 |
| Steve Holbrook |
1970 Saturday -The first Earth Day Rally in
Utah to protest against pollution and the war was organized by University of
Utah students, Douglas Epperson, Jeff Fox and Stephen Holbrook, members of the
United Front to End the War. The event called Festival of Life gained attention
during a controversy over whether its sponsors the United Front to End the War
were allowed to use a sound amplifying system to broadcast speeches and music
at Sugar House Park. The Sugar House
Park Authority granted permission only if dancing was not allowed. “We’ve shown
in this city that people can enjoy themselves without getting carried away,”
Holbrook said. “This type of gathering is like the old time political rally, as
opposed to the stodgy political conventions of the Democrats and the
Republicans. We’re proven that young
people are responsible without being uptight and square.” Keynote speakers at
the 900 pus rally was Dr. Billings Brown, professor at the U of U who spoke
about the pollution caused by such unregulated industries such as Kennecott.
Recently arrested Victor Gordon head of the Black Brothers Organization Society
read anti-establishment poetry. Radio personality Michael Cavanaugh called for
a boycott of the Salt Palace for canceling a concert by the Doors having termed
the group’s act unfit for Salt Lake Audiences. (04/19/1970 SLTribune A16)
• In
1970 the closest the Gay community came to having a Gay Pride Day was the first
Earth Day Rally held 18 April 1970 at Sugar House Park. The event was called
Festival of Life and was attended by over 900 counter culture people including
many Gays and Lesbians. The rally was organized by University of Utah students,
Douglas Epperson, Jeff Fox and Stephen Holbrook, members of the United Front to
End the War. Stephen Holbrook was a Gay man who later became a Utah State
Legislator and founder of public radio station KRCL. Jeff Fox, father of Ivy Fox ,an East High
School member of the Gay Straight Alliance was director of the Crossroads Urban
Center for many years. Gay and Straight, both were community activists..
 |
| William Safire |
1974-William Safire, a conservative
columnist, and speech writer for Richard M Nixon wrote that while he believes homosexuality is abnormal and immoral,
that when homosexuals are denied equal protection of the law "it is the
law that is queer."
1986-Friday- Harry Britt, San Francisco
Supervisor who
 |
| Harry Britt |
succeeded Harvey Milk was keynote speaker for the LGSU
Conference Candlelight Vigil held on campus after keynote address. Britt stated that the purpose of Gay politics should be nothing less than the
transformation of human culture.
1988 Monday- Rev. Bruce Barton of the Resurrection Community Church spoke on the
topic “Homosexuality, Theology, and the Bible” at Cache Valley Alliance in
Logan
1988 -We canceled an AIDS Quilt meeting today
but Bruce Harmon forgot to tell Ben Barr so he came over anyway with Garth Snyder. So
we held a meeting anyway the three of us. We decided to have a work shop in May
for people to work on their quilt panels. There seems to be less and less
enthusiasm for the Quilt Project. Everyone is so involved in other projects and
organizations. Garth Snyder gave me a ride up to the U of U where I gave a
lesson at Lesbian Gay Student Union on John Boswell’s book Christianity, Homosexuality,
and Social Tolerance. Curtis Jensen said
he wished he knew sooner that I gave such good lessons because he would have
asked me to do a workshop in Denver of the Mountain and Desert States
Conference. It was a good discussion and
generated lots of controversy. [Journal of Ben Williams]
1992 Mormon Church leaders published yet
another booklet for church members about homosexuality. Church leaders say now that Gay and lesbian
people aren't the victims of excommunication so much as they're offered ``help''
for their homosexual ``problems.'' The booklet states that this help included
``church discipline.”
1993:
Salt Lake Tribune Page: A1 For
nearly a decade, the Marine Corps computer specialist lived by the motto
``Semper Fi'' -- Always Faithful. All-Marine. The few. The proud. During the
Vietnam War, this professional soldier was bucking for gunnery sergeant with a
career track all but assured. Then someone told superiors she was a lesbian.
