30 April
1891 The jury in the case of James Hamilton
who was tried in the Third district court on Tuesday on the charge of
committing an infamous “Crime Against Nature” came into court after being out
several hours and announced that it was impossible to agree and were
discharged. It is understood that the jury was equally divided six voting for
acquittal and six for conviction. Messrs Reilly and Anderson the defendants
attorneys appeared before Judge Anderson yesterday morning and demanded that
Hamilton be tried at once or that the defendant be discharged This request was
denied. Salt Lake Herald
1901
William Dean was put on trial before a jury in Judge Stewart’s court this
morning on the charge of a “Crime Against Nature”. The trial occupied all day
and went to the jury in the evening. Deseret News
1976 The Gay Community Center Service Center
closed its doors at 11 South 400 West in Salt Lake City due to financial
difficulties. The 24 Hour crisis line is replaced with call forwarding. The
phone line is kept going by Ray Hencke. The Gay Community Center closed because
there was no support from bar owners other then Joe Redburn. They felt that the center was Joe Redburn’s
project and wouldn’t accept donation jars in their bars.
1976-Demonstrators protested an appearance by
Chief Justice Warren Burger in New York in response to the court's decision to
uphold Virginia's sodomy law.
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| Fred Ringle |
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| Paul North |
- Larry White 2018 I need to provide a brief history lesson. The second reign was the first to be elected by a public vote. At the time, pretty much anyone was allowed a vote and you could vote for balloted candidates or for a write-in candidate. The Empress candidate with the most votes became the monarch and the candidate with the second highest votes Princess Royal. The same for the Emperor and Prince Royal. Within weeks of Coronation and P.R. Ball rumors of voting irregularities and bias began circulating. Whether or not any of the rumors were accurate, it was obvious that the integrity and security of voting in future court elections needed to be addressed to avoid even rumors of impropriety. Amid the rumors of bias, combining disappointment, anger and very hurt feelings with a desire not to embroil themselves in a controversy or in any way be disruptive to the new reign, Prince and Princess Royal II Greg and Jamie chose to resign their titles. Both of them remained close friends and supporters. A few months after his resignation, Greg made his first move to Las Vegas. Yes, there was a second move to Las Vegas a decade later for his job. Several years and many drag performances after his resignation, Jamie (Jim Powell) accepted a new job and moved to Houston, Texas where he remained until his death. Greg recently moved from Las Vegas to Palm Springs where he is still very much alive. Shortly after Greg and Jamie vacated the P.R Titles, Empress II Paul and Emperor II Fred submitted P.R. nominations that were approved by the Board of Directors and yours truly, Larry White and Bree Chardonnay were crowned Prince and Princess Royal II.
1983-Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey
Circus did a benefit performance at Madison Square Garden to raise money for
the Gay Men's Health Crisis, drawing 18,000 people.
.png) |
| Ken Francis |
1989 Sunday Becky Moss and I taped 4 shows
tonight for Concerning Gays and Lesbians including one with David Sharpton.
David said that Rob Ivie has moved to Dallas, Texas so he's out of his hair
now. But David said that he has lots of friends down in Dallas and they will
blackball Rob if David makes the right calls. I told him to let it go. I know
he still loves/hates Rob and probably always will. [Journal of Ben Williams]
 |
| David Sharpton |
1995 Salt Lake Tribune Page: J8
Photo/Graphic: Selina (David Martin)
gets some help putting on her false eyelashes. Deirdre Eitel photos/The Salt
Lake Tribune Natasha (Darryl Woods) primps before Miss Gay Utah Pageant, won by
Felicia (Wade DeForest). DRAG RACE UTAH GAY `GIRLS' COMPETE FOR CROWN PAGEANT:
UTAH GAY `GIRLS' VIE FOR CROWN Byline: By Deirdre Eitel THE SALT LAKE
TRIBUNE She leans across a battered
table, gazes into a mirror in an unfinished room above Salt Lake City's Sun Bar
and concentrates as she finger paints foundation onto her freshly shaven face.
