This Day In Gay Utah History October 24

Ralph Waldo Emerson

October 24th

1820- Seventeen year old Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote of his crush on fifteen ear old Martin Gay: I begin to believe in the Indian doctrine of eye fascination. The cold blue eyes of (blank) has so intimately connected him in my thoughts & visions that a dozen times a day & as often by night I find myself wholly wrapped up in conjectures of his character and inclinations. We have already two or three long profound stares at each other. Be it wise or weak or superstitious I must know him.

1913 A.C. McCain, assistant district forester, recommended H.C. Bergh be unconditionally discharged from the forest service. McCain charged Bergh with official misconduct as well as having an “immoral nature” Bergh left Moab to avoid being arrested for a “highly immoral offence”.

1926- The New York Times printed a book review of "The Doctor Looks at Love and Life" by Dr. Joseph Collins using the word "homosexual" for the first time. In the chapter on homosexuality, Dr. Collins countered the claim that homosexual love is pathological and that homosexuals are psychopaths or neurotic, saying that he knew many well-balanced homosexuals of both sexes who have distinguished themselves in various fields from arms to the pulpit. He also stated that "Genuine homosexuality is not a vice, it is an endowment."

1940-David-Edward Desmond was born to Leonard Kruger and Joyce Betty Grasty in Spokane Washington. In 1966, 26-year-old David-Edward Desmond founded a break-off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in Denver, Colorado. The United Order Family of Christ was for young gay men only, ages 18 to 30. Because they practiced a uniquely Mormon form of communalism in which they held "everything in common", Desmond affirmed that the Family was "not for the great majority of the Gay LDS" [Latter-day Saints]. The United Order Family of Christ lasted at least until 1972. Desmond died  11 May 1983 in Pullman Washington of AIDS.

1954 Salt Lake City Police arrested one man and sought another late Saturday for masquerading on city streets as women. Office Percy Clark (1930-1973) made the arrest at South Temple and D Streets.  He saw a man “doing a hula” by a hedge row. The dancer was garbed in a rain coat, lady’s half slip, and bra.  Instead of trousers, he had trouser legs cut off at the knees and tied to his own legs.  He was booked for investigation of activities as a disorderly person.  Later Saturday officers attempted to locate a man who accost two women on 7th South between 2nd and 3rd East.  He was wearing a scarf over his head, a light colored pleated skirt, jacket, and women’s two toned high heel shoes.  The search was unsuccessful at a late hour. (SLTribune 24 Oct 1954 B1)

1981-The first National Conference on Lesbian and Gay Aging was held in San  Francisco California.

Roseanne Barr

1986 AIDS Project Utah sponsored an AIDS Awareness Week with comedian Roseanne Barr, “Domestic Goddess” and sister of APU founder Ben Barr, performing at Symphony Hall. Other entertainers included Johnny Crawford of the Rifleman series, the Saliva Sisters, mime Joe Pitti, and singers Rusty Richards and Davyd Daniels. The event was hosted by actress June Lockhart and emceed by radio host Todd Collard. Richard Cochran, director of APU, caused a riff in the community when he expressed his gratitude for “the first AIDS Awareness Week,” though the Royal Court had twice sponsored such activities.

1987 The Run for Life race held as an AIDS benefit sponsored by lesbian bar Your Place or Mine located at 555 South 3rd West Salt Lake City, Utah. Locals called the bar "Your Face or Mine"

David Sharpton

1988 Monday David Sharpton was speaking at The Lesbian and Gay Student Union tonight. Dean Shute and Richard Egan wanted to go hear him. However they had no idea how to get there so I said I would go with them. David spoke about another bad mandatory AIDS reporting bill coming before the Utah legislature in January which we all should be alarm about. [Journal of Ben Williams]

Melissa Sillitoe

1989 Melissa Sillitoe and Michelle Davies are elected Utah Gay and Lesbian Youth Group officers. The group had the unfortunate acronym of UGLY

1994 Pamela Calkins born 17 May 1956 committed suicide on 24 Oct 1994 in California of suicide. She was the first Lesbian to be given the Melchizedek Priesthood as an Elder in the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ. She served in the 1st Presidency of the church and was involved in a polygamous Lesbian marriage with three other church members. She was depressed over some legal issues

