This Day In Gay Utah History April 23rd

23 April 

1887 FOUR of the five boys Paddock, Bubbles Curtis, Leadford and Henry who had been indicted for a “Crime Against Nature” were tried before a jury yesterday. The fifth Paddock is in the Asylum at Provo. Judge Zane ordered that the trial be conducted with closed doors. Owing to their extreme youth Leadford and Henry who said they were from Butte were not prosecuted and the trial was pushed against the other two who are somewhat older.  A verdict of guilty was returned. Salt Lake Herald.

1889 First District Court- Mr. J E Booth was appointed counsel in the case of the People vs Joseph Apodacca indicted for an assault with intent to commit “Crime Against Nature”. After a brief consultation with the defendant Mr. Booth announced his readiness to go to trial.  A jury sworn. Mr. Evans presented the case. The verdict was guilty of an assault Provo Daily Enquirer

1968-The Student Homophile League at Columbia University picketed to protest the psychological theory that homosexuality is a mental illness.

Mark Segal

1974-Mark Segal's trial on trespassing charges for disrupting The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite to protest CBS's portrayal of Gays began. He was convicted and fined $450.  In 1973, fans of beloved newsman Walter Cronkite were shocked and appalled when his broadcast of the CBS Evening News was disrupted by a long-haired youth who ran onto the set with a yellow sign that read, "Gays Protest CBS Prejudice." Minutes later, Cronkite delivered CBS's very first report on a gay protest when he recounted the incident to viewers with his characteristic grace and reserve. That night, America was exposed the sight of an openly gay man. A rarity. "Cronkite had 60 million viewers, and until then many of them had never seen a gay man before. . . . They believed that gays were the green-eyed monster that had been painted for them by their church and the government. I showed them we are their neighbor," said Mark Segal

1984-Margaret Heckler, Secretary of Health and Human Services, announced that the probably cause of AIDS had been discovered by American and French researchers. She referred to the virus by the name given it by Dr. Robert Gallo, HTLV-III. She predicted a vaccine would be available in two years.

1988- The Life and Times of Harvey Milk shown at Lesbian and Gay Student Union at Salt Lake Community College 

Chris Brown

1988- Gay and Lesbian Community Dance held at the Multipurpose Room in the Central City Community Center. Sponsored by US, LGSU, and Affirmation in conjunction with RMCC. "I had to run and get soft drinks for the dance tonight and help Chris Brown set up.  The Youth Group brought balloons and streamers, and Richard Morris had some guys from KRCL volunteering to do the music. I sold soda pop and lots of cookies were bought this time.  Probably 100 people attended so it was a successful dance and everyone seemed to be having fun. After expenses each group made $60 for their organization.  Chris Brown and I are using our share to go to the Mountain and Desert States Conference in Denver on the 14th of May which is the same day as our next dance so Dave Malmstrom will be on his own for that one. [Journal of Ben Williams]

1988 Saturday- Curtis Jensen said that The Love Birds have broken up and tomorrow will

The Lovebirds

be their last performance together. Greg Harden and Barry Prindeville were even fist fighting from what Curtis said.. [Journal of Ben Williams]

1989- The Golden Spike Humanitarian Award was given to Julie Hobbs by the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire of Utah

1990-President George H Bush became the first US President to sign into law a bill including the words "sexual orientation," The Hate Crimes Statistic Act. It ordered a study on hate crimes and the compiling of statistics. Representatives from NGLTF and HRCF attend. Unfortunately, it did little good because the Justice Department refused to keep a record of anti-Gay violence reported to the Hate Crimes Hotline.

Dale Sorenson

1993 About 30 Gay activists from Utah met with Rep. Karen Shepherd, D-Utah, and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, and staff representing other members of the Utah delegation in Washington DC. Dale Sorenson, who was a Utah delegate to the Democratic National Convention last year, said the group was pleasantly surprised that Bennett said he would support Gay rights bills - depending on the wording - because he feels no one should suffer discrimination. The group also stood and applauded Shepherd in its meeting with her for her outspoken support of allowing Gays in the military - which others in the delegation have opposed. And Sorenson said said the group appreciates some help Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah - who always wears a red ribbon on his lapel in remembrance of AIDS victims - on health issues such as AIDS. "(Reps.) Jim Hansen (R-Utah) and Bill Orton (D-Utah) are more distant. But their staffs treated us with respect," Sorenson said. The group asked the delegation to support repealing the ban on homosexuals in the military; to support passage of the Gay and Lesbian

