2 February
1859-Havelock
Ellis, born, author of the seven volume "Studies in the Psychology of
Sex" and "Sexual Inversion," which presented homosexuality as
neither a disease nor a crime, something inborn and unchangable.
1893 James Warren
convicted of a crime against nature will be released on February 12 after
serving six months. Salt Lake Herald.
1973 Metropolitan Community Church of Salt Lake
founded and dedicated by Rev. Troy Perry.
1978 Utah Daily Chronicle has editorial on
Homosexuality
1986 Salt Lake Tribune ran article: "Risk for Hepatitis Greater than
AIDS for Dentists." (SLTribune D3-1)
1987- SLC UT’s The Connection restaurant at 529
West 200 South closed its doors due to lack
of business. Space becomes Between Friends Café. "Between Friends"
was ran by Danna Rollins and Mary Johns former managers of the long since
defunct Reflections at 315 West 400 South. Closed within year and space
becomes part of InBetween.
1988 At
Unconditional Support Ben Williams gave a lesson on the Stonewall Rebellion and
was so surprised how the majority of the group had never heard of it. He
committed to make it his personal crusade to make sure the Gay community of Utah knows what Stonewall
means. “At Unconditional Support tonight it was a different kind of
crowd. Younger crowd. Kind of a “Do me group” I gave a lesson on the Stonewall
Rebellion and I was so surprised how the majority of the group had never heard
of it. It will my personal crusade to make sure the Gay community of Utah knows what
Stonewall means. After the meeting went to Dee’s
on 4th South for coffee. I saw Neil Hoyt tonight and he said he
attended the Utah Valley Men’s Group. [1988 Journal of Ben Williams]
1989 At The Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah, Neil Hoyt, Chuck Whyte, and Ben Williams assumed their duties as officers. At The Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah
tonight I assumed the duties of Secretary/Treasurer. It was a small meeting
probably due to the 15 inches of snow
that was dumped last night. After Community Council Brook Hallock held a
meeting for community leaders about the nature of informers who she called
“ducks”. Brook Hallock was herself a duck in several conservative women’s
group, infiltrating their meetings to gain access to their secret agendas.
Brook Hallock said there were three types of ducks. Decoy Ducks were Gays who
were blackmailed or coerced into spying by governmental or religious
organizations. “If you are truly
repentant you will do this for us”. Ring Neck Ducks are paid Gay informers
who do it for the money, and Mallard Ducks are actual Church Security or FBI or
CIA plants. Brook told me that she thought Derek S. was a Ring Neck doing
it for the money and loyalty to the Mormon Church. Her reasoning was that first Derek attends every Gay meeting and function there is. Secondly he’s been out of work
by his own admission and yet drives a new car, has a nice apartment, and has
money to take trips to national Gay conferences. Thirdly Derek had worked for
the Church for the last 15 months at the Missionary
Training Center
in Provo.
Fourthly he does not break the word o Wisdom, still wears his garments,
believes that the Mormon Church Leaders are inspired and that homosexuality is
a sin. Fifthly He is well known at the Mormon Archives where Rocky O’Donovan
was banned and he had Christmas dinner with Brent Metcalf a known Church
Security Spy. And Lastly Derek has been out for six months now and has not
grown in Gay consciousness one iota. He didn’t even protest or act shocked at
Brooks accusation when she confronted him. Whether he is a duck or not GLCCU
probably need to be more careful about who has access to our membership list.
Other then than I see no real reason to feel concern. I certainly don’t want to
get hysterical.
1989-Allen Ward, an HIV positive grade school basketball coach, was
allowed to resume coaching until the school board determined whether or not he
posed a health risk.
1989-Sharon Kowalski and Karen Thompson were allowed to visit for
the first time in four years, since Kowalski's father got a court order
forbidding Thompson to visit her in the nursing home she had been in since she
was seriously injured in an accident.
1990 JUDGE REFUSES TO MOVE TRIAL IN SLAYING OF
SUSC STUDENT A judge has rejected defense pleas to hold Lance Wood's capital
homicide trial somewhere other than Utah County, and ordered jury selection to
begin on Feb. 20 in Provo.
Fourth District Judge Boyd L. Park, in concluding a hearing in the case
Thursday, said he saw no reason why an impartial jury could not be selected in Utah County.
Wood's co-defendant, Michael Anthony Archuleta, 26, was convicted of
first-degree murder and sentenced to die by a Utah County
jury. Wood, 20, and Archuleta, 26, were charged in the Nov. 22, 1988,
bludgeoning death of Gordon
Church, 28. On Thursday,
Park denied a motion by public defender Marcus Taylor seeking suppression of
Wood's comments to law officers on the basis that Wood had not been properly
advised of his rights.
1992 The Deseret News stated that
"homosexuality is vile," in an editorial which called for sexual
orientation not to be included in a proposed anti-hate bill.