1994 Monday, NEO-NAZIS SHOUT INSULTS AT GAY RALLY IN CEDAR CITY  Associated Press  Neo-Nazi skinheads interrupted a meeting sponsored by southern Utah homosexuals to promote community understanding, shouting insults before leaving under the watchful eyes of police. About 20 members of the so-called Army of Israel, a group which has stated its goal as turning Zion National Park into a white supremacist homeland, showed up about midway through the meeting in the Cedar City Council chambers Saturday night. Four Cedar City police officers first checked the skinheads for weapons, and then allowed them to be seated, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. One skinhead called out, "I'll tell you, you better stay away from our kids, faggot." A second said, "We're going to get these homosexuals out of town." Officer Cliff Shotwell warned the skinheads that further interruptions would lead to arrests for disorderly conduct. The skinheads left the chamber, but they did not return to their enclave in Hurricane, 55 miles to the south, until they had passed out anti-gay literature. Police officers assured the audience they would stay until everyone had left the parking area safely. The meeting included a a panel discussion featuring David Nelson, spokesman for Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats; Kathy Worthington, editor of Womyn's Community News; the Rev. Ronald V. Belnap, vicar of St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Cedar City; Janet Brown, clinical social worker for Southwest Utah Mental Health; Steve Suseoff, a counselor for a local alcohol- and drug-treatment center; and Heather Bernau, president of a Southern Utah University gay and lesbian club. Before Saturday's meeting, Cedar City police received reports that the Army of Israel planned to disrupt the gathering. A squad of officers was posted outside council chambers.

Johnny Bangeter

Skinhead spokesman David Dalby said the Army of Israel's "St. George Unit" has nearly 200 members. "Our numbers are growing daily," Dalby said, adding, "We can't tolerate this kind of thing. We're a Christian community." But police doubt there are 200 members in the St. George area. When the Army of Israel moved from Nevada to Hurricane in 1992, there were 10 to 20 members. The most well-known of the group is Johnny Bangerter, second cousin of former Utah Gov. Norm Bangerter.  _© 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.

·        The Salt Lake Tribune Skinheads Crash Meeting of Gays, Lesbians Skinheads Crash S. Utah Meeting of Gays, Lesbians By Rich Gilmore Cedar  City- About 20 skinheads from the ``Army of Israel'' -- which dreams of establishing a white homeland in Zion National Park -- made a 55-mile trek Saturday night to hassle a meeting of southern Utah homosexuals. But four Cedar City police stood their ground as the skinheads tried to enter the meeting held in City Council chambers in the Municipal Building. Officers checked the group for weapons and then allowed them to be seated, even though the meeting was half over.  One skinhead called out, ``I'll tell you, you better stay away from our kids, faggot.''  A second said, ``We're going to get these homosexuals out of town.'' Cedar City Officer Cliff Shotwell strode over to the disrupters and told them: ``There will not be any more interrupting or you will go out on disorderly conduct and go to jail.''  The skinheads left the chamber, but they did not return to their enclave in Hurricane until they had passed out literature that read, in part: ``Queers molest your children.'' After the Army of Israel members left, police officers assured the audience they would stay until everyone had left the parking area safely. This is the first time since Army of Israel members moved to southern Utah from Nevada in 1992 that they have had a hard target in the area, say police. Much of the area in the southwest corner of the state is predominantly white, though some residents say areas like Cedar City are growing more diverse. Southern Utah gays and lesbians, supported by gay-rights activists from Salt Lake City, organized the public meeting Saturday night to promote community understanding. Gay activists Ann Bottema, Mary JaNoy Nield and Heather Bernau -- president of a Southern Utah University gay and lesbian club that weathered opposition when it was organized -- put the meeting together to promote understanding of gays and lesbians among southern Utahns.''  The meeting included a a panel discussion featuring David Nelson, spokesman for Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats; Kathy Worthington, editor of Womyn's Community News; Rev. Ronald V. Belnap, vicar of St. Judes Episcopal Church, Cedar City; Janet Brown, clinical social worker for Southwest Utah Mental Health; Steve Suseoff, a counselor for a local alcohol- and drug-treatment center; and Bernau. Before Saturday's meeting, the Cedar City Police Department received reports the Army of Israel planned to disrupt the gathering. A squad of officers was posted outside council chambers.  ``We're taking no chances,'' explained one officer.    Michael Aaron, founder of the Utah Anti-Violence Project, told the gay and lesbian group that most hate crimes aren't committed by skinheads, but by teenagers trying to reinforce their sexuality. ``All we want to do is talk about our feelings so people will understand,'' said one gay participant.  No Support: Bottema, 34, spoke Saturday and said she did so because she was frustrated by the lack of homosexual support groups in the area. ``There was nothing here, so I tried to organize a group, even by advertising. But how are you going to find people when they are all hiding?'' Since she identified herself publicly as a lesbian, she has experienced the scorn and fear many homosexuals experience. ``They stereotype you as a criminal, rapist or child abuser,'' Bottema explained.  She hoped the meeting Saturday would give those attending the opportunity to challenge their beliefs and look at homosexuality without fear. ``We're not trying to convince people it is right or moral but that we want to be treated like everyone else.'' Worthington hoped the discussion would bring attention to resources available to gays and lesbians in southern Utah -- including therapists, churches and social functions -- as well as increase public knowledge of homosexuals. Because of the lack of resources, and ignorance on how to gain access to them, too many end up committing suicide, she said.   ``Gays and lesbians discover they are gay and think it is a defect or illness and they do not know how to handle it,'' said Worthington, who started the Womyns Community News three years ago. ``There is nothing to let them know they are OK and can live a normal productive life.''  Families, she says, have a particularly difficult time because they feel there is nowhere to turn once they learn a child is gay. ``Parents feel guilty because they feel they have done something wrong,'' Worthington says. Worthington says anyone wishing to help organize a discussion panel can call the Stonewall Center in Salt Lake City at 539-8800 for assistance. Those wishing to know about support services and activities in Utah can call a information line at 297-2555. St. George Unit? According to skinhead spokesman David Dalby, the Army of Israel's ``St. George Unit'' has nearly 200 members. ``Our numbers are growing daily,'' Dalby said, adding, ``We can't tolerate this kind of thing. We're a Christian community.'' Police doubt there are 200 members in the St. George area, however. When the Army of Israel moved from Nevada to Hurricane, there were 10 to 20 members. The most well-known of the group is Johnny Bangerter, second cousin of former Utah Gov. Norm Bangerter. A number of Johnny Bangerter's family moved with him to Hurricane. In addition to carrying guns while guarding their homes, the Army of Israel members are said to meet regularly in Zion National Park to plan the Judgment Day battle. The group feels there is religious symbolism in the towering cliffs in Zion. They have talked of hanging their 3-story-tall swastica banner from the park's Great White Throne. The group loosely is allied with the Christian Identity Movement, whose membership has been estimated at between 5,000 and 50,000 nationwide, according to the U.S. Justice Department and the Anti Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. Johnny Bangerter, who claims the Holocaust did not occur, says his clan admires the Third Reich of Nazi Germany for its emphasis on racial purity. Tribune reporter (05/15/94  Page: A4 SLTribune) Tribune reporter Christopher Smith contributedto this story.