1994  Gilberto M. Arrendondo, 44, accused a woman of flirting with his girlfriend, called her a "dyke" and beat her so severely that she had to be transported by ambulance to a hospital. Salt Lake Tribune

1995 Sunday- Robert E. Rasmussen age 32, died in Salt Lake City, Utah, of complications due to AIDS.

1999 Women's Open Mike Night held at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center: Poetry, Music, Jokes, Story Telling and Women

1999 The Utah Gay Latino Association presented "Diamonds and Spurs" at the Paper Moon.

1999 The Gay Straight Alliance at Salt Lake City's East High School will no longer be allowed to participate in the school's annual multicultural assembly. Administrators announced that future multicultural assemblies would be limited to groups that represent a certain geographical area and culture. BY HILARY GROUTAGE THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Page: B3 East High Gay Club No Longer Allowed To Take Part in Multicultural Assembly The Gay Straight Alliance at Salt Lake City's East High School will no longer be allowed to participate in the school's annual multicultural assembly. An April 9 presentation by the alliance that outlined significant historical events and defined words such as "dyke" and "faggot" was at the center of the latest controversy for the club. Principal Kay Petersen has taken full responsibility for the six-minute presentation and said that he gave permission. Petersen and other administrators apparently reversed their position Monday by announcing that future multicultural assemblies would be limited to groups that represent a certain geographical area and culture. Besides the content of the presentation, parents were angry because the assembly was required and students who were offended and tried to leave were told to go back to their seats. Petersen was out of the office with an illness Tuesday and Wednesday and Assistant Principal Kenneth Jones said it would be inappropriate for anyone else to comment on the decision. Salt Lake City School District Assistant Superintendent Cindy Seidel said district policy clearly states that students should be provided an alternative activity if they are offended as a matter of conscience, but that policy was not followed in this case. "Clearly, the policy is in place and it wasn't followed. It will be next time," she said. Seidel said she and Superintendent Darline Robles will take a careful look at what policies were in place at the time and, using normal administrative procedures, consider what action, if any, will be taken. Petersen, who will retire at the end of the school year, was honored two years ago by GLSEN, the New York-based Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, for his support of the Gay Straight Alliance at East High. In 1996, the Salt Lake City Board of Education voted to ban dozens of noncurricular clubs rather than allow the Gay Straight Alliance to meet at East High School. The club continues to meet, however, by renting space from the school under the Utah Civic Center Act. The club is sponsored by GLSEN and its adviser is Camille Lee, who teaches at East High but oversees the club as a member of GLSEN. "These kids are not going away. This issue is not going away. There are more and more kids coming out all the time, “she said. "This action creates more division among the student body and the school. Instead of uniting students to all get along and work together, adult leaders have caused more kids to feel excluded." Alta Davis chairs the School Community Council at East High School. On some recent days, she has received as many as 200 telephone calls. "I hope both groups understand they can't force the other to believe what they do. No one is going to change, they’ve just got to be kind to each other," she said. "Our biggest goal is getting people to be nice to each other."

2003 Chad Keller To: Jerry Rapier Subject: Community Partner Program Dear Jerry, We are quite excited with the special attention being given to the history of our community at the upcoming Pride Day June 8, 2003.  We have watch with interest as Pride has set sail in bold new directions.  Charles Milne has been wonderful to work with, and has been eager to dig into our community's vivid Technicolor history.  In our last meeting with Charles, to provide to the Utah Stonewall Historical Society the list of potential subjects he felt that the committee wanted to have addressed, it was mentioned that the efforts of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society fall into the new Partner In Pride Program, and may qualify the USHS for windfall money. In his explanation he indicated paperwork that you would need to consider the efforts of the organization as part of the program.  Could you please forward to me the appropriate paper work for this program?  I am unclear on this program and how perhaps he envisions us fitting into the program.  The USHS Board of Directors is interested in applying if possible due to the amounts of time will be dedicated to the research, data verification, and visual presentation processes that have  been laid out for the 12 kiosks being sent as a compliment to Utah Pride 2003.  We are very appreciative of Charles notifying us of the potential match and look forward to hearing from you soon.Thanks! Chad Keller chair & Co-Director Utah Stonewall Historical Society

