This Day In Gay Utah History October 30

October 30th

Radio City Lounge

1961 Steve Barker, Gay activist of Ogden used fake ID at the age of 14 to sneak into the Radio City Lounge in Salt Lake City as part of his coming out.

1973 Tuesday- University of Utah’s Daily Chronicle featured the story “Gay Church Welcomes Community Unwanted” about the Metropolitan Community Church of Salt Lake City. University of Utah’s Newspaper Daily Chronicle featured the story written by Jean Johnson, “Gay Church Welcomes Community Unwanted” about the Metropolitan Community Church of Salt Lake City “I don’t feel that a particular sexual orientation is a sin. Metropolitan Community Church is for everyone, especially for those who feel they have been discriminated against because of their homosexual orientation.” Lee Christensen sat in his book lined office and touched the heavy metal cross around his neck. Lee is the worship director of Metropolitan Community Church, a Protestant denomination which caters mostly to homosexuals. ”I just keep hoping that someday there’ll be just one big happy family, instead of Anglo-Saxon, Blacks, and homosexuals.”  Led by Rev. Troy Perry,

Troy Perry

Metropolitan Community Church evolved five years ago in Los Angeles. Rev. Perry felt that “God was not against me because I was a homosexual” four or five persons met and conducted services then; now there are 51 Metropolitan Community Churches across the nation. Salt Lake City’s Metropolitan Community Church is located in a complex at

870 West 400 South which it shares with Westside Community Mental Health Center and Union of the Poor. The congregation is made up of 50 members, mostly under age 35. Said Lee, “Most of our congregation is fairly well educated. Many of them do not especially want their employers to know they attended church here.  Once they accept their homosexuality there is no need to run around shouting to the world about it.” “I’m not sure that our purpose is to help our congregation accept their homosexuality. Our purpose is to make our lives as good as humanly possible.”  “If someone needs help, if someone wants to become straight. I’m all for it. We’re not out for converts to the church.” “Some of our members are politically active in Gay Liberation groups, but our duty at Metropolitan is to cater to religious needs,” said Lee. Sub for Santa and public speaking engagements have involved the church in the community. Metropolitan Community Church has been a part of the Salt Lake community for a little over a year.  "Women have virtually disappeared from the congregation.”  Explained Lee, “I’m not down on women’s lib per se. I’m for equal rights; but it can go too far. Some of the women in the congregation felt there was a lack of love in the congregation.  Several felt they had it and so they took it with them.”  Grace Christian Church was a result of the split.  Said Lee, “I’d like to see more people come back to Metropolitan”. Lee, a soft spoken scholarly young man, spoke of misconceptions concerning the homosexual community. “Some people think that there are orgies going on at Metropolitan. When a person has a fixed view like that, there’s nothing you can say to change his mind.”  Lee who was temporary leader of the church for several months until a new pastor arrived, explained the organization of Metropolitan. “An ordained minister leads the congregation along with five laymen. Services are basically Protestant with a sermon, prayers, communion, and hymns.  Doctrine doesn’t exist in Metropolitan Community Church. But it will have to come. Some people will leave if it is not developed; others will leave if it is.  I like it left open so that we can draw from a large religious background.” Metropolitan Community Church services are held Sunday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Bible study takes place Wednesday at 7 p.m. Lee has found that the homosexual community is unwelcome in most churches. “Some churches have turned away members of our congregation. Other may welcome him with loving arms, try to help him become straights and tell him he will go to hell if he retains his lifestyle.”  Lee has also found that many religions are changing their views. ”In the last three years I’ve noticed improvement in the acceptance of the homosexual community.  It’s just a feeling maybe because I’m getting older but people seem less uptight.”  (10/30/1973 Utah Daily Chronicle Vol. 38 #24)

1978 The Gay Student Union of the University of Utah elected Allen Blaich as director. Carl Boyer and Jimmy Hamamoto were elected as officers- in- charge.  Other active members were Brad Brewster and an original Gay Liberationist Scott Rushton