• October 25, 1994 Denver Post CEDAR CITY, Utah - Neo-Nazi skinheads interrupted a meeting  Skinheads interrupt gay forum Members hurl insults, leave as police watch The Associated Press sponsored by southern Utah homosexuals to promote community understanding, shouting insults before leaving under the watchful eyes of police. The so-called Army of Israel has said its goal is to turn Zion National Park into a white supremacist homeland. About 20 members showed up midway through the meeting in the Cedar City Council chambers Saturday night. Four police officers checked the skinheads for weapons, then allowed them to be seated. One skinhead called out, "I'll tell you, you better stay away from our kids, faggot." A second said, "We're going to get these homosexuals out of town." Officer Cliff Shotwell warned the skinheads that further interruptions would lead to arrests for disorderly conduct. The skinheads left but did not return to their enclave in Hurricane, 55 miles to the south, until they had passed out anti-gay literature. Officers assured the audience they would stay until everyone had left the area safely. The meeting included a a panel discussion featuring David Nelson, spokesman for Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats; Kathy Worthington, editor of Womyn's Community News; Rev. Ronald V. Belnap, vicar of St. Judes Episcopal Church, Cedar City; Janet Brown, clinical social worker for Southwest Utah Mental Health; Steve Suseoff, a counselor for a local alcohol- and drug-treatment center; and Heather Bernau, president of a Southern Utah University gay and lesbian club. Before Saturday's meeting, police received reports that the Army of Israel planned to disrupt the gathering. A squad of officers was posted outside council chambers. Skinhead spokesman David Dalby said the Army of  Israel's "St. George Unit" has nearly 200 members. "Our numbers are growing daily," Dalby said, adding, "We can't tolerate this kind of thing. We're a Christian community."  But police doubt there are 200 members in the St. George area. When the Army of Israel moved from Nevada to Hurricane in 1992, there were 10 to 20 members. The most well-known of the group is Johnny Bangerter, second cousin of former Utah Gov. Norm Bangerter. City Weekly Article on Johnny Bangeter

Dale Sorenson

1994 The Salt Lake Tribune Director of Utah's Gay Demos Quits Dale Sorenson, the first openly gay Utahn to serve as a Democratic National Convention delegate, resigned as executive director of Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats. Sorensen, 25, will move to New York and "have a low profile." Sorenson was praised by GLUD founder David Nelson for "educating and breaking down stereotypes" and "helping to elevate the group to visibility and success." Sorensen served on many other gay and lesbian organizations, including the Utah Gay and Lesbian Youth group and Utah Stonewall Center.

