This Day In Gay Utah History April 17th

17 April 17-

Julian Eltinge

1917 Julian Eltinge  remains one of the wonders of the theatrical world, and the handsome audience which assembled at the Salt Lake Theater last evening to greet him in his new play so voted. “Cousin Lucy” the latest vehicle provided by the versatile artist is hardly so full of ludicrous situations and does not show the brain work that “the Fascinating Widow’, its predecessor did, but in the case of Mr. Eltinge all the audience seems to require is a comedy which gives him the opportunities to wear some bewildering gowns, and flit back and forth in male and female attire; as a wearer of some dizzy creations in feminine gowns and lingerie, Mr. Eltinge last night proved himself the usual marvel. Togged out in a Fifth Avenue creation with a dashing hat, dainty gloves, and diminutive slippers, Etinge looked like a replica of Lillian Russell in her dreamiest days. The piece called for some reckless physical displays, much of which on the part of some of the females could have been omitted to advantage, especially the exposition of bony knees and expansive backs. The masculine displays were less objectionable, but even they must have caused gasps on the part of the more youthful auditors. Deseret News [The Salt Lake Theater was owned by the Mormon Church and was the first theater west of the Mississippi. In 1862 a large theater was built on the Northwest corner of 1st South and State Street. Hollywood actor Charles Coburn in 1945 called it “one of the West’s most distinguished edifices and it is a shame that it had to be torn down”.  The Church had it demolished in 1928.]

1965-Ten protesters from the Mattachine Society protested at the White House to voice opposition to Fidel Castro's crackdown on Cuban homosexuals.

1970 The United Front to End the War, the Coalition to End Pollution, and the Festival of Life can hold a rally Saturday in Sugar House Park, the Salt Lake City Commission said. The rally was be staged in Liberty Park and commissioners said a loudspeaker system could be used to broadcast speeches but not music. Douglas Epperson was chairman of the United Front to End the War.

1986- The best attended seminar at LGSU Conference '86 was a debate on “Lesbian Separatism” entitled “Extremism in Defense of Liberty”. Debate was between Kake Huck and Sharon Jensen.

Mel Baker

1987 Ben Schatz of the Lambda Legal Defense Organization of San Francisco was the keynote speaker for Lesbian and Gay Student Union’s Conference '87 at the U of U. Spoke to an audience of about 40 people in the Union Building. At the conference Bruce Barton lectured on Religion and Homosexuality. A candlelight vigil was held by Mel Baker, co host of Concerning Gays and Lesbians, in memory of those who had died of AIDS and victims of Gay violence. “We held each other in the darkness while some wept and others reflected on what it meant to be Gay.”  Names on pieces of paper were burned to ashes and “after the vigil Mel Baker suggested taking the ashes up to the canyon behind the medical center to spread them in the creek there. Eight of us went. They were Becky Moss, Cecilia Anderson, Alma Smith, Stephen Baustraud, Patrick Duffy, Mel Baker, Bill Harris, and Ben Williams. We sang songs and had a  spirit of camaraderie. I met Becky Moss tonight. She’s Mickey on Concerning Gays and Lesbians and I just think she’s delightfully bright, and articulate. “

1988 AIDS Project Utah held fund-raiser presenting 4 of the national AIDS Film Projects at Cinema In Your Face 45 West 3rd South SLC UT

1993 S.L. GAY ACTIVIST SKIPS TOWN, LEAVES DEBTS AND DISTRUST S.L. GAY ACTIVISTLEAVES DEBTS, DISTRUST BEHIND AFTER SKIPPING  TOWN  By Tony Semerad “Randy Richardson emerged as an outspoken activist in Utah, but his exit was

decidedly quiet.  Nobody in Salt Lake City seems to know the whereabouts of prominent and controversial gay activist Randy Richardson. The outspoken magazine publisher has skipped town, friends and financial backers say. And he has left behind a trail of debts and disappointment. Police believe Mr. Richardson fled Utah in February -- just before being found out in a suspicious AIDS fund-raiser designed to bring him more than $1 million.  It was to be an 80-city barn-storming trip by light airplane to raise cash for AIDS research. But two days before the ``Ultraflight For Life'' campaign was set for takeoff, Mr. Richardson disappeared. His debts in Salt Lake probably exceed $10,000, based on interviews by The Salt Lake Tribune. One investor is out $4,500. Others say they are having to write off payments for advertising that never ran in Mr. Richardson's Outfront Review magazine. But police investigating the case say it is difficult to come up with criminal charges. ``He seems to have known just how far he could push things,'' says Shane Jones, the Salt Lake Police Department's liaison officer to Salt Lake's gays and lesbians. ``Right now, we have nothing to chase him on.''    Members of the Utah AIDS Foundation have been reluctant to talk

about Mr. Richardson's actions. They are mortified he may have hurt their cause.  ``If somebody says they're raising money for   AIDS, check it out,'' says LaDonna Moore, the foundation's executive director. Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini --once featured on the cover of Mr. Richardson's magazine -- and Police Chief Ruben Ortega were drawn unwittingly into lending their names to the AIDS fund-raising event. Boasting their support, Mr. Richardson got financial sponsorship from several business owners and private individuals, many of them gay men. The donors describe him as charismatic, passionate and well-spoken. `I liked this guy better than I've liked anyone in 20 years,'' says one middle-aged investor who accepted a fake diamond ring as loan collateral. ``I trusted Randy. And that hurts.'' Other frustrated investors are loathe to come forward, certain that going public will force them to reveal their sexual orientation. ``This is why the gay community can make a perfect target,''