``Always, for the homophobics, it's the first statement: `She's in the military,
she must be queer,' '' says Donna, who
agreed to be identified by her first name. ``Overall, I was treated
exceptionally well by the Marine Corps. What occurred to me was because of
another gay woman. So that's kind of like the Catch-22 thing. My lifestyle came
back to haunt.'' Donna left the Marines in 1977, largely because of an
investigation of her personal life, half lived in secret. Still, she outlasted
the investigation and left later by choice. Many do not. Miriam Ben-Shalom,
national president of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America, says a
1987 Defense Department study found women more than five times as likely as men
to be discharged for homosexuality. And not all of the accused have been
gay. Calling a woman a lesbian is easy
retaliation against women -- straight or gay -- who resist male comrades'
sexual advances, says Ms. Ben-Shalom. Donna saw it happen
to friends and
acquaintances time and again. ``The
bottom line to the conversation is either you play sexually with me or I'm going
to turn you in,'' she says. She recalls only one case in which the commanding
officer saw through the charade. More often than not, the allegation of being a
lesbian led to an investigation. ``Some just didn't want to deal with the
stress of being under investigation and said, `Fine, I'm gay, get me out of
here,' '' she explains. If male Marines had their own predicament, Donna didn't
know of it -- but, then again, she knew few gay male Marines. ``In the Marine Corps, gay men would not be
flaming queens or they'd be dead,'' she says. `This was like witch-hunt
city.'' Witch-hunt city is every
military base in the country, and Utah is no exception. A male officer at Hill
Air Force Base recently resigned under pressure when his commanding officer
found out he was gay. ``It's frustrating,'' explains the man, who still fears
reprisals. The superior ``thought I was a great officer. Absolutely a wonderful
officer.'' Except that he was gay. Gays and lesbians have served since armies
first went to war. But at no time in American history have the stakes been so
high, because of President Clinton's pledge to end the 50-year ban on
homosexual service. For now, the ban is suspended pending congressional
hearings and preparation of a draft executive order by July 15. In the interim, the public-relations machines
of the military and the gay community battle for the sympathy of the American
public. There is growing sentiment that the result will be the new status quo:
homosexuals can stay as long as they keep their sexual orientation
private. With military brass falling in
step with that position, the showdown would come if President Clinton asks
Congress to change the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which allows
courts-martial for sodomy. ``I hope he does ask, because then it will be laid
to rest. We'll win,'' says Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, one of five Armed Services
Committee members who will fight the president's position in the House. Mr. Hansen says the issue has prompted more
phone calls to his Utah office than any other during his 13 years in
Congress. ``And 85% to 90% of them are
opposed to lifting the ban -- and not just opposed, vigorously and violently
opposed. As I talk to my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, they're
experiencing the same thing.'' Mr. Hansen likely hasn't heard from the former
Hill officer. The 37-year-old man already has lost part of himself to the ban
when he was forced to resign last year.
``I would have fought it, except I had a wife and children who were
dependent on me and I could not afford to be dishonorably discharged,'' says
the man, who later divorced his wife. Vacillating between suicide and
``insanity,'' he surrendered his $45,000 annual salary, health insurance and
retirement without explanation. Ultimately, he revealed his true self to family
and church. `I lost everything,'' says the former Mormon bishop. Christopher
Ryan was luckier, if you can call it luck.
``I knew I could not get caught in the Navy or something would happen to
me,'' says Mr. Ryan, now a 28-year-old University of Utah student. ``I had to
keep it to myself. I couldn't cruise anybody. I was scared.'' He also believes the military is scared. Mr.
Ryan describes his six years in a Navy rampant with homophobia. Two years into
his service commitment, he realized he was gay. ``I remember going to some type
of leadership-management meetings,'' he said. `This lady from the Naval
Investigative Service made a comment that gangs of gays were raping people.
Comments like that don't need to be made.'' Because of the code of secrecy
among homosexuals in the service, Mr. Ryan engaged in the guessing game of
trying to figure out who other gays were. They listened for certain phrases and
watched for parting glances. Mr. Ryan was honorably discharged after he hurt
himself playing basketball. He left the service without incident, because he
was secretive about his homosexuality.
 |
| Kevin Knollenberg |
Kevin Nollenberg, a former Army Ranger,
was kicked out after earning a parachutist badge, good-conduct medal, Army
achievement medal -- and testing positive for HIV in June 1986. ``I was still a soldier. I was still a
Ranger. I was still a paratrooper. That was on the surface. No one ever knew
what went on beneath the surface,'' says Mr. Nollenberg, who is now the
director of the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah. ``If I had been able to come out and my
fellow soldiers had known from the beginning I was a gay soldier, I would have
been accepted. It was only when they found out I was gay, after I had misrepresented
myself, that they felt betrayed.''