Dressed in jeans, a blue plaid flannel shirt and heels, the transformation from
Dave to Selina has begun. It is her first drag-queen pageant and Selina's hands
tremble as she combs mascara onto her false lashes. Time to pace the room, smoke a cigarette and
take a few deep breaths. It is like putting on your mother's makeup, dressing
in her clothes and playing make believe, but on a grand scale. The grown-up
version adds a few more elements to the game. Contestants don casual wear, walk
the runway, hurriedly change clothes and return in evening wear for a
question-and-answer session. Judges
query them on gay issues and history. The questions range from the hypothetical
(Which theme would you use if you were in charge of making a float for a Gay
Pride Day parade? And why?) to the specific (What was the date of the Stonewall
uprising and what was its significance to the gay community?) Finally, the
girls change clothes one last time and return to the stage for a lip-synch
performance. Despite the rigors of the contest, the real appeal of the pageant
is the chance to show off in front of an audience and be among friends, not
necessarily to become Miss Gay Utah. A few more drag queens-in-the-rough arrive
packing tackle boxes of cosmetics and sequined gowns under their arms and the
tension in the room eases. Makeup, accessories, wigs and outfits are swapped
and the chatter increases as they help each other get ready. ``Do you think I should go platinum blond,''
Regina asks as she pouts her lips and seductively runs her fingers through her
false tresses. ``Or brunette?'' as she reaches for another wig. ``Hey girl'' is a common greeting in this
vamping parlor. ``Oh, you b----'' is an
endearing retort. In addition to providing variety to Salt Lake City's
nightlife, the four annual pageants and a coronation double as fund-raisers for
charities such as the Utah AIDS Foundation and the Utah Food Bank. The largest
event, the coronation of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire will be at
the Salt Palace Convention Center May 28.
Formal attire will be required for court hopefuls and audience
alike. Although a few contestants hope
to win the Miss Gay Utah crown, most just like to dress up, be around
supportive friends and perform in the pageant. Spyke, proud owner of the most
enormous and gaudy handmade costume jewelry this side of New Orleans, drove
from Idaho to perform between the segments of the pageant. At 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, she hires a
seamstress to sew her outfits. ``Honey,
I'm not getting bigger; it's just the stage keeps getting smaller,'' she
claims. Besides the eight contestants,
about the same number of people take the stage to keep the entertainment
rolling, dancing to songs ranging from pop to Liza Minnelli. As pageant time
nears, the girls pin numbers on their dresses and crowd around the mirror to
make final hair and makeup adjustments. Music of Janet Jackson, Cher and
Madonna blares from speakers as one by one they strut, sway, shimmy and speak
their way through the pageant in front of the standing-room-only crowd of about
250. A core of regulars who rarely miss a pageant are joined by friends and
family of contestants, gay-friendly straights and members of the gay community. After the final performance, the judges
compile the points and award the Miss Gay Utah crown to Felicia, a
red-sequined, kiss-blowing crowd pleaser who knows how to work an
audience. She receives no college
scholarship, endorsements or big check. But hey, wasn't it fun?
.jpg) |
| Felicia |
1996-Utah governor Mike Leavitt signed a
measure banning Gay clubs in public schools.
2000-The Millennium March on Washington was
held.
2003 Chad Keller to James Hicks “I understand
your frustration, and Gay Pride was mentioned last year in the calendars you
mentioned on ABC 4 and Fox. Those community calendars are usually set up for
nonprofit events which benefit the community at large. Having just returned
from Los Angeles and the GLAAD Awards, lets not be quick to accuse people of
discriminating against us just because they didnt have room or chose not to
place an item in a calendar that has limited space. I have learned that it is
better to work with them to create a partnership rather than torch a bridge.
Utah is a total backwards society, and most of our broadcast media are behind
us 100%. We teach people to be open minded and tolerant, we cannot force a
person to love or accept. CK.
- James Hicks to Chad Keller, “Chad, Thank you for your comments. I understand that we might have to pay for advertising to obtain the type of publicity the Pride Day event deserves. However, it's also my understanding that our local networks have a calendar of events which is offered as a "free" public service for all of Utah or at least anyone who can pick up reception of our local network stations. This free calendar of events is provided three times each day during normal news broadcasts. Why is it so difficult to get our own local network stations to provide this as free coverage for our Pride Day celebration when it's offered as a free service for everyone else's local event? In addition, why do our local news stations prefer to cover events after they occur? As I said before, I believe we are being discriminated against and perhaps we need to discuss this discrimination with the folks at GLAAD or the ACLU. Thanks, James P. Hicks
2005 We are Queers In Action, the youth
leadership group of the GLBT Community Center of Utah. We are organizing several GLBTQ related
events for youth, by youth. This year we
are organizing the second annual Queer Prom being held on April 30th, 2005.