Dale Sorenson 

says Dale Sorenson, director of Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats and one of Mr. Richardson's ex-friends. ``I doubt that a heterosexual could have gotten away with what Randy did.'' The thin, gray-haired man emerged in Salt Lake last summer with the first issue of his free monthly magazine. Authorities know little about his past. They believe he moved here from California. Once in Utah, Mr. Richardson quickly gained notoriety by speaking out on a series of controversies involving the gay community. He attacked the Salt Lake City-County Health Department in July for refusing to give him free condoms to distribute in his magazine.  Later that month, he took on talk-radio hosts at KKAT-FM by publicly threatening to report them to the Federal Communications Commission for disparaging remarks about gays. Station owners issued a public apology. In September, he sparked a bitter rift in the homosexual community by becoming the lone gay spokesman to support the hiring of Mr. Ortega. Mr. Richardson outraged other gay activists by arguing the new police chief should be given a chance -- despite allegations Mr. Ortega

Reuben Ortega

tacitly condoned anti-homosexual policies while heading the Phoenix Police Department.  The move earned Mr. Richardson extensive media coverage. By January, he was drumming up financial support for ``Ultraflight For Life.'' He told potential investors that the ``first-ever'' trip would raise $10 million for AIDS research; he would get 10% for ``administration.''  After a meeting with Ms. Corradini, Mr. Richardson circulated a letter saying he was ``working closely'' with the mayor and that he had the ``support and endorsement of the city.'' Not so, says Kay Christensen, Ms.Corradini's chief of staff. ``All we ever did was talk about it,'' Ms. Christensen says. ``The whole thing seemed overly ambitious, even farfetched.'' About the same time officials at City Hall and the Salt Lake Police Department grew wary in February, Mr. Richardson's phone was disconnected. He abruptly canceled a news conference at Salt Lake's Shiloh Inn to launch the campaign. His last communique was a short consolation letter to a worried supporter, postmarked Cheyenne, Wyo. ``Well, the gay and lesbian community has done it again,'' Mr. Richardson wrote. ``It has managed to undermine the project.'' (04/17/93 Page: C1 SLTribune )

1994-Jim Reiger, former co host of Concerning Gays and Lesbians died of heart failure in California. He was a regular cohost with Becky Moss and Ben Williams from 1988 through 1990.  As a resident of California he brought a fresh outlook on the strengths and weaknesses of Utah's homosexual communities. 

1995- -Curtis Keith Bennett died at the age of 37 in Los Angeles, California after a long and valiant battle with complications from the AIDS virus. He graduated from Olympus High School in 1975 and was a member of the National Honor Society. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from BYU in 1981 with two Bachelor of Science Degrees. He also attended Law School at the University of Utah. He moved to Los Angeles in 1982 and worked for an investment banking firm in Beverly Hills for six years. He changed professions and became a bilingual school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District where he was teaching at the time of his death. He loved teaching and received a great deal of satisfaction in teaching underprivileged children in the inner city. He recently received the honor of having the auditorium at the Cheremoya Elementary School in Hollywood, where he taught, named after him for his dedication to teaching. He was a talented artist and enjoyed reading, music, the theatre and learning about other cultures. He is survived A longtime companion, Arthur Loya, Los Angeles, Calif. Curt has been actively involved in fund raising drives to help in the advancement of AIDS research.

Robert Steiner

1996 Guest Editorial   Gay Club Bill Too Sketchy on Qualifications for Bans    School Clubs At the Mercy Of Sketchy Bill  BY

ROBERT STEINER SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE    [Editor's Note: The author is a veteran Democratic senator in the Utah Legislature from  Salt Lake]  I have decided to record some of my observations on the debate of Sen. Craig Taylor's Senate Bill 1003, banning gay  and lesbian clubs in high schools, in the Legislature's special session April 17. As a participant in the debate and as a close observer of the bill's legislative course since it originally appeared as SB246 and SB262 in the 1996 general session, I feel my perspective may in some small way enlighten public discourse on the new law.  On the morning of the special session, I arrived at the Capitol for an 8 a.m. committee meeting.  It ran until lunch. Most lawmakers were similarly occupied with such ordinary business all morning. SB1003 and some supporting documents finally were printed and placed on our desks around 10:30 a.m. The final version of the bill was approved for filing at 2:32 p.m. It varied slightly from the one distributed before lunch.  The text of SB1003 had not been available before this time.  The fact that we had not had time to study the bill and that we had not held public hearings to receive public comment became almost as important to the debate as the substance of the measure itself. At lunch, Sen. Dave Steele, R-West Point, strongly expressed his concern. Later, during debate, Sen. Ed Mayne, D-West Valley City