1995 OGDEN MAN GETS TERM, IS ORDERED TO REPAY $34,350
Associated Press A man accused of stealing more than $34,000 from elderly
residents of an Ogden living center has been sentenced to one to 15 years in
Utah State Prison on eight felony forgery charges. Before his sentencing
Monday, Sid Johns, 42, offered to sell his Ogden home to repay his victims. He also
asked the court to send him to prison for a diagnostic evaluation. Instead, 2nd
District Judge Stanton Taylor sentenced Johns to prison and ordered him to pay
$34,350 in restitution. Johns pleaded guilty in December to the eight
second-degree felony counts. He is accused of altering checks from elderly residents
of Adams Place,
where he had worked for 10 years. He is a former state-appointed, volunteer
nursing-home ombudsman in Weber
County. Johns also ran
the Northern Utah AIDS Society and allegedly laundered the altered checks
through the society's bank account. Defense attorney Kent Snider said his
client is "absolutely devastated by what he has done to these
individuals."
1996 - Anti-Gay Meet: Secret's Out, Anger Sets In Unlike the
Senate's Anti-Gay Meeting, The Anger of Critics Is No Secret Criticism rained
down Thursday over a secret Utah Senate meeting that saw conservative lawmakers
accuse top education officials of spurning family values and promoting
homosexuality in Utah schools. Two groups, the American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) and Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats (GLUD), threatened legal action over
Tuesday's closed-door confrontation on Capitol Hill, held in violation of state
open-meetings laws. ACLU attorneys demanded a full list of meeting participants
and a record of what was said, promising ``vigorous action,'' including a
lawsuit, if they were not produced. They and leaders from a wide range of
human-rights and gay-advocacy groups denounced participating senators for what
one called ``outrageous gay baiting.'' ``They should be embarrassed at their
shameless acts of gross misconduct and prejudice,'' said GLUD founder David
Nelson. House Democrats voted to send a letter of condemnation to Senate
President Lane Beattie, R-West Bountiful, about the 90-minute session -- only
to back down later after meeting with their Senate counterparts, many of whom
attended the meeting as well. ``There
are shades of Nazism and the ultimate in terms of back-room conspiracy going
on,'' said Assistant Minority Whip Grant Protzman, D-North Ogden. After
announcing Tuesday the bipartisan caucus would be devoted to a mundane budget
matter, Senate leaders closed the doors on the meeting with Cecelia Foxley,
state commissioner of higher education; Scott Bean, state superintendent of
public instruction; and others The real topic: Proposals for banning a newly
formed gay and lesbian student group at East High School in Salt Lake City.
Senators said later their legal reason for excluding the public was to discuss
``pending litigation'' -- apparently
expecting a court challenge to any law they might pass to shut down the club.
Once doors swung closed Tuesday afternoon, Sens. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper,
and Charles Stewart, R-Provo, launched an anti-homosexual diatribe and a stream
of accusations that left many in the room stunned. It was unclear Thursday
whether senators still were considering a move to close the East High club. The
Utah Attorney General's Office has concluded the club has a right to exist
under federal laws guaranteeing all social groups equal access to school
facilities. When the meeting came to light Thursday, the Senate's GOP
leadership was besieged by news-media inquiries and calls from the public. By
mid afternoon, Beattie had apologized for ``procedural mistakes'' in how the
meeting was closed, but still defended the reasons for holding it outside the
public view. ``Closing that caucus still was proper and correct,'' he said. The
Senate president also denied claims of intolerance leveled at senators from
several corners. ``There are many of us who disagree with their lifestyle,'' he
said of gays and lesbians. ``That doesn't mean we look down on them. But I
don't want their lifestyle taught to my children in our schools, and neither do
my neighbors.'' Others defended the gathering, which broke key portions of the
Utah Open Meetings Act. ``It wasn't a secret meeting. It was a closed
meeting,'' Senate Assistant Majority
Whip Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, insisted Thursday.
When asked the difference, he said, ``a secret meeting is one that
nobody knows about.'' The gathering came to light only when Democrats and
moderate Republicans privately shared details, fearful that speaking out
publicly might draw retaliation from the powerful GOP Senate leadership. As
Senate Majority Leader Leonard Blackham, R-Moroni, presided Tuesday, Stephenson
confronted Bean with what he said were teacher-instruction materials detailing
how information on various sexual behaviors should to be taught to Utah grade-school
students. Stewart threatened to end all
school social clubs statewide rather than let East High's Gay-Straight Student
Alliance continue to meet. He then showed caucus members an anti-homosexual
video produced by supporters of an unsuccessful Oregon initiative to restrict gay rights.
Before returning to the Senate floor 20 minutes late, those in attendance were
sworn to keep what transpired confidential. Under the Utah Open Meetings Act,
bipartisan Senate caucuses can be closed only in a few circumstances, including
for the purpose of discussing legal strategy when litigation is imminent. Even
then, meeting closures require a vote conducted in public and support from
two-thirds of those in attendance. Detailed minutes or a tape recording then
must be taken of the proceedings. Beattie said Senate leaders were
``embarrassed'' about forgetting to take those steps. He urged senators to be
more vigilant in the future. Though still tight-lipped Thursday, Stephenson
acknowledged obtaining some of the materials used during the meeting from
members of the archconservative Christian (Mormon) group, Utah Eagle Forum.