This event is very important to us, as
it gives us a chance to come together and be ourselves, which is so unlike our
everyday experience at our various high schools. It is important to be able to
take our dates to prom and not have to worry about harassment and violence so
that we can just celebrate who we are and have a good time. We are looking for
responsible adults to volunteer their time to help make this event possible. We need people to help set-up the event,
chaperone during it, and to help clean up afterwards. We are looking for at least 20 volunteers.
You can also make a monetary contribution through the GLBT Community Center of
Utah specifically for Queer Prom 2005.
If you are interested in volunteering for any part, or all of the event,
contact Gretchen Krebs Thank you so much. Queer Prom for all youth 13-20. The
GLBT Community Center of Utah’s youth leadership group known as Queers In
Action will hold its second annual Queer Prom, where the only thing not
tolerated is hate. All youth are invited
to join us at the Salt Lake City Hardware Building, located at 105 North 400
West from 8p.m.-midnight on April 30,2005
Tickets are Eight dollars per person in advance and ten dollars at the
door. You can get your tickets at the
GLBT Center of Utah or you can contact your local Queers In Action
representative Until all schools are safe for queer students, Queers In Action
will continue its efforts in providing safe spaces for queer youth. There is
still time to for interested adults to volunteer their time to help pull off
this amazing event.
2005 Queer Prom offers an alternative By Lisa
Rosetta The Salt Lake Tribune Showered in disco ball doughnuts, Scott Feeney
whirled around the dance floor, his laughter melting into the happy shrills of
chatty teenagers and pop music booming from speakers. The 16-year-old boy - who
has been kicked out of school clubs and his LDS church - was energized by the
moment. At the Queer Prom Saturday night, it was OK to be gay. "It's a
safe place to go and hang out and to get to know more people like you," he
said. Feeney jigged on the dance floor with his friend Emily Dalpias, a
17-year-old lesbian girl who traded in traditional prom dress garb for a black
shirt and a tie that matched her cropped, flamingo pink hair. Dalpias brought
her girlfriend of two years, Lindsay, so they could mingle with other gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth and not get stung with taunts. While
in most places it can be uncomfortable just to hold hands, here, at the Salt
Lake City Hardware building, they could hug, dance - just be themselves. The
Queer Prom is much like any school dance. Punch bowls, prom photos and a king
and queen coronation are part of the event. Hundreds of colorful balloons hang
suspended in nets strewn across the ceiling. But for the youth who attend, it's
much more. It's validation. "I think it's a good way to get the gay
community, especially the young kids, together," Dalpias said, as she
picked at a plate of ravioli at Tucci's before the prom. "I'm
excited," she said. Article Last Updated: 5/01/2005
2006 Sunday Good Discussion Helps Drives
Public Policy Activity on this board proves my original contention that this
topic is too controversial for the Center to send out a message without
community input. The boycott was known for weeks. Is the Center too imperial to
have sent out a statement that they were considering doing this before they did
a fete accomplete? That is what I see is one of the problems with the center,
little seeking of community input except for asking for money and volunteers
and talking to themselves. Yes some agreed with their decisions and some did
not. I would have been happy to come in after work and greet the Gay who may have
finally had the courage to walk in those doors only to find them closed. Tim I
agree with you that many have made this issue of "ILLEGAL" immigrants
a "racist issue" on BOTH sides of the spectrum. However calling a
criminal action a criminal action does not demean a person's dignity, the act
of doing something illegal does. My parents gave me the birthright of
citizenship to change laws I disagree with. I count that one of my greatest
gifts besides my life. It was a gift but one given out of two hundred years of
struggle to build this nation. I certainly do believe that all men are created
equal and endowed with their creator inalienable rights that of life liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. That is the AMERICAN EXPERIMENT and with that
came responsibility to support the Constitution that protects those rights. I
support all legal immigration to this country but to let some come illegally
while maintaining keeping others out who are trying to come through a legal way
for is NOT EQUAL! That is not JUSTICE for all. To me it's theft. I am all for
creating legal ways of moving across borders masses of people but in a LEGAL
way. Due Process it’s the American Way contrary to what criminals like Bush and
Cronies would have us believe. Again I
stand by my statement that immigrants have a "LEGAL" way to become
citizens of this country. Gays did not have a LEGAL way to enjoy basic human
rights until they struggled do have them. All progressive people support basic
human rights but not everyone supports open borders and without any criterion
for citizenship. Is that all America is about- a place to make money? I don't
think so? America is a special unique place and just because NEO CONS are
trying to usurp it doesn't mean that we should devalue it either. Many people who
are deported come back, return through legal channels when given the
opportunity. Comparing mass deportation with the Trail of Tears and the
Holocaust is quite extreme. No one is calling for extermination of Illegals. We
have even given Mexican homosexuals political asylum in this country where when
is the last time you heard of an American Gay seeking political asylum in
Mexico? Or any where else for that matter. Not once have I said anything about
deportation except for those who have a criminal record either here or in
Mexico or any other country but don't you believe they owe America something?