Ed Mayne

, made a motion to consider the bill again May 15, permitting ourselves and the public to study it in the intervening month.  Sen. Dave Buhler, R-Salt Lake City, wondered if the bill ought to be taken up for voting in the 1997 general session. Thrust of Presentation:  Taylor explained his bill on the Senate floor in some detail. We took up consideration of his bill around 3 p.m.   Taylor spoke for nearly an hour. He followed the sense of a text that had been distributed with the bill and titled ``Legislative History.''  It is an 18-page legal brief presumably prepared by Dan Berman, Dave Jordan and school board attorneys. They were asked by Gov. Mike Leavitt to help  Taylor draft a better bill than SB246, which Leavitt had vetoed in March. Taylor's main arguments were that homosexuality is a dangerous and destructive lifestyle and, therefore, the state may act to forestall this lifestyle choice for the health, safety and morals of its young citizens. The premise was that homosexuality is dangerous and destructive because of its high correlation to HIV. Taking action to prevent susceptible people from experimenting with homosexuality may help them delay or altogether avoid those destructive actions, he said. Taylor also argued that some young people could be recruited into homosexuality by the existence of a school gay club.  He supported this argument with references to a couple of psychiatric opinions that were forcefully expressed but not qualified as to whether they represented the views of most psychiatrists, a respected minority or other group. Finally,  Taylor asked the rhetorical question of whether the interests of the state and its young people were to be better served by those intending to protect the young people from the dangers of homosexuality or by those who would permit the clubs in our schools -- making possible the recruitment to homosexuality of students under the guise of offering ``support'' to them.  Incidental Problems? SB1003 is too broad in at least two respects: First, the bill proscribes any student organization seen to ``promote bigotry.'' Bigotry is undefined in the bill and, consequently, the bill will gather too many organizations into its net. There seems to be some overlap in meaning between the words bigotry, racism and prejudice.    Prejudice is ``pre-judgement'' about anything. It means you have made up your mind before you have heard the whole story. Racism means categorizing people according to their race, especially by one group that pretends to have power over another group. The meaning of ``bigotry'' is less clear to me. Black's Law Dictionary defines bigot as an obstinate person, one that is wedded to an opinion, in matters of religion, etc. The American Heritage Dictionary defines bigot as a person of strong conviction or prejudice, especially in matters of religion, race or politics, who is intolerant of those who differ with him. The Oxford English dictionary defines bigotry as the condition of a bigot; obstinate and unenlightened attachment to a particular creed, opinion, system or party.   By these definitions, could a Christian club be forbidden to exist by this section of the bill? Christians are people of strong conviction. They may be intolerant of different groups, perhaps Muslims or perhaps homosexuals. Would a Christian Bible club be ``promoting bigotry'' by condemning homosexuality? Or, could a Republican political club be considered ``bigoted'' because it opposes affirmative action? Taylor replied that his team of lawyers didn't want to define bigotry in the bill. The real definition of the term will be decided by the local school boards and -- as the bill later was amended in the House -- by the state school board as well. Perhaps this means that ``as applied'' to various organizations across the state, the ``promotes bigotry'' language will not be too broad because our school boards will be so careful when they determine what bigotry means. I would have preferred to tighten up this language. The bill also proscribes those student organizations that ``involve human sexuality.'' In my opinion these terms are fairly broad, including as they do large areas of biology and literature. Interpreted literally, clubs investigating medicine or clubs performing Shakespeare's comedies should be forbidden. I suggested that this language could also be more sharply delimited by using specific language like ``sex acts'' or ``sexual actions.'' Again, the sponsor preferred the broader, original language because, as I understood it, the school boards will know what we mean by ``involve human sexuality.'' I'm not so sure. Could a club that promotes teen-age sexual abstinence be forbidden because the club would ``involve human sexuality?'' Could a ``gay/straight alliance'' formed to provide support to schoolchildren who suffer from homophobia be forbidden. What about a dancing club?    That this bill is a usurpation of the power of local school boards became even clearer when the House amended the Senate version to say that both the state school board and the local school boards could adopt rules to implement the new law. The local school boards already can take these measures. Until now they have been too smart to do so, or have done so in a way that removes all noncurricular clubs. Rather than having the state act in this area of local responsibility, we should have left it alone. I don't think having gay clubs, or gay/straight alliances can only be seen negatively by school districts. East High's Gay-Straight Alliance, offers a valuable opportunity for some vulnerable young people. A constituent wrote to me in February: ``Gay and Lesbian youth sometimes live very tormented lives due to abusive peers, parents and just their own needs to fit in and be accepted as all teen-agers long to do. This torment can lead to emotional distress, and even worse an elevated rate of teen suicide. The gay and lesbian community in Utah has a mentoring program called Project 21 administered through

the Stonewall Center, which is a response to the needs of these young people. This does help, but we think the schools are closer to where the need is and can potentially reach more of these kids with the peer support that they need most.'' I appreciate how unsettling it is for many that a gay and lesbian club is present at East High. The club grew out of a need of students, both gay and straight, to deal with the issue of homosexuality in a spirit of tolerance and understanding. Instead of gay bashing and violence, the East students chose discussion and the exchange of points of view. The larger community should follow their example, even if the existence of homosexuality makes them uncomfortable. When this issue came up during general session in February, I had a visit from old college friends who live in Northern California. They told me that their oldest child's Catholic high school  has a gay support club. It is unlikely that the Catholic bishop in that area intends to promote homosexuality; rather, I believe that by permitting a gay support club there he may intend to promote tolerance and understanding.  Much of the debate comes down to whether we are being honest with ourselves. Has the state acted because we sincerely and reasonably believe that young people are being recruited into homosexuality and therefore we don't want people around discussing it, or identifying their distinct problems? If recruitment is a smoke screen and if we really just want to pretend that a point of view doesn't exist because we are not comfortable with it, then even the substance of this bill may violate the free speech of students. In Terminiello v. Chicago, Mr. Terminiello gave a speech that viciously criticized various political and racial groups. There were some disturbances. Justice William O. Douglas delivered the opinion of the court and left us with a difficult lesson: ``The vitality of civil and political institutions in our society depends on free discussion . . . The right to speak freely and to promote diversity of ideas and programs is therefore one of the chief distinctions that sets us apart from totalitarian regimes . . . Speech is often provocative and challenging. It may strike at prejudices and preconceptions and have profound unsettling effects as it presses for acceptance of an idea. That is why freedom of speech, though not absolute, is nevertheless protected against censorship or punishment, unless shown likely to produce a clear and present danger of serious substantive evil that rises far above public inconvenience, annoyance or unrest. For the alternative would lead to standardization of ideas either by legislature, courts, or dominant political or community groups.'' Taylor, with the help of the governor, has done a much better job with SB1003 than he did with the bills presented in the general session. Will will have a much better chance of winning in court than we would have had. I'm not sure it is worth the trouble because I don't think there is broad public consensus that a couple of gay clubs in our state can ever be injurious to us. We will know more in a few years.

