This Day In Gay Utah History April 7th

7 April 7

1902 FELT STICKS TO THIRD STORY- Which He Told at Scene of Tragedy Saturday Evening- SAYS CHLOROFORM WAS USED- Shows That It Was Possible for a Small Boy to Push Man Into Cave as Claimed by Him- Still unconscious of the far reaching effects of the terrible deed he has committed Clyde Felt remains at the county Jail wondering why he is not given his liberty. Yesterday was the first day of real rest he has had since his confession to killing Collins. There was no piling up of questions for the boy to answer and with the exception of a visit from his grief stricken father and County Attorney Christensen he was left to pass the day as best he could. In the afternoon he expressed a desire to have some bananas and a coconut and the latter was at once procured for him by the Jailer. County Attorney Christensen called to see how Clyde was getting along but did not talk to him about the case. The lonely cave where Collins body was concealed was visited by hundreds of curious people yesterday, men, women and not a few children climbing up the rugged path. The police are now confident In the belief that they have probed the mystery to the bottom and after the developments of Saturday evening when Clyde was again taken to the scene of his awful crime they were satisfied that the boy had told everything of Importance. The officers could not believe that Clyde could have pushed the old man into the cave after cutting his throat and Friday night Officer Gillespie thought of a plan to put the matter to rest. About 5:30 o’clock Saturday evening the boy was taken by Chief Hilton, Sheriff Naylor,  Officers Gillespie and Roberts, Detective Chase, Deputy SherItt Busby and Joseph Felt in the patrol  wagon to Hells hollow. There in that lonely gorge while the night shadows were slowly falling around the somber cave innocent looking 14 year old lad enacted with Detective Chase representing his victim the details of the horrible affair. After describing how the old man removed his clothes he told Detective Chase to lie down in a spot he Indicated. “Here is where Collins was,” said the boy. “His head was there,” and he shifted the officer over so that his head was In the spot where the first pool of blood was found. “After I cut his throat and he quit floundering around I pushed him into the cave.” He explained that he first removed his coat and then sat on a rock to brace himself and to prevent blood getting on his clothes. “This Is the way I did it,” he said and then begun with his feet to push the officer Into the cave laughing heartily the while. While Chase was lying In the cave the boy crawled in and seizing the officer by the coat collar he almost lifted him bodily to within two Inches of where Collins body lay when found. “There,” he said “That’s exactly where I left him.” “Well how about thls?” asked Officer Roberts as he produced the small bottle which was found near the mouth of the cave. “Well by Gee!” exclaimed the lad. “How did you fellows find that out? Can’t I keep one secret? Well you fellows are all right and I see there’s no use trying to keep anything from you. There was chloroform in that bottle and Collins poured some on a handkerchief and put himself to sleep before I did it. He told me not to cut him until he was asleep. He kept talking to me and then he kind of groaned. I hollered two or three times at him and once or twice he grunted like and then when he didn’t make a sound when I yelled at him I took the razor andi placing my left hand on his breast I pressed the razor on his throat hard and drew it across with a quirk jerk and then I Jumped out of there. This explains the presence of the three handkerchiefs in the cave and also the bottle. HENRY POTTS EXONERATED Boy’s Declaration that He Was Innocent Proved True-When Clyde Felt confessed on Saturday afternoon that he had lied about his companion Henry Potts who was absolutely Innocent of the crime imputed to him, Mr Samuel Potts, father of the boy was overjoyed because he believed in his son’s innocence all the time. The extent of the father’s feelings may be imagined when at one time he spoke so strongly and wild if his boy was guilty he wanted him punished to the full extent of the law. He could not believe at that time that his little son was guilty and when the boy declared he was Innocent as a baby the father said, “I believe you my boy. I believe you.” Henry was released from custody and his father at once took him home to see his overjoyed mother. While Henry’s parents were happy n the knowledge that their boy had no hand In the crime, they felt deeply for the other parents in their terrible affliction. When the fathers met In the county jail they shook each other by the hand and looked into each other’s eyes in a manner that spoke more eloquently than words of the bond of sympathy that existed between them. WHO WILL COMPLAIN? Prosecution May Find Difficulty In Securing Prosecuting Witness. - Now that all or practically all the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Samuel Collins are believed by the police to have been clear up in the confessions of Clyde Felt and the many theories have been exploded the case has now naturally entered upon it’s legal phase and steps have already been taken looking to the boy’s defense Just what the defense will be Is of course unknown at this time and cannot be determined fully until It Is known what charge Is to be lodged against the lad. Whatever the charge Is to be It Is quite likely that the county attorney will have tome trouble In finding a person willing to sign a complaint against the boy. The police officers who have been actively Interested In the case have stated In positive terms that they would not sign a complaint. Their sympathy Is entirely with the boy and they have repeatedly declared they would do all In their power to assist him now that he has made a clean breast of everything. WILL HE BE TRIED FOR MURDER? Defendant Must Answer to Charge In Second Degree- County Atty Chrlstensen when Interviewed regarding probable charge against young Felt said “I think he Is undoubtedly guilty of murder in the First degree,” said Mr Chrlstensen, “but It Is within my discretion to make the charge such a one as he could be convicted upon. He Is too young to be hanged If convicted of murder in the offense first degree so I will charge the lesser offense.” WILL DEFEND THE BOY His Case to be Looked After by King, Burton, & King- One of the first visitors of Clyde Felt In his cell at the county jail this morning was Judge W H King of the firm of King, Burton, & King. Judge King was closeted with the boy for some time and some details of the killing of Collins was gone Into. It developed soon after that Judge King and his associates had been retained by the boy’s father to conduct the defense. When Interviewed In relation to the case Judge King said, “All I can say at this time Is that the firm has been retained to look after the boy’s Interests. Mr D P Felt said today that one of the morning papers had erred In the statement that Clyde was feeling bitterly over the alleged fact that Henry Potts had revealed his secret to the police. “Henry Potts did not give the police one word of information,” Mr. Felt said. “I am not prepared to say just who it was who told the police about Clyde, but I can tell you this much, It was not Henry. The information the police was supoos to have gotten from Potts was obtained before they interviewed Henry at all.” Chiel Hilton collaborated Mr Felt and said, “ We got nothing from the Potts boy. Our information came from an altogether different source.  We did not get a word from him and the statement that we did is not true.” Deseret evening news. (Great Salt Lake City [Utah])

1902 WATCH THE CHILDREN Salt Lake papers advocate the forming of a society for the protection of children from vice. why not a state organization with branches in every city, town, and hamlet within the commonwealth? The disclosures in the Collins murder case emphasize the necessity of organized effort on the part of parents to protect their children from vices of that kind. Ancestry or good home training will not save a boy from degradation, if his companions are filled with vice. Only the breaking up of the relationship of bad boys will prove a purifier and it is for parents to discover the unnatural and immoral conditions and then apply the remedy. Our opinion is moral disease requires the same treatment applied to physical disease. The bad should be placed in quarantine until their minds have had time to cleanse themselves. Isolate the impure and keep the innocent free from contaminating influences. Take the gang of youngsters with whom Clyde Felt associated. Every one of the boys has become a dangerous element to be thrown in the company of other boys. They are all filled with vice, their little minds knowing more badness than is necessary to corrupt a whole city.  Could they be kept at home or under impressive moral lessons for about six months, not once in that period mingling with their old company or experiencing the degradating power of sin, the chances are all would emerge with healthy minds and firm resolves to enjoy life in wholesome thoughts, words, and actions. Salt Lake parents have had a great lesson presented to them in this most peculiar crime. They should profit by it and not only the parents of Salt Lake, but of every town in the state. Ogden should inquire into the conduct of the children that roam our streets and invade out-of- the-way places. There may not be much vice discovered, but a searchlight should bo thrown on the scene to reassure or disagreeably surrise. Guardians watch the children. The world and its ways are new and strange to them. It is your duty to guard and guide them from the fake and vicious and explain to them the cost of wrong-doing and the reward of righteous living. Ogden Standard 1902-04-07