1993 UTAH GAY ACTIVISTS
VOW TO BE AT RALLY Byline: By Samuel A. Autman Salt Lake Tribune More than a million supporters
of gay and lesbian rights are expected to march in Washington on Saturday. Under a Utah banner, groups planning to
march include the South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society, gay employees of
US WEST and dozens of Utah gay-rights activist groups. Organizers expect 200
Utahns to attend and 75 Utahns have arrangements through the Salt Lake-based
Spartan Cruise and Travel, says owner
 |
| Ron Richardson & Lynn Nilson |
Lynn Nilson. Gays in the military, gay
bashing and the murder of a gay sailor in Japan have fueled tempers, possibly
increasing the number of people likely to attend. ``All of those things have really gotten our
community really fired up,'' says Dale Sorenson, director of the Gay and
Lesbian Utah Democrats. ``We have seen how we can make a difference. People are
motivated. We are also angry.'' ``A lot
of Americans get into the habit of trying to ignore us thinking basically if
they hide their heads in the sand, then we are not an issue,'' says Val
Mansfield, Utah representative of the march
 |
| Val Mansfield |
steering committee. ``This is to
let them know we are still here and we are not going away. We still want our
rights as promised and guaranteed under the Constitution.'' Activists are lobbying for a federal law
that would give gays and lesbians the same protections granted to racial and
ethnic minorities through the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including
discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations Mr. Sorenson
said Utah activists will attempt to meet with the state's congressional
delegation next week. A Salt Lake City
rally for those not attending the Washington march is planned for Saturday at
the downtown federal building, 100 S. State St.
 |
| LaDonna Moore |
1994-Recent contributions and
offers of volunteer help may allow the Utah AIDS Foundation to resume normal
office hours by May 1.The nonprofit organization announced last week that
dwindling donations and a shortfall in federal funding would force shortened
hours and staff cuts. The public responded to news reports of the cuts by
offering money and time, said LaDonna Moore, foundation executive director. The
foundation has received many offers of volunteer support in general for such
tasks as office work and event organizing, Moore said. ``We have had many
people call wanting to participate in our major fund-raiser, `The Walk For
Life,' a 10K pledge walk June 18. Some have never done it and some are wanting
to get involved again,'' Moore said. Monetary donations also have been coming
in, but the exact amount is difficult to calculate, she said. `We just don't
break it down that way where we can tell what came in as a result of people
hearing about the cutbacks and what would have come in normally,'' she said.
(04/18/94 Page: D3 SLTribune)
1996 AIDS ANTI GAY POLITICS
Bresnahan says brother, who died of AIDS, was led into lifestyle by
adults. A PERSONAL PLEA TO HALT GAY
`RECRUITMENT' For some Utah legislators,
the debate over banning gay and lesbian student clubs was an abstract affair.
For Rep. David Bresnahan it was personal. "My younger brother, Donald,
[Donald S. Bresnahan b. Dec 5 1958 d. Nov 8 1989] was a homosexual who died of AIDS five years
ago," Bresnahan told a quiet House late Wednesday night. "He went
through three years of suffering. I made many trips to Massachusetts, sitting
by his bedside with his male friends. "Bresnahan, an arch-conservative
Republican from West Jordan, said he didn't know his little brother, who died
at 31, very well until later in life. Donald Bresnahan was much younger than
the Utah legislator. "Donald thought he was born homosexual, that it was a
genetic" trait, David Bresnahan said. But as Donald Bresnahan slowly died,
he came to believe that he was conditioned into the homosexual lifestyle by
adults. In his case a Boy Scout leader and an assistant leader privately abused
22 boys in the troop over a period of time. As adult men, said Bresnahan,
members of the troop contacted each other. Most of the 22 were gay, and odds
that genetics would put so many gay men in a troop don't add up." I'm here
to tell you kids are recruited" into homosexual acts. "My brother
was," he said. Bresnahan said his brother and other troop members were
kept quiet not by threats of violence but by fear that the troop leaders would
tell others that the kids were homosexual. "They would say to my brother,
"See, you like this, don't you. You are gay.' "We have to protect our
kids from perverts who recruit them," said Bresnahan. "And a great
place to (recruit) is a club where homosexuals get together and talk about the
"good times.' "They are after our kids. And let's talk about what
they do: It's sodomy, a disgusting, filthy, awful thing. It spreads all kinds
of diseases. I tell you, free speech doesn't include recruiting kids into a
lifestyle that can kill them. “I know if my brother were here," Bresnahan
said, choking back tears, "he would want you to do this" - vote for
the bill. "I want you to." Deseret News Publishing Co.
1996 VOLUNTEER EDUCATES AS WELL AS
INSPIRES Barb Barnhart's remarkable courage and compassion shows up in the work
she does educating people about AIDS. A former nurse, she has been diagnosed
with AIDS and now focuses on living with the disease, rather than dying from
it. As a volunteer for the Utah AIDS Foundation and the People with AIDS
Coalition, she has given countless hours to educating children and adults about
HIV/AIDS. Barnhart has faced two critical phases in her life with AIDS. Last
winter she was told she had "no chance for survival" after an
illness, but she started getting better. When she was released from the
hospital, she was out volunteering again. "It is through Barb's efforts
that fear and bigotry have been diminished concerning AIDS," said Kim
Russo, outreach coordinator for the Utah AIDS Foundation. Barnhart speaks to
schoolchildren of all ages, as well as youths at risk about tolerance and
compassion for all humankind Deseret News Publishing Co.