1995 Tuesday, Judge hands down 2 terms of 1 to 15 years for 1993 shooting in a S.L. alley. 18-YEAR-OLD GUILTY OF LESSER COUNTS INSLAYING By Chip Parkinson, Staff Writer An 18-year-old accused of shooting a man two years ago in a Salt Lake alley has been sentenced to two consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison. Tam Nguyen was charged with capital murder in the death of Chet O. Harris, but a jury found Nguyen guilty only of manslaughter and auto theft, both second-degree felonies. His defense attorneys argued Nguyen shot Harris in self-defense after the victim sexually molested him. While the young man benefited from the mercy of jurors, 3rd District Judge Kenneth Rigtrup was more harsh. "Society has had enough of young people carrying loaded guns. The courts are not going to tolerate that kind of behavior," he said in handing down the sentence Monday. Rigtrup could have made Nguyen serve his sentences at the same time instead of back-to-back. Nguyen and his friend, Taun In Ly, were arrested by Salt Lake detectives in August 1993 after they crashed Harris' car in Oregon. Nguyen, then 16, admitted to the detectives that he had fired a nonlethal shot into Harris' throat after the man dropped him and Ly near his home on Jeremy Street. He also said Ly, then 18, returned and fired the fatal shot into Harris' head as he crawled in the alley. Ly has never been charged with the crime because Nguyen refused to testify against his friend, prosecutors said. Salt Lake deputy district attorney Paul Parker argued that Nguyen was guilty of a capital offense because he intended to steal Harris' car when he fired the first shot. The pair returned to the alley to make sure Harris was dead, Parker said during the trial. The Associated Press contributed to this report. © 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.

1998 The Salt Lake Tribune Panel Says Bring Hammer Down On Hate Justice Department official says laws are too vague to enforce By Michael Vigh The best way to stop  hate crime in Utah is to beef up penalties. That was the message of experts and victims who participated Friday night in a panel discussion in Salt Lake City on ending crimes committed against people based solely on their race, religion, ethnic background or sexual orientation. A hate-crimes law passed by the 1992 Utah Legislature increases misdemeanors, such as trespassing and assault, to a third-degree felony only if the perpetrator's intent is to deprive the victim of their constitutional rights. "No court judge has ever enforced the hate crime laws because they are too vague. We need to change this, this year," said David Nelson, of the U.S. Department of Justice district of Utah, who helped author the 1992 law. Added Larry Gerlach, an American History professor at the University of Utah: "Hate-crime laws are the single most important  thing we can do to stop these crimes." Gerlach said that crimes based on prejudice and bigotry in Boston have dropped dramatically since tough hate crime laws were passed in Massachusetts. The issue of hate crimes reached the national radar screen earlier this month when a University of Wyoming student was lured from a campus hangout, beaten and tied to a split-rail fence in freezing temperatures because he was gay. The murder of Matthew Shepard, 21, has spurred calls nationwide for hate-crimes legislation protecting gays. President Clinton even pressed Congress to expand the federal hate-crimes law to cover offenses based on disability and sexual orientation. About 50 people attended the two-hour panel discussion as part of the "YWCA's Week Without Violence." The audience participated in a moment of silence for Shepard before the discussion began. University of Utah sociology Professor Theresa Martinez, who has a gay brother, said she was not surprised to hear of Shepard's murder. She said that gay men die every day because of their sexual orientation and her brother has been the target of abuse and persecution. "The Matthew Shepard killing is not puzzling to me at all," Martinez said. "We kill what makes us feel uncomfortable, inadequate and insecure." Nelson, who is also gay, said penalties should be enhanced for perpetrators who target people because they are different. "These aren't random acts and neither are hate crimes," he said. "The killers of Matthew Shepard will be punished as if they killed for no reason."

• October 25, 1998 The Salt Lake Tribune Corrections & Clarifications David Nelson is an advisor for the "Hate Crimes Working Group." The YWCA provided The Salt Lake Tribune with an inaccurate description of Nelson and that description was printed in the Saturday edition.