An oath of Allegiance, would be nice, and renounce their duo-citizenship. As to
bilingualism why is Spanish given preference over Chinese or Vietnamese, or Tongan,
or German, or Arabic? Because of the sheer numbers of people who expect
accommodation I would suspect. When the burgeoning 3rd world nations want to
dispose of their excess populations will they be as welcomed by you also
because they want jobs? How much is too much? I don't know. You may live to see
an America with 500 million people divided by culture, class, and language with
Global Corporations exploiting the masses but I doubt it will be anything that
would be recognized as American. I've noticed that there is a little bit of a
generation gap going on in this forum also. It seems that those of us who are
Baby Boomers and had fathers who fought in the 2nd World War have a different
view of America then those who grew up under Ronald Reagan. I have been a card
carrying liberal all my life, never once voted Republican, been a Socialist, a
Libertarian, a Gay Liberationist, anti-War activist and volunteered more hours
and given more money to further support social justice causes then most I know
but I have done it because I believe in the AMERICAN dream, I fought for my
rights because I am an American, and I will fight along side those who wish to
become an AMERICAN for I still think its the last great hope for the ideas of
John Stuart Mills, Voltaire, Rousseau, John Locke and the great humanist
enlightenment. I have to laugh at being called a racist and a bigot. I have
sucked too many Mexican cocks and been fucked by even more to be anti- Latino
but can't one be called pro-American before being called anti- something? Still
if immigrants (legally and illegally) are flooding America to become AMERICANS
what does that tell you about our system? If they are flooding America to seek
only economic gain what makes any person different from a plunderer? I will tell
you what I am for.. more transparency at the Center... more open dialog with
the community...more open books on finances...and a little warning before they
make a decision that DOES reflect on the whole community or STOP calling
themselves THE CENTER As someone who has served on the Board of Directors of
the UTAH STONEWALL CENTER, the GAY and LESBIAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL, PRIDE DAY,
and various other organizations, if we could do it why is it so hard now? I
think I have put enough of my life energy into helping build a Gay community in
Utah these past 20 years to be afforded respect without name calling. PS Sing
the damn National Anthem in English I am still a Proud Gay American even if I
am not proud of everything our leaders do in our name. But then the struggle
goes on. God Bless all hard working Americans of what ever color, creed, or
national origin!
2006 Sunday Bill of wrongs: No need for
federal marriage amendment Tribune Editorial Salt Lake Tribune It's hard to
claim you are campaigning for states' rights when the measure you are promoting
would rewrite all 50 state constitutions in one stroke. And it's hard to claim
you are campaigning for individual rights, or for religious rights, when the
proposal you back would impose a federalized definition for the very personal
and, usually, religious institution of marriage. The proposed "Marriage
Protection Amendment" has drawn support from The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints and a spectrum of other faiths, known collectively as the
Religious Coalition for Marriage. That group argues, as unconvincingly as
everyone else who makes the point, that the growing acceptance of same-sex
unions threatens the institution of marriage. This unwise move to amend the
basic law of the United States follows successful campaigns to change a few
state charters, including Utah's, to ban same-sex marriage. But, beyond being
merely redundant to those state efforts, the proposed federal amendment also
picks up a serious flaw that was part of 2004's Utah Amendment 3. Utah's
constitution does not merely bar same-sex couples from the legal institution of
marriage. It prevents them from crafting any "other domestic union,
however denominated." That, despite the misleading reassurances of the
measure's supporters before the vote, has since been shown to be a useful tool
for knocking the pins out from under simple and reasonable domestic partnership
agreements that should be the right of any adult to enter, and within the
purview of any religious order to sanctify, or not, as it chooses. Likewise,
the federal proposal would reasonably preserve the term "marriage"
for the traditional arrangement of "a man and a woman." But, again,
it would unreasonably go on to dictate that every state read its own
constitution to deny any constitutional protection to the notion that marriage
"or the legal incidents thereof" should be extended to same-sex
relationships. Such an overbroad, if not downright nasty, attack on domestic
partnerships is not necessary to reserve the title of "marriage" to
its traditional understanding. It doesn't belong in any state's constitution.