1908 Edmund Burk sodomy  trial April 14The Salt Lake herald. (Salt Lake City [Utah)

Leona Holbrook

1909 Leona Holbrook, Pioneer of Women's Athletics at BYU by Connell O'Donovan August 2004 Leona Holbrook was born April 7, 1909 in Lehi, Utah to Horace C. and Leona Garn Holbrook. She was the second of their eight children. Holbrook received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Utah, studying both athletics and art. Leona’s sister described her “as first a philosopher and then an athlete”. She was associate editor of the campus newspaper, The Daily Utah Chronicle, while there in the 1930s. After graduation, she taught PE at junior high and high schools. In 1937 she was hired to be the first Chair of the women’s Physical Education Department at Brigham Young University. Earl B. Kofoed, an out Gay student at BYU from 1946-1948, immensely enjoyed his participation in a very large social group of fellow Gays and Lesbians on campus. One of the Lesbians in this network of friends was Dr. Leona Holbrook and Kofoed particularly enjoyed their friendship. The women in the group came mainly from the Physical Education and Social Work Departments, while the men were mainly affiliated with the campus French Club. In 1993, Kofoed published a brief account of his days at BYU, in which he stated: So, we had quite a healthy gay community functioning on campus and around town. We had lots of good times together and some of us fell in and out of love. I suppose that the more "worldly" straights at school were aware of us, but I don't recall any confrontations. Certainly we weren't summoned by authorities to be grilled or excommunicated or given bad advice on how we could "change." The climate was much less hostile than it would be three decades later. The Church's seeming "live and let live" policy is exemplified by the experience of two of my friends at the time [BYU students Kent Goodridge Taylor of Provo and Richard Snow of southern California]. They were in love and felt a need to get clarification concerning their "status." Accordingly, they went all the way to the top and got an appointment with Church President, George Albert Smith. They stated their case to him and acknowledged their love for each other. President Smith treated them with great kindness and told them, in effect, to live the best lives they could. They felt they had gambled and could have been excommunicated right then and there; instead they went away feeling loved and valued. Snow and Taylor returned to Provo and told their group of Lesbian and Gay friends that they had been treated so lovingly by President Smith. This event gave Kofoed much needed strength and encouragement in later trials in his life brought on by the LDS Church. No doubt the news of the positive outcome of this meeting with President Smith was just as well received by Dr. Holbrook. Dedicated to the development of physical education at all levels, Dr. Holbrook served as president of numerous organizations on the state, regional, and national level. In 1946 she was elected Vice President of the first College Women’s Physical Education Association (covering the states of Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado) and the following year was elected its president. She also became president of the National Association for Physical Education of College Women. Holbrook also served as president of the American Association of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (AAHPER) in 1966-67. In 1967 she was honored with the BYU Alumni Distinguished Service Award, and in 1977 with the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Teaching Award. Leona was also the recipient of the Luther Halsey Gulick Award - AAHPER’s most prestigious honor. The very first woman on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Olympic Committee, she participated in the International Olympic Academy in Greece (where she lit the Olympic torch) and in the National Olympic Academy sessions in the U.S. and Taiwan before serving as director of the sessions held at BYU in 1978. She was voted Woman of the Year three times by the BYU student body. Holbrook was also a “key player” in the planning of the Stephen L. Richard PE building on the BYU campus. Although she retired in 1974, Dr. Holbrook remained active in many national and international organizations, and continued to teach part-time at BYU until her death from cancer on June 30, 1980. Just prior to her death the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education honored her with their prestigious Clark W. Hetherington Award. Dr. Holbrook’s contributions to athletics at the Y are still remembered on campus annually, when the Leona Holbrook Spirit of Sport Award is given to the senior female athlete whose participation best exemplifies the true spirit of sport in athletics and life.  “Life gives much. I can give something to life.... Had I world enough and time enough there are a thousand things that I would do. In the meantime I do what I can.” – Leona Holbrook Dr. Holbrook is the author of the following articles: “A Teleological Concept of the Physical Qualities of Man”, Quest, Dec. 1963 (Winter). “Modes et Temps” (in French), Revue Olympique, 1971, pp. 39-46. “Dancing as an Aspect of Early Mormon and Utah Culture”, BYU Studies 16, no. 1 (1975) pp. 1-20. Sources: Leona Holbrook's Page at the Cougar Club Hall of Fame “A Lingering Influence: Top 10 BYU Professors”, Jeff McClellan, BYU Magazine, Winter 1999. They Gladly Taught, Vol. 1 (BYU Press, 1986), pp. 70-73. Leona Holbrook interview with Phyllis Jacobson, November 11, 1974 (transcript at BYU). Earl Kofoed interview with Connell O’Donovan on September 8, 1989, notes in my possession. Earl Kofoed, “Memories of being gay at BYU”, Affinity, April 1993, pp. 5 and 9.

Harry Hay

1912-Harry Hay, founder of the Mattachine Society born this day Henry "Harry" Hay, Jr. was a prominent American Gay rights activist, communist, labor advocate, and Native American civil rights campaigner. Founded the Machine Society and the Radical Faeries.

1951-Singer Janis Ian born this day. In 1993 she came out as a

Janis Ian

bisexual. Janis Ian is an American singer-songwriter who was most commercially successful in the 1960s and 1970s; her most widely recognized song, "At Seventeen", was released as a single in 1975. 

1965 Utah Supreme Court Justice E.R. Callister Jr., 48, was charged in city court Tuesday with being a disorderly person along with Angie Calonge of 225 South 4th East. The two were charged in complaints signed before city judge M.H. Morris by Salt Lake Police vice control unit Sergeant N.K. Johnson.  The complaint against Justice Callister alleges that he was about 9:30 p.m. on March 31 a disorderly person in that he ”was in a motel room with a female person not being his wife,” at 522 South Main. (04/07/65 page B1 col.7 SLTribune)

1965 State law defining obscenity by community standards existing only in Utah is unconstitutional, Atty. General Phil L. Hansen advised Tuesday.  In a detailed analysis of Utah’s obscenity statutes Mr. Hansen wrote that the only test allowed by the US Supreme Court is if the matter considered obscene offends national standards of decency. He emphasized that only “hard core pornography” is encompassed by the word obscene.  Mr. Hansen declared Utah Laws prohibiting Lewd or obscene behavior to be mostly on sound ground.  However he found constitutionally weak language dealing with physical exposure as an artist model.  It is constitutionally permissible Mr. Hanson wrote to prohibit public exposure however the exposure itself must be indecent or obscene act.”  Parts of Utah’s statutes declares illegal artist model exhibitions “adapted to excite obscene or lewd thoughts or acts.” ((04/07/65 page B1 col.7 SLTribune)

1970-Midnight Cowboy won the Academy Award for best picture. John Schlesinger's film is a relic from the 60s. An important film for exemplifying the collision between French and American New Wave cinema. It's also one of the most controversial and daring choices for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. With strong performances from Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. An unsuccessful gigalo Jon Voights character becomes a male prostitute. Only X rated movie to win an Oscar.

1976-Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX) refused to co-sponsor a federal Gay rights bill, and became angry at comparisons made between discrimination based and race and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

1987-Ben Williams donated to Beau Chaine to pay for the zoning  changes for The Gingerbread House, a quasi-Community center, which the city stated was not zoned for a business after Chaine had been previously told that it was. Chaine used the $200 to relocate to the Southern Plantation building on 400 South 3rd West to start up Aardvarks Café and theater.

1987-Openly Gay San Francisco City Supervisor Harry Britt narrowly lost an election to Nancy Pelosi. The special election was held to fill a seat in the House of Representatives left vacant by the death of Rep. Sala Burton.