1982 Chuck Whyte presented his the first Unity Show to unify the gay community.

Norm Bangerter

1986 UTAH NOW FACING PROBLEM OF AIDS By ROBERT LINDSEY, Special to the New York Times For years many residents of this predominantly Mormon state believed there was no AIDS problem, in line with the church's conservative sexual teaching. Now, at the suggestion of the state's small community of homosexuals, Gov. Norman H. Bangerter has proclaimed this ''AIDS Awareness Week,'' and Mayor Palmer DePaulis of Salt Lake City has taken a lead in warning residents about the spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The fatal disease is transmitted by a virus through sexual contacts or exchanges of blood that, in the United States, has principally affected homosexual males and intravenous drug abusers. More than 65 percent of Utah's 1.6 million residents are Mormons, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a fast-growing religious organization whose doctrines rank homosexuality, adultery and fornication next to murder in grievousness among major sins. Warnings Since 1981 Some physicians here have been warning since 1981 that Utah, like any other state, was susceptible to the spread of AIDS. But because the conservative Mormon influence is so strong here, many Utahans predicted that their state would be little affected by the disease. Some church leaders had said it emergence proved that God shared the Mormons' condemnation of homosexuality. Now some residents say that it is time to acknowledge how difficult it can be to suppress human sexual conduct and that Utah has been affected by many of the same currents of change that have affected American society elsewhere. Church members who become identified as homosexuals are directed by the church to marry, and they face excommunication if they do not cease homosexual contacts. In a state so dominated by one religion, this can lead to social ostracism and difficulty in obtaining or keeping a job, former members of the church say. As a result, these former members say there is great pressure not to acknowledge a homosexual orientation. Despite the vigorous moral climate, however, Utah has not been spared a problem with AIDS. #47 Cases Since '83 Since August 1983, according to Craig Nichols, the state epidemiologist, 47 Utahans have been diagnosed as having AIDS, and 24 of the victims have died. Although the rate of infection is a tiny fraction of that in coastal cities such as New York or San Francisco, state health officials expect the number of cases to grow, especially among bisexual males. Health officials say the strong religious and social pressure on Utahans to marry and the strong taboo against homosexuality have led an unknown number of Mormon men to lead double lives; after yielding to pressure to enter a heterosexual marriage they continue to have sexual relations with men, and if they become infected with AIDS there is a high risk that they will transmit the disease to their wives and unborn children. ''Because of the cultural differences here,'' said Jessalyn Pittman, director of the AIDS Control Program in the Utah Department of Health, ''we're very concerned about the problem of bisexual men.'' 'You Can't Believe the Guilt' ''A lot of men are forced to marry, and then they play around on the side,'' said Davyd Daniels, a former Mormon who said that when he was 12 years old he tried to commit suicide because he could not deal with the conflicts between his homosexual urges and the guilt he said the church imposed on him because of its renunciation of homosexuality. ''You can't believe the guilt,'' he said. ''We

Ben Barr

have people committing suicide all the time because they can't handle it,'' said Ben Barr, assistant director of a group largely composed of homosexuals that organized ''AIDS Awareness Week.'' Mr. Barr, who is 26 years old and Jewish, said that although he was not a Mormon he still felt pressure as a fourth-generation Utahan to marry young and did so when he was 16, even though he realized he was a homosexual. Now divorced, Mr. Barr has a 10-year-son. William Blevins, 40, a former librarian at the Mormon Church's genealogical center, said the church put pressure on him to marry at 24 in the belief ''it would cure me'' of homosexual leanings. Homosexual Organizations It did not, he said, adding that ''I still had my feelings'' and that after he fathered four children the church discharged him, then excommunicated him and forced him to disclose the identities of several other employees at the church's headquarters with whom he had had sexual relations. He said his wife left him and remarried and he no longer has custody of the children. Despite the strong taboos against homosexuality, a half-dozen bars cater to homosexuals here and homosexuals have their own monthly magazine, several social organizations and their own church, Affirmation, that follows many Mormon teachings. Mr. Nichols, the state epidemiologist, estimates there are 30,000 homosexual men in the state. Homosexual leaders assert the number is much larger because many Mormon husbands, in Mr. Daniels's words, ''are afraid to come out of the closet.''

• Hi Ben and Utah History Buffs. Greetings from California. I saw that UAF is celebrating their 20 year anniversary. It made me think of an article about AIDS in Utah that the NY Times published in 1986. It was quite a big deal at the time -- the Salt Lake Tribune even wrote an article about the NY Times covering AIDS in Utah. I found the article on the times archive. All the best Ben Barr

1987 Women Against AIDS benefit was held at Lesbian bar Puss N Boots 996 South Redwood Road Salt Lake City, Utah

1990 Wednesday- The Northern Wasatch AIDS Coalition Conference “AIDS In The 90’s” was held at Weber State College, Ogden Utah.

1990 Letter To Editor Daily Utah Chronicle I have four things to say, which I hope will alienate just about everybody. (1) We have already had our year’s quota of articles and letters about gay/lesbian rights.  My point on this subject is this: It’s been about 120 years since we freed the slaves and Black people are just now beginning to beat back prejudice.  Since society changes so slowly, I figure it’ll be 120 years from around the early 80’s when we freed the majority of gay/lesbian from secrecy, before their rights begin to be accepted by a majority of American society. So scream all you want Stuart but there it is. ….Derek Siddoway

