lesbians.

Hustling

1996 Residents help fight prostitution by Hans S Moran It is more difficult to identify male prostitutes he [Sgt Ken Hansen] said. Only 10 percent of prostitution in the city is done by males and most male prostitutes are likely to be minors.  It may not seem like a big problem until you get a 14 or 15 year old male involved, and then it’s big a problem Hansen said. “We’re giving it all our attention,” he said. It’s kept real quiet by the fact that its difficult to see. People don’t dress flamboyant as the female prostitutes. “Male prostitution is also much more difficult to prosecute because offenders don’t give one another away as do those involved in female prostitution Hansen said. Often prostitutes are local young men who are doing it for the money and are less likely to reveal what the other person offered or agreed to do.[Deseret News B-4] 

Kelli Peterson

1996 It has been nearly a year since Kelli Peterson asked permission to form the Gay/Straight Student Alliance at Salt Lake City's East High School. The request for a formal support group to discuss gay issues ignited a firestorm in Utah. The Salt Lake City school board banned noncurricular clubs in all its junior highs and high schools and before the winter was over, state lawmakers had jumped in. Peterson graduated in May, but her interest in the struggle that young gay and lesbian people face has not waned.   Peterson has crisscrossed the country as a spokeswoman for young people's gay rights. She spent last week in Washington at the ``Free To Be Me Festival.'' She returned to Salt Lake City for one day and headed to Los Angeles to receive one of the 1996 Lambda Liberty Awards along with Lily Tomlin and the other producers of the film The Celluloid Closet; the staff of The Advocate, an award-winning national gay and lesbian news magazine; and Clyde Wadsworth, a gay-rights attorney.   Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men and people with HIV/AIDS. The organization has offices in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago and gives the awards annually. The program for the event lists Peterson as founder of the Gay/Straight Alliance who ``spoke out bravely when political extremists moved to bar such clubs from the Utah public schools.'' Peterson said accepting the award in front of an audience of Hollywood-types doesn't bother her at all. In fact, she is anxious to thank the gay and lesbian celebrities she looked up to when she was younger. Seeing famous people like rock singer Melissa Etheridge and activist Candace Gingrich made her feel she had a future even though she is gay. Lately, the tables have turned and she is a person younger people have been looking up to. ``I really wouldn't consider myself a role model. Hopefully, I'm just the first of many who want clubs like this. Sometimes kids come up to me and tell me I'm brave and I did something they could never do, but it really wasn't just me doing it,'' she said. Peterson's travel schedule kept her from starting college this fall, but she plans to attend winter quarter; she just doesn't know where.Salt Lake Tribune Page: B2 

Michael Quinn

1998 Utah AIDS Foundation’s Men of Distinction Forum is held at the Salt Lake City Main Library. “Out of Your Antique Closet” featured historians Dr. Michael Quinn and Ben Williams. 

George W Bush

1999-Washington Times columnist Cal Thomas reported that George W. Bush told a small group of conservative Republicans he would not knowingly appoint a practicing homosexual as an ambassador or department head if elected president.