1996 The Salt Lake Tribune Lawmakers Return To Take On Gay Clubs Special Session Today To Deal With Gay Clubs By Dan Harrie and Tony Semerad Eyes turn today to Utah's Capitol Hill, where state lawmakers gather in a special session to discuss new ways for

Mike Leavitt

curbing gay student clubs. Gov. Mike Leavitt and legislative leaders emerged late Tuesday from a closed-door meeting to present the latest approach -- a complicated scheme that would let local school boards decide which clubs deserve to be forbidden, but leaving their actual banishment from public-school grounds up to state law. Flanked by House Speaker Mel Brown and Senate President Lane Beattie, Leavitt called the proposal "a very nice compromise providing local control." Opponents, meanwhile, are threatening a lawsuit over any measure targeting specific clubs, including those formed by gay students. State legislators take up the matter today starting at 2:30 p.m., along with consideration of the state's $51 million construction budget and other items. The focus of weeks of meetings among attorneys, school officials and others, the proposal Leavitt unveiled Tuesday came as the gay-club controversy unfolded on several fronts: --Religious leaders, including Catholic Bishop

George Neiderauser

George H. Niederauer, spiritual leader to Utah's 80,000 Catholics, issued a statement promoting diversity and tolerance, decrying bigotry and asking elected officials "to refrain from divisive and polarizing behavior." --Television crews from CBS and MTV arrived in Salt Lake City to cover legislative action and attendant fallout, which already has earned Utah worldwide publicity, much of it negative. --A petition has circulated on the global computer Internet, calling for reversal of the Salt Lake School Board's February 20 decision to ban all extracurricular clubs rather than let gay students meet in school. It has drawn "thousands" of signatures, organizers said, including those of residents from California, New York, Texas, Hawaii and elsewhere. --A group of gay and politically active Republicans pleaded with legislators to delay action, saying the entire debate has left citizens "disgusted and dismayed." Leavitt met during the weekend with upset parents of gays and lesbians. Instead of a lobbying session, the meeting at an undisclosed private residence was to "express our anguish and concern about what is going on in the Legislature and the proposed legislation," said Gary Watts, a father and Provo radiologist. The governor called today's one-day special session after he vetoed Senate Bill 246, which was designed to bar teachers and school employees from "condoning, encouraging or promoting illegal activity" -- an attempt to limit gay clubs. The governor said he feared the measure infringed unduly on free-speech rights. The current language in the bill zeroes in on clubs that encourage criminal or delinquent behavior, promote bigotry, or involve human sexuality. And with the two-tiered system of letting school boards identify clubs but letting state law ban them, Leavitt said, the bill meets the two goals of giving local boards flexibility while ensuring consistent standards statewide. But it also is aimed at insulating local school boards from expensive legal action. The Utah chapter of the

American Civil Liberties Union and other groups already have said the proposed law violates the federal Equal Access Act of 1984, guaranteeing student organizations access to public-school facilities. And clearly state officials have no illusions about getting sued. In an April 10 letter to Leavitt from state Superintendent of Public Instruction Scott Bean, he says, "The state and the public schools will be best served by putting the issue before the courts as quickly as possible and without additional divisiveness." Normally defensive about local control, Utah's 40 school boards have lobbied hard for the bill to mandate local school districts to ban or restrict gay student clubs, effectively relieving them of that legal responsibility. "On this issue, knowing there will be litigation, it makes much better sense, since all districts will be impacted, to have it as state policy," said Darrell White, executive director of the State School Boards Association. More simply put, said White, if the state mandates how districts treat gay clubs, the state will be responsible for legal expenses in defending the policy. Leavitt and legislative leaders said they would generate an estimated cost for associated litigation in time for today's session. But they do not intend to appropriate any money before their 1997 regular session convenes in January. Utah Atty. Gen. Jan Graham, who would be responsible for defending the state against such a lawsuit, has not been approached about estimating the expense to taxpayers, spokesman Palmer DePaulis said Tuesday. Late last year, Democrat Graham's office agreed with

Jan Graham

attorneys for the state Office of Public Education that a ban aimed solely at the East High Gay-Straight Student Alliance would be illegal under the Equal Access Act. One Utah congressional candidate on Tuesday called for the repeal of portions of the Act that mandates equal treatment of all student groups, in terms of access to school facilities. "It is improper for the federal government to dictate to the local schools what their policies should be in regard to homosexual students," said John C. Houston, one of eight Republicans running for Utah's 2nd Congressional District. In a news conference at the state Capitol, Houston said he would prefer to abolish the entire Act -- even if that barred Bible study groups from meeting on school grounds -- rather than agree with its dictates on gay groups, whose presence he called "disruptive to students, parents, teachers and to