1988- The Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah met at Resurrection MCC. Approximately 45 people in attendance. LGSU, Affirmation, and US donated proceeds from community dances to help bring Romanovsky and Phillips in concert. Ben Williams gave Bruce Barton a check for $150 from proceeds from community dances.  Lyle Bradley resigned as chair of Anti-Violence Project  to move to Tokyo. Monte Montalvo of the Wasatch Leathermen voted as replacement for Bradley. "I walked down to MCC for community council. I announced the time change for Unconditional Support and presented the council with $150 for the Romanovski and Phillips Concert.  It was a short meeting tonight without a lot of fussing. Ben Barr said the state legislators are trying to draft another nasty AIDS bill.  Chris Brown wants another inter organizational meeting for Unconditional Support, Affirmation and LGSU on the 17th.  Curtis Jensen is hitting every one up for money for the Mountain and Desert States Conference in May."

1989 This afternoon John Bush and I met with John Harchi, the new camp director of Camp Rogers to firm up the times and arrangements for use of the camp this summer for Beyond Stonewall. He’s really cute. Harchi said they are trying to arrange to have a shower trailer for the camp this summer if nothing else and with that we firmed up our dates. We even went ahead and scheduled the camp for August 1990!. We discussed various aspects of accommodations and food and we also found out that the John Birch Society is sponsoring a Youth Group at the camp that will be up there the Sunday we leave! Ha! We decided it was best to end our retreat at 1 p.m. rather than 3:00 so there aren’t any complications or clashes between our two groups. At the end of the meeting John Bush says to Harchi, “By the way have we mentioned the nature of our organization?”  The director said, “No you haven’t, “ and then John turns to be and says, “Ben?”, leaving it to me to tell him and without skipping a beat (even while thinking at John “You Bitch!” ha!), I said, “We are a Gay and Lesbian Organization” and his response was, “That’s interesting. Do you mind if I sit in on some of the workshops I might be interested in?” I said, “You are certainly welcomed to attend any aspect of the retreat.” Mr. Harchi then reiterated that the YMCA Camp facilities are opened to all people regardless of sexual orientation.” So glad that’s out in the open.  Well that’s taken care of.  After I left the YMCA I went home and got ready to go out with Jim Rieger. He took me out to dinner and then we went to “Walk On” Theater on Highland Blvd. [Journal of Ben Williams]

1989-Darrell N. Webber, 39, body was discovered in a parking lot at 4060 S. State where he had been stabbed in the chest and leg by Marty Withers. An Asian man’s body was also found in the Jordan River across from the Jordan Park International Peace Gardens. The victim was nude except for a blanket that had been tied to his neck. A rock had been placed in the blanket, apparently to sink the victim.

• Friday, April 7, 1989 2 OF 3 HOMICIDE VICTIMS IN S.L. AREA IDENTIFIED  By A man fatally stabbed on south State Street, a body pulled from the Jordan River and a sex-related slaying were on the agenda Friday for detectives in two Salt Lake County law enforcement agencies. The latest killing, Salt Lake County's 15th this year, occurred early Friday. The body of Darrell N. Webber, 39, 1860 W. Homestead Farms Lane, was discovered in a parking lot at 4060 S. State. He had been stabbed in the chest, said sheriff's Capt. Bob Jack. A sheriff's lieutenant found the body about 3:20 a.m. after a truck driver reported to the sheriff's office that a man had just admitted to him that he had stabbed someone to death. The suspect was last seen running west on 4060 South. He was described as Hispanic, about 25 years old, 5 feet 8 inches, about 155 pounds. Meanwhile, the sheriff's office has identified the girl whose body was found 7 a.m. Thursday outside an office building at 4511 S. Sixth East. Felicia Pappas, 17, 4652 S. Seventh East, was raped and strangled on a small lawn east of the building. It is believed the girl was walking home from South Salt Lake about 1 a.m. when she was attacked. No suspects have been identified, Jack said. Salt Lake Police detectives on Friday were still trying to identify the body of an Asian man found in the Jordan River across from the Jordan Park International Peace Gardens. A Salt Lake Housing Authority employee discovered a man's body about 11 a.m. Thursday submerged in a few feet of water just off the west bank at approximately 10th South. Detective Lt. Norm Thompson said the victim was nude except for a blanket that had been tied to his neck. A rock had been placed in the blanket, apparently to sink the victim. Investigators believe that whoever dumped the body must have done it at night because the body came to rest on a shallow underwater ledge close to the bank. "Whoever put him there probably assumed he went into the main portion of the river." Thompson said the victim suffered a head injury that looks like a gunshot wound. An autopsy was under way Friday morning. The victim was described as about 20, medium height, with a slender build. No jewelry, identification or other personal belongings were found. The lieutenant said the victim had been in the water for 24 to 48 hours. It was unknown where the victim was killed. 
• 7 April 1989 Friday Awful news. Darrell Webber is dead. He was stabbed to death this morning. I heard the awful news about 11:30 p.m. when Richard Egan called me crying and upset, and wanting to meet me at Dee’s for coffee.  Evidently Darrell went out cruising last night after getting off work, driving up and down State Street when he picked up the man who murdered him. Richard said he saw it on the 10 o’clock news and recognized Darrell’s car. They also mentioned Darrell’s name. Richard said he can’t get the image of Darrell’s feet sticking out from under the blood soaked sheet that the policed had covered him with. I am just numbed from the shock. Darrell’s dead. A witness said he saw a man  covered with blood confessed to a truck driver that he had just murdered a man. Still can’t believe it. I called Dean Shute in California because I knew he would want to know since he was Darrell’s house keeper for over a year. I thought to just wait and contact others in the morning since there is nothing anyone could do now for Darrell and we will need our sleep for what will come. All of this after what had been a neat day…  I was home and in bed by 11 p.m. when Richard Egan called  and left a message on my answering machine. I wasn’t going to answer it at first because I was really tired and my hay fever was bad but the call sounded frantic so I did call back and that’s when I heard the shocking news about Darrell.  I was absolutely stunned and I think I went a little numb. I agreed to meet Richard over at Dee’s and he brought his young friend with him. They both looked shell shocked. I hugged them both and sat with them until 2 a.m. letting them talk out their grief and disbelief. I think the news didn’t hit me yet because I didn’t cry. {Journal of Ben Williams]

 1990 I went to the Wasatch Sulfur Springs on north Beck Street for my hay fever and met this man named Kim.  We enlarged the pond below the floodgates by moving rocks and dredging.  That was kind of fun. Kim was a nice man, kind of macho, kind of gentle, Gay friendly though he said he wasn't Gay. He did say his girlfriend was a bi-sexual and about 8 PM she came up to the Springs drunk, and soon both she and he got into a drunken shouting match. I was afraid it was going to escalate into physical abuse so I reached within my fayness and used Gay magic to calm them down.  I used "bridge magic". By being a bridge between the sexes I explained to him her needs and his needs to her.  I allowed them to express their pain without being abusive. It was Gay magic from the Gay Spirit that had worked Herself upon them. (Journal 1990 of Ben Williams)

1990 The Stonewall Towne Meeting, a non partisan Gay PAC, voted to incorporate and

Deborah Rosenberg

work for a Gay Bill of Rights for Utah.  Deborah Rosenberg elected Secretary.