William Countryman

Sunday, 1999  Being gay or lesbian may be a gift, minister says in S.L. by Susan Whitney Deseret News special writer  God gives gifts. It's what God does best.  Rev. William Countryman began with that premise, on Saturday, at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, where he had been invited to speak about gay and lesbian spirituality. About 90 people came to hear Countryman; some from as far away as Pocatello.     One tradition of Western civilization is to view God as "a giant combination of lawmaker, policeman, prosecutor, jury, judge and executioner," said Countryman. "But God really is none of those. God is a giver of gifts."     No one in his workshop asked to be gay or lesbian, Countryman said. Then he went on to list the ways in which being lesbian or gay may turn out to be a gift.     First, coming out pushes people into finding out who they are. "You are not who you were told you were supposed to be."    Second, being homosexual means knowing erotic attraction. (Equally true about heterosexuals, Countryman adds.) Having sex is only a small part of what that attraction implies, he says. It implies that life takes on vividness and meaning. All people who are sexual are given the gift of discovering their potential for goodness within a relationship.     Third, he said, homosexuals have the gift of conscious difference. "Anyone who belongs to a minority group gets that gift." Which is not to say gays and lesbians are automatically more understanding, he adds. "But they cannot totally repress the awareness of how others who are different must feel."     And finally, he said, homosexuals are given the gift of freedom. In this rapidly changing world, they are free to look for the truth in unexpected situations. They, themselves, were unexpected. "We are the people our parents warned us against," he says. And yet, "we have discovered our lives are as rich as our parents' lives were . . . and we really are no better or worse than anyone else."     Countryman told his audience that gifts come with obligation. "Human life is priestly." We are to share and take care of each other, he said.   Gays and lesbians have gifts to share with the larger community, Countryman said. They can force Christian churches to address God's gift of sexuality. They also offer a unique perspective on gender roles within relationships because, when they are committed, it is to a person who is their equal in the eyes of society.     Countryman is a professor at The Church Divinity School of the Pacific, in Berkeley, as well as an Episcopal priest. He told Utahns of his own experience of being gay and spiritual.     Growing up during the Eisenhower period in Oklahoma, he did his best to be the "standard-issue" person. "Standard" was a white, heterosexual, English-speaking male who liked sports and wasn't much interested in books.     Unfortunately, Countryman liked books and was attracted to other boys but that was something he figured he'd grow out of. So he got married and had a child, and eventually faced the fact that he was never going to be standard, he says.     His found comfort in faith. He says he knows others had different experiences with the Episcopal Church. But for him, when his identity was in question in the rest of his life, his identity as an Episcopalian was something to hold on to.     The long tradition of Anglican spirituality, "with its insistence that God never goes away . . . that it is all going to mean something," was an enormous help, he says.

Kathy Worthington

2000 Worthington AGE: 49 HOME: Taylorsville, Utah JOB: Distribution and window clerk, U.S. Postal Service ANNUAL INCOME: $37,000 "Going postal" means something special to Kathy Worthington. For 15 years in Salt Lake City she has checked in postal delivery workers and sorted mail. Her favorite assignment, though, is working the window at the post office. "This area is ethnically diverse, so I meet people from all over the world. I use my Spanish every day," she says. "It's great to help anyone struggling to communicate in English and make refugees feel welcome in Utah." Worthington is involved in local gay activism as well. She campaigns against the Mormon Church's antigay policies, spearheads the state's Stop Dr. Laura campaign, and led Utah's 210-person contingent to the Millennium March on Washington. Her visibility attracts plenty of attention at the post office from coworkers and customers, she says. Many commend her for her efforts; some offer whispered comments about their own lives. Worthington is most proud of her 1997 fight for the right to use family leave while her partner, Sara Hamblin, battled breast cancer (Hamblin is currently in remission). She says her victory, which was covered by the local press, inspired a number of other gay postal employees to come out at work. Whistle while you work Advocate, The,  Oct 24, 2000  by Dan Woog

Craig Miller

Chad Keller

2002 Craig Miller to Chad Keller: Hi, Chad, I guess you've received a couple of emails from me but I only recently discovered you must have responded to them.  Honestly, I don't know why I haven't received the emails you've sent.  Geoff just forwarded your letter sent Oct. 22, and I see I was on the group address list- but I haven't received an email from you directly since late early September. Sorry you feel that way.  In setting future plans for Pride, I felt it was important to include the opinions and observations of the people who are most critical of a potential union with the Center. If you chose not to contribute, that's an entirely different matter than not having been asked. I fear this is indicative of the main problem with Pride's organizational structure last year. The duties of board and committee chair were too intertwined. I regret your feelings were hurt when you were removed from the board, but I thought you would still like to report on your committee duties after the event. Many of us entered Pride 2002 without any information from Pride 2001. It would have been a lot easier to do if the records had been transferred to the new committee chairs.  If you let your own personal pride get in the way of sharing information with the organizers for next year, I admit it is largely inconsequential. There will still be a Utah Pride next year. There will be a parade.  I hope there will be a Grand Marshall reception. Chad, you know I enjoyed working with you last year. Maybe we'll have the opportunity to do so again. No hard feelings, still friends, and best of luck with all your endeavors, Craig 