Among the materials Stephenson brought to the meeting were gay-theme children's
books, including one titled, Heather Has Two Mommies, about a lesbian couple
and their daughter. School officials have denied the book ever has been cleared
for circulation in the Utah
school system. Stephenson also produced teacher-training materials issued by
the state Office of Education. He says the guidelines show how to instruct
elementary students about sexual practices. Stephenson claimed Thursday he had
confirmed the source of the materials was Bean's office, a claim Bean
apparently denied in the meeting. ``I still haven't heard an apology from him
for calling me a liar,'' said Stephenson, who also heads the business-backed Utah Taxpayers Association. Bean, while
sticking to the vow of confidentiality, said Thursday Stephenson still had not
proved anything. ``I don't care what he says he's confirmed, and frankly I
don't care,'' the superintendent said. Lily Eskelsen, president of the Utah
Education Association that represents 85 percent of the state's public-school
teachers, said she was appalled at claims made at the meeting by Stewart and
Stephenson. She said they had a hidden agenda of derailing record increases in
school spending this year. ``They will
sink to any depths to erode confidence in public education,'' she said. Meeting
Thursday in an open caucus, House Democrats denounced the Senate meeting, which
had left the hallways of Capitol Hill buzzing for most of the day. Minority members
discussed the possibility of calling for an ethics investigation, but abandoned
the idea. Beattie dismissed Democratic
complaints as sheer politics. ``It's small-minded, small purpose and a cheap
shot,'' he said. (2/02/96 Page: A1 SLTribune)
1996 GAY STUDENT CLUBS ANTI GAY POLITICS 44% FAVOR ALLOWING
GAY-LESBIAN CLUB IN SCHOOL Rather than ban all extracurricular school clubs,
more Utahns believe gay and lesbian student clubs should be allowed in Utah
public schools. In a poll of 604 Utahns, 44 percent said gay and lesbian clubs
should probably or definitely be allowed to meet. Twenty-five percent said all
clubs should probably or definitely be banned rather than allow the homosexual
organization to form on campus. However, pollster Dan Jones said 31 percent of
the respondents either had no opinion or believed the state should pursue other
options. Some respondents said they were opposed to gay and lesbian student
groups meeting on school campuses. Yet they feared banning those clubs would unnecessarily
impugn other student clubs. "Even though I'm against gay clubs, it would
be punishing other clubs," said one respondent. Said another, "Why
can't they disallow them? They wouldn't allow gangs or marijuana users to form
a club or meet there, would they? This is a serious moral issue. Leaders need
to determine what kinds of clubs are allowed to be recognized." State
Superintendent Scott Bean said the poll results indicate Utahns are generally
supportive of school clubs yet want more local control over the types of
organizations allowed to meet in public schools. "I think that just
verifies the concern we've had all along. The concern is with the federal law
and the control school districts should be able to exercise over all clubs. We
feel school districts should have total control over high school club
formation. The results of that particular question seem to verify that,"
Bean said. Among respondents who claimed to be very conservative, 35 percent
supported banning all clubs. Yet, 26 percent said the clubs should probably or
definitely be allowed. The issue stems from a student request to form a gay and
lesbian student group at East
High School. The issue
has been debated by the Utah State Board of Education and Utah Legislature. The
Salt Lake school board is studying the issue
and has instructed its attorney to write policies that in effect would treat
all clubs equally, regardless of their controversial nature, or ban all clubs
not tied to class work. The board will address the issue at its next meeting
Tuesday night. Meanwhile, additional information has come to light as to the
nature of Tuesday's closed-door meeting in which state senators discussed ways
to keep gay and lesbian clubs from organizing at public schools. According to
one Republican who participated in the meeting, the first 20 minutes of the
meeting were spent discussing litigation strategy with a representative of the
Utah Attorney General's Office - something that lawmakers can legally discuss
in secret under Utah's open meetings laws. After that, Sens. Howard Stephenson,
R-Draper, and Charles Stewart, R-Provo, took over the meeting, leveling
accusations against Bean and commissioner of higher education Cecelia Foxley.”
Scott got drilled and Cecelia got drilled, and it was all coming from Howard
and Chuck," the source said. "No one else was asking questions at
that point. Once Chuck Stewart got started, it went way beyond discussing legal
strategies. He was only interested in eradicating homosexuality.” Among the
allegations leveled by Stephenson and Stewart was that teachers' in-service
training related to homosexuality was too explicit. Stephenson held up a green
booklet he said was being given to teachers to train them on how to deal with
homosexual students. Bean told lawmakers it did not come from his office and
angrily asked Stephenson to retract.” He took personal offense" the
Republican participant said. "And he vociferously rebutted allegations
that teachers advocated homosexuality in the classroom.” Stephenson, who said
he obtained the document from Gayle Ruzicka of the Utah Eagle Forum, said
Thursday that he had confirmed the text indeed came from the state Office of
Education. Utah Education Association president Lily Eskelsen said Stephenson's
comments reveal an agenda to take away from the excitement of an optimistic
public education budget, charging that he skewed the discussion Tuesday to
criticize public education. "He is trying to systematically discredit
public schools," she said. The Tuesday caucus was called partly to discuss
state funding of public education, she said. "And what did they talk
about? A homosexual agenda.” Stephenson defended his actions Thursday and
demanded an apology from Bean. "I just wanted to clear my name,”
Stephenson told fellow senators. "I haven't heard an apology for him
basically calling me a liar.” Foxley was called to the meeting to answer
allegations that at least one University of Utah professor is openly teaching
homosexuality in a sociology class entitled "Gender Equity.” “There was apparently
some reference to homosexuality (in the course description) and Chuck made the
leap that the professor was advocating homosexuality. But no, there was not a
lot of substance to back up those allegations.” Stewart also challenged Foxley
concerning a symposium held several years ago at the University of Utah
by an organization not affiliated with the U. Among the symposium topics was a
seminar on gay rights.” People are saying that senators were using the closed
meeting for gay bashing," the Republican said. "But that's not true.