2001  Lewdness suit is dismissed By Linda Thomson Deseret News staff writer Published: Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2001 The lewdness case against a Salt Lake County prosecutor has been dismissed, and he will remain at his current job. Michael Owen Zabriskie, 41, was charged with a class B misdemeanor for an allegedly lewd act involving a 71-year-old man at Fairmont Park June 19, 2001. The case against Zabriskie was dismissed with prejudice by 3rd District Judge Paul Maughan on a motion from Salt Lake City. "With prejudice" means that the same charges cannot be refiled. However, another man involved in the same incident, Dale Turnbow, pleaded guilty in July to disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor, and was placed on 12-months probation. As part of his probation, Turnbow must complete a sex-offender treatment program and avoid public restrooms in parks. The allegations against Zabriskie prompted David Yocom, district attorney for Salt Lake County, to reassign Zabriskie this summer from the office's main downtown juvenile division, where Zabriskie had been working, to the juvenile division in Sandy. With the reassignment, Zabriskie left Salt Lake City, where police handling the case were located, to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. Yocom said Monday he has seen no paperwork regarding Zabriskie's case but said Zabriskie still is working in the Sandy division. "We don't have any immediate plans to change his work assignment," Yocom said. The charge against Zabriskie stemmed from an incident in which Zabriskie was allegedly sitting in his car about 11:50 a.m. in Fairmont Park masturbating while Turnbow stood outside the car door, according to a police report. Both men were cited for lewdness.

Charles Milne

2006 LBGT Resource Center coordinator resigns Administration seeks replacement Ana Breton Charles Milne, coordinator of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center, is officially resigning on Nov. 3 to seek a new career in event planning and management. Milne's resignation comes 15 days after his immediate supervisor, Karen Dace, announced her resignation from her position as associate vice president for diversity. Milne said his resignation had no relation to Dace's decision to step down. Instead, Milne said the choice to resign was a personal career move. Although he did not say what company he would be working for, he said he would be moving to Portland, Ore. Earlier this year, U administrators gave Dace additional funding to find a new director and advisers for the LGBT Center. Milne's replacement has not been announced. Milne said that since his announcement, he has had a chance to look back at his experience during his first year as LGBT coordinator, which was five years ago. "My first year was my most challenging year because we had a hard time getting support for our programs and getting them recognized," Milne said. The LGBT Center had no structured programs and only had student volunteers to run its events. They had little recognition and an even smaller office space located in the third floor of the Union. Now, the center has four staff members, several student interns and a large variety of programs for LGBT students and allies. The center has also recently moved to a bigger space on the fourth floor in the Union, complete with a student lounge and computer center. John Spillman, president of the LGBT Student Union, which Milne advised, said Milne has helped significantly to raise awareness and acceptance of the LGBT community at the U. "He has certainly helped the LGBT community develop a voice to address the issues that are happening right now," said Spillman, a senior in political science and sociology. "He's also helped a lot of people find their own voices." His most memorable moment as coordinator, Milne said, was when the center and its students organized a mock wedding in fewer than 24 hours. In 2004, the U College Republicans held a mock "straight" wedding in the Marriott Plaza to show disapproval of homosexual marriage, an issue being discussed at the state Legislature at the time, so Milne and students from the LGBT center constructed a counter mock homosexual wedding to "show both views," he said. And although arguments arose between both groups, Milne said he was appreciative of the support they received. Other improvements Milne has seen through his position as coordinator include the decrease in hate mail over the years. Five years ago, Milne said he received threatening e-mails on "a semi-regular basis." Now, he said, he doesn't see them in his inbox as often. Milne hopes to send a message of encouragement to his future replacement. "My advice would be to keep on going," Milne said. "There are going to be hard times, but by expanding awareness in the community, you can change people's opinions on who we are, not who they think we are."

Michael Aaron

2007 Michael Aaron of QSaltLake wrote: QSaltLake is in the final throes of developing our new web site and we wanted to give you a sneak peak and ask if you'd take a look and give us feedback. In it you will find: Our local, national and world news as well as the A&E and Opinion sections of the print newspaper QWire Local, QWire World & National, and QWire Entertainment feeds An online poll A full calendar of community events The ability to comment on news stories and opinion pieces Full search feature And coming soon:  Galleries of community events A reader forum Please take a look at the development site url: qsaltlake.us  When everything is tested and given the gold stamp of approval, our regular site, qsaltlake.com will transfer over. Thanks! 