Blythe Nobleman

2003 Minority Coordinator Choice Is Under Fire By Lori Buttars The Salt Lake Tribune Under fire from the Latino community, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is defending his decision to hire Blythe Nobleman as the city's minority affairs and communications coordinator.  Anderson wrote a letter earlier this week to members of the Latino lobbying group Raz-Pac who had expressed disappointment over his decision to name an Anglo to the post. Raz-Pac member Frank Cordova met with the mayor and will take the letter to the coalition's planning meeting today.. Anderson, who was not invited to the meeting, is in Washington, D.C.   "Our Minority Affairs Office should work to empower and assist minority groups of all kinds," the mayor wrote, "not only ethnic or racial minorities, but also those with disabilities, the elderly, refugees, the economically disadvantaged, and the gay and lesbian community."   An agenda for Raz-Pac's planning meeting lists several concerns the group has with the mayor. The first item on the agenda notes that while Nobleman, a University of Utah professor, is a lesbian and considered a minority, the group prefers that a person of color fill the role.   Robert Gallegos, Raz-Pac chairman, declined to discuss the agenda items until after the group meets.  "My comments have been taken as an attack on homosexuals and that is not the case at all. We have numerous concerns regarding the Mayor's Office," Gallegos said. "The meeting is to plan for our formal meeting with Rocky." In his letter, Anderson points out that Nobleman is a communication and minority affairs "coordinator" who reports to Minority Affairs Director Archie Archuleta, whom the mayor described as "perhaps one of the most respected Hispanic advocates in the state."  As for the group's complaint that the Mayor's Office has fallen short of stated goals to increase minority hiring, Anderson says that plan has been hampered by slow turnover in city employees. He notes that the number of ethnic minorities has risen from 10.7 percent to 12.3 percent during his tenure.  "That is . . . an unprecedented increase in Salt Lake City," he says. Nobleman, who has been on the job eight days, says she hopes people will withhold criticism until they have seen the results of her work.   "I'm proud of the mayor's efforts to raise awareness of the existence of diversity in our community and the significant role that minorities play," she says.

2003 Ben Williams to Chad Keller Cool... How would you feel about USHS bringing back "GAY FREEDOM DAY" next year for a 30th Anniversary of Gay Pride Day? The name is historic and would not involve stomping (too hard) on Utah Pride. Just a simple gathering like food booths, libations, entertainment (ie Saliva Sisters court talent etc and a few comments) Ben Williams Chad K to Ben W I have taught you too well....I have already been gathering the support And the freebies...call me tonight!!

2003 Charles Milne To: Kathy Worthington, Chad Keller Subject: Volunteer for Utah Pride 2003!! Could you please forward this to your lists. Thanks  Charles Hello Everyone  It is that time of year again where we are in need of volunteers for the annual PRIDE day celebration in June.  We look forward to having a Great Celebration and bringing back some of the History to PRIDE.  There will be many exciting events.  A schedule is attached below.  WE need YOUR help in making Pride a success.  There are many options for what you can do to help with PRIDE 2003.  Interested in working with the Parade, Children, Beer Garden, Entertainment, or The RUN/Walk.  Get your volunteer application in today.  Look forward to receiving your Application!!!!  Application are Due MAY 15th, 2003 Sincerely, Charles Milne Volunteer Coordinator Utah Pride 2003 Interim Advisor Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center University of Utah 200 S. Central Campus Drive #317 Salt Lake City UT 84112

2003 Chad Keller to Ben Williams-The history of Pride....I’m getting more than a little irritated with this 20 year crap.... I think it is time for the massive signed community letter, demanding the change, and demanding the relinquishment of pride from an organization that has no business running it THOUGHTS...I think that a petition needs to be created, I have my cell with me call me after 5:30.....Todd is in agreement with me when we last spoke of the issue. They are mad cause they got clobbbered over it, but as so stubborn to not look at the facts, and admit that they have had an error in judgement.  It would be so much easier on them if they would have just said....oops, thanks, and did 29...but nnnnnoooooooo......

2003 Kent Powell to Ben Williams Thanks for your interesting paper proposal, "Utah's Response to the AIDS epidemic 1981-86" for the 2003 Utah State Historical Society Annual Meeting.  The program committee will be meeting in mid-May to review the proposals and I'll get back in touch as soon after the meeting as possible.  . 