1997: Continuing a tradition begun last year,
Utah's major dance companies will share the stage on Sunday in a benefit for
four Utah AIDS organizations: the Utah AIDS Foundation, the People With AIDS
Coalition of Utah, the [RCGSE] Monarch AIDS Fund and Kindly Gifts. Ballet West,
Repertory Dance Theatre, the Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and the University of
Utah's Performing Dance Company and Utah Ballet will join forces in ``Dance for
Life,'' a concert featuring some of the companies' most dynamic works. Nationally, the tradition for dance companies
joining the fight against AIDS/HIV began in1987, when 13 New
York modern-dance
and ballet companies performed together in ``Dancing for Life,'' a benefit for
AIDS education and research.
Choreographer Lar Lubovitch planted the seed that would grow into
``Dancing for Life'' when he gathered dance professionals in 1985 to discuss the
impact of AIDS on the dance community.
Since Lubovitch spoke out more than a decade ago, many in the dance
field have died from AIDS-related illnesses. The New York-based Dancers
Responding to AIDS has compiled a list of more than 200. Among them: Michael
Bennett, Louis Falco, Choo-San Goh, Christopher Gillis, Ian (Ernie) Horvath,
Robert Martinez, Rudolf Nureyev, Michael Ballard Podolski, Paul Russell, Tomm
Ruud, ClarkTippet, Dennis Wright, Tim Wengerd and Arnie Zane. Last year, former Ririe-Woodbury dancer Paul
Callihan died in Salt Lake City from the disease. Other Utah dancers are living
with HIV/AIDS. ``It's always on your
mind,'' RDT artistic director Linda C. Smith said before the 1996 event. ``You
wonder who will be next.'' Numerous
choreographers have created AIDS-related works, the most famous being Bill T.
Jones' acclaimed and controversial ``Still/Here.'' While the dance community worldwide has been
hard-hit by the AIDS epidemic, because of the many gay and bisexual men working
in the field, AIDS is not necessarily a gay disease or a dance disease. ``A life is a life, people are people,''
Arthur Mitchell, artistic director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, said. ``We
cannot separate artists from other human beings. Big names get on the news, but
it's the everyday person who is also hit by the disease.'' (The most recent Utah Department of Health
statistics show that 791 Utahns have tested
HIV-positive and 1,395 have AIDS. There have been 813 deaths from AIDS
and 11 from HIV since 1983. In Salt Lake County, it is the leading cause of
death for men ages 25-44; statewide it is the third leading cause of death for
men in that age group.) Last year, Ballet West's Bruce Caldwell, with the help
of Robert Chase, Capitol Theatre prop manager, founded the event. This year,
Chase is producing the concert, along with a committee of dancers -- Juan Carlos
Claudio, Wendee Fiedeldey, Raymond Van Mason and Jim Moreno. ``The dance community here, as so many have
done elsewhere, finally has risen to the occasion, helping fund local agencies
battling HIV/AIDS,'' said Chase, also
chairman of the board of the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah. ``It's the responsibility of every artist
who can help out on a cause like this to do so,'' said Moreno, a member of
RDT. Last year, Ballet West, RDT and
Ririe-Woodbury participated in the event; this season, they have been joined by
Utah Ballet, Performing Dance Company and two independent choreographers. Perhaps the most poignant of the works is
Utah Ballet's ``Mobile,'' choreographed by Tomm Ruud, a one-time principal
dancer
 |
| Tomm Ruud |
with Ballet West and the San Francisco Ballet, who died of AIDS in 1994.
Utah Ballet revived the 1969 work last May; it featured the late
dancer/choreographer's son, Christopher, in the role his father had created for
himself. ``To dance in `Mobile' is an
honor, a privilege,'' said young Ruud, a 20-year-old ballet major at the U. of
U. ``It's something my dad did that I can hold onto.'' Ballet West will dance excerpts from two of
its most popular works: Val Caniparoli's ``Prawn-watching'' and Eddy
Toussaint's ``Bonjour Brel.'' RDT will present Susan cLain's evocative
``Karyo'' and ``Chairs and Choices,'' a solo by Michael J. Eger. Ririe-Woodbury will offer Laura Dean's ``Ten
Mile,'' and Performing Dance Company will present New York choreographer Janis
Brenner's ``A Matter of Time.'' Also contributing works are John J. Beasant III
with his ward-winning ``Just Man'' and Anne Suzuki with ``Third Person
Singular.'' All services for ``Dance
for Life'' have been donated, as they were last year, when more than$5,000 was
raised. Capitol Theatre ``Dance for Life'' will be presented at Salt
Lake City's Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10
and may be purchased at the door or from the participating service
agencies. Proceeds will benefit the
Utah AIDS Foundation, the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah, the Monarch AIDS
Fund and Kindly Gifts. 04/18/97Page: E1 'A Good Reason to Dance; Dancers Join
in Fight Against AIDS Byline: BY HELEN FORSBERG
1997 - KTUR (AM-1010) recently went to an
all-news format, and its weekend format will include news, talk and shop. To
highlight the changes, longtime radio friends and verbal foes Joe Redburn and
Hank Hathaway will begin hosting "The Redburn and Hathaway Show"
Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. beginning April 19. The liberal vs. conservative views
of the veteran radio hosts should provide an interesting contrast each week.