Joseph Mitchell Parsons

1999 Joseph Mitchell "Yogi" Parsons was  was executed for the August 1987 murder of Richard Lynn Ernest. Parsons hitched a ride with Ernest in California and stabbed him to death at a remote rest area in Utah claiming he was fending off homosexual advances. A look at last 8 hours before the execution  UTAH STATE PRISON -- Late Wednesday, Joseph Mitchell Parsons was moved from his regular cell on death row to the death watch cell, not far from the execution chamber, in preparation for his last day. Eight hours before he took his walk toward the room where he would die by lethal injection, prison officials began the standard procedure of documenting the final acts of his life. Here is a snapshot of those final hours:4:00 p.m. -- Parsons is pacing his cell but is talkative. He tells guards he was tired and nodding off while watching "The Mummy" video. 4:09 p.m. -- Parsons' brother and cousin arrive to visit. Warden Hank Galetka allows the visit to take place inside the cell. 4:30 p.m. -- Parsons is laughing and joking around. 5:00 p.m. -- Parsons and visitors are playing the card game "Uno." 5:08 p.m. -- Parsons shares his final meal with his visitors. The three dine on Burger King hamburgers, french fries and milkshakes. 6:00 p.m. -- The card games continues through the hour. He drinks root beer and appears to be in good spirits. 6:45 p.m. -- Parsons is visited by the prison physician's assistant and two deputy wardens. Parsons requests no medical assistance. 7:10 p.m. -- Parsons requests a serving of chocolate chip ice cream, which he shares with his brother and cousin. They are all laughing and having fun. Parsons offers ice cream to the prison staff, which declines. 7:53 p.m. -- Parsons asks for the score of the American League Championship Series game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. 8:37 p.m. -- Parsons asks for an update on the ballgame. 8:41 p.m. -- Parsons is laughing and has a good attitude. Prison officials describe him as very alert. 9:03 p.m. -- Parsons makes a phone call to his mother, Marie Gordon, in Florida. 9:15 p.m. -- Parsons concludes the 15-minute conversation with his mother and asks to call his sister. He also asks prison officials for some mangoes. 10:00 p.m. -- The mood shifts. Parsons and his visitors are very somber and are not talking much. 10:10 p.m. -- Parsons begins discussing chess and other games of strategy with visitors. He begins a game of gin with his brother. The mood is still somber, but there is occasional laughter. 10:35 p.m. -- Parsons is more upbeat. He is laughing and joking with his visitors. 10:38 p.m. -- Parsons is explaining the prison ventilation system to his visitors. 10:45 p.m. -- Parsons is given 15 minutes to conclude the visit with family. 10:50 p.m. -- Mood is somber. Parsons playing cards. 10:58 p.m. -- Parsons says farewells to his brother and cousin. 11:00 p.m. -- Parsons stands at rear of cell. Visitors are escorted out of cell and death watch area. 11:10 p.m. -- Physician's assistant visits Parsons and asks if he wants something to "take the edge off." Parsons declines. 11:13 p.m. -- Parsons sitting on chair talking to staff and says it is difficult to "get comfortable." 11:24 p.m. -- Galetka returns. Parsons seems in good spirits. 11:30 p.m. -- He talks to staff. Parsons says he doesn't want to shave. 11:37 p.m. -- Parsons is playing chess with staff members. 11:45 p.m. -- Parsons wins chess game. He appears more relaxed and in good spirits. 11:50 p.m. -- Parsons and staff are talking about the science fiction videos he watched. 11:55 p.m. -- Parsons is talking about politics and taxes. He remains upbeat. 11:55 p.m. -- Deputy Warden Scott Carver and the tie down team (which prepared Parsons for the execution) enters the death watch cell. Parsons is strip searched and given clean clothes. He remains calm. 11:58 p.m. -- Parsons is restrained and removed from the cell. 11:59 p.m. -- Parsons exits with the tie down team and is escorted by Carver. 12:10 a.m. -- Parsons is given lethal injection. 12:17 a.m. -- A medical professional enters the execution chamber and checks Parsons' vital signs. 12:18 a.m. -- Parsons is pronounced dead.

2002 Letter to the Editor: Hang Those Rainbow Flags High  Editor: I write this in response to Bart Gatrell's October 14 letter to the editor, "Rainbow Flags are Offensive." "Sexual preference" is a misnomer. Gatrell would probably argue that he cannot readily change his "preference" for females or his rather obvious homophobic lack of attraction for males. However, homosexuals have no more control over their sexual attractions than heterosexuals. Sometimes it takes people until mid-life to "come out of the closet." The reason for that suppression and denial is attributable to people such as Gatrell who refuse to accept homosexual people as viable members of society. If Gatrell had the same limited legal rights as gays and lesbians and knew what it was like to live in constant fear of being persecuted or even physically harmed, he just might change his unbelievably bigoted attitude and be a little more respectful. It is most certainly not disrespectful for a population to declare its presence, especially on a college campus. Those flags represent decades of hard work by dedicated people to make the homosexual presence in this country known. Oh, and go ahead and hang all the Jesus posters you want. Lots of gays are Christian, too! And although I'm not a Christian, I'm fairly sure that Christians believe Jesus taught tolerance and patience. So, go for it. A little tolerance and patience around here might be nice. Dana Robison Junior, Mechanical Engineering

2004 Pride Dance Saltair Room, Olpin Union University of Utah Campus October 15, 9pm $5 per person. Pay (cash only) at the door.