2003 The Daily Utah Chronicle Gay U Skier Becomes Role Model for Others Quinn Breaks Stereotype of Male Athlete By Sheena McFarland

Ryan Quinn

Ryan Quinn describes coming out to his family and friends as "terrifying," but the decision to come out to his fellow U ski team members was even tougher. Though the Alaska native realized he was attracted to males in high school, he pushed those feelings aside and focused on sports. Quinn didn't admit to himself that he was gay until his first year of college, and then he took about a year to tell his parents and close friends. "I should have known earlier that I was gay, but I think being involved with sports delayed that because being gay is not a social option," said Quinn, who is graduating this year with a degree in business administration. Quinn began living two lives-one with his gay friends and the other with his team. "I actually felt more uncomfortable being 'the jock' around my gay friends than being gay around my teammates because my sexuality was just something that I didn't share with the team," he said. But after two years of being out to his friends and family, Quinn decided it was time to merge his two lives. He first told his former male roommate and current team member, and then told a couple of female members on the team. Then, about a week later at a team party, Quinn took his teammates aside and told each of them one-on-one. "I didn't want anyone to find out from someone else on the team, and my teammates really appreciated my honesty," he said. "Everyone [on the team] was like 'We respect, know and like you,' and they were immediately supportive." The next morning, some of his teammates called him and asked if he was OK with coming out, and reiterated their support for Quinn. Kevin Sweeney, the ski team coach, also supported Quinn. "Being supportive is not a problem for me or Ryan's fellow teammates. We have a lot of respect for each other, and we spend a lot of time on the road together and competing, so we have got to support each other," Sweeney said. Quinn also notes the individual nature of cross country skiing. "There's not a lot of awkwardness among the team because we respect each other. We travel a lot together, but there are no locker-room scenarios," he said. Which may be why Quinn's coming out was easily accepted by his teammates. But for other, more full-contact sports, that may not be the case. Anthony White, a backup safety for the U football team, says he wouldn't personally have a problem with a gay football player, but he could foresee problems with the team. "When I look at teammates, I think about how well they are playing, which is what any good team does, but I think having a gay player on a football team could be a distraction for the team, even if the individual players were OK with it," he said. White, who will serve as the Vice President of the Associated Students of the University of Utah next year, says a gay football player would likely face a lot more adversity than someone in Quinn's position. "Football is probably looked at as the most masculine sport, and so I think it would probably be three times as hard for a football player to come out," he said. White chalks up the fact that very few football players on all levels-from high school to pro-are openly gay. "Those guys are going to face a lot of pressure to not be on the team, and that's got to be really hard," White said. That pressure is one of the reasons Quinn decided to come out. He served on the advisory board of the first National Gay and Lesbian Athletics Conference, which was set up to start discussions around the nation about making athletics a safe zone for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community. "The conference gave us information so we could go back to our schools and teams and help the athletics department be aware of homophobia and how to counteract it," he said. Earlier this month, Quinn gave a presentation at the Student Athlete Mentors program, which is run by the U's athletics department. This semester, the program has focused on respect of diversity, so Quinn was a welcome speaker, said Mary Bowman, U assistant athletics director over student athlete support services. This is the first semester the program has focused on respecting diversity. The subject didn't come up due to any specific incident, but rather a focus on awareness and education, Bowman said. Charles Milne, director of the LGBT Resource Center, supports the department's program because of its emphasis on starting conversations that breakdown stereotypes society has of the LGBT community. "There are a lot of athletic people out there, and sexual orientation doesn't dictate that," he said. Quinn is a case in point. Quinn participated on the Junior National Ski Team from 1996-2000. He won second place in both 1997 and 1998 at the Alaska State Skiing Championships and garnered the title of Junior National Champion in 2000. He was a member of his high school cross country team, and won third place in the 1998 Alaska State Championships. That trend continued into college, with continued cross country skiing success. Quinn is a two-time NCAA All-American, and in U.S. national competition, he placed 11th in the 2002 sprint and 10th in the 2003 sprint. Quinn was also the Utah 2003 top men's cross-country point scorer. When successful athletes like Quinn decide to come out, it helps other gay athletes feel more comfortable coming out, Milne said. "The program creates an atmosphere where people are comfortable talking about their feelings and problems," he said. "Through the visibility of people like Ryan coming out, it shows everyone that a person can be a good athlete and can be gay," he said. While Quinn says activism was never a life goal, he says his experience has made him want to share it with others. Quinn wrote an article about being a gay athlete for the Web site outsports.com, an LGBT athletic site, and he received e-mails from all over the country from athletes who were afraid to come out. Quinn then realized the help he could provide to those in such a situation. "Activism was one way to help other athletes with the coming out process," he said. "If I had known an openly gay athlete, I think I would have come out a lot sooner."