1991 About 50 gay protesters, who proclaimed themselves "queers" and "fags," peacefully protested outside Temple Square Saturday, saying they were tired of "homophobic" policies of the Mormon Church. The protesters, from the militant group "Queer Nation," chanted, shouted and waved signs, as thousands of people poured in and out of the south gate during the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 161st Annual General Conference. Most passersby ignored the protesters. Others smiled as the group passed out leaflets and chanted slogans such as, "Two, four, six, eight, we don't over populate."  Nearly two dozen Salt Lake Police officers and church security personnel looked on as the protesters pressed near the gate. Police briefly stepped in after a handful of self-described "neo-nazi skinheads" got into a shouting match with the protesters.    Protesters said they were demonstrating to raise visibility for their cause. "We don't want any special rights. We just want the same rights heterosexuals have," said Mike Stegmann, who came from Seattle to protest.  Those rights, he said, include the right to be married in Mormon temples and to hold positions within the church. Protesters also assailed the church for its policy of excommunicating practicing homosexuals, a doctrine mandating heterosexual marriage as a prerequisite to the celestial kingdom (heaven), and alleged anti-gay statements by church leaders. The church has said all sexual relations outside marriage are considered sinful, but an individual with homosexual feelings can be a member in good standing and should not feel an outcast in the church. "We believe in the worth of each individual, that each is loved  and valued by god," the church said in a statement. "We do not condone the homosexual act, just as we do not condone any sexual relations outside of marriage. However, we do care about and love each individual." Mormon protesters who are still church members said they were planning to enter church offices en masse Monday at 4 p.m. to demand that their names be taken off rolls and that they be officially excommunicated. Queer Nation has chapters in major U.S. cities, including Salt Lake City. Protesters came from as far as Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles to participate in the demonstration. (04/07/91 Page: A4 Day SLTribune)

1991 The Most Reverend Bishop Michael Edward Coburn SGS, OSJ, died of AIDS in SLC. A leading figure in Eastern Orthodox Church in America. Bishop Coburn was named a prelate of Honor in the Ancient and Sovereign Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights of Malta). Michael considered practical and pastoral care of the sick and dying his highest calling in life.

1996-Utah AIDS Foundation development director Julie Mayhew and her mother, Alice Jensen, attend the Oscar Night Gala benefiting the foundation. YWCA director Jane Edwards presented AIDS Foundation's advocate of the year award to sons of the late Les Stewart -- Zach and Jon, right. AIDS UTAH AIDS FOUNDATION ``Oscar'' came to Salt Lake City for ``An Affair to Remember'' March 25. At 13 1/2 inches tall and weighing 8 ½ pounds, the lightly gold-plated, much-coveted visiting statuette was matched only by a glittering crowd of close to 2,200 gathering in the spectacular Salt Palace Ballroom applauding Utah AIDS Foundation volunteers, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and life at the Oscar Night Gala. One of 12 official Oscar Night America events, the gala was underwritten by sponsors ensuring 100 percent of the ticket price and funds raised during the evening -- $85,000 --will go to the Utah AIDS Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to stopping the spread of HIV disease throughout Utah and ensuring compassionate service to those affected with HIV/AIDS. Among awards: Delores and Maxine Sanchez, for Most Committed Support; the Rev. Barbara Hamilton-Holway, Best Divine Intervention; Utah Food Bank, Best Supporting Cast; and Intermountain Health Care, Corporation of the Year. Valerie, Veronica and Victoria Gonzales accepted the Michael T. Elliot Volunteer of the Year Award for their mother, the late Liza Gonzales. Zach, Jon and Sara Stewart accepted the Advocate of the Year Award for their late father, Les Stewart. Volunteers Miriam Cunningham and Doug Brunker checked coats while Pat Derbidge, Lynda Griffiths and Shelly Wilkerson mingled with other guests before dining-room doors opened at 6:30 p.m. Donna Lahey was there with Kitty and Glenn Getz and Mary Beth Rivetti. Diane and Paul Diehl attended with former Tooele Mayor George and Violet Diehl, who admired the Salt Palace with architect David Brems. Utah AIDS Foundation executive director Barbara Shaw stopped to chat with Bill Balken and board vice president George Miller. Camille Campbell, Kisha Russell and Roxann  Hartt posed for photographs with Pat Poce, Rich Bender, David Anderson and Deon Gooch. Mitch and Susan Gross chatted with Sophia Nepolis and Connie Lenardakis. Development director Julie Mayhew's mother, Alice Jensen, had to go to her mass meeting before the party. Among partygoers: Sharon and Bill Loya, Gina and Mark Elardo, Dennis and Judy Fuchs, Jane Edwards, Anne Stromness, Sarah and Eric Shapiro, Edna and Grant Schettler, Turid Lipman, Betsy Blee, Bruce Romney and Pam Scarpelli. The Phoenix Band enticed guests to stay late, and girl-singer Myrlene Korologos wowed them with ``The Lady Is a Tramp.''

1998-Singer George Michael was arrested for masturbating in a public restroom in Will Rogers Park, Beverly Hills California. In his later years, George Michael was never one to be shy when it came to speaking out about his sexuality. But it was not until one very public moment that one of the most famous pop stars in the world was outed as gay.George Michael was caught engaging in a sexual act by an undercover police officer in a public toilet in Beverly Hills. He was handed a fine and 80 hours of community service for the incident, but his real punishment came from the press and public reaction, spurred on by headlines such as The Sun’s infamous “Zip Me Up Before You Go Go” front page.

1999 Alternative Garden Club held its meetings in Sugar House Park  East end by the Rose Garden

1999  Women's Health: Hands on Lecture-Breast Cancer 7pm at The Center"Lesbians and You" Women, videos, popcorn and life Saving       

1999 Salt Lake Acting Company  presented "Gross Indecency - The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde" 

2001 This Saturday we're sponsoring to have Beth Loffreda, author of the book "Losing Matt Shepard" come speak at 1:00pm at the OSH (Orson Spencer Hall) WPRA (auditorium), followed by a book signing.  Please come support us!  Also, that night we're putting on a community dance in the Union Building on campus, in the Crimson Underground (bottom floor).  It's causal dress and $3.00 per person, $5.00 a couple.  Come if you can! Thanks,  ~Rosemary~ If you have any questions, e-mail me at rosemary420@hotmail.com

2001  Page: B1Student Kicked Off Ballot Gets Support From ACLU School Defends Ousting Student From Election BY MARTA MURVOSH   THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE As conflicting stories emerge about why a Layton High School student lost his chance to participate in a student body election, the ACLU has criticized the school for discriminating against the 17-year-old boy.  Talmage Garn was disqualified from the election Tuesday after a skit he performed in an assembly was declared inappropriate by a committee of students and teachers. Garn says he was eliminated because of a fake kiss between him and another student, and a rip in his costume that allowed plaid gym shorts underneath to poke out. School officials say it was only the suggestive rip that did him in. In the skit, student body presidential candidate Garn was dressed as a toothy, green dinosaur who wins over another male student dressed as an ace of hearts with his pre-election rhetoric. The skit, performed Monday, ended with the playing card, so enthused by the speech, attempting to kiss Garn. "It strains the credulity that a humorous air kiss between a 'dinosaur' and an 'ace of hearts' could reasonably be deemed either vulgar or offensive," wrote Stephen Clark, attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, in a letter sent Friday. The skit was deemed inappropriate by a 7-5 vote of the school's standards committee, which included one of the candidates running against Garn. Garn said the committee told him the fake kiss had homosexual innuendos and his costume was vulgar. In its letter, the ACLU warned the school that Utah law prohibits teachers from excluding students from activities based on sexual orientation. "An educator's condemnation of 'homosexual innuendos' constitutes such discrimination and encourages students to develop such prejudices," Clark wrote. Clark did not return phone messages left by The Salt Lake Tribune on Friday.  But school officials deny that Garn was discriminated against and said he lost his place on the ballot because his underwear showed through a waist-to-crotch rip in the costume. Principal Paul Smith was out of town Friday but Assistant Principal Myrna Mayes, who also was present at the standards committee meeting, said the kiss had nothing to do with Garn's disqualification.  "They [students] felt the underwear was very suggestive and offensive," Mayes said. "It was made so that it was accentuated  --  you know how kids are."  She said students were told their skits had to be G-rated. But Garn, who is not gay, said the 2-year-old, ripped Halloween costume was too tight for him and he didn't intend to be suggestive. The costume reaches only to his knees and forearms. The skit didn't have anything to do with homosexuality but talked about why teens should vote for Garn, said the Layton High junior.    Mayes said Garn may have gotten the impression the kiss lead to his disqualification by a question asked during the committee meeting.  "There was a question asked by one of the kids, and our principal said, 'We're not even going there,' " Mayes said. "One of our little gals asked what they intended by the kiss. The students were told to disregard that part. I think the little gal wishes to high heaven she didn't ask the intention." Controversy over Garn's disqualification has prompted calls to the school from national radio stations as well as anonymous callers accusing the school's administration of bigotry.  Garn's father, House Majority Leader Kevin Garn, said the committee process was "flawed" and that Smith was evasive about the reasons his son's skit was deemed unacceptable.  "It was hard to get an answer out of him," Kevin Garn said Friday. "He [Smith] kind of said, 'I was there. It wasn't my decision. It was a vote of student officers and advisers.' He didn't want to talk about the process."  Since the election flap, Smith has encouraged Talmage Garn to run in the senior class office election next week, Mayes said. "Talmage is a great kid, he just broke the rules," Mayes said.  As of Friday afternoon, the 17-year old hadn't decided if he wanted to take his chances again in the school's election system.   e-mail: mmurvosh@sltrib.com