It was Charles Stewart doing the gay bashing. It was very clear he wanted to
eradicate homosexuality.” Before Stephenson and Stewart launched their
diatribes against public and higher education, the meeting was focused exclusively
on three different legal strategies. "There were no derogatory references
to homosexuals, but obviously the sentiment was that we did not want the (East High
School gay and lesbian) club to exist and we
wanted to know what our options were," the Republican said. The first
option available to lawmakers is to challenge in court the federal law that
mandates that all school clubs be granted equal access to school facilities
regardless of what those clubs advocate. Other states have challenged the law and
have all failed. Lawmakers were told that a Utah lawsuit on the matter would probably
also fail. The U.S. Supreme Court has made it clear that states and school
boards cannot regulate what is discussed in these extracurricular clubs. Lawmakers
questioned whether a ban on clubs advocating illegal acts - and sodomy is still
illegal under Utah
law - would holdup. They were told that any group that practiced something
illegal could be banned, but that students meeting together to discuss the
political issues of homosexuality and gay rights was protected under federal
law. "Anyone can organize to talk about whatever they want to," the
Republican said. "Just because an idea is politically un popular does not
make it illegal." A second strategy involved requiring participants in all
Utah clubs to
obtain signed permission slips from their parents. That approach would not ban
gay and lesbian clubs from organizing, but it might discourage some students
from joining. The third strategy - one that is being seriously contemplated -
is to ban all extracurricular clubs at Utah's
public schools. Such a ban would probably be legal because the gay and lesbian
club would be treated no differently than the chess club, the rodeo club or any
of the hundreds of other clubs that now exist. Such a ban would affect
thousands of Utah
schoolchildren. Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell, who attended the
closed-door meeting but is opposed to banning social clubs, said the prevailing
feeling among Senate Republicans is that they will do whatever is necessary to
stop gay and lesbian clubs from organizing at public schools. If an outright
ban is the only feasible option, then so be it. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Federal
law and the U.S. Supreme Court rulings say if a school district allows student
clubs to use schools all such clubs must be allowed to use schools. Some East
High School Students want to form a gay lesbian club and meet in the school.
This has caused some negative reaction from district parents. Considering the
law and court decisions should all clubs be banned from local school or should
the gay and lesbian club be allowed to meet at East High School?
Definitely ban all clubs 15% Probably ban all clubs 10% Probably allow gay and
lesbian clubs 21% Definitely allow gay and lesbian clubs 23% Other 18% Don't
know 13% Poll conducted Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 1996, of 604 residents. Margin of error
+/-4%. Survey conducted by Dan Jones &Associates. ((02/08/96 D8, 9 Deseret News)
1999- Actor
Nathan Lane came out. "It's never been something I kept a secret," he
said.
1999
Hate-crimes legislation that would provide specific protection for gays,
lesbians, abortion clinics and other groups and enhance penalties is already
drawing contentious debate on Capitol Hill. At a hearing Tuesday before the
Senate Judiciary Committee, both proponents and opponents of a proposed hate
crimes law packed the room to hear and voice their own views on SB34, which
outlines categories of people and institutions that would receive protection
under the current law. Sponsoring Sen. Pete Suazo, D-Salt Lake,
said the hate crimes statute passed in 1992 is inadequate because it was
watered downed by the same opposition it faced Tuesday. "Why are we even
considering something like this?" asked Gayle Ruzicka, head of the
conservative Eagle Forum, an opponent to the bill. "All people deserve to
be protected equally." She said Utah
law should not protect "illegal and immoral behavior" such as sexual
orientation under the proposed bill. But Jeanetta Williams, president of the Salt Lake
branch of the NAACP, said Utah
needs to stop denying it has a hate crimes problem. "It is a big problem
here in Utah
when we have to come back and discuss this bill. There shouldn't even be an
argument." The committee did not vote on the bill as time ran out before
all those scheduled to testify could speak. The bill would protect people
against hate crimes on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color,
gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or mental or physical disabilities. Any
misdemeanor crime such as assault, telephone harassment or vandalism becomes a
third-degree felony if motivated on the basis of these categories. In addition,
the bill also protects religious institutions, psychiatric hospitals, abortion
clinics and health-care providers. The bill also provides for sentencing
enhancements if the crime is already a felony. For example, a judge would have
the discretion to impose a minimum term of between five-to-eight years in
prison if the person is convicted of a crime that is a first-degree felony and
proven to be hate crime. "These acts of terrorism are taking place. These
are crimes we must vigorously prosecute," Suazo said. "They are the
antithesis of the values that define us as a nation and a state. They have nothing
to do with equality, freedom or respect." Prosecutors have complained that
Utah's
current hate crime law is difficult to prosecute because it fails to define
protected categories and it requires proof that the accused meant to intimidate
or terrorize. Suazo's bill deletes the language of intimidate or terrorize.