2004 Friday, October 15, 2004 PWACU Community Awards & Living with AIDS Conference Please join the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah for our Eleventh Annual Community Awards Reception honoring the dedication of outstanding individuals, organizations and businesses who have led the fight against HIV/AIDS. Sheraton Hotel 500 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, Utah Tickets $50 Hors 'doeuvres & Silient Auction 6:00 pm Award Presentation 7:00 pm Please RSVP by October 8^th Toni Johnson, Director People With AIDS Coalition of Utah

1390 South 1100 East, Suite 107 Salt Lake City, Utah 84105

Walter Larrabee

2004  Subject: Salt Lake a Drag? The 2004 Daniel Crowley Memorial Storytelling Concert Presents Walter Larrabee At the 2004 American Folklore Society Meeting, Salt Lake City Friday, October 15, 2004, 9:00 PM Little America Hotel, Ballroom B Co-sponsored by the Storytelling Section and the LGBT Section Suggested Donation: $10, public invited

• Ben Williams wrote: Is Salt Lake a Drag?" Artist Walter Larrabee tells (and demonstrates!) how drag is a positive outlet that helps men and women bridge the gap between the societal constraints of reality and the limitless potential that exists in the world of imagination and fantasy. In this hour and fifteen minute show, Walter introduces us to many of his best and some of his most intimate friends including well-known celebrities of stage and screen. Perhaps a city's sense of place is determined by the sensibilities of its citizens. Like any other city, Salt Lake is a place of contrasts. Despite its determinedly sober reputation, Salt Lake has a long-standing history of gaiety. Together, Walter, and all his personalities and friends reveal a lighter side of Salt Lake City that many people are afraid to see or believe does not exist at all. Is Salt Lake a drag? You decide.
• The American Folklore Society is an association of people who create and communicate knowledge about folklore throughout the world. Our more than 2,200 members and

  

  Craig Miller

  subscribers are scholars, teachers, and libraries at colleges and universities; professionals in arts and cultural organizations; and community members involved in folklore work. Many of our members live and work in the U.S., but their interests in folklore stretch around the world, and we are home to a large and growing number of international members. The society's annual meeting will take place October 13-16, 2004 at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Contact: Craig Miller
• Connell O’Donovan Walt Larrabee performs for American Folklore Society tonight  herulifag  Ben Williams wrote "Is Salt Lake a Drag?" Artist Walter Larrabee tells (and demonstrates!) how drag is a  positive outlet. Good goddess, there's some queer Utah history! I've known Walt for 25 years now. He and I were in "Promised Valley" and "Within these Walls" (the LDS church's official

  

  Connell Rocky O'Donovan

  sesquicentennial musical) together in 1980. 150,000 Mormons saw us perform "Walls" at the Huntsman Center on the U of U campus. Most of the guys in these two casts were homos, but of course it was unspoken until many years later when we all started showing up at the Sun in the late 80s! I loved Walter and really looked up to him as one of the nicest people I ever met. Walt even came to my missionary Farewell. When I left for my mission in November 1980, I had the choirs from the combined casts sing at my Farewell. Gawd, I was such a drama queen, I just had to have a HUGE Farewell gal extravaganza! How many other missionaries had a 100 voice (non-ward) choir sing for them???!! If anyone has contact info for him, please let him know I'd love to hear from him! I'm sure he only remembers me as Rocky though....Have him email me Thanks for the great memories.... Connell Santa Cruz



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• SALT LAKE A DRAG? NO WAY! Walter Larabee, or simply "Walter " is the consummate entertainer. His artistry is riveting, and he effectively communicates to an audience "how drag is a positive outlet that helps men and women bridge the gap between the societal constraints of reality and the limitless potential that exists in the world of imagination and fantasy." Within the Little America ballroom, all eyes were upon Walter. Even when ducking behind a partition, he kept us engaged as a masterful storyteller. Franke Holt,

  

  Franke Holt

  who ably assisted Walter, helped with the music, costumes, and also participated in one skit. Walter Larabee's mostly one-man extemporization was for the 2004 Daniel Crowley Memorial Storytelling Series, and it was a first-rate example of the talent Salt Lake City can produce. The one-night stand was performed for the American Folklore Society's annual meeting held at the Little America Hotel on October 15. Walter deftly demonstrated for his audience, many of who may have been skeptical, that drag is indeed a folklore art form. As the LGBT section facilitator, Craig Miller, aptly stated, "drag truly is folklore because there are no academic or formal training where drag can be learned." It is an art form peculiar to our Lambda culture that is passed down from generation to generation by mentors to novices. Walter's depiction of the women celebrities he so admires, is, as he deadpans, done in a "techno female illusionist" style. These characterizations of women, with whom he has become identified, were infused with Walter's warmth, humor, and naughty ribaldry. Walter nearly brought the house down as a pogo stick jumping operatic diva. The highlight of the evening however was when Walter's mother shared the stage with him to lip-synch "Suddenly Seymour" from "Little Shop of Horrors." Walter may have the distinction of being the only "drag artist" to perform with his own mother. If there was a glitch in the evening's rich variety of skits, it had to have been the audio equipment, the bane of every drag performer. The rousing "Nine to Five" song was barely audible in the Dolly Parton number, although Walter's interaction with his audience amply made up for the lack of volume. After an hour and half of efficacious rendering, we all shared with Walter's mother, pride and love for this incredible entertainer. Walter has enriched our lives with his talents and has raised money for our various projects within and without the Lambda Communities of Utah. Donations from this performance went to the LGBT Youth Story Telling Scholarship fund. - Ben Williams