DJ Thompson

the very purpose of education." A group of gay Republicans, on the other hand, Tuesday urged that action be delayed. The Utah Log Cabin Republicans President D.J. Thompson pleaded in a letter to Beattie, R-West Bountiful, and Brown, R-Midvale, that they stall action: "Don't debate it, don't vote on it, don't act on it. Legislative leaders like you can figure out a parliamentary way to put this in the deep freeze." The group estimated that passage will cost the state $1 million -- with little chance of it surviving court scrutiny. But David Nelson, head of the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats, was more resigned. He called the bill's approval by the Legislature and governor a "slam dunk," and expected token opposition from a few lonely Democrats.

1996 An East High Benefit Concert for the Gay Straight Alliance of East High featured Catie Curtis and Sweet Loretta at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts Auditorium, University of Utah campus, Tickets, were $10 general admission, $8 for students and were available at University Union, Coffee Garden, Utah Stonewall Center.

1996 Sen. Craig Taylor's Senate Bill 1003, banning Gay and lesbian clubs in high schools, approved in the Legislature's special session called by Mike Leavitt. The bill originally appeared as SB246 and SB262 in the 1996 general session. SL Tribune stated, “Few expected Wednesday's special legislative session -- which Republican Leavitt meant as an afternoon of sharply focused lawmaking -- would turn into a disjointed 12-hour catharsis of emotion, verbal conflict and, in a  few cases, outright Gay-bashing. The 104 part-time legislators finished their one-day session shortly after 2 a.m. Thursday. In hand was a bill that forces Utah's school boards to ban clubs for Gay and lesbian students and other select organizations – while allowing other groups access to school facilities…. The reworked measure, which Leavitt said Thursday that he will sign into law, is sure to be challenged

Carol Gnade

under claims that it flouts federal law and the U.S. Constitution. ``Not only does it violate the rights of lesbian, Gay and straight students,'' said Carol Gnade, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Utah, ``but [also] everyone associated with a Utah high school, including teachers, administrators and volunteers.'' 

Chuck Whyte

1999 Diversity is Great (DIG Awards) recognition banquet Downtown Salt Lake Hilton 801 860-5403 Chuck Whyte given Life Time Achievement Award. Keysha Barnes an original organized of East High Gay/Straight Alliance, Pam Mayne one of the original founders of Gay Liberation in Utah, and Becky Moss long time host of Concerning Gays and Lesbians on KRCL were recipients of DIG Awards for contributions to the community. The Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire was recognized as organization of the year.

1999 The Utah Democratic Gay and Lesbian Caucus hosted the 10th annual Salt Lake County Democratic convention caucus meeting held at Bryant Intermediate in Salt Lake City. 

1999 Courts Summary Judgment Sought by Both Sides in Suit Over Banning Clubs in Schools Byline: BY HILARY GROUTAGE THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE    Attorneys on both sides of a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging a decision that bans most clubs in Salt Lake City schools asked a federal judge on Friday to grant a motion for summary judgment.    The lawsuit was filed last year by East High School students who claimed the Salt Lake City School District banned their club, the Gay Straight Alliance, while allowing other clubs to meet.  The dispute began in 1995 when a group of students sought permission to form the

East High Gay-Straight Alliance, a support group for gay, lesbian and bisexual students and their friends.    The district reacted in February 1996 by banning all clubs that were not tied to school curriculum. Dozens were eliminated, including Young Republicans and Democrats, Students Against Drunk Driving, the Beef Club and the Polynesian Club. Students Ivy Fox and Keysha Barnes, along with their parents, are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York-based gay rights group Lambda Legal Defense Fund. They sued the district, claiming the policy was unconstitutional.  A group called The Gay-Straight Alliance, different from the one involved in the federal court case, continues to meet at East High under the Utah Civic Act. The group rents space from the high school and has an outside sponsor, the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, which provides an adult adviser and liability insurance for the group.   U.S. District Judge Bruce Jenkins took the matter under advisement, meaning he could rule in lieu of a trial in favor of one side or the other.   In arguments Friday, Assistant Utah Atty. Gen. Dan R. Larsen said the plaintiffs had failed to show a single instance where they had been banned from talking about homosexuality.  "Without showing there's an event where they've been restricted in their speech, they have no First Amendment case," he said. But Jon Davidson of Lambda said the policy banning discussion of gay issues in curriculum-related clubs and eliminating all other clubs amounts to a violation of the First Amendment. "They did it intentionally because they didn't want gay-supportive viewpoints expressed," Davidson said.     Specifically, the lawsuit targets the Future Business Leaders of America, Future Homemakers of America, West High's National Honor Society, The Improvement Council at East, and Odyssey of the Mind, a group that teaches students problem solving at West High School. Larsen argued there is no need for the clubs' primary purpose to be curricular. Instead, he said there only needs to be a significant connection between the club and schoolwork. Among the clubs reviewed in the Salt Lake City School District this year was the Rainbow Club, which was to be a club where students could freely discuss homosexuality and its history. Associate Superintendent Cindy Siedel, who processes all club applications, said after the hearing the Rainbow Club is the only one whose review still is pending. "They're treating it differently than all the other clubs," Davidson said after the hearing.  Jenkins said the issue of the Rainbow Club was not to be included in the lawsuit because it was added after the suit was filed.    Before taking the arguments under advisement, Jenkins made a statement in support of diversity and tolerance.   "I sometimes wonder if school boards at more levels ought to add to their curriculum a class in tolerance, a class in compassion, a class in human dignity, a class on recognizing that not everybody's the same," he said. The hearing marked the end of an unsettling week for students involved in the GSA. On Monday, some 300 parents packed a meeting of the School Community Council to protest a six-minute presentation on homosexuality that was shown as part of the school's annual Multi-Cultural Assembly on April 9.    Several parents asked East High Principal Kay Petersen to resign because he allowed the presentation.    For his part, Larsen used the presentation to try to prove that homosexual viewpoints are expressed at East High School.