Paul Boyden with the Statewide Association of Prosecutors said after the
hearing that the proposal addresses some of the problems with the current law,
although his group has not taken position.
2001 LGSU Raises Money for Center By Bobbi Parry The Lesbian and
Gay Student Union at the University of Utah took another step toward
establishing a permanent resource center when they held a fundraiser Thursday
evening. The event, which was driven by LGSU and supported by the Associated
Students of the University of Utah, included a dinner and a silent auction.
“The dinner will raise money to help start up the resource center and…let
people know what we are about and what we’re trying to accomplish,” said LGSU
Co President Arlyn Bradshaw. The future center hopes to provide education and
support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students on campus. “There
is a large population of gay students and faculty on campus, and they need a
place to gather to find information,” said Associate Vice President for Student
Affairs Kay Harward, who also attended the event. During the event LGSU members
shared their plans and gave a presentation of the future center. “We want to
present to the entire campus what’s going on and how they can help,” said LGSU
Co-Vice President Charles Milne. The center will boast an education center, a
library containing LGBT literature, and student support groups. “We currently
have the space and the volunteers, and we’re working on the rest,” Milne said.
Bradshaw said the money from the fundraiser will be used to create a counseling
center, and to provide scholarships. The center will have its own governing
body and political- action committee. Another program the center will offer is
the “safe-zone” project, which will create nondiscrimination and hate-free
zones for LGBT people on campus. LGSU was not the only organization who pushed
for the center. ASUU also provided a large amount of support. Although LGSU has
“spearheaded the effort to create the resource center [it is] not an entity of
LGSU,” Bradshaw said. “It has been a collaborative effort of LGSU and the ASUU
Diversity Board,” said ASUU’s Marty Liccardo, diversity board chairman of
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered issues. Liccardo said, while LGSU has
worked to create the center, the diversity board has “been on the outskirts,
trying to bring in other projects such as the safe zones [to the center].” All
proceeds from Thursday’s event will go toward the center, which will be set up
in the A. Ray Olpin University Union Cork Room until officials approve a more
permanent location, possibly in May. Guests at the event included U students,
administrators, alumni and prominent members of the gay and lesbian community.
Tickets to the event, which was held in the union Panorama Room, cost $35 and
were by invitation only.
2005 The LGBT resource Center and National Organization
for Women in conjunction with Panini Restaurant proudly present: The L-Word Lounge--A Lesbian and Bisexual
Women's Social group trans and gender queer women are of course always
welcome. At Panini Restaurant, 299 South Main Street
at 7:30 PM on Thursday nights. Panini will be providing free appetizers and
there will also be $2 Drafts. The L-Word
lounge will be screening an episode of season one of the L-Word every Thursday
2005 Subject: GLBT
happenings in St. George area After the
little bit of news, there is a list of what is going on in the St. George area
for GLBT and friends. Contact info for all events, dates, times, ect...I
(Little Aimee) will be speaking about this bill on Wednesday the 9th at 9:20 am
on Newstalk 890 AM- KDXU. Listen in and give the station a call. Mutual Dependence Bill Fails in the Utah
Senate Here is an email I recieved from [State] Senator Hatch about SB89. Just
thought you would all like to know that doing anything to protect our families
is not something "our" elected folks want to do, and we need to speak
up and speak out!!! Thomas Hatch wrote: Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 14:38:08 -0700
From: "Thomas Hatch" To:
Subject: Re: Please Vote YES on SB89 “I thank you for your input on
SB-89. The bill is unnecessary. The publicly-recognized contracts outlined in
it are allowed under current law through private contracts. This proposed
legislation intrudes on the able functions of the private sector and simply
adds one more layer of needless bureaucracy to our already-burdened state
government. Thanks again for your input. Senator Hatch” Hey everyone- here is an update on the GLBT
happenings in the St. George area. Every week:
Sundays- Coffee at Xetava Gardens 815 Coyote
Gulch Court, Ivins, Utah (435) 656-0165. Stroll through galleries and have a
nice cup of coffee or tea out in beautiful Kayenta. Starts around 11am.