• Chad Keller to Craig Miller and Geoff Partain: Craig & Geoff, I thought that I could never really be mad at you personally but this is really trying my patience. I have a difficult time in believing that any of you really care how I feel or how the community feels.  If you did, we would have addressed the board issue long before Pride 2002. The actions of the board, if you can call it that,  speak louder than  any dysfunctional word than could be uttered.  What is sad is that as an organization you feel entitled to ask after the actions you all have taken in making it clear that not only was I unacceptable, but that my contribution was not wanted.  Just because I am don’t fit her ideal. If my thoughts were important or my contribution was important you, yes the two of you,  the rational and grounded ones, would have not allow Sherry to do as she did, by calling a meeting when I clearly stated I was not available, and you would have calmed the storm and said it is important to wait for all parties.  And by doing as you all did spit in my face.  My contribution at that point was then leveled to rubble. And exactly why would I do anything to make Madame Know It All and her cronies look good?  What is in it for me?  She professes to have 12 years experience in putting events like Pride together so she should have no problem doing any of it.  With that much experience she should have know where to find the weather forecast in the Trib. OF course lets not  look at the those we sought to destroy and see the experience that is in them. Yet you continue to ask, unknowing that all when all she and other members of Pride have done is make inappropriate comments in the community and  at meetings only to easy their own guilt.  What is not clear in this picture? Sherry's, as the Pride Co-Chair, comments to the GLCCU Board that I am nothing but an out of control drunk were inappropriate in any capacity of any position, and should lead to her immediate reprimand and removal, but who would dare do to her what you all did to me.  It is easier to allow her to go around pretending to be a therapist.   But I forget there is the Utopia Agenda at play. So when will Pride be satisfied that Utopia has been created?  What segments do you want to get rid of next?  Let me know so I can spare some lives, and importantly some feelings and more community fall out.  We don’t need purist like her and Darrin in any position, it is so 80's  making the determination of who is acceptable and who isn’t all to spare her stress and a headache.  The headache came with the Job, and well as the time commitment.  But Pride is quick to cut the commitment, and rather look at the bigger picture, all to stay in power. The problem with Pride was that you had two people hell bent to build a resume, fulfill an agenda, and prove something.  A co-chair and a treasure ran the show, and didn’t want any input from anyone if it got in their way. And by all means don’t politely suggest or worse confront them with  issues. There is nothing left to say.  You both let her say it all long before now. I have gone another direction, and honestly feel that you aren’t sincere when you say your still a friend let alone wish me well.  Had you we wouldn’t be where were are at this point. Best of luck, CK

Harry Hay

2002 Harry Hay died. Rocky O'Donovan wrote to me giving me permission to reprint an article of his. Rocky and I started the Sacred Faeries of Salt Lake City in 1989 and in passing he told of his work with Harry Hay saying:"I used to go to San Fran every month to give Harry Hay body work/faerie massages but haven't been able to go for the last little while. Jasmine Tea (a local Fey) was just up visiting him though and I'm afraid the news isn't good. Harry's 92 now and really ready to shuffle off this mortal coil. I don't think it will be much longer. He's quite sick, rarely lucid, and getting quite cantankerous (more so than usual!) I know he would appreciate all our prayers for an easy passing." Sadly today it announced that the Gay Pioneer has died. HRC MOURNS THE DEATH OF GAY RIGHTS PIONEER HARRY  HAY Hay Was a Visionary Who Helped Change the World, Says HRC WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign mourned the  death today of Harry Hay, 90, who was a founder and architect of  the modern movement for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. "Harry was one of the first to realize that the dream of equality for our community could be attained through visibility and activism," said HRC Communications Director David M. Smith. "When you were in a room with him, you had the sense you were in the company of a historic figure." Hay died early Thursday morning in San Francisco. There was  no immediate information available about cause of death, but he  is reported to have been diagnosed with inoperable cancer last  month, according to Advocate.com. Hay became a "homophile," or gay, activist in the 1940s. In 1950, he helped found one of the original gay organizations, the Mattachine Society. Hay and his life partner, John Burnside, also launched the Radical Faerie counterculture movement in 1979, which honored the distinctiveness and individuality of gay and lesbian people, said the online magazine. "Hay was a true visionary and an authentically original person  who was ahead of his time," said Smith. "He will be greatly missed by those of us who admired and looked up to him for his imagination, wisdom and leadership." The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