2003 Ben Williams to Chad Keller Mike  and I went to LGSU tonight....or LGBTTQQISU...It was horrible....horrible! Some kid next to me said Stonewall was so long ago and that it is over we need to move on...We need to assimilate!!! Charles Milne was a no show...so we felt like idiots being there but was good to hear all the bisexuals talk about how discriminated they are by Gays...And the Lesbians have Lesbian Thursday at the Women's Resource Center!  Where have all the Fags gone?  Don't worry about working with Charles Milne. I don't  think we should bother nor have October month at the U.  Some bisexual said he went to Pride Day once and did not want to be "marginalize" so never went back. Well if Pride Day is nothing more than a party why would anyone want to go. I had to educate them that Gay is a cultural movement not just sexual orientation..  Ugh...

• Chad Keller to Ben Williams- Oh....you should have called....I would have cabbed it up there....I think this is a perfect article....And what was your responce to the younging that said Stonewall was so  long ago and we need to move on??
•  Ben Williams" To: "Chad Keller" I was restrained...I wanted to rip him and I did forcefully let him know that the Stonewall Rebellion is not over anymore than the 4th of July is over.  I felt I had fallen down the rabbit hole with heterosexuals crying about being discriminated against and bisexuals not feeling accepted by the Gay meanies, and some really fucked up thinking.. "if we are going to be accepted" was the main mantra! Accepted by who? Heteroes? Who needs their acceptance?  No Queer energy except for a few. I basically let them know that assimilation will make them invisable which is what homophobes want. If LGSU is representative of the views of young people then the Gay movement is indeed dead.

2006 Ben Williams  “Bass' Scarlet Letter” I could be wrong here but the loaded word "sex offender" is so volatile that anyone labeled so is immediately suspected of being either a serial rapist or child molester. In Bass' case the victim in question was a 17 year old boy who had consensual sex with Bass when Bass was 19. They boy then got Mormon guilt and his parents prosecuted Bass as an adult. In this state where two 13 years are registered as sex offenders for having consensual sex because they were both under the age of consent you better look up and least educate your self what the offense was before throwing stones. Before 2004 we were all un-convicted sex offenders under Utah Law even Lesbians. How many adult men who have been arrested for consensual sex in SEMI-public places are now registered sex offenders? Not all sex offenders are rapists and pedophiles in Utah although I would suspect the majority are but I don't have any data to warrant that opinion. David Nelson brought up this sex offender issue once before as an attack on the GLBTQI (or whatever) Center for hiring Bass in some capacity, I am not sure what off the top of my head. I think Bass has paid his dues and should not have to wear a SCARLET LETTER just to satisfy some people in the community. When I was 17 I only dreamed of having sex with 19 year old boys. I hate to think I could have fucked up someone's life for ever.

•  Aisling Re: [gay_forum_utah] Bass' Scarlet Letter  It's not a scarlet letter, Ben. It's a red flag. Even if everything you say is true, as it might be, having a person who appears as a Registered Sex Offender in a position of prominence in the GLBT political forums reassures every bigot out there that we not only ARE as bad as they think we are, we don't give a shit who knows it. We might even, they think, be proud of it. All they have to do is point to the SOR right before or after pointing out a comment or action made by Mr. Bass in defense of gay rights, and the message becomes unavoidably confused with the messenger. I feel sorry if it is true that Adam Bass and his ex are victims of bigotry and prejudice, but having him hold public office in the name of the GLBT community while still listed on the SOR is a grave error. We are shooting ourselves in the foot. Aisling
• Toni Palmer RE: [gay_forum_utah] Bass' Scarlet Letter I understand your point, Ben. I think it's unfortunate that Mr. Bass has had to register as a sex offender for "consensual sex". However, he DOES wear that "scarlet letter" and I think that can only hurt our community, if he is a representative of other Queers. The fact that he IS on the sex offender registry (regardless of the details why), will only reinforce the stereotype that we are all child-molestors and predators. The more media attention Bass gets, the closer the time comes to his "secret" becoming publically known. And when it does come out, I think it will negatively affect the whole Queer community.
• Tim Keller [gay_forum_utah] With all due respect. As you admittedly do not know Mr Bass and apparently do not know or care about his circumstances I would suggest you take a moment to collect yourself before "sputtering" all over my inbox.  Mr. Bass circumstances hardly constitute pedophilia. Even if they did he has paid his debt and those actions would have nothing to do with his personal talents and abilities. Your trite little disclaimer is as offensive as the use of your children's misfortune as an excuse for your rant. It seems most convenient that you are ashamed to call yourself a democrat as you post like a republican.
• Aisling Re: [gay_forum_utah] For Mike Picardi Nicely done as sarcasm for the public to quote...pithy one liners....but they fail to address the issue. It is detrimental to the cause of Gay Rights in this state to have a member of the political community who is making public statements on behalf of GLBT rights also listed on the Utah Sex Offenders registry. You may vomit your condescending garbage all over MY inbox and this board as you choose to do, but res ipse loquitor. For some of us a person who has his face on the SOR is a poor choice of representative for our political rights, because his ability to accurately reflect the face of gay people feeds into the stereotypes our opponents already believe about us. His presence in a position of prominence isn't helpful. It's counterproductive. I have seen Mike Picardi post directly on this board. Why doesn't he speak for himself, Tim? Peculiar...
• Charles Milne Re: [gay_forum_utah] For Mike Picardi So do we not accept drag queens, butch women, the leather community, etc.  because they "are detrimental to the cause?"
•  Bass' Scarlet Letter Right off the bat, let me be clear, this will be my ONLY post on this subject matter in this forum. I addressed all personal skeletons in my closet, my "scarlet letter," if you will, directly and in very frank terms in front of the Stonewall Democrats when they held their last leadership elections. I will continue to stand accountable to that group, about the personal attributes and shortcomings I bring to the table as part of their executive committee. I will stand accountable for my actions and inaction in that capacity also. And, having said that, I must remind everyone that I've extended public invitations to engage in dialogue about this or any other issue regarding Utah Stonewall Democrats directly with any individual that so chooses that dialogue. However, from what I've read above, no one who has posted negatively about my situation has ever addressed this issue directly with me, except for Mr. David Nelson, and for that and his genuine apology for posting inaccurate information I respect him. I'd encourage others who have concerns about this or any other issue to try to stop the public lambasting of people and organizations without first attempting to resolve the issue with direct communication with those involved.  My email address is listed below beneath my name if anyone chooses to try and address the issue productively rather than indirectly through further posts here or other public forums. Not everyone who I speak to personally about this issue choses to agree with my perspective on it, but the tone of the dialogue becomes more positive for everyone involved when that personal dialogue begins.
• Ruadhan Re: [gay_forum_utah] The sodomy law IS still on the books despite Ms. Biskupski's promise the evening of the Supreme Court's decision on the Texas sodomy law to get it removed. This makes us all lawbreakers. Yay! Now everyone is a sex offender!
• Tim Keller RE: [gay_forum_utah] Bass' Scarlet Letter Aisling, I addressed the issue, by pointing out that Mr. Bass past is in no way a reflection of his abilities. Stuart Miller, a person that has actually met and worked with Mr. Bass seems to agree.  Twice now you have avoided any discussion on those grounds choosing instead to engage in emotionally charged personal attacks.  You are correct though, "the facts do speak for themselves."  Facts are Mr. Bass is a competent effective individual and you have yet to say or do anything to refute that. I can’t help but notice how your argument has transformed. You started out sputtering about a "Sordid creep" who has no business representing anyone. Now all you have to say is that it's harmful to the gay rights movement. Pardon my Mormon expletive but that's a load of crap! You were very upset and now to cover your own ass and to make you appear more reasonable you've decided to kick up dust. You really do argue like a republican! While I understand people like you would rather see him "Red Flagged" for life that isn't right. But bottom line, being close minded and judgmental about a person’s sexual history, not allowing them to redeem themselves and tattooing a scarlet letter permanently on them is what straight people have done to us for centuries. The gay rights movement is about overcoming that short sightedness that we are forgiving and that we are open-minded.  That to me is what the GLBT movement and membership in the democratic party are about and that is a value that I for one will not compromise on ... whether people like Gayle Ruzika thinks it looks bad or not.  PS> For the record I don't know Mr. Bass or Mr. Picardi and do not claim to speak for them. I am merely expressing my opinion based on what I think is right.
• Stuart Merrill RE: [gay_forum_utah] Bass' Scarlet Letter Bass et all... My favorite quote from the most recent Legislative Session was Senator Scott McCoy who said Utah’s gay community “has a tendency to circle the wagons and then shoot each other.” Emotions are high. People have misspoken, I know I have made my share of incorrect comments, but it seems like its time to show compassion and forgiveness, relax, stop defeating ourselves by attacking each other and go on to another issue.
• Toni Palmer Re: [gay_forum_utah] There's HUGE difference from "drag queens, butch women, the leather community" and a registered sex offender. There is no comparison.
• Ben Williams Stereotypes Toni P I love you to bits but when did you start caring about stereotypes? What happened to the QN Rocker Chick we all know and love. boys in skirts girls in pants! The world has gone mad! I remember when you reveled in being the biggest baddest bull dyke of all. And was not afraid or ashamed to flaunt it. Instead of being a shame of  Bass he should be the poster boy for what a fucked up patriarchy sexopbobic homophobic reactionary system perpetrated by a heterosexual racist state does to crush queer people. I am proud that Hester I mean Bass has the fortitude to face the onslaught of not only mean spirited straights but misguided Gays who feel that hetero acceptance is worth the price of integrity and solidarity. Anyone of us anyone of us could have had the same charges that were filed against Bass. Ask Michael Hardwick of Georgia if you don't believe me. Before 1974 I was considered insane, before 2004 I was a sex criminal. Bass is no more guilty of any crime then any one of us!
• Toni Palmer RE: [gay_forum_utah] Stereotypes  I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this issue. As far as the being the "biggest, baddest bull dyke"... I still am every day when I step out of the house. I still get the unashamed stares at the grocery store, the whispers (is that a boy or a girl?), women telling me I'm in the wrong bathroom, or leaving because I'm there, and I still get the outright homophobic comments. Every time I step out my front door, some people would say I'm "flaunting" my Queerness. Thanks for the reminiscing, but I guess I don't see how any of that relates to this whole issue. That said, I love you to bits too & I'm kewl w/ not agreeing on this. You're still one of my favorite fags :)