Wednesdays- Coffee at Starbucks 250 N. Redcliffs Dr. St. George, Utah. Come and
enjoy the mini San Fran that we create each week in the middle of our own
repressed community. Starts around 7pm. Saturdays- Have some lunch and a drink
at the new Kaleidoscope Cafe in Coral Canyon, just off the I-15 at the
Hurricane exit. 2303 N. Coral Canyon BLVD. Suite 107, Washington, Utah
(435)627-8175. Starts around noon. Once
a Month: 3rd Tuesday is PFLAG- (Parents,
Families [or friends] of Lesbians and Gays) We need to get our families, our
parents out to this!!! If they are struggling or feeling like they are the only
ones, they need to be here and meet Claudia Bradshaw who is an incredible Mom
for all of us!!! Call Claudia at (435)673-3356 for more info. Give your parents
her #, and let her help. Start time is 7pm. 3rd Sunday is Movie Night- Starts at 7pm at Mark Harris' home. 5735
North 1400 West, St. George. Call (435)656-1696 for directions and to find out
what the movie of the month is. 3rd Thurday is Southern Utah Pride at Zion
planning meeting-If you want to help with pride, have ideas or want to see how
it's coming, call The Amies to find out where this months meeting will be.
(435)635-0624 or (435)313-4528. Once a month on Saturday night (actual Saturday
changes each month) Womyn's Night-Usually held at The Amies home it is a social
to get the ladies out of thier homes and mingling with one another, offering
support and friendship. A lot of laughs and good food (potluck & BYOB if
you want alcohol- not a must for those who don't drink). Call The Amies to find
out where this months will be!!!
2005 The LGBT resource
Center and National Organization for Women in conjunction with Panini
Restaurant proudly present: The L-Word
Lounge--A Lesbian and Bisexual Women's Social group trans and gender queer
women are of course always welcome. At
Panini Restaurant, 299 South Main
Street at 7:30 PM on Thursday nights. Panini will
be providing free appetizers and there will also be $2 Drafts. The L-Word lounge will be screening an
episode of season one of the L-Word every Thursday
2006 Bill may
stop SLC health insurance plan It would prohibit government funds for unmarried
partners By Heather May The Salt Lake Tribune Rep. LaVar Christensen may stop
Salt Lake City from subsidizing health insurance for its employees’ unmarried
partners – be they gay, heterosexual or first cousins. The Draper Republican
has sponsored a bill – HB327 passed a House committee Wednesday – that he says
isn’t meant to target one city, but nevertheless could have the most immediate
effect on the capital. The bill conflicts with the Salt Lake City Council’s
health-insurance proposal that would subsidize employees’ “adult designees”
–such as domestic partners, relatives, friends – by $225,000 a year. The
designees must meet a list of criteria to be eligible. Christensen’s measure
would limit government agencies to insuring only employees, their spouses and
children. Cities, counties and school districts could offer insurance plans to
cover others – those “others” aren’t defined – as long as the benefit isn’t
subsidized by the employer or with government funds. The cost would be paid by
the employee. “Rather than take taxpayer money and sanction whatever those
relationships [between employees and others] might be . . . you at least say to
them, ‘You at least don’t have to go out and search’ “ for insurance,
Christensen said after the committee meeting. Still, Salt Lake City Council
Chairman Dave Buhler will urge the council to approve its plan on Tuesday.
During a meeting last month, the council considered not subsidizing the
designees’ insurance, but rejected the idea because the city subsidizes
employees’ spouses. “The whole idea of this is to be fair,” Buhler said.
Neither Buhler nor Christensen knows if the state bill would trump the council
plan. The council itself is trumping Mayor Rocky Anderson, who signed an
executive order, now the subject of a lawsuit, in September. The order offered
insurance benefits to employees’ domestic partners and their children.
Christensen’s bill would make such executive orders illegal, leaving the
decisions to legislative bodies such as city councils. Anderson said the bill undermines local
control and separation of power between mayors and councils. He said some
lawmakers are willing to do that because of their “hostility toward providing
greater equality for those who don’t have traditional families.”
hmay@sltrib.com DOMESTIC PARTNERS
2006 Dear Equality Member: Equality Utah opposes SB97 Student Club
Amendments introduced by Senator Buttars.
This bill has been sent to the Senate Education Committee. As of the
writing of this email, SB97 has not been given a date/time on the committee’s
agenda.,-Mike Thompson Executive Director
2006 NEW! Thursday Feb 2 nd – Armed Forces Support Group –
Multi-Purpose Room (6pm) Have you served in the armed forces or are currently
serving? This group is for you! Reoccurs the 1 st Thursday fo every month.
Contact Karla for more info: (801) 643-4550.