And we certainly don't want it cluttering up the Constitution of the United
States.
 |
| Michael Aaron Green |
2010 -Gay teens Salt Lake Tribune editorial
When gay students and their friends at East High School in Salt Lake City
attempted to organize Utah’s first school club for LGBT teens in the mid-1990s,
it took about five years and several court cases to finally win the board’s
approval. In 2006, after a Gay-Straight Alliance club was formed at a Utah
County high school, students had to battle the bigots in the Utah Legislature
who tried but failed to ban the clubs, essentially support groups for LGBT
students. But this year, all it took was some correspondence from the American
Civil Liberties Union of Utah to grease the skids for the kids in the
Washington County School District. GSA clubs at four of the district’s five
high schools — Dixie, Desert Hills, Snow Canyon and Pine View — will
officially form this fall. The request wasn’t exactly rubber-stamped. Several
high schools had restrictive policies regarding clubs that may have made it
difficult for the groups to organize if not for some ACLU-inspired intervention
from the district office. But it didn’t take a federal court case for the clubs
to frame their charters, and that’s a positive sign. These types of clubs,
which work to combat intolerance, stereotypes and teen alienation, pay
dividends for members and nonmembers alike. Attendance, and thus academic
performance, by gay club members will likely improve. According to a 2007
survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, LGBT
students in schools with gay-straight alliances report an enhanced sense of
belonging, have better attendance records and are less likely to be
harassed. Plus, LGBT teens will learn
that they are not alone; that it’s OK to be gay. Straight kids will learn that
we’re all a lot more alike than we are different. And, the world will become a
better place by opening one mind at a time. Jason Osmanski, a gay Snow Canyon
sophomore, said he hopes the organizations he helped form will bring an end to
the harassment LGBT teens experience at school. Logan Hunt, a gay Dixie High
senior who also helped organize the clubs, said he wants to “create more
tolerance in our community.” Those are very modest goals — to be tolerated, and
not be harassed. To be allowed to be yourself. It shouldn’t be a thing you have
to fight for. Hopefully, thanks to the
courage and leadership shown by kids like Hunt and Osmanski, hearts and minds
will be changed, and future generations of gay Utahns will find not only
tolerance, but inclusion and acceptance as well.
2010 Dear Award Recipients,You are receiving
this email as past recipients of the prestigious Dr. Kristen Ries Community
Service Award. Each year, we ask
recipients to come together, collaborate and choose the next Dr. Kristen Ries
Community Service Award recipient. This
year's award will again be presented at the Utah Pride Festival's Grand Marshal
Reception & Awards Celebration scheduled for Friday, June 4, 2010 at the
Jewish Community Center ( 2 North Medical Drive , Salt Lake City ). The
nomination process will draw to a close on April 30th. On Monday, May 3, we will reconnect with all
of you to begin the voting process.