2005 -Queer Spelling Bee: This event will be held at the GLBTCCU from 6-9pm in the Black Box. Queertestants and Queertators alike will have a side splitting good time and I assure you, those who were in attendance last fall have never felt the same about GORGONZOLA. $5.00 Suggested donation at the door for queertators, queertestants and students are free with ID. Prizes will be awarded to the top three queertestants. Refreshments will be available. This is a Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual,Trangender Resource Center at the University of Utah event, held in partnership with the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Trangender Community Center of Utah.

Eric Ethington

2008 Eric Etherton begins his Blog PRIDEin Utah- 15^th October Follow up thoughts on Mormon church v. California Prop 8 Posted by Eric Ethington Ok, now that I’ve had further time to digest this development with the Mormon church and Proposition 8 in California, I have some further thoughts on it. First, here are the things going on that I have the biggest problem with: 1: The church donates over 10 million dollars to the support of Proposition 8 2: The general leadership of the church sends out a letter to California church members encouraging them to get out and support the political cause. 3: The general leadership then has the local Bishops and stake leaders encourage the single Utah members to donate extra money to the cause, and spend up to 20 hours of their time calling California residents and attempting to sway more support. I think my biggest issue with all of this is that I feel it’s just an extreme violation of trust for a religion to impose political views on it’s members. The whole point of a religion is to follow people who can help you get closer to God. I understand that the tenants of the church say that the leadership are only human, and can make mistakes, so whenever they say something, you should pray about it and get an answer for yourself. The flaw in this plan is that if you ever feel like you get a different answer; the culture says that you’re doing something wrong, and ostracizing ensues. And despite what the tenant of the church really is, you know that millions of followers will just immediately follow anything the 1st presidency says without question, and assume that they are doing what “God” wants them to do. The church has given money to politicians and causes before, which I also don’t agree with, but at least it was done quietly, and without release or encouragement to the members. But this is the line that no religion must ever cross, at what point does it cease to be about “God” and become just another political pusher.

2010 Pentagon: Gay troops should stay silent for now By ANNE FLAHERTY The Associated Press WASHINGTON • The Defense Department on Friday warned gay troops that if they disclose their sexual orientation now, they could still get in trouble. In a new memo, the Pentagon’s top personnel chief cited a “legally uncertain environment” facing service members during a court battle over the 1993 law known as “don’t ask, don’t tell.” The Obama administration is appealing a ruling by a federal judge in California on Tuesday that struck down the law, which bans openly gay service members. The Defense Department has said it will comply with the court order for now — freezing any discharge proceedings and technically ending its decades-long policy of discriminating against gays. But it is uncertain what would happen if the court grants the administration’s request for a temporary stay on the ruling. If the court agrees to the stay, it is presumed the military would reinstate the old policy. “We note for service members that altering their personal conduct in this legally uncertain environment may have adverse consequences for themselves or others should the court’s decision be reversed,” wrote Clifford Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. The Defense Department will continue not to ask service members or recruits about their sexual orientation and to “treat all members with dignity and respect,” he wrote. His memo, released publicly on Friday, was addressed to the civilian chiefs of each military service. Advocates of lifting the ban have been warning gay troops not to disclose their sexual identity because the court’s ruling could be overturned. They say that Congress should step in and repeal the law. Repeal legislation has passed the House but failed to advance in the Senate because Republicans objected on procedural grounds. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says

he will try again to pass the measure in the lame duck session after the November elections. In the meantime, troops said no one was sure how to interpret the Pentagon’s declaration on Thursday that it planned to comply with the court order. “To me, that’s really signaling that this whole thing is over,” said one gay Air Force officer, who co-founded an underground support group for gay troops called OutServe and who uses the pseudonym J.D. Smith. But, Smith added, the uncertainty will keep him from disclosing his identity. “What do we do right now? It’s creating a lot of confusion at the unit level,” he said. 