1999 A documentary "Gay Youth: An
Educational Video for the Nineties" was shown at SLC Metropolitan
Community Church Review: Gay and lesbian youth are a great risk in our culture: The
Report on Youth Suicide, published in 1989, found that of all suicides
committed in the United States each year by people between the ages of 15
and24, fully 30% are Gay and lesbian youth.
2003 Mark Swonson wrote: Should Gays and
Lesbians Assimilate? Should we Assimilate into Society? This is a vital question
we must ask ourselves as individuals and whether we will have a Gay or Lesbian
Community at all within the next 10-? years from now. There is a great debate
happening within our Community and Communites throughout the world about the
Assimilation of Gay and Lesbians into mainstream America or other
countries. Across this nation and the
world Gays and Lesbians are asking for there equal rights under the laws of
there Countries. Slowly, overtime these laws are being passed and our equality
is being secured through legislation. But through this legislation will we
loose ourselves and uniqueness as a people? Will we become so homonogized that
we will look and sound like everyone else? Will we become Borg like? Dull,
plain, without any creativity or personality?
Face it, in many ways we do reasonable middle America even within our
Community. We have a Center where people can meet and participate in groups and
activities just like other community centers for young and old hetro people,
the Leadership Forum is like a Community Council, the Business Guild is like
the Chamber of Commerce, our yellow pages is the Lavender Book, living suburbia
has influenced our neighbors and friends to realize we are just like them in
many ways, whether if you as a couple want or disagree with marriage or you as
couple would rather have equal partnership benefits it the same as a marriage
to many people because to them it is the same thing, we have a paper (The
Pillar) whether you like it or not that still informs the community of events,
activities, and organizations, political action organization (Unity), and
political caucuses The Stonewall Democrats and Log Cabin Republicans. These are
just a few examples how we are assimilating into society and becoming one with
the rest of the world. There are many
Gays and Lesbians that would rejoicefor all Gays and Lesbians becoming
assimilated intoone society. These Gays and Lesbians want us to forget about
our past ghetto history and heritage, no longer deal with our Gay or Lesbian
bars or the bar scene general, drag queens, drama of the flaming gay queens or
butch lesbians, they want us to be like "Father Know Best" or
"Leave it Beaver" series society. Except we will be Gay and Lesbian
Couples and singles living the "Leave it Beaver" dream......rent or
mortgage payment, car or cars, bills, debts, children, puttingfood on table,
lights, electricity, gas etc.... Can the
Gay and Lesbian Community and each of asindividuals as Gays and Lesbians not
loose ourselves in a society being as one. Is this honestly good for us?
 |
| Chad Keller |
2003 ANNOUNCING THE GLBT COMMUNITY MASTER
CALENDAR During the Community Leadership Summit held in March it was determined
that we needed to establish and maintain a community master calendar. Many
ideas were tossed around, and the idea left to be mplemented.As the issue was
studied, some people do not readily have access to the Internet, some only use
the Internet, and others still like the old fashion method, a personal
conversation or a phone call. I am happy to announce that the Salt Lake
Downtown Alliance has agreed help us, and offer some assistance.Beginning May
28, individuals or organizations who are planning events for or by the GLBT
community will be able to check a hard copy of the master calendar by stopping
by their office at 238 S Main Salt Lake City. This partnership has many great
benefits as they also have information on events that are going on in the
Downtown and surrounding areas. The current calendar will cover and accept date
for the time from June 9, 2003 to June 11, 2006.Every organization in the
community is encouraged to use the calendar no matter how many events you have
monthly, weekly, or monthly. The Pillar will use this information to create its
monthly calendar, as well as target organizations for promotional assistance.