We've attached the 2010 Call for Nominations which is being distributed
widely. Please help us by forwarding
this announcement to your friends/colleagues to ensure those most deserving of
recognition are part of the process. Nominations (100 word justification)
should be emailed to nominations@utahpridecenter.org by April 30th! Please feel free to call or email with any
questions you may have. Valerie Valerie A. Larabee Executive Director Utah
Pride Center 355 N. 300 W. Salt Lake City, UT
84103
• Patty
Reagan To: Becky Moss ; Ben Barr ; Ben Williams ; Brenda Voisard ; Brook
Heart-Song ; Bruce Harmon ; Charlene Orchard ; Chuck Whyte ; Craig Miller ;
Doug Tollstrup ; Doug Wortham ; Douglas Fadel ; Dr. Kristen Ries ; Jackie
Biskupski ; Jane Marquardt ; Jeff Freedman ; Kevin Hillman ; Kim Russo ;
Ladonna Moore ; Laura Gray ; Lucia Malin ; Marlin G Criddle ; Nikki Boyer ;
Rev. Bruce Barton ; Rev. Kelly Byrnes ; RGSSE College of Monarchs ; Snyder,
Maggie ; Stan Penfold ; Tami Marquardt ; Val Mansfield ; Valerie Larabee
Subject: Re: 2010 Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Awards - Call For
Nominations & Pride Awards Press Release I think it may be time to change
this process. Those of us who were early
recipients may be less familiar with today's movers and shakers. I know that I feel less qualified to select a
recipient. I wonder if maybe the last 5
or 6 recipients should comprise the committee.
Or perhaps there is another suggestion.
I'm also good with the status quo as long as I can opt out gracefully
given my lack of personal interaction with many community leaders. I generally just know people vis a vis media
sources. Thanks for considering this
suggestion. I do remain honored to be
named among you. smiles, patty
• "Becky
Moss wrote: I agree with the “opt out” feature, but looking over this list, I
see a lot of early recipients who are very actively involved and do know the
movers and shakers.Becky Moss
• From:
nikki boyer “I'm still active. Nikki
Boyer”
• From:
Brook Heartsong I agree with Becky and Nikki.
• From
Maggie Snyder" wrote: I agree with Becky Moss.
• From
Douglas Tollsrup wrote: Hello, Can someone send me the list of nominees? I
don’t have any attachments. I would
appreciate it. I will go along with whatever everyone decides about the
process. I understand both viewpoints. Thanks!
Douglas Tollstrup (aka Clariss Cartier)
• From
Kevin Hillman wrote; really like this dialogue that is going on here and do
agree that change would be good. That said I still believe we all need to be
involved as much as possible and agree that we do need more information about
each of the nominees to place an educated vote. Also I really believe that this
call for nominations needs to go out to the community at large so that they can
also help in bringing to light who they feel has moved our community forward
over the past few years. This gives us a
much broader range of people to select from and it can also reach into the out
lying areas of our state. By the way you
don't have to live in Salt Lake to be nominated. I received this e-mail
yesterday and now have to have a nomination in by friday giving me two days to
put together the information I feel that needs to be provided to each of us so
that we can make a much better choice on who should be this years recipient. This is way too short of a time frame to be
working with. Kevin Hillman
• From:
Chuck Whyte To: Valarie Larabee Subject: Dr Kristen Ries Community Service
Award Could you please forward this e mail to all the past recipients Just some
thoughts.... I feel that the community as a whole should nominate, but the past
recipients should be contacted annually and given the option of voting for the
new recipient(s), We should be given at least 14 days to cast our vote. The
past recipients present at the Grand Marshall reception should be called up to
the stage before the new recipient(s) are announced, This will teach those
present who both the past and present leaders of our community are. Our
community has a bad habit of once someone is out of the spotlight to forget
them. We all need to remember without a foundation the house will crumble. I
wish all the past recipients continued joy and happiness, and always look
forward to seeing you all soon. With Community Pride Chuck Whyte -1990 Dr
Kristen Ries Community Service Award Recipient
• From
Ben Williams Wrote The Kristen Ries Award was set up that only recipients could
vote on nominees. Last year I wasn't even cotacted and I am hardly
inactive. If recipients chose not to
vote that is their privilege but when some are not even contacted that robs
them of their decision. Personally I think a committee of former Recipents
should be tallying the vote and overseeing the process. I value being a
recipient of the award and I'd hate for it to be only a prize to be handed out
to flesh out someone's resume. PS I nominated Donald Steward
2014 ‘Gay’ not an option in Mormon survey on sexual orientation THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
2014 ‘Gay’ not an option in Mormon survey on sexual orientation THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
During
the past week, the LDS Church has been surveying Mormon “millennials” (those
born between 1980 and 2000) on their attitudes about marriage and same-sex
attraction — without ever mentioning the words “homosexual,” “gay,” “bisexual”
or “transgender. The
survey was emailed to students at Brigham Young University and to members who
attend a Young Single Adult Mormon congregation in Utah. Responders were told
that, based on their answers, they might be contacted to participate in a
larger study of the issue. The
original survey included the following question: “What
is your sexual orientation?” Here
were the only choices:
•
“I am heterosexual, but I struggle with same-sex attraction.”