Mike Picardi

2006 Mike Picardi IMMIGRANT RIGHTS IN SLC THIS WEEKEND With local Latina/o community leaders taking the lead there will be mobilizations for immigrant rights in Salt Lake City this coming Sunday and Monday, April 9 and 10. On Sunday people are gathering at the City government building (Washington Square, 451 S. State St.) starting at 12noon. There will be speakers/rally there before the "Dignity March" leaves about 1:30 to march up to the State Capitol. On Monday people are gathering at the City government building starting at 4:30 for a "Unity Rally" that will continue for several hours. All around the U.S. the anti-war movement is supporting the immigrant rights movement. The third point of the three-point program adopted by Utah's April 29 Committee states: "Defend civil liberties and immigrant rights. End illegal spying, government corruption and the subversion of democracy." This point is taken whole from the national call to action for April 29 initiated by: United for Peace and Justice Rainbow/PUSH Coalition National Organization for Women Friends of the Earth U.S. Labor Against the War Climate Crisis Coalition Peoples' Hurricane Relief Fund National Youth and Student Peace Coalition, Veterans for Peace…Below is part of a message announcing an April 7 united press conference in New York City of immigrant rights organizations and  anti-war organizations. Next i will send a separate message with some context (a resolution passed April 3 by the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Labor Council) and background (an article by labor journalist David Bacon) which may be useful in thinking about these issues. solidarity! Dayne

2010 Another Anti-Gay Assault in Salt Lake by Michael Aaron | Q Salt Lake Apr 14, 2010 A

n assault on a gay couple has two victims with black eyes, stitches and potential surgeries, and has a bar owner angry that out-of-town “rednecks” have tarnished his club’s gay-friendly reputation. On Wednesday, April 7, Ryan Gray and his partner, Kevin Burns, went to Piper Down for karaoke night as they often do on Wednesdays. They were having a good time, Gray said, until a group of men began heckling some friends as they sang a Lady Gaga song. “They were harassing people in the bar all night,” Gray said. “They were right behind us calling us ‘faggots’ and making fun of our friend. My partner turned around and said, ‘You know, we’re standing right here, we can hear you.’” Gray said that’s when the men first began to get aggressive with them. Piper Down owner Dave Morris said surveillance video shows Burns “politely turning and saying something to the redneck yelling ‘faggot.’” “The redneck gets all huffy and up in his face, and Ryan knocks the guy’s cowboy hat off,” Morris said. “The guy says something and Ryan punched him.” “He was insulting my partner, and I couldn’t handle it,” Gray said. “I’m a nurse. I’m not usually one to get violent. We were just there to have a good time.” Morris said that the bar’s security rushed over to the altercation and Gray left of his own accord. Gray waited by his car for Burns to follow him. As Burns left the bar, however, Gray said the six men in the group followed him out as well. “As [Burns] was walking out, it was like in slow motion,” Gray said. “He was walking out to find me and this guy and all his friends came out with him and they hit my partner from behind, and then in the face and throat.” “I ran over to protect him, but the guys got us to the ground,” Gray continued. “All we could do at that point was try to shield ourselves.” “We were all outside dragging rednecks off and getting Ryan and Kevin inside,” Morris said. “The bar just emptied and chaos ensued.” Bar staff called the police, but the attackers left the scene before they got there. “This is being handled as a hate crime assault,” Salt Lake City Police Department Sgt. Robin Snyder said. “By the time our officers got there, the bad guys were gone. We have photos of the victims’ injuries, which were pretty substantial.” The couple ended up with black eyes, several cuts on their faces and heads and bruises on their faces and arms. They transported themselves to the hospital after offering a statement to responding officers. Gray received stitches on the inside of his lip and may possibly require surgery to repair a fractured eye socket.  Morris said that he gave police the names from the credit cards used to buy the group’s drinks. “They are all refinery workers from Louisiana, Kansas and Oklahoma,” Morris said. “The first [SLCPD] officer there said, ‘I know who you’re talking about. We’ve had problems with them before.’” Snyder said the police received very good descriptions of the men while interviewing the bar’s staff and patrons and was sure the department would be able to find them soon. Morris also handed the surveillance video over to the police. “We don’t have problems like this,” Morris said. “I train everyone as much as I can. Part of that is training customers. Don’t put yourself in harm’s way. If there’s bigoted people, I will remove them. That’s why you pay premium prices for beer: extra security, bouncers, and people to pick up after you.” “The staff and I know they were in the heat of the moment, should have made sure the cowboys stayed inside until they were sure Ryan and Kevin had left,” Morris said. “All we can do is learn from this.” Morris is very proud of his bar’s mix of patrons. “We definitely value our gay and lesbian business and protect people as much as we can,” he said. “98 percent of the time it works out. In a mixed club sometimes things like this happens. This is the first case I can remember where it was based on sexual orientation.” “This all started with someone looking for a fight,” Gray said. “We go there [Piper Down] all the time and have never had a problem. We always feel safe there. I still feel safe.” At press time, no arrests have been made. Gray said they are both healing. He has been told his face may be numb for six months to a year because of nerve damage. Doctors are waiting for swelling to go down around his eye to determine if he’ll need surgery to repair the eye socket. Burns, an actor and singer, is waiting to get into a specialist to determine the damage to his throat.