By use of this calendar at this time we also can determine the type of
electronic calendar, and types of information that we need to make available on
line.Conversations are underway for an online version to be created in
partnership with a major GLBT community organization. Design work on the
calendar will be underway soon, and will be online by Mid Summer.As always you
can call 265-0066 to check on a date or place an item on the GLBT Community
Master Calendar.Emails for placement of the event on the calendar will still be
accepted at ckell9@jcpenney.com. Items to be placed on the calendar or inquires
via phone or email will have a slight delay. The Following information is
required to complete a event placement VIA email: DATE OF EVENT-EVENT
NAME-LOCATION OF THE EVENT-HOSTING ORGANIZATION OR COMPANY-CONTACT PERSON-EMAIL
ADDRESS-MAILING ADDRESS-BUSINESS PHONE-TICKET COST OR REQUESTED DONATION-ESTIMATED
NUMBER OF ATTENDEES-WHO MAY ATTEND-TYPE OF EVENT-DESCRIPTION (up to 35 words)
Chad Keller
• 2003
Due to the nature of this project and the nature of a master calendar we cannot
anticipate the continuation or reoccurrence of specific events at specific
times of the year. Each organizations determines it own schedule from year to
year. Once and event is approved within your organization please post the item
to the Master Calendar as soon as possible. We will however make a listing of
events that have regularly happened on the same day each year available with
the master schedule. It is requested that if a cancellation of an event occurs
to please send an email to GLBTUTcommunityforum@yahoogroups.com The Calendar
will be posted in an email form monthly at GLBTUTCommunityForum@yahoogroups.com
So subscribe today!! Archive of the calendar will be turned over to the UTAH
STONEWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY. And may be referenced by visiting
www.utahstonewallhistory.org or contacting Ben Williams at benedgar1951@yahoo.com.
2003 "Lots of people were never really homophobic in the first place -- they
just thought they were supposed to be. The true homophobes are now on the run.
They know they can't come out and say, 'I wouldn't hire a fag' any more, so
they have to resort to lying. They say they oppose anti-discrimination
legislation for gays because it gives them 'special rights.' Which is a
ridiculous argument. There's nothing special about anti-discrimination
legislation, unless you think that's true for Jews or blacks or Catholics,
too." -- Openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., to Florida's St.
Petersburg Times,
2003 LGBTQ Youth Activity Center needs soup
The Youth Activity Center (YAC) is in need of soup. These last couple of months
I have seen too many gay young people enter the youth center in need of food.
Many of them haven't eaten for 2 days or more. So, I am asking all of you to
donate some soup. We just need cans, or big packets from Costco that we can add
water to and throw it into a crock pot. Soup Kitchen has agreed to donate bread sticks. The Youth Activity Center
is the only drop in center for LGBTQ
youth in Utah. Its mission is to provide support, education, advocacy,
leadership opportunities and fun for LGBTQ youth, their families, and their
allies in a safe environment, free of discrimination and drug- and
alcohol-free. Bring your soup cans to the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah
Inc., with your name attached so that we can identify you as a donor. Thanks
for your support!" bob"Director of Youth Programs Gay and Lesbian
Community Center of Utah
2003 We are pleased to announced that
Stephanie Thomas has accepted a postion on the Board of Directors. The
Articles of Incorporation were filed April 17th with the state department of
Commerce and accepted. The Bylaw changes per April 16th Monthly meeting will be
posted to this site today. Chuck Whyte-Treasurer has agreed to work on filing
IRS forms 1023 for a 501c3 non profit status for the society. Chuck having
served on the Citizen Congress Board of Directors and having been a former
Vista worker has experience with non-profit organizations. I am excited to
announce that I was able to get as our Post Office Box- my old PO Box address for the Delta
Institute which was an umbrella organization for Unconditional Support, Beyond
Stonewall, The Youth Group, The Gay Father's Group, and various other Gay and
Lesbian Support groups from the late 1980's to the early 1990's. When I went to the
Expo Mart Post Office to open a PO for the group they first assigned me a box
with a long address. I told them that years ago I had a PO Box that I had
operated for nearly 10 years. The Postal Clerk asked if I wanted to check to
see if it was available and to our surprise it was! P.O. Box 252! I told the
clerk that I was opening a po box for a historical society and this gives us a
link to the past! This PO Box is also listed as a resource in the back of Peculiar People a
book written about Gay LDS people. So I feel karma is good! and the universe
has smiled on our endeavor. Thank you to all who have taken this project to
your heart. It has always been in mine. Ben Williams
 |
| Jere Keys |
2005 Monday Subject: [slmetro_staff]
Anniversary In proof that I am, in fact, a moron while under the influence of
pollen... I sent this email (which was *supposed* to go to the closed staff
group) to our 250+ member public group. Nothing like telling the community
"hey, I got nuthin' here!" Feel free to mock me now. On the other
hand, I've had a few more story ideas come my way, and I might have some more
assignments available tomorrow. Now, I'm going to go home and dope myself up on
antihistamines. Can you believe it? Our next issue marks one year for Salt Lake
Metro! Unfortunately, I'm also struggling to come up with enough stories to
make assignments. It seems to be a slow news cycle so far. If you've got ideas
that you've wanted to cover, this is the issue to suggest them. Also, if anyone
is interested in tackling either of these subjects, let me know (first come,
first serve): 1. The Metro Difference: How has SLMetro impacted the community
after a year? Including fundraising efforts, community praise and/or criticism,
and less tangible effects on the community.2. The history of queer publishing
in Utah. (Yeah, I know Ben Williams would be the most likely candidate for a
story like this, but he's spending the week away without internet access) 3.