•
“I am heterosexual and do not struggle with same-sex attraction.”
•
“Other, please specify.”
On
Monday, that exchange was reworded, according to LDS Church spokeswoman Jessica
Moody, “to better convey the intent of the question.” It
now reads: “Do you experience same-sex attraction?” — with possible answers
being: yes, no or other (the latter being an open question with space for a
written response). The
survey is part of the Utah-based faith’s “broader research,” Moody said in a
statement, “to understand the attitudes and opinions of millennials.” Not
surprisingly, gay-rights activists were incensed. “In
the minds of the Mormon church’s top leadership, either someone is
heterosexual, or they are heterosexual and ‘struggle’ with a problem,” writes
The New Civil Rights Movement. “Actually being gay, lesbian, bisexual or any
other orientation is not within the realm of possibility — as if the entire
concept of homosexuality just does not exist.”
 |
| Victor Rax |
2014 Accused
child rapist dies in apparent suicide at Salt Lake County jail Inmate
• Officials say Victor Rax’s death does not appear suspicious. BY
JESSICA MILLER AND
MICHAEL MCFALL THE
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE A
man accused of molesting teenage immigrant boys and forcing them into the drug
trade died at the Salt Lake County jail Monday evening. Authorities
believe Victor Manuel Rax, 42, committed suicide Monday evening. An officer
doing routine checks found Rax unresponsive, having hanged himself, about 8:25
p.m., said Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder. Medical personnel tried to
revive him, but he died in the jail, Winder said. The
same officer who found Rax asphyxiated was the same person who last saw the
man, at 7:40 p.m., prior to his suicide attempt. Each inmate in the segregated
area is normally seen every 45 minutes like that, a time gap that Winder
asserted as “very rapid” for the size of the population. The
death does not appear to be suspicious, authorities said. Rax has two relatives
in the jail, and counseling is being made available to them, Winder said. The
sheriff described Rax’s behavior in the jail as “bizarre,” but declined to
elaborate in deference to his family. Rax’s serious charges affected him and he
had spent time in the jail’s mental health unit, Winder said, but he had more
recently moved to the administrative segregation area — where people are kept
in one-man cells and away from the general population — after he showed signs
of improvement. Winder
added that the inmates are their counselors’ clients and their deaths are
devastating for them. Rax
had been charged in 3rd District Court with 63 felonies for crimes ranging from
sodomy on a child to human trafficking to drugs. Investigators believe Rax
raped undocumented immigrant children as young as 9, then threatened their
families in order to force them to sell drugs and submit to abuse. Police
from multiple agencies arrested Rax in February and prosecutors later charged
him with 34 felonies. The number of charges nearly doubled in March after
police identified 16 victims, according to the Utah Attorney General’s office.
All but one of those victims were children when Rax allegedly abused them, the
AG’s office added. A
trial had not been set in Rax’s court case, though he had a scheduling
conference set for May 16. Among
other things, one witness told police Rax had “black magic” and “spoke in
dialect to his god Santa Muerte.” He also allegedly drugged some boys to
unconsciousness as he abused them. Rax
also used the boys as drug dealers in Utah high schools, police say. Rax
was long a target of police investigations, but prosecutors struggled to mount
a case against him because victims were too afraid to testify. In one instance,
prosecutors even threatened to deport the victim if he wouldn’t take the stand
against Rax. The victim, however, wouldn’t budge, instead challenging
authorities to “deport me to hell.” The
current case against Rax began when three victims finally came forward: a
15-year-old who was 14 when the abuse began, an 18-year-old who was 16 when the
abuse started, and a 17-year-old, according to jail documents. “Although
any loss of human life is upsetting and Mr. Rax was presumed innocent, we are
relieved that the 16 alleged victims, 15 of whom are children, will not have to
face the trauma of testifying in criminal court proceedings,” Attorney General
Sean Reyes said in a statement. “Moreover, while his guilt or innocence will
now never be proven through the justice system, if he was guilty as we alleged,
then we are comforted that many children and their families will live in fear
no more.” Reyes’
office is currently assessing whether Rax’s death will have any impact on his
two jailed relatives’ cases, the statement adds.