Charles Milne

2006 Dear Friends and Colleagues: I am contacting you to let you know that I have given my formal resignation to the University of Utah effective November 3rd. As the Coordinator for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center I have been privileged and honored to work towards building a better campus and community environment for the LGBT and ally communities.  I plan to begin work in the event management and event planning career field.  This is an exciting career change for me and, while I am very sad to leave the U and the LGBT Resource Center, I am certain that it will continue to grow and further meet the needs of the campus community. I am available to help with the transition of my assignments until Friday, Nov. 3rd, which will be my last day at the U. Thank you for making the last five years at the University and in the local community some of the best moments I have ever had.  While the work wasn't easy, the work will continue to be hard.  I encourage us all to continue to strive forward in creating a safer campus for all who are here. Charles Milne Coordinator LGBT Resource Center University of Utah  200 S Central Campus Dr. #409  Salt Lake City, UT 84112

Joe and Russ Baker-Gorringe

2008 Queer Spirit 2008 This month, the Open & Affirming: Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ will host The Queer Spirit retreat to discuss integrating the perspective of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people into the broader life of the UCC. Through discussion and reflection the weekend will ask participants to bring their full selves—that is, the physical, spiritual and sexual parts of their identities— to church by exploring the ways in which people are encouraged and prevented from fully participating in their religious community. The weekend stresses that all individuals are God’s beloved children and holy physical, spiritual and sexual beings. Individuals of all faiths are welcome to attend. When: October 24 – 26, 2008  Where: Holladay United Church of Christ (2631 East Murray Holladay Rd, Salt Lake City) Cost: Regular price $55, Early Bird Special $35 Registration: rmcucc.org (follow the Queer Spirit links) Info: Glen Brown,  Or Russ and Joe Baker-Gorringe, 

2010  Russel "Rusty” Lane (1956 - 2010) We regret to announce the passing of Russel "Rusty” Lane, who died on October 24, 2010 in Murray, Utah. Russ, who later in life went by Rusty, was the founder of two Affirmation chapters and Affirmation's director in 1987. At the time of his passing, he was 53. Obituary in the Salt Lake Tribune Russel Eugene Lane, 53, of Salt Lake City, Utah, formerly of Dallas, Texas, passed away on October 24, 2010 in Murray, Utah. Russel was born November 18, 1956 in Provo, Utah to Eugene V. Lane and Beulah M. Lane. Russel was raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids before moving to Salt Lake City. Russel served a mission for the LDS Church in Sacramento, California. Russel thoroughly enjoyed genealogy, trains, stamp collecting and traveling. Russel was a member of the First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City and loved to teach Sunday school and be a greeter. Russel was preceded in death by both of his parents. He is survived by his brother, Martin (Ramona) Lane of St. George, Utah; his niece Tonya (Jake) Vega and great-niece Harmony Vega of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; nephews Chris and Tim Lane of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A very special thank you to his friends and caretakers Joel, Susan, John, and Melissa Everts of Salt Lake City, and also his best friend Roberto Abel. A memorial service for Russel will be held at the First Baptist Church of Salt Lake City (777 S. 1300 E.) at noon October 28th. Arrangements are being handle by Evans & Early Mortuary of Salt Lake City.