2006 Deseret Morning News, Bill spotlights
custody issue By Angie Welling Deseret Morning News A conservative Salt Lake
County lawmaker has proposed a bill that would forbid courts from awarding
parental authority of a child against the wishes of the child's biological
parent. Rep. LaVar Christensen, R-Draper, pledged to run the legislation last
summer following a Utah Supreme Court hearing in the case of a Utah woman
fighting for visitation with her former lesbian partner's 4-year-old biological
daughter. Christensen said this week that HB148 is not solely intended to
address that case or any others involving homosexual couples. It is simply, he
said, an attempt to clear up a deficiency in the law. But Keri Jones, whose
battle with her former partner, Cheryl Pike Barlow, brought the issue to the
forefront, thinks otherwise. "I think it's totally an attack on
(homosexuality)," Jones said. "I very much think it's about our
family." Until the Supreme Court rules in the case, Jones and Barlow are
operating under a lower court's order that allows Jones to visit the child
every other weekend and requires her to pay child support. If HB148 passes,
however, it could affect that order and, ultimately, the Supreme Court's
decision. "I'm scared to death, honestly," Jones said. "It could
undo what we have done to get this far." HB148 would forbid courts from
invoking "in loco parentis" — a Latin phrase meaning "in the
place of a parent" — to award parent-time, visitation, custody, legal
guardianship, child support or adoption to a non-biological adult against the
wishes of a biological or adoptive parent. "In the Barlow case, judges
with good intentions . . . ignored existing case law," Christensen said.
"(HB148) is a clear codification of a well-established legal doctrine that
has been misused in this case and others." In loco parentis is meant to be
a "temporary, voluntary delegation of parental authority," the Sandy
lawmaker said. It should not, he said, be used "to force a biological
mother to accept an agreement" with which she disagrees. But Salt Lake
City family law attorney Lauren Barros said there are many times when a neutral
third party needs to weigh in on these emotional decisions. Often in situations
involving separation or divorce, adults may harbor animosity or bitterness
toward their former partner and act out of those feelings, rather than do
what's best for their child, she said. In loco parentis is determined on a
case-by-case basis and judges take into account the bond between the
non-biological adult and the child. "This bill would just say that
children no longer have that right to continue that bond," said Barros,
Jones' attorney. The common-law legal doctrine is used in cases of step-parents
and grandparents, as well as live-in boyfriends and girlfriends who wish to
continue a relationship with their former partners' children after the
relationship ends. "There's just too many people in Utah that are in this
situation," she said. "I would hope that (lawmakers) would recognize
that it would dramatically change a law and would affect a lot more people, not
just gay and lesbian couples."
2006 Deseret Morning News, Winterfest party for
gays, lesbians Weeklong festival features conference, ice skating, potlucks By
Deborah Bulkeley Deseret Morning News It's a Valentines Day and Family Week
celebration with a twist, as the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community
Center of Utah prepares to kick off its first Winterfest. Center director
Valerie Larabee said the weeklong celebration is the first event of its kind in
Utah, featuring entertainment, social activities and a day-long conference for
the gay and lesbian community, and their friends and family. Mayor Rocky
Anderson will open the festival Friday at 7 p.m. at the Rose Wagner
Center. The opening night
show features comics Jason Stuart, Vidur Kapur and Michelle Balan. Other
activities throughout the week include a Valentine's gala, bowling, ice skating
and neighborhood potlucks. “It's to give people something fun to combat the
negativity and oppressive language coming from some certain people at the Utah
Legislature," Larabee said, referring to bills pending in the state
Legislature such as SB97, which sponsor Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, has
said would ban gay-straight alliances at Utah's public high schools. Winterfest
is also a way to bring a conference on GLBT issues to Utah, said Larabee,
noting that professionals from social workers to guidance counselors to parents
pay to go out-of-state for the information. Matt Foreman, executive director of
the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, is among the speakers scheduled.
2007 Date:
February 2 @ 7pm.Location: City Library Auditorium, 210 East 400 South.Cost:
Free.METH is a new film exploring the rising wave of crystal methamphetamine
use within the gay population. The documentary takes an unflinching,
provocative look at past and present gay users.
Ahlberg gained remarkable access to their lives, their drug use (shown
with unnerving candor onscreen), and even a "party and play" sex
event popular among users. The result is a candid, judge-for-yourself take on
the topic. For mature audiences only.After the screening there will be a Q
& A. Visit http://www.utahaids .org/meth for more information.METH is being
shown in conjunction with the 2nd National
Jon Jepson: Working from the
Shadows Written by JoSelle
Vanderhooft
Monday, 02 February 2009 15: On Jan. 27, independent insurance
broker Jonathan “Jon” Jepson came to the attention of many Utahns, gay and
straight, when he testified before the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement, and
Criminal Justice Committee in support of Salt Lake Democratic Senator Scott
McCoy’s Wrongful Death Amendments bill (SB 32)—a bill that would allow loved
ones other than parents, children and spouses to sue if someone with whom they
share financial obligations dies because of medical malpractice or negligence.