2014 Comments on Marriage Equality in Utah from Facebook

Keith LeDuc- John and followers, please don't hate me for this but, straight or gay, in this day and age, I feel the reasons that most couples seem to be getting married, especially in the gay world, are for all the wrong reasons! People don't want to take time to truly get to know their partners and don't usually spend enough time to truly know who they are inside and out. Some people in the straight world let the power of their religions pressure them into marriage because the faith tells them to believe in the sanctity of marriage and that true love will follow. And now we gave gay couples getting married just for the glitz of saying we won and trying to prove something. Just my personal gay man's opinion but, personally, I don't think it's a victory at all.

• Kevin Clark Edwards this is a huge victory I am waiting to get married we just set our date for next year but this is huge because of the rights that we were denied because we were not legal in the states eyes and now they can not tell us we have no rights because of this
• Pansy Pap Smear Wow - there's painting a whole community with a wide brush. Congrats, Keith on spreading the same hate and shame thrown at us from the zealots. I see you are single. That makes sense.
• Kevin Clark Edwards like say you were in a relationship for a long time and your other half got really sick and their family did not like you so because you are not married to them you can not see them on their last days oh and forget the things you got together and if there is insurance policy forget about getting any of that too
• Restore Our Humanity Keith LeDuc I just came from the Salt Lake County Clerks office and saw two women who have been together for 18 years get their marriage license. There are people standing there now, with their children waiting to get their marriage licenses. We did prove something, but not what you think. I feel sorry for you, you just don't get it.
• Sheryl Hussein Ginsberg Keith LeDuc ummm, no; we are saying "marriage is marraige" not "GAY marraige"...and Love=Love. What a curmudgeon you are ... Plus...Legal Rights.Being a hospital ill and have your lover kicked out because you are not legally married? Paying taxes as a couple...adopting children, social security benefits???
• Keith LeDuc OMG, PEOPLE!! Why is it when I write stuff, people ALWAYS read way too much into what I say and NEVER pay attention to the words written. NO, YOU people don't get it! I AM GAY! Yes, unfortunately single. But that has nothing to do with what I said!!!! I spoke NOTHING about gay equality!!! NOTHING. Gees lets get our panties in a bunch over this why don't we! I spoke strictly about being married! THAT'S IT! I fully agree that weather you're gay, straight, transgender, black, brown, purple, yellow, green...I DON'T CARE! READ THIS...I AM ALL FOR EQUALITY THROUGHOUT ALL HUMAN BEINGS OR MAN KIND ALIKE! ALL, GET THAT? ALL! I'm NOT hating gay people getting equality! I'm just not so hot on this marriage business! OKAY? I have straight people in my close family that can't and DON"T seem to make marriage work these days. I see and have been around countless more gay relationships that two gay people just WON'T and DON'T make it work out! So don't be hating me because I"m single you idiots! It frightens me to see all these people wanting to be granted marriage licences that may or may not make it together. Hell, my own parents, brother and sister couldn't even keep it together plus broken marriages that go out to my aunts and uncles. But it's NOT just in my family so please, let us not go there! IF you've been together for 18 years and want to be legally bonded together, I say GREAT! More power to you and I truly commend and congratulate you on your vows for one another! But how many in that court room can truly say they are or have been together and can own up to the same situation for lets say for over a year or better? And I have another comment to make which I truly don't understand about the gay community, which none of you are going to like also. Answer me a question, please...Why is it if you are a person that feels more comfortable being together and having a relationship with the same sex, then why is it, in these relationships, one of you assumes and acts and dresses like a man and the other takes on the role of the woman??? Same in a male-male relationship, why is one role truly the butch man and the other guy is the feminine one? Doesn't this totally go against what being gay is supposed to be all about? How can you say you're honestly being true to yourselves when all you do as same sex partners continue to portray roles of a straight society which in turn has angered you for putting you down for the very thing you are trying so hard to have a "victory" over??? I don't get it! I know if i were ever to get together with another man, I would be attracted to him for being a "man" and not some overly bitchy woman that most of you feminine guys seem to portray and are usually much more "bitchy" than any woman I've ever been around. At least that is what I've experienced being around other gay people. To sum this up, ALL I was doing was trying to offer my sole opinion on this whole marriage thing. it has absolutely NOTHING to do about gay rights or equality!!! NOTHING!!! So, try in the future when you read others comments NOT to get your panties in a wad and be so damn offended all the time!!!!!!!! 