2000 Anonymous petition wants your signature "We come together from diverse national, cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds to reclaim precious freedoms of conscience, religion and of speech and to defend all that is right before God and man that have been slowly taken away by incorrect interpretations of what is meant by the clause concerning the mixture of church and state. We claim the right to petition for governance of our own community according to our beliefs of morality and justice in obedience to the Supreme Law of the Land. Let Logan, Utah, govern Logan, Utah, in hopes that all that is right and good will rule." This eloquent rhetoric is only the beginning of a passionate petition being circulated throughout some neighborhoods in Cache Valley and at Utah State University. The document lacks the signature of its author, but is allegedly sponsored by "students at Utah State University and Cache Valley citizens." Those who support the tenets of the document are asked to sign it and mail copies to Gov. Mike Leavitt, USU President George Emert, USU studentbody president Nate Anderson, Logan Mayor Doug Thompson, USU vice provost Craig Petersen, former Utah Supreme Court Justice Michael Zimmerman, State School Board member Cheryl Ferrin, and John Ringle, associate director of USU Housing. Ringle said he has received a pair of petitions signed by a husband-wife couple, who were not available for comment this morning. But the petitions, which appeared over the weekend, were distributed in violation of campus policy because they were put on windshields of cars in campus parking lots, Ringle said. The petition addresses moral issues in eight points which include a request for a two-minute prayer at the beginning of each class and the right to teach creationism. It also requests free speech rights for church representatives who "currently are denied the right to bring up the topic of religion on campus ground." Under attack in the petition are certain student clubs because of the beliefs of their members. "Groups such as the Pride Alliance group, whose purpose is to support or advocate homosexuality, may be disacknowledged, for this act is destructive to all that is godly and good in humankind," the petition reads. "As taxpayers and students who pay fees, many who agree with this position are forced to go against their freedom of conscience by allowing the school and state to support and acknowledge and act monetarily and verbally that is incorrect. " but a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a case known as Southworth recently upheld the decision that activity fees may be assessed and must be

Courtney Moser

administered neutrally. Courtney Moser, associate manager of The Hub Food Court and adviser for USU's Pride Alliance Club, agrees that an integral part of education is the exchange of ideas, which can be fostered in special interest clubs. Although many of the tenets are "loaded," Moser agreed with the third point, which he said guarantees every individual's freedom. "Teachers, students, employees will be allowed to teach, defend and work in accordance to the principles of truth and values of morality as their conscientious minds bid them," the petition reads. That very statement, Moser said, guarantees his right to advocate for the members of the Pride Alliance in accord with his values of morality. Tiffany Evans, associate director of student activities at USU, said each of the registered clubs on campus receive from ,100 to 300 from student fees. The funds are reserved for activities that promote the university, provide educational experiences or activities to the entire campus community, develop leadership skills and provide training opportunities, Evans said. Neither Evans nor Moser had seen the flier before being contacted by The Herald Journal this morning.

2002 From Billy Lewis Subject: Here are the Pride Guide ad rates. The Utah Pride Guide is the official Utah Pride program.  There will approximately 15,000 copies distributed between May 25th and June 9th.  The deadline for placing an ad in the Pride Guide is April 30, 2002.  Black and white camera ready art work must be provided by the advertiser.  The rates for advertising in the Pride Guide are: *Outside Back Cover color reserved for the highest Platinum Sponsor-*Inside Front Cover b/w  $350.00-*Inside Back Cover b/w $325.00-*Full Page b/w  $250.00-*Half Page Horizontal $225.00-*Third Page Vertical $200.00-*Third Page Horizontal  $200.00-*Quarter Page Vertical $175.00-*Quarter Page Horizontal $175.00-*24th Page Square $150.00-*24th Page Horizontal $150.00-Business Card   $100.00

2003 Latinos Questioning Minority Appointment By Heather May  The Salt Lake Tribune  Some Latino community activists are unhappy that Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson

Bythe Nobleman

hired an Anglo to work with minorities.  Blythe Nobleman started work this week as minority-affairs coordinator. The mayor said he appointed her partly because she is a lesbian, and he felt that population needed representation. She replaced Mata Finau, a Pacific Islander. "A white person is now going to come and tell us what is best for us? They're going to resolve all of our problems?" said Robert Gallegos, chairman of the Latino community group RAZ/PAC. "That [minority coordinator] is a very important position in the minority community. That individual should be able to bring the various cultures and various communities together. I question whether a person of the Anglo-Saxon [ethnicity] would be able to do this." Though new to the city's ethnic minority community, Nobleman said Wednesday she can do the job. And she noted that Archie Archuleta, the other city official in minority affairs, is Latino.  "I'm just as capable to meet the responsibilities of my position as anybody of color," she said. 