2014 Utah’s lawyers have the resolve to defend traditional marriage Court • Trio are committed to the cause, not just because it’s their job to defend Amendment 3. BY MARISSA LANG THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The lawyers Utah tapped to defend a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage are more than hired hands selected for their experience and expertise. They’re believers.They believe in the ethos of “traditional marriage.” They support the rights of a state and its residents to have autonomy over legal unions. And they trust in Utah’s claim that society will suffer should same-sex marriage be permanently legalized. None of the three hired attorneys has spoken publicly about his motivations for defending Amendment 3 since each was appointed in January by Sean Reyes, Utah’s new attorney general. Lead counsel Gene Schaerr, former Michigan Solicitor General John Bursch and well-known Idaho attorney Monte Neil Stewart declined to comment for this article, citing Thursday’s fast-approaching arguments before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. But through essays, letters and actions, all have left little question as to their commitment to the state’s cause. Schaerr is a Utah native and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been hired as a fellow by the Sutherland Institute and was recently criticized for his involvement in killing SB100, a statewide nondiscrimination bill, during Utah’s legislative session. Days after his appointment as Utah’s lead attorney on the marriage lawsuit, an email Schaerr purportedly sent to his colleagues at a prestigious Washington, D.C., law firm was leaked detailing his reasons for taking the job. “I have accepted that position so that I can fulfill what I have come to see as a religious and family duty: defending the constitutionality of traditional marriage in the state where my church is headquartered and where most of my family resides,” Schaerr wrote in the Jan. 17 email to co-workers at Winston & Strawn. Reyes has said Schaerr’s Mormon faith was not a factor in the state’s decision to hire the prominent attorney, citing Schaerr’s 80 percent win rate at the 10th Circuit. But others, including the Human Rights Campaign and Democratic state Sen. Jim Dabakis, have lambasted Schaerr for citing his religious views as motivation in this case and questioned his ability to represent the best interest of all Utahns. Stewart, who, along with his Boise-based firm, Stewart Taylor & Morris, successfully defended Nevada’s laws limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples in district court and has written academic papers, essays and arguments detailing why he believes it is essential for society that “marriage” remain between a man and a woman. In these writings, Stewart does not refer to gay and lesbian unions as “same-sex marriage,” but instead “genderless marriage,” meaning the gender of those entering such marriages would be legally irrelevant. In an essay titled “Marriage Facts,” published in 2008 in the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, Stewart argues that marriage is a “vital social institution” that promotes “at least six valuable social goods.” Among those benefits to man-woman marriage, Stewart cites the “right of a child to know and be raised by her biological parents,” society’s “most effective means of bridging the male-female divide,” the long-term benefits of turning men into husbands and fathers and women into wives and mothers and the “social and official endorsement” of heterosexual intercourse. “When the social institution of marriage disappears, what remains is a motley crew of lifestyles,” Stewart wrote. “A lifestyle without institutional context is like Monopoly money: It resembles true currency but lacks the essential shared meaning that provides its value.” Bursch wrote a legal opinion to the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of opposite-sex marriage that was considered in the hearing of Hollingsworth v. Perry — the case that essentially set aside California’s Proposition 8 and allowed same-sex marriages to resume in the Golden State. In his brief, Bursch asserted that “the traditional family is the ideal setting in which to raise children” and “other relationships do not share the unique characteristics of traditional marriage.” All three lawyers will appear before a panel of 10th Circuit judges Thursday to support the state’s appeal of U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby’s decision tossing out Utah’s Amendment 3 ban on same-sex marriage. 

2014 Utah attorneys fighting for gay marriage are used to winning Courts » As they brace for the next round, attorneys fighting Utah’s same-sex marriage ban look to chalk up another victory. By Brooke Adams | The Salt Lake Tribune When Mark Lawrence asked attorneys James E. Magleby and Peggy A. Tomsic to take on Utah and its ban on same-sex marriage, they had one question for him: Why us? Lawrence, it turns out, had done his homework. He told the pair he was looking for lawyers with a winning track record of doing hard things "because this is going to be really difficult." Magleby and Tomsic had squared off against armies of attorneys with endless resources in the face of long odds on behalf of underdogs before. A notable example is the $134 million verdict they won in 2012 for USA Power, a

Peggy Tomsic

utility firm started by three people, against behemoth PacifiCorp.  But the fight Lawrence proposed seemed incredibly daunting. This is, after all, Utah, among the most conservative states in the nation and home to a worldwide faith that has thrown sizable support into the defense of man/woman marriage laws. Besides, at that point, everyone envisioned a legal battle akin to California’s Proposition 8, with two years of preparation, a monthlong trial before a judge, scads of witnesses and evidence, and full-on, bare-knuckle litigation. The price tag, they figured, was at least $3 million — and more if the case went before the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as it will this week, and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court. And, of course, Lawrence didn’t have any money. The two attorneys didn’t flinch or tell Lawrence, as nearly everyone else had, that he was crazy. They kept listening. Lawrence, an information technologist from West Valley City who founded the advocacy group Restore Our Humanity specifically to challenge Utah’s marriage ban, was "really persuasive," Magleby said. "Nobody I knew had ever heard of him," Tomsic said. "It was like, wow, he’s a real grass-roots guy. He’s coming from nowhere with a big heart and a big vision of how to change the world. It was awesome." The attorneys realized the risks were substantial and numerous. They had experienced hatred and threats before — Magleby when he represented a former partner of La Caille restaurant — but what about their families, their children in particular? Would the case be a financial hardship for their Salt Lake City firm, Magleby & Greenwood? Would it hurt their ability to attract and retain clients? "I didn’t care," Tomsic said, "because this was the right thing to do, and I was willing not to get paid. I was willing to take whatever risks there were and work my heart out for this because it needs to happen, and if I can help do it, I’m there."  Still, there was one more consideration — a big one. "We didn’t just take this case without thinking long and hard about the merits of it," Magleby said. "We knew the worst thing that could happen for our clients or for the bigger picture [of marriage equality] was to take this case and get our a-- kicked." They devoured court records in other same-sex cases and concluded, as Magleby puts it, "Holy cow, this is a winner. It’s not even close!" "We didn’t know at which level we would win," he added, "but we knew in the long run we were right." Sure, the state might go after a big trial, with lots of witnesses and mountains of paperwork, the attorneys figured. But what they knew from PacifiCorp and other big wins is this: "We’re as smart as anybody else and we know we’ll

Derek Kitchen & Moudi Sbeity

work harder," Magleby said. And with that, they were on board. What they never anticipated is that the challenge to Amendment 3, overwhelmingly approved by Utah voters in 2004, would go as quickly and as efficiently as it did. The attorneys filed the federal lawsuit March 25 on behalf of plaintiffs Derek Kitchen and Moudi Sbeity; Laurie Wood and Kody Partridge; and Kate Call and Karen Archer. On Dec. 4, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby heard oral arguments. "It was not a hard, intellectual legal argument," said Tomsic, whose opening statement has been described by some as historic. "It was getting across the point it’s time, it’s time now, and do it in this case." Sixteen days later, pre-empting his own time frame by two weeks, Shelby granted