• Kevin Clark Edwards well next time think about what you write and where and how you write it because that was and this last post still has a lot of hate in it I myself did not go the way of calling you a idiot like you did several times but everyone is different and everyone is attracted to a type why ask someone why do you like that person just because you don't that is something that no one can explain really
• Anna Nicole Sniff oh and this victory has everything to do with gay rights and equality just saying
• Keith LeDuc Ok, Mark. Again...re-read my previous comment! I don't see where you get the idea that I used the word "idiots" SEVERAL times. Again...OMG! I said the word ONCE and most certainly NOT out of hate. It was out of frustration of an "IDIOT" referring to me being single! Again...you are reading WAY too much feelings into what I have written. I don't feel it's about hate at all or even comes close to conveying that! Did you again NOT pay attention to my last sentence starting with "so, to sum it all up"? I basically have a problem with marriage as a whole and people, GAY OR STRAIGHT, believing that is where they need to be. My message is NOT full of hatred nor do I "hate" anyone. I also noticed you skipped right over my "gender role" question and couldn't even provide an answer for me to understand. The gay community hasn't been real nice to me any more than the straight community has beyond what the sexual revolution has been all about. I've been around and seen up in Salt Lake how gay men act and treat each other at the bars and at other gay hangouts and even visiting in their homes. I have to tell you, I have seen NOTHING of the kind of love that ever warrants being married. I've known personally two girlfriends in a very close gay relationship living together. One by one my friend reported to me about her lover who began fooling around on her and eventually they too split up. I mean come on and give me a freaking break! Marriage? Really? I'll never get a boyfriend because for one, I'm too old, "a troll" I believe is what most of you would consider me and another, I certainly don't have the looks any of you are looking for in a hot man! Puhhhhleeeese! Talk about who is hating!!! Anna Nicole Sniff, I agree with you and totally understand that! But I'm just trying ad hard as I might (and I'm getting really tired of trying to discuss my point) that's not what I'M talking about! But I'm not going to explain it all to you for the third time. Wow this really isn't worth expressing my thoughts on Facebook to ignorant (and I don't mean rude) people who totally misread my thoughts and totally go with their own and try to apply my thoughts to their own beliefs and their own way of thinking. 
• Sheryl Hussein Ginsberg Okay my friend, I just re read your original post and you said that you're worried about gays getting married for the glitz of it, and straight people get married for religious pressures. None of my family were motivated by these reasons. (Including my LGBTQ friends as part of my family. ) I am so sorry that you haven't been felt welcome in this community. We can talk off line by message if you'd like. 
• Keith LeDuc Sheryl Hussein Ginsberg thank you for being the one person to truly try to understand. As you can see, I love to try to express myself in writing but it gets exhausting! Yes I would like to talk outside of FB. do you mean by messaging or text messaging or....
• Sheryl Hussein Ginsberg I'll friend you then you can PM me and we'll go from there...
• Pansy Pap Smear @Keith - perhaps a graphic on an event celebrating a victory by those who spent a significant amount of time making it happen is not the best place to poo on the victory. 
• John Wilkes Whoa Keith LeDuc, buddy! WTF? Try to focus on the fact that a large group of ppl who have been denied a basic right granted to all other ppl are finally being treated equally under law. if that isn't a victory, I don't know what is. 
• Keith LeDuc Whatever! I'm really done on trying to explain myself. You people want to be heard but you're not hearing me. But that's ok. I'm just done! The news has only spoken about marriage, "same sex marriage" have been the headlines. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE WHOLE EQUALITY PART OF IT SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU PEOPLE ARE HOUNDING ME ABOUT. MY WHOLE COMMENT HAD SOLELY TO DO WITH MARRIAGE! NOT POOPING ON ANYONE'S PARTY, JUST MARRIAGE, MARRIAGE, MARRIAGE!! DO YOU HEAR ME NOW? DO I NEED TO TURN IT UP FOR YOU? GEES, LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE! SORRY I SHIT IN ANYONE'S WHEATIES!!!!! 
• Anna Nicole Sniff keith i also would like to talk to you 
• Gregory Enke @ Keith LeDuc -  and ((HUGS)) to you. I'm glad of the successes in marriage equality but your voice is equally appreciated and important. I hope we never get to the point we sanitize and censor each other...had way too much of that with 40 years in the Mormon church. 
• Keith LeDuc Thanks Gregory Enke for that comment!