2004 CONDOM LIBERATION DAY! SALT LAKE CITY CODEPINK LIBERATES THE CONDOMS SALT LAKE CITY  — In solidarity with those marching in Washington, D.C. this weekend to protest encroachments on women’s reproductive freedom, SLC CodePink, will be visiting Smith’s Pharmacy at 9th East and 8th South in Salt Lake City at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 23 to serve a writ of habeus corpus to FREE THE CONDOMS, which Smith’s now keeps under lock and key! SLC CodePink believes all babies should be born wanted and of parents able to provide proper prenatal and postnatal care. CodePink also believes that people should engage in sex responsibly so as to avoid getting and spreading diseases. To that end, all Utahns should have easy access to FREE or affordable condoms and other birth control. Smith’s locks up the condoms because people STEAL them. They STEAL them because they are trying to act responsibly but cannot afford the condoms. Keeping condoms locked up causes embarrassment for people who CAN afford condoms but do not want to have to ask for them to be unlocked. Smith’s corporate office is refusing to allow signs in their stores telling people where they can get free condoms. It has also refused Planned Parenthood’s offer to replace any condoms that are stolen if Smith’s keeps them unlocked. Smith’s corporate office (Marcia Gilford, 974-1400) told CodePink, “If people are old enough to have sex, they know where to get free condoms.” CodePink believes that people don’t know where to get free condoms and that if they had access to free condoms they wouldn’t be trying to STEAL condoms. CodePink also sees Smith’s actions in making it difficult to obtain contraceptives as consistent with a cruel cultural policy in Utah that denies people information about sexuality and birth control yet expects women to provide perfect prenatal care and indeed may charge them with first degree murder if they do not. A culture that places high demands on pregnant women should want to help women who are not up to the task avoid becoming pregnant. SALT LAKE CITY CODEPINK is an evolving women-initiated grass-roots peace and social justice movement that seeks a sustainable world through positive social change with proactive, creative protest and non-violent direct action. When: 5 P.M. Friday, April 23, 2004 Where: Smith’s, 9th East and 8th South, SLC Contact: Bessie McIntoch, 414-1639

2005 Full Leather Party to support our Wasatch Leather man Community Prizes given for: Best Leather, Amateur Leather, and Most Outrageous Leather Sponsored by:   Club161 2nd South 1440 West SLC     

2008 5 Spot | Daniel Hill, youth program coordinator for the Utah Pride Center By Joey Hellrung Salt Lake City Weekly Daniel Hill, youth program coordinator for the Utah Pride Center (355 N. 300 West, 539-8800), is asking students to clam up for the 12th annual Day of Silence (DOS) on Friday, April 25, to protest the silencing of GLBT students. The center will “break the silence” at 6 p.m. with a Night of Noise that includes free barbecue and live music. How much bullying of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students goes on in local schools?  Unfortunately, prior to the passage of House Bill 325 (Bullying and Hazing Prohibitions), a standard for reporting bullying of Utah students was not in place. However, we often hear GLBT students say they don’t report harassment [out of] fear. How are students supposed to respond to their teachers if they can’t speak? They will have cards explaining their actions to hand out to teachers and others. Which Utah schools are participating ... and which are not? DOS is a national youth-led project in which individual students determine their participation. Provo High School Principal Sam Ray has said Provo High will not be participating. However, individual students have elected to join this nonviolent statement. Doesn’t this activity play into the hands of conservative lawmakers who argue GLBT clubs in schools are disruptive to the learning environment? It’s an opportunity to educate students, teachers and administrators about GLBT issues. Students will participate in classes by their attendance and written communication. DOS is an educational project, and civic engagement is an integral part of any educational curriculum. What can silence do, really? Raise awareness of verbal and physical harassment experienced by GLBT (or perceived) students, especially after the recent murder of 15 year-old Lawrence King of Oxnard, Calif., who was killed by his classmate because of his perceived sexual orientation. 

Cleve Jones 

2009 Harvey Milk intern picked to lead Utah Pride Parade Cleve Jones marched alongside gay-rights icon Harvey Milk in San Francisco in the 1970s. In June, he will lead Utah's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community through Salt Lake City streets as grand marshal of the annual Utah Pride Parade. "I am coming to Salt Lake with great hopes of encouraging the important work that's being done there," Jones said in a statement, noting the spotlight on Utah and the LDS Church since California passed the Proposition 8 gay-marriage ban. "What we're fighting for is civil rights." Jones, featured in the Oscar-winning film "Milk," interned for the slain San Francisco city supervisor, the first openly gay man elected to U.S. public office. Jones later co-founded the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and launched the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The Utah Pride Festival is June 5, 6 and 7 at Salt Lake City's Washington Square. The parade on June 7 begins at 10 a.m. A reception for Jones will be held June 6 at 6 p.m. at Hilton Salt Lake City Center, 255 S. West Temple. Tickets for the reception are $75.