2020 UofU awards Dr. Kristen Ries honorary degree The University of Utah Board of
Trustees awarded the university’s highest honor to
Dr. Kristen Ries who, along with Maggie Snyder, became the first to address
Utah’s HIV/AIDS pandemic. She received the degree at the 2020 campus wide
convocation on Thursday. “Our
honorary degree recipient exemplified courage, compassion, and service during
her professional career,” said Joe Sargetakis, chair of the Board of Trustees’
honors committee. “Through her affiliation with the University of Utah, Dr.
Ries helped the university succeed in its duty to serve the state.” Honorary
degrees are awarded to individuals who have achieved distinction in academic
pursuits, the arts, professions, business, government, civic affairs, or in
service to the university. The Honorary Degree Committee, which includes
representatives from the faculty, student body, and Board of Trustees, reviews
nominations and then consults with an advisory group of faculty, staff, and
administrators for additional input. Finalists are presented to the university
president, who selects recipients. Ries
is a professor emeritum of internal medicine and retired infectious diseases
physician who was at the forefront of treating patients in Utah at the height
of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. “Ries
fearlessly provided loving, compassionate care at a time when the disease was
highly stigmatized,” the board said in a statement. Ries
received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Pennsylvania State University and
a Doctor of Medicine with honors from Drexel University, where she also
completed her residency, fellowship, and spent two years as a faculty member in
infectious diseases. She left Drexel University to join the Indian Health
Services at Rosebud, South Dakota, where she cared for Lakota Sioux. She then
went to Vermillion, South Dakota, to serve in the National Health Service
Corps. Ries
moved to Utah in 1981 with the goal of treating more patients with infectious
diseases — arriving the same day the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
released a report about a new infectious disease affecting gay men. Ries
initially worked for FHP as the head of adult medicine, and then as a physician
at Holy Cross Hospital, where she created Utah’s first comprehensive HIV/AIDS
program. For
many years, Ries and Maggie Snyder, her physician assistant, were the only
medical professionals willing to treat AIDS patients in Utah. They
found creative ways to serve patients and provide them with the expensive drugs
then used to treat HIV/AIDS. Working with the nuns at Holy Cross, Ries and
Snyder set up an end-of-life care network because nursing homes refused to take
dying patients. In the early 1980s, patients diagnosed with AIDS had a life
expectancy of about six months. The
refusal of health care professionals to work with AIDS patients was a national
problem at the time, an issue that led the U.S. Surgeon General to publicly
chastise doctors who wouldn’t take patients with the disease. In
a lecture at the University of Utah in 2017, Ries paraphrased a comment by
Mother Teresa that the greatest pain in life is caused by isolation,
abandonment, and feeling unloved. “I
think that so describes how the patients felt with this disease back then and
how they were treated by our own people,” Ries said. When
Holy Cross Hospital was sold in 1994 and became Salt Lake Regional Medical
Center, Ries joined the University of Utah’s Division of Infectious Diseases
and brought 500 patients with her; the HIV clinic she set up within Clinic 1A,
the Infectious Diseases Clinic, is still operating. In 2000, Ries and Snyder
led efforts to establish a treatment clinic in St. George, which also continues
to serve patients today. Ries
was president of the medical staff for the University of Utah Hospital &
Clinics and served as the clinical director of infectious diseases/HIV at U of
U Health. In
1988, Ries was named as one of Newsweek magazine’s “Unsung Heroes”; she has
been recognized by the University of Utah School of Medicine, the Utah
Department of Health & Human Services, People with AIDS Coalition of Utah,
Salt Lake County Health Department and the Utah Medical Association. In honor
of her work, the Marriott Library has established an archive that collects oral
histories and archives documents and other memorabilia related to the history
of treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS in Utah. Ries
and Snyder were the subjects of the documentary Quiet Heroes, which premiered
at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2018. Ries
and Snyder married in October 2013 in San Francisco during a lunch break at a
medical conference.
2020 UofU awards Dr. Kristen Ries honorary degree The University of Utah Board of
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| Dr. Kristen Ries |
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