• Ben Williams wrote: It looks fantastic-Ben.
•  From: "Michael Aaron" To: "'Ben Williams'" Thanks Ben! It’s great to ‘hear’ from you. I hope things are looking up. I got a “looking for Ben” email the other day – a UofU campus group wanting to do a display about the history of HIV/AIDS for World AIDS Day. I told him I’d pass along the info and let you decide where you are with all that. -Michael
•   Jeremy Yamashiro Staff Intern LGBT Center Uof U to Michael Aaron: Hi, I’m trying to get a hold of Ben Williams, the president of the Stonewall Historical Society; how might I go about doing that? Thanks. 
• Michael Aaron To: Jeremy Yamashiro. He is, unfortunately, not taking calls at this time. Is there something that perhaps we can help with? -Michael Aaron 
• From: Jeremy Yamashiro To: michael.aaron Subject: RE: U of U Transgender Awareness-   For World AIDS day the LGBT Resource Center at the U wants to collaborate with the Stonewall Historical Society in putting together an exhibit on the history of the AIDS phenomenon.  What we would be looking for is important events, dates, pictures, etc., as interesting visual material.  We plan on running the exhibit the last week of November, leading up to the 1st of December, which is World AIDS Day. If this sounds like an interesting collaboration, please let me know, so that we can start organizing, booking spaces, etc.Thank you for your time, Jeremy Yamashiro
•  Michael Aaron to Ben Williams. Here is the email I was talking about. 
• From: "Ben Williams" To: "Michael Aaron" I can pass on material that I have written and pictures but still not feeling like collaborating yet... May be after Halloween and voting. I met with a guy named Aaron Perry at the center to help him with a dissertation he's working on and I don't mind helping college crowd out as long as I don't have to put it together. Thanks for understanding. Every time I think of Chad Keller I get teary eyed still and am trying to process through the passing of an old love of mine. Your new site looks wonderful and you should be very proud and its a smart move since the age of paper seems to be passing.  I hope you are keeping a morgue of all your past issues for us crazy and moody historians. Have a safe and happy Halloween and hope your health is improving. Ben PS do you still want me to write for you?

Barack Obama

2009 Obama lifts ban on US entry for those with HIV By Darlene Superville Associated Press Published: Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 Deseret News WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Friday the U.S. will overturn a 20-year-old U.S. travel ban against people with HIV early next year. The order will be finalized on Monday, Obama said, completing a process begun during the Bush administration. The U.S. has been one of about a dozen countries that bar entry to travelers based on their HIV status. Obama said it will be lifted just after the new year, after a waiting period of about 60 days. "If we want to be a global leader in combating HIV/AIDS, we need to act like it," Obama said at the White House before signing a bill to extend the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program. Begun in 1990, the program provides medical care, medication and support services to about half a million people, most of them low-income. The bill is named for an

Ryan Whyte 

Indiana teenager who contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion at age 13. White went on to fight AIDS-related discrimination against him and others like him and help educate the country about the disease. He died in April 1990 at the age of 18. His mother, Jeanne White-Ginder, attended the signing ceremony, as did several members of Congress and HIV/AIDS activists. In 1987, at a time of widespread fear and ignorance about HIV, the Department of Health and Human Services added the disease to the list of communicable diseases that disqualified a person from entering the U.S. The department tried in 1991 to reverse its decision but was opposed by Congress, which in 1993 went the other way and made HIV infection the only medical condition explicitly listed under immigration law as grounds for inadmissibility to the U.S. The law effectively has kept out thousands of students, tourists and refugees and has complicated the adoption of children with HIV. No major international AIDS conference has been held in the U.S. since 1993, because HIV-positive activists and researchers cannot enter the country. Obama said lifting the ban "is a step that will save lives" by encouraging people to get tested and to get treatment. Rachel B. Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality, said the ban pointlessly has barred people from the U.S. and separated families with no benefit to public health. "Now, those families can be reunited, and the United States can put its mouth where its money is: ending the stigma that perpetuates HIV transmission, supporting science and welcoming those who seek to build a life in this country," said Tiven, whose organization works for fairness in immigration for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and HIV-positive people.

2019 The October Public Oratory of the Utah Queer Historical Society featured Dr. Patty Reagan who will be recounting her personal history for us in October. A popular professor of health at the University of Utah, she founded the Salt Lake AIDS Foundation (SLAF) in 1985 to provide education and information on HIV/AIDS. A year later she became the Director of the Women's Studies Program at the U. Her health classes always featured a day when she invited a panel of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual people to address the class and answer questions from students. She is the 1999 recipient of the Dr. Kristen Reis award for service to the Queer community.  Ben Williams’Journal excerpts “Even though I didn’t want to go back out, I did want to see Patty Reagan because she makes such rare appearances these days.  She said she was nervous about speaking to an audience as she hadn’t for years and I said It’s like riding a bike. You never forget. It was a good turnout but smaller than it should have been. I sat with T.J. Otaka and Jim McMillan as well as John Bennett who came also. I hadn’t seen him since his mother passed away. I guess he’s starting a new job up at the U of U next week. Becky Moss introduced Patty. Lots of older Lesbians who were friends of hers or once were Patty’s students when she taught her sexuality class at the U.   When her talk was over I stood up and thanked the Women’s Community for stepping up and taking care of Gay Men when we couldn’t during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s.