Archie Archuleta

  Nobleman speaks Spanish, has lived in diverse cities such as Los Angeles and Miami and was involved in minority communities there, teaching writing to underprivileged students in inner-city schools. "We have a lot of people who could have been picked to be in that position who were not," said James Yapias, another activist. Anderson did not advertise the position; he appointed Nobleman, who previously trained the mayor's staff on writing and has volunteered on his re-election campaign. Tony Yapias, the new director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs, said he has received

Tony Yapias

phone calls from concerned residents: "They're confused [about] how does a lesbian become a minority, how does that relate to working with the minority community." Michael Mitchell, executive director of Unity Utah, a gay and lesbian political action committee, said those questions arise when people wrongly believe that a person chooses sexual orientation rather than being born with it. "We face a lot of the same issues ethnic minorities face and religious minorities face . . . of not being included," Mitchell said. "This isn't an ethnic position; it's a minority position," Nobleman said, noting the term minority includes the elderly, disabled and sexual orientation along with racial categories. But Gallegos believes a racial minority should fill the spot, especially given that few minorities are employed at City Hall. "I

Michael Mitchell

was just humiliated by this," he said. "Maybe what [the mayor] ought to do is put us in charge of all the departments and put all the white people in charge of minority affairs."  During Anderson's tenure, more minorities have been hired, but not as many as planned. In December 1999, just before Anderson took office, minorities made up 10.7 percent of the city employees. Now, 12.3 percent, or 319 of the 2,600 full-time employees, are minorities. But the goal was to increase their representation by 1 percent a year, said human resources director Brenda Hancock, who compiles diversity statistics every quarter for the mayor. By that measure, minorities should make up almost 14 percent of the full-time employees.  Anderson's office has the highest percentage of minorities at City Hall, at 32 percent. Of the 25 employees -- including office assistants, community affairs specialists and some of his top aides -- eight are racial minorities. hmay@sltrib.com    

2003 Chad Keller comment Any city would be better to creat a council on Minority Affairs to assist in a position such as has been created or to directly advise the mayor.  Each minority community has issues that are theirs alone.  To fully understand and create change it takes more than to simply understand their circumstances on an academic level. Just another professional GLBT appointed to tell me and other minorities how I should feel. CK

2003 From our friends and at PFLAG Utah Voices: Confessions of a Recovering

Boyer Jarvis

Homophobic: How to Open Your Eyes By Boyer Jarvis On a Saturday morning several years ago, as I was reading The Salt Lake Tribune, I came upon a news headline that instantly drew me into the text below it. The article reported that a husband and wife, who recently had moved to Utah, were trying to establish a Salt Lake chapter of a national organization called Parents, Families and Friends of  Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). Reading that article brought to mind thoughts of wonderful friends of mine, both here and elsewhere, whose sexual orientation was different from my own. The Tribune story gave the time and place for the PFLAG organizing meeting, and, for friendship's sake, I decided to attend. After the dozen or so people present at the meeting had given brief self-introductions, it was obvious that I was the only person there lacking a close relative who was gay or lesbian, or who was not him/herself a homosexual. I decided, as a friend of lesbians and gays, that I wanted to be a founding member of the Salt Lake chapter of PFLAG. Being part of the local PFLAG organization has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. t has been my privilege to become acquainted, and then to become frnds with, truly outstanding citizens who just happen to be parents of gay or lesbian children. More importantly, PFLAG has opened my eyes to my own homophobia and has motivated me to try to understand the origin of, and to try to overcome, that unfortunate condition in my relationship with other human beings.  Looking back to my long ago teenage years, I now am embarrassed to rcall times when, along with others, I made what I thought were harmless jokes about "homos" and "queers," when, without an instant's hesitation, I would have objected strongly to jokes about Jews or Negroes. I simply was unaware of the phenomenon of homosexuality.  By the time I was in college, I had encountered the term "homophobia," and, without knowing it then, had become friends with a number of closeted homosexuals.  As defined in the Random House Dictionary of the English Language, homophobia is "unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality." It is my conclusion that, unlike the instinctive act of breathing, homophobia is a learned response. As children we learn to speak the language that we hear being spoken by our parents and/or other caregivers, and in a similar fashion we acquire attitudes of all kinds, often including the negative attitude of homophobia. Unfortunately, we live in a homophobic society. The consequences sometimes are tragic, as when a young gay man is beaten, tied to a fence and left to die, or when another young gay man, no longer able to endure the rejection of his church, commits suicide.  Less dramatic consequences of homophobia confront gays and lesbians on a daily basis. They are denied ordinary privileges that the rest of us take for granted.  As a member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays ,I have become a recovering homophobic. A recovering homophobic, in my view, is a person who first has become aware of at least some of the ways in which he or she has been programmed by society to assign a second-class status to homosexuals. The next stage of my recovery has been taking action, as best I can, to confront, and  hopefully to change, public policies that discriminate against my  homosexual brothers and sisters. At the moment, I do not know what the third stage of my recovery will be. (Someone ought to develop a 12-step program for recovering homophobics.)  To the late state Sen. Pete Suazo, and to his widow, Alicia, I give thanks for their efforts to pass hate crimes legislation to protect minorities, including homosexuals. To state Reps. David Litvack and Jim Ferrin, I give more thanks for their determined advocacy in the most recent legislative session of House Bill 85, intended to provide enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by the perpetrator's disapproval of the victim's race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender or sexual orientation. Litvack's and Ferrin's insistence on including sexual orientation in the list of protected groups of people created formidable opposition to HB85 among their fellow legislators. After achieving a 38-35 vote in favor of the bill, they decided to withdraw HB85 in order to avoid a seemingly inevitable defeat after the bill was reconsidered in the House.  From the episode described above, I choose to believe that for at least a few minutes on Feb. 27, 2003, there were 38 (partially?) recovering homophobics in the Utah House of Representatives.  With nothing more than hope to go on, I choose to believe that among my fellow citizens in Utah there are many thousands of people of good will who, like me, are recovering homophobics, who acknowledge the essential goodness of people whose sexual orientation is different from their own and who are willing to speak out in favor of equal rights and equal protection for homosexuals in our society.        Boyer Jarvis, professor of communication emeritus at the University of Utah, lives in Salt Lake City