Jon Huntsman Jr

2009 Huntsman: Gay marriage ban unclear on civil unions Brock Vergakis - The Associated Press Thursday, April 23, 2009  SALT LAKE CITY -- Republican Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman says the state's constitutional ban on gay marriage is unclear on the issue of civil unions between gay couples. Huntsman says he supports the traditional definition of marriage, but he also supports civil unions because he says they amount to equal rights for all of the state's residents. When running for office in 2004, Huntsman supported the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Since then, he's supported extending some legal rights to gay couples with little success. Huntsman told reporters Thursday that a court will ultimately have to decide whether the state's gay marriage amendment also bans civil unions.

Fred Karger

2018  Salt Lake Tribune Commentary by Fred Karger: How the new LDS president can be a prophet of change Nelson is facing a crisis for Mormonism and, at 93, he knows he does not have a lot of time to leave a lasting impact. 2018 is proving to be a year of big change for the Mormon church. The passing of President Thomas S. Monson in January opened the way for Russell M. Nelson to become the 17th president of the church. During this month’s General Conference, Nelson made significant changes to the church. He announced the first Latino apostle as well as the first Asian-American apostle, adding diversity to the church’s top leadership for the very first time. He also announced the elimination of the home teaching and visiting teaching programs, and the building of seven new temples. One doesn’t have to look very deep to find some of the reasoning behind these changes. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported its slowest growth in over 80 years. Young people are leaving in droves. A recent survey reported that the No. 1 reason American millennials are leaving the church is the way that it treats its LGBTQ members, with tens of thousands of Mormons resigning from the church as a result. An official church document posted a year ago by Ryan McKnight’s MormonLeaks shows that 55,000 millennials left in 2005 alone. That was 13 years ago, well before California’s Prop 8, when search engines on the internet were pretty new and before a decade of terrible PR for the church. How many church members are actually resigning or becoming inactive now? The church has been closing many of its administrative units in Europe. Growth in Latin America is stagnant. The church recently announced it was closing its Missionary Training Centers in Spain and Chile along with visitors centers in England, New Zealand and right here in Park City. The changing demographics of the church mean big trouble for another reason: money. American members and families, the church’s main source of tithing revenue, are leaving in droves. As U.S. growth declines, no number of foreign converts can make up for that. Nelson is facing a crisis for Mormonism and, at 93, he knows he does not have a lot of time to leave a lasting impact and right the ship before it takes on more water. After Monson passed away, his New York Times obituary strongly criticized his handling of human rights issues, especially on women and the LGBTQ community through all the church’s political activity under his leadership. The epidemic of suicides by Mormon teenagers continues to haunt the church and is reason enough to rescind its ugly November 2015 policy that bans LGBTQ Mormons and their families from the church. And right now, the Mormon church is in the middle of another major crisis. Survivors of sexual abuse perpetrated by high-ranking Mormon leaders are coming forward to tell their stories, beginning what many are calling the #MormonMeToo moment. The case of McKenna Denson is getting more and more attention from national media. Her recording of her abuser’s confession has gone viral. Yet she is not the only one. Many other brave victims of sexual assault are telling their stories, as we saw recently in Martinsburg, W.Va., where nine former Mormon families sued the church for its cover-up of pedophile Michael Jensen. This represents a pattern within the LDS Church, where victims are silenced instead of empowered and perpetrators are protected. These are the times that call for action and the change that many hope the Mormon church will undergo. These are certainly challenges to the reputation and the credibility of the church, yet they also represent opportunities. Nelson can step up and work to right the wrongs made by the church and open it up to all. Real change won’t just benefit the church, but will help the state of Utah and the most vulnerable around the world. The time for change is now. It’s up to Nelson to decide whether he will continue to lead a wave of change or whether he will fight the current and keep the church stuck in its old ways. We hope that he will be remembered as the “prophet of change” and bring the Mormon church into the 21st century. Fred Karger is an LGBTQ activist and discovered the Mormon church’s active role in California’s Proposition 8. He is president of Rights Equal Rights and director of MormonTips.com