UGRA Camp Out. The Utah Gay Rodeo has announced and is planning a big event for
this fall, we could discuss those plans. So... let me know about any news you
hear about, any community profiles you'd like to do, or even guest editorial
ideas. Stay tuned for upcoming news about our next get-together. We're overdue
and I promise it's coming up soon. Jere P.S. Remember to call me (office:
323-9500, cell: 520-1398) or reply to the off-list address jere@slmetro.com
2007: The Day of Silence is an annual event
held to bring attention to anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and discrimination in
schools. Students and teachers nationwide will observe the day in silence to
echo the silence that LGBT and ally students face everyday. In it's 11th year,
the Day of Silence is one of the largest student-led actions in the country.
Following the day of silence, local youth are invited to celebrate by attending
the TINT Center's Night of Noise! The festivities begin at 5 PM, and include
live music, a BBQ, and an open mic stage for people to talk about their
experience during the Day of Silence
2007 : "OUTreach" Program-Movie Night: Fish Can't
Fly-While the whole concept of changing ones' sexual orientation may be viewed
with a high level of skepticism, ridicule and even humor by some, these are the
stories of those who tried. Taking a secular point of view, FISH CAN"T FLY
explores the lives of Gay men and women of faith as they recall their journeys
to put their sexuality and spirituality in harmony.The OUTreach Resource Center
(Adults) is open Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. he OUTreach Resource Center
is at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ogden , Lower Level, 705 23rd Street
, Ogden , but it is NOT a religious program. OUTreach is a safe, comfortable,
nonjudgmental place for open-minded adults 18+ to meet, chat, socialize, play
board games, read or just relax with others, regardless of race, ethnic background,
religion, gender identity or sexual orientation. Information and referral
services are also available.The building is at the southeast corner of 23rd and
Madison. The parking lot is in the rear and entry is via the door at the top of
the handicapped ramp. Please ring the doorbell by the door.
2010 Gay issues take stage at SUU forum By
Mark Havnes The Salt Lake Tribune Cedar City » When Russell Kennedy
moved to Cedar City from Delta in 1983, he was afraid of being labeled as gay.
The Southern Utah University student left to live on the East Coast, and was
surprised to find more tolerance when he returned about 10 years ago.
"There have been remarkable advances since coming in off the farm in
Delta," said Kennedy, who authored an anti-discrimination resolution on
sexual orientation adopted by the Cedar City school earlier this year.
"Even if we don't always win, with like Proposition 8 [outlawing gay
marriage] in California, it increases exposure for issues and raises the level
of dialogue." Kennedy participated in a panel discussion hosted Wednesday
by the Southern Utah University (SUU) Queer Straight Alliance and the Leavitt
Center for Politics. The event drew an audience of about 50 students to the
Sharwan Smith Center. Among the issues addressed were the role of organized
religion in the debate over gay marriage and policies that protect workers
regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Salt Lake City recently
adopted such a policy and other Utah cities are considering them. The Salt Lake
policy was supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because
it was not "violent" to the institution of marriage, among other
factors. Panelist Darcy Godddard, legal
director for the American Civil Liberties Union in Utah, said she is pleased
with Salt Lake City's policy, for the most part. "It's a step in the right
direction," she said, adding she was disappointed the measure did not
include stiffer penalties such as those outlined in federal anti-discrimination
law. Nadine Hansen, a Cedar City lawyer who started the Web page
Mormonsfor8.com, also praised Salt Lake City but was offended by the LDS
Church's implication that the institution of marriage would suffer if gays are
allowed to marry. "It is denigrating." Hansen said while religious
institutions have a right to get involved in political issues, she said they
should not be allowed to hide behind their tax-exempt status. She favors
stricter guidelines regarding churches' financial disclosures. Ben Smith,
president of
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| Ben Smith |
the SUU Queer Straight Alliance, said the group plans to host more
such discussions to promote awareness of civil rights for the LBGT (lesbian,
bisexual, gay and transgender) community in southern Utah. Student JaiteePitts
who attended the panel discussion, said she thought Wednesday's discussion
"raised some good issues. But I don't know what the answers are or if we
ever will."