2003 Historians Invited to Do Papers The Utah State Historical Society is inviting submissions of  proposals for papers for its 2003 annual meeting to be held in Salt Lake City on Sept. 12. Proposals on any Utah-related topic will be  considered. Send a one- or two-page proposal to Kent Powell, Utah State Historical Society, 300 Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, no later than April 30. Include a brief description of the topic and research base as well as a short biographical profile. Proposals may also be e-mailed to  powell@utah.gov.

2003 Chad Keller Subject Softball Teams- The Utah Gay and Lesbian Softball team is in need of an urgent sponsorship of shirts.  They are specifically interested and are targeting the Business Guild and the USHS in seeking assistance. In speaking to the person trying to work though the situation they would be willing to put a business or organization on the sleeves or under the team name in exchange for other forms of advertising on their website, at games, and in ads they will be taking out in the Pillar.  Some of the cost of each team members shirt is included in the fees paid by the team sponsor and the player. Apparently members of their board of directors slightly changed some items after teams were sponsored, which created some added expense. The donation they are looking for is $150.00 to 250.00. We would have to commit and provide a logo by next week and then fund the commitment no later than the end of the month. There is a drawback to this that some of the shirts have gone to be screened already.  But they as they are in such need they are willing to provide to us and meet our expectation, possibly including send others back to be updated. If this is something that people feel that the Guild could benefit from, lets plan on having a quick discussion on it at our Founders meeting tomorrow at 3:00 at Tri-Angles for those who might be willing to donate to this.   I will be happy to negotiate this as a Co-Op, so that each business or organizations which chooses to participate receives a strong and equal representation for their contribution. Co-Op suggestion: Participating members of the Guild would have a banner hung in the outfield or somewhere visible from the stands.  Small banners hung at the awards banquet for participating members. The Guild Logo on the left and right sleeves. links to participating members on the softball website. Guild considered first in 2004 Softball season to allow members of the guild first opportunity to sponsor a team. Championship team to play in potential Business Guild Tournament as a fundraiser for our mission.  Thanks! CK

2005 COME HELP SUPPORT THE STONEWALL DEMOCRATS UTAH CHAPTER "BINGO AND BROADS" Saturday, April 17, 2005 7:00pm **The Trapp Door The Cyber Sluts will be

hosting the Bingo and show for The Stonewall Democrats Utah Chapter. There will be lots,

lots of prizes for winning Bingo cards. The money raised will help us with the upcoming "Hate Crime Bill" for 2005 too lobby our NEW Legislature as well as help in this crucial 2004 Election Year. Our community needs to elect a legislature that can deal with the word "Sexual Orientation" and recognize us as a community and people. Right now there many old drabby legislatures that will not recognize us as people or community. Unless we change the faces within our Legislature we will never have a law that has sexual orientation written on the books. We need to vote these men and women out of office and elect new legislatures that will recognize us as a "PEOPLE". I, encourage everyone to come out and invite anyone else who might be interested in becoming politically active this year. Remember it’s your life too live. Live your life by participating in the system and creating change by voting, joining campaigns, becoming delegates, and let your voice be heard. Be politically involved otherswise the otherside will always WIN because YOU decided not to participate. Please join The Stonewall Democrats Utah Chapter They need your help this

Mark Swonson 

crucial election year. Go too Yahoo site The Utah Stonewall Democrats Thank You, Mark Swonson Executive Board Member The Stonewall Democrats Utah Chapter **The Trapp Door is a private club for members and guests

2007 TEA (Transgender Education Advocates) of Utah shows a movie related to the Transgender Community each quarter. This Quarter's movie is Normal and will be showing Tuesday, April 17th at 7pm in Center Space at the Pride Center. Question and Answer session to follow. Normal - An official selection at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, stars Jessica Lange and Tom Wilkinson. This HBO Films production adapted by Jane Anderson from her acclaimed play mixes humor, drama, and tenderness in telling the story of a seemingly "normal" Midwestern factory worker who stuns his family and community by revealing he wants a sex change operation.

2010 Hand cyclist: 'Pretty good, for 51' Carla Gourdin, 51Salt Lake City  Marathon time: 3:38 (crank-chair division) When Carla Gourdin decided to pick up hand-cycling two years ago, her friends and

family thought the sport would be too hard on her. When she decided to enter Saturday's Salt Lake City Marathon, they thought she had gone mad. But Gourdin wasn't about to let the naysayers keep her from the starting line.  Author:    Jennifer Gustavson Special To The Tribune. Carla Gourdin is a Lesbian artist and long time Lesbian activist.