Kody Patridge & Laurie Wood 

summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. Magleby was out of state when an email popped up on his iPad screen with two words: "We won!" With dozens of cases pending, he thought, "Oh, good, we won something." Then emails were bing, bing, binging onto his screen one after another and Magleby realized it was the Kitchen v. Herbert case. Tomsic was back at the office, hard at work on a new case, when an email also sprang up on one of the three monitors on her desk. The subject line said, in all capital letters, "YOU WON, YOU WON, YOU WON!" Scrolling down her inbox, she found the email with the court’s order and quickly clicked to the last page of the 60-page decision "because you always want to know what the end is." "It was the most amazing day I’ve ever felt in my life in my legal practice," Tomsic said. "Reading that decision and realizing that Judge Shelby had the courage and the integrity to follow the

Karen Archer & Kate Call 

U.S. Constitution in a state where he knew it would be a very unpopular decision ... made me believe more in our system. It doesn’t mean you always win, but if people do the best they can do to follow the law and follow the facts, you cannot ask for anything more than that." Tomsic’s next move: She texted her partner, Cindy Bateman, with whom she is rearing a son privately placed a decade ago when he was 3 years old, and asked, "Will you marry me?" Magleby, 47, and Tomsic, 61, are graduates of the University of Utah’s law school — Tomsic was editor of the Utah Law Review — and have worked together so long and so closely they banter like a married couple. Tomsic hired Magleby while a managing shareholder at Berman, Tomsic & Savage. Magleby hired Tomsic in 2009 after she closed her own firm. They specialize in commercial litigation involving, as Magleby describes it, complicated problems "in fields we generally are not experts in, and we learn it, and we master it, and we win." For Magleby, that has meant learning about brine shrimp driers, polypropylene plants and how to build a chemical manufacturing facility. Tomsic has toured coal mines and power plants and learned how source code is programmed. "That’s the fun part for us," she said, "because you have to learn things you never thought you’d have to." In the Amendment 3 case, Tomsic drew on firsthand expertise: her own life. Tomsic grew up in Moab and came out — more accurately, was outed — when she was 21 years old. It was a dangerous time to identify as gay, given the discrimination and outright physical violence such revelations often triggered. Salt Lake City’s former Sun Tavern and the lesbian bar Sisters were places "people felt safe" because of a shared "no-one-is-going-to-tell-on-you attitude." Still, security offered escorts to cars to protect patrons from attacks. Customers often returned to their vehicles to find windows shattered. "It was not unusual," Tomsic recalled, "for men to come in and call us ‘sweat hogs,’ bring boards and try to hit us." Magleby, a straight man married almost 20 years with five children, said: "Marriage equality was not on the radar." People were just looking to not get beaten, he said. And when it happened, Tomsic chimed in, "nobody dared report it." Fast-forward to Dec. 20, hours after Shelby rejected Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. "Going down to the county recorder’s office and having bands playing and people singing and people crying and people cheering," Tomsic said. "That was extraordinary." Added Magleby: "The great thing about being a lawyer is you can make a fundamental, life-changing difference in somebody’s life that they can’t get for themselves. The Kitchen case is just the pinnacle of that." It’s up to the 10th Circuit — and possibly the Supreme Court — to decide if that difference was fleeting or forever.

2014 Utahns give heartfelt send-off to couples in gay marriage case Plaintiffs and their lawyers are on their way to Denver to make their case before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. BY MARISSA LANG THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE On the back of a blue paper heart, Rachel Motschiedler wrote a message to the couples whose lawsuit toppled Utah’s

Ralph Becker 

ban on same-sex marriages and allowed her to wed her partner of 11 years:  “Fight hard.” It was one of more than 200 messages scrawled in marker and delivered Monday to the plaintiffs of the historic case that overturned Utah’s Amendment 3 in December. The notes, said Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, represent the thoughts of countless Utahns who will keep these couples in their own hearts as the plaintiffs and their legal team leave this week for Denver, where they will make their case for same-sex marriage before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. “We thank you for standing up for marriage equality,” Becker said. “We are humbled by your courage.” There were thank-yous all around Monday as each of the couples at the center of the lawsuit took turns addressing a crowd of hundreds of well-wishers. They shared their stories, their gratitude and their hope for the future of Utah. “When we started fighting this thing we were told we were all wrong — the wrong plaintiffs, the wrong place and the wrong time,” said Kate Call, whose terminally ill wife Karen Archer did not attend the send-off. “But I think Utah is exactly the right place. We’ve experimented with marriage and relationships that are nontraditional our whole history.” As she spoke, plaintiff Derek Kitchen draped his arm over the shoulders of his partner Moudi Sbeity. The green heart in his hand dangled over Sbeity’s chest, emblazoned with the words “Freedom means freedom for everyone.” Laurie Wood and Kody Partridge, who are also plaintiffs in the case, held hands and smiled to the crowd as politicians, activists and their attorney Peggy Tomsic took their turns at the lectern. When Partridge spoke, she told the crowd this was not the first time she’d received anonymous notes from strangers. She held up a white piece of paper with a heart cut out from its center — it had been sent to them shortly after the December decision that allowed more than 1,200 gay and lesbian couples to wed in Utah.  “It says, ‘Thank you for all the hard work you’ve put into ensuring marriage equality in Utah,’ ” she read. “Now we say thank you for your words and support. They matter so very much to us.” In the audience, gay and straight couples held hands and signs. Some cried quietly as others cheered loudly. Men and women bounced children on their knees. It’s families like these, said longtime Utah news anchor Terry Wood, that the Amendment 3 lawsuit aims to protect. “Allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry will not only make Utah stronger,” said Wood, whose openly gay son inspired him to speak out on behalf of same-sex couples, “it will make our nation stronger, as well.” On Thursday morning, Tomsic will make her case before a panel of three judges at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. She will have half an hour to do so. The state, represented by its hired team of Gene Schaerr, John Bursch and Monte Neil Stewart, will also have half an hour to argue in its attempt to persuade the court to overturn Judge Robert Shelby’s historic ruling. But Mark Lawrence, the man widely credited for jump-starting the effort to challenge Utah’s law, said Monday he was confident that the 10th Circuit will rule in the couples’ favor. “Time and again, Utah has shown the world that our nature is that of compassion, of love, of family and integrity,” Lawrence said. “We are on the eve of restoring that characterization before the world.”  Becker, who helped organize Monday’s rally on behalf of his new organization, Utah Unites for Marriage, said he felt it was important to remind the plaintiffs that there are thousands of Utah individuals and families who support them in their quest for same-sex marriage rights. “Who can deny this kind of love and commitment under law?” Becker asked. “It means so much to be able to stand here with these couples and support them, as they have supported all of us in this quest for equal rights.”

deelanZ

2018 The 13th Queer Prom held at the Salt Palace Convention Center. The theme this year is The Fairy's Tale: Queerly Ever After. We will have incredible drag performers! We will have numerous tablers and free giveaways! deelanZ will be DJ-ing all night! Utah Museum of Contemporary Art will be providing an interactive activity! Jennafer Martin and her team will be providing free readings all night. Gallivan Photography will be taking fabulous free photos at the photobooth all night. We will have a dessert bar and delicious non-alcoholic mocktails available!  Tickets are $5 (in advance) however, we don't want this to be a barrier

Jimmy Lee

to anyone attending. This event is for youth ages 14-20. Please bring a school ID or driver's license. If you do not have either, we will ask for your birthday! If you are a parent, we will host a special Parents Get Together at the same time in a different part of the venue. Darby S Hinton wrote" There were over 1000 High School Students that attended! Jesse [Dolce] & I were on Clicker/Counter patrol... I have never seen such a polite, appreciative, happy bunch of kids! Really an eye opening experience about getting involved in community. I hope that I made a difference in at least one person life... I will definitely Volunteer again next year....