2014 Deann Armes City Weekley I
didn't go to my senior prom. After a
long, awkward night at my junior prom
feeling remorseful about my appearance--a Cinderella-blue sequin dress designed
to help me fit in--I decided to write off school dances.--- But if there had
been a Queer Prom in 1993 I'm sure I would have been there with my friends-
probably in moccasins and a hippie dress. Twenty-one
years later, working for Utah Pride Center I had the chance to attend a prom
where the only dress code is, "Be You." And that's exactly what I
saw: everything from jeans and ripped t-shirts to big ball gowns to hair every
color of the rainbow. In that sea of diversity on the dance floor there was one
commonality--the feeling of joy, safety, and acceptance among all. Around
500 attended the 9th annual Queer Prom in Utah, the most anticipated event of
the year for LGBTQ youth and allies ages 14-20. The dance, run by Utah Pride
Center staff and about 50 volunteers, was held Saturday night, April 19, at the
Salt Lake City Library--with the theme, When Love Takes Over. Queer
Prom is a place where, as one attendee put it, "If people don't feel
comfortable or safe going to their own high school proms they can come here and
have fun." Salvador
Oregon, who was in attendance at the event for the first time with his
boyfriend Eusebio Echeveste, talked about how Queer Prom is different than the
prom he attended at Kearns High. "I feel more comfortable dancing with
someone I actually like." Oregon
says that while nowadays kids in many high schools are free to take a same sex
date, it's still hard because there is always fear of being judged or
unaccepted. "I think kids are so afraid if they come out they will get in
trouble by the school. They don't come out because they are afraid, they don't
know it's OK," he says. Oregon's
own coming out experience was eased by the help of a supportive teacher.
"A lot of the teachers are queer-friendly at Kearns High. When I came out
last year one of my teachers was very supportive. She gave me information about
the Pride Center and pamphlets about coming out. It was really nice to have a
teacher there who could help me" "Life is too short not to be having
fun with the person you love," adds Oregon. "Sadly, I found out the
hard way, a little too late. You can die any day. It's better to do it now than
 |
| Yvonne Paul |
-
later." Yvonne
Paul, Director of Programs and Policy for Utah Pride Center, says kids are
coming out at younger ages because of increased positive visibility of LGBTQ
folks in media and pop-culture, and more access to information and support
online. Sixteen
year-old, Anthony Muradas, who I found tearing it up on the dance floor wearing
a bow tie, rainbow suspenders, and a big smile, came out to his mom, Teresa
Lopez, last year. She was there as a volunteer to support him. "The event
is awesome for kids because they can come and be themselves," she says.
"It's wonderful to know my son doesn't have to hide something." After
two weeks of denial upon learning her son was gay, Lopez says she realized,
"this is my son and I have to love and accept him no matter what." Muradas
says it feels awesome to have support from his mom. "For people to say,
'Go ahead and be who you want to be, is awesome!" An estimated 5-8% of
Utah youth identify as LGBTQ, according to Paul. And the need for events like
queer prom is great, says Paul, because "all students should have the
opportunity to enjoy that rite of passage that prom represents. To have a safe
space that's affirming, where they can enjoy the event for what it's designed
to be without a need for a hyper-vigilant sense of alert for their safety. It's
priceless. All kids deserve that."
- Queer
Prom Marks Its 10th Year In Utah By
Elaine Taylor It’s
prom season, and while many students are shopping for prom dresses or picking
out tuxes for their school’s prom, others are getting ready for a dance geared
especially toward LGBT youth. “So
many kids felt like they couldn’t go to their junior prom or their senior prom
because they were gay or felt awkward, or didn’t really know where they fit in.
And because of that, no one went and they
 |
| Sheila Raboy |
felt left out,” said Sheila Raboy,
director of operations at the Utah Pride Center. “This way, you’re giving the
kids who would have stayed home from their prom the opportunity to go to one.” The
Utah Pride Center sponsors Queer Prom each year, a dance that grew from just 80
kids in its first year to more than 850 at last year’s event. This
Saturday will mark the 10th anniversary of the dance, and Raboy said the
organization will be celebrating with the theme “decades.” “These
kids come from everywhere. They come from as far south in Utah and as far north
in Utah as you can go,” she said. About
70 percent of the kids who attend identify as LGBT. The other 30 percent are
their ally friends who want to support them. Raboy said providing an
environment where the kids can feel accepted and have fun is very important to
her. “The
need for that is so great. As you can tell, 850 children coming from all over
Utah to be able to feel accepted and affirmed, and enjoy an evening, and we
provide that opportunity for them.” Raboy
said she fully expects the dance grow even more this year. Queer
Prom will take place at the Salt Lake City Library and is open to youth ages 14
to 20. Click here for more information about the dance.
2017 Gay Men Aloud did a service project at the Burrito Project SLC
Service Event and even braved the torrential
rain to deliver the burritos to the homeless. That means you, Dan, Dennis, Connell, Sharif and McKay! Had a blast rolling
burritos. Kent Scadlock organized the service project .
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