2014 ‘This isn’t quite the life path I envisioned for myself when I was a 19-year-old Mormon missionary knocking doors in England,” Troy Williams told the crowd of over 2,000 gathered at Equality Utah’s annual Allies Dinner last month. “Or when I came home from my mission and I was so scared of being gay that I became an intern for the one organization where I thought I would be safe – The Utah Eagle Forum. Gayle [Ruzicka] had no idea she was training the future director of Equality Utah. Obviously, I’ve come a long way since then.” Indeed, Williams’ life path leading him to head the state’s largest equality organization for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and ally community is not what one would expect, even in his more recent life travels. How can a man who has seemingly been more comfortable barking behind a megaphone replace the more soft-spoken and nuanced outgoing director, Brandie Balken? Can the man who was among the protesters blocking access to a committee hearing at the Utah State Capitol now sit at the table with the legislators he was calling to task in that same building? Yet, perhaps this is exactly what Equality Utah needs to transition to in the face of marriage equality being the law of the land in the state. Equality groups across the nation are in the process of reshaping and retooling to address the continuing need for progress in the LGBT movement in a time where many may believe that the fight is over. If Utah’s community believes the fight is over, the Utah Legislature will certainly put an end to that fallacy at the next session in a few short months. Several ideas for bills have already made headlines in the state, including one that would recognize same-sex marriages as something different than their counterparts, even using a different term: “pairriage.” So-called religious liberty bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country and will certainly be introduced here. And what about Equality Utah’s flagship cause — a statewide nondiscrimination bill protecting LGBT citizens from discrimination in housing and employment? As I sat with Williams before the Allies Dinner for this interview, he was contemplative and seemingly awestruck that just the night before he had received a call that he was chosen as Equality Utah’s new executive director. He also seemed ready and eager for the challenge. As we spoke, it was obvious he knew what would lie before him as the group rolled out his name and the community would weigh that decision in their own minds, and in some cases, in social media. “It will be a very different Troy” that we would see at the helm of EU, he said.
Hey Troy, thanks for taking this time to speak with me. I know it is a roller coaster ride for you at the moment. Tell me what you think the board of Equality Utah saw in you that they wanted to tap for the organization? What I hope they saw in me is someone who has a deep passion and commitment to the LGBT community who is willing to go the distance and secure or rights.
So obviously we are on the precipice of marriage equality. What is your vision for Equality Utah’s future. Well, there are so many things that Equality Utah is doing right that we are going to continue, which include training lobbyists, drafting legislation, community education and outreach, working with our transgender brothers and sisters. We are really looking at the future and what the future will be after a marriage victory, and that is going to require us to come together as a community to bring our best minds forward and really craft what our movement will look like, moving into the future. Wherever we go will be a collaborative effort. It won’t be me deciding where we are going, it’s all of us together.
We have the legislative session coming up in a few months. How do you see the group addressing that? I think it’s critical that we always have a presence at the legislature, that we continue to lobby our elected representatives, that we tell them our stories, that they get to know us as human beings and that they meet our families. So, we will have a strong presence on Capitol Hill every year. The more that they get to know us, the more that fear drops away and we are able to move things forward. How do you think the group and the community will need to respond to the possible scenarios that will play out on the Hill? The organization and we, as a community, need to be nimble. We need to be able to pivot and be prepared for any scenario. All that come through a collaborative effort — bringing our best minds together, working with our national organizations, and actually crafting a winning strategy. So we don’t quite know what scenario is going to play out, but we have to be ready for all of them.
What would you tell people that may think you are not the right personality for this job because of your background as an activist? You know, our movement was kicked off by Latina drag queens during the Stonewall riots, and yet we’ve also seen the eloquence and thoughtful presentation that Peggy Tomsic gave before the 10th Circuit Court, and we know that all of those voices are critical to our movement. What I can say about myself is that I have had many experiences in my life, and many phases. I was a Mormon missionary, I was an intern for the Eagle Forum, I’ve been an activist and I’ve grown and evolved throughout the years. When look back at the community over the years and the tempers that were raised over Amendment 3 and the Prop 8 debates, for a Mormon kid who deeply loves his faith, the conflict between our two communities really hurt. I felt estranged from this loving community that raised me, and I think my experience is similar to a lot of other people in the community. But I had this really awesome experience in 2012 when I started working with Mormons Building Bridges and we had that great Pride Parade. I recognized what I wanted to believe — that there were many active Latter-day Saints who wanted to love and care for their gay and transgender family and friends. And that really melted my heart in a big way. I recognized that not only can we work together, we have to work together in order to shift the state. So, I’m really excited for that. It’s part of my own personal evolution. I love my faith community again, and I thought that was something I would never again experience. That gave me a lot of hope for the future.
How do you see yourself working with the community going forward? What’s really critical is that we all come together. The message that we can all put forward is that we can all coexist, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, a Mormon or an atheist, gay or straight or transgender, what we share in common is so much greater than our differences. That is the most important message we can put out right now.
The Utah Legislature is the most conservative group of people in the state — much more conservative than their constituents. How do we work with them? Are they not just a lost cause? What I do know is that gay and transgender children are born into even the most super-conservative of families. There are always entry points to reach out and connect with people even with people who you think are ideologically opposed to you. We have just got to find that common ground. It’s the most essential work that we do. We must reach out to people who are different than us and show where we connect. Think of the idea of shared values. Gays and Mormons, or gays and conservatives, however you want to break it down, we all share a love for families and friends. We all share a love for living in safe neighborhoods and going to safe schools. We all want to contribute back to society. If we can connect on those levels, I think we can overcome a lot of the divisions between us.
What do you think the role of rights groups such as Equality Utah is as we move forward? At the end of the day, what we are asking for is equal protection for gay and transgender Utahns. It’s all about giving people a shot at the American dream. And we want people of faith and those who may disagree with us to enjoy those rights as well. We need that same courtesy in return. QSalt Lake