If his fiancé, Queer Utah Aquatics Club president Paul Reynolds, were to die in
such a manner, Jepson told senators that he would likely be unable to keep his
house or stave off bankruptcy. “It is highly unlikely I could continue with my
financial obligations — our obligations,” he said at the time. But like many
gay and transgender people who speak out on bills that could help people Utah
law largely ignores, Jepson does much more for the community than look anti-gay
Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, in the eye. Jepson not only serves on the
board of directors for QUAC and the Utah Pride Center, he also advocates for
Equality Utah and serves as co-chair for the gay rights group’s annual Allies
Dinner, along with Brandie Balkan. “The greatest thing about my profession is
it allows me to do these other things I’m passionate about,” says Jepson. “It
doesn’t commit me to sit at my desk from 9-5 every day, and it allows me to get
away and serve in diff community and non profit organizations. I’m really lucky
that way.” Before Jepson entered the insurance business, stepped foot inside
Utah’s Capitol Building, or even came out as gay, he was doing something many
Utahns would find familiar: growing up on a farm. In his case, a farm in a
little southern Idaho town outside of Preston, the town made famous in Napoleon Dynamite. He
moved to Utah to pursue a degree in business
finance from the University of Utah and has remained here ever since—with the
exception of the two years he spent in England on an LDS mission. Once
active in the LDS
Church, Jepson said he
eventually left the faith in which he was raised, though not because of his
sexuality. “I felt the church was not what it purported to be—that being the
only true and living Church on the face of the earth,” he says. Like many other
Mormons who come out as gay to church leaders, Jepson’s bishop had counseled
him to serve a mission, marry in the temple and have children. When the
bishop’s promise did not come to pass, Jepson said he hid his sexuality from
his wife. “I was very discouraged and hated myself for being gay,” he
remembers. The sorrow he experienced from “not being true to myself” took a
toll on Jepson’s mental and physical health—at one point, he weighed 305
pounds. When Jepson finally left the church, he knew he was taking a gamble—one
which he says he largely lost. His wife divorced him, and he lost several
business clients. But at the same time, Jepson says his “self-image and
happiness improved immensely” as he finally began coming out. To get to know
more “people like him who were gay,” Jepson joined the Queer Utah Aquatic Club,
where he soon became treasurer. Here he lost 140 pounds and gained his partner,
QUAC president Paul Reynolds. He started volunteering for the Utah Pride Center last year, after QUAC annual Ski
‘n’ Swim weekend teamed up and the Center’s now-defunct Winterfest. “I was so
impressed with those people, how professional they were and how well they
represented the LGBT community,” Jepson recalls. He donated his time and money
to the Center, and hosted tables at the Center’s annual National Coming Out
Breakfast. Soon, Center leadership asked him to serve on the organization’s
board of directors, a new commitment that Jepson says he is “excited” to
undertake. Another thing that he is excited to do is lobby. These days, Jepson
can often be found on Capitol Hill, lobbying for Equality Utah’s Common Ground
Initiative, a set of four bills and one policy change aimed at securing equal
housing and employment protections, probate rights, and other rights for gay
and transgender Utahns. Most pivotally, Jepson has helped Equality Utah draft a
proposal urging Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr. to issue an Executive Order that would
extend healthcare benefits to adult designees of all state employees. Although
Jepson is no stranger to lobbying — in the past, he has advocated for bills
pertaining to insurance on state and national levels — he says he gets a few
surprised looks from state legislators when they see him sporting a Common
Ground button in the capitol’s halls. When he is not at the capitol speaking to
a surprised senator about the need for the Common Ground Initiative to pass,
Jepson says he enjoys swimming, running, reading and spending time with friends
and with his fiancé — even if Reynolds seems to enjoy renovating the condo they
just built more than he does. “Paul loves working on the kitchen and
remodeling, but I don’t really like it,” he laughs. “So the agreement is Paul
puts down the tiles and installs the cupboards, and I go into my office and
work on fighting for our rights.” He also flies to Colorado each month to visit his four
children: Sarah, Mary, Emma and Daniel. The kids moved when Jepson’s ex-wife
remarried a few years ago. “I’m very lucky to have such wonderful talented kids
who are obedient, but have just the right amount of obstinance,” he says. “I
always like it when they question things, it never bothers me when they
question my authority. It’s something I didn’t do enough when I was young.” But
whether he is planning Equality Utah’s Allies Dinner or questioning the
authority of anti-gay legislators over the lives of gay and transgender Utahns,
Jepson says he is a little “spotlight shy.” “I’m very happy to serve quietly
from the shadows,” he says. “A lot of people don’t know who the heck I am, and
I’m fine with that, I’m able to catch people off guard a little more when I do
that.”
2009 A Blooming Good Time with Florist Ray King Written by JoSelle
Vanderhooft Monday, 02 February 2009
06:28
Business is blooming at Twigs Flower Company.
No, really. Just take a look at all the roses, lilies and daisies in the
refrigerators, each blossom colorful and full despite the chilly winter wind
blowing outside. It’s a slower Saturday for owner Raymond “Ray” King — if
slower means he has a few minutes in between finishing the flower arrangements
for a wedding and preparations for another project. In between customers
looking for the perfect orchid to alleviate the winter gloom, King talks about
the ins and outs of the floral business. Although Americans — including Utahns
— consistently pick the rose as their favorite flower and King just as
consistently has won awards for his roses from City Weekly, QSaltLake and
others, King prefers a different flower: Professor Blau iris — a pale
blue-purple member of this many-hued species. When asked if he has a least
favorite, he says no. “Well, except for the skunk flower,” he says, referring
to a large, ugly and unusual plant with a very appropriate name. King’s love
for all flowers began when he was a child living on a cattle ranch in southern Colorado. After school
he would help his grandmother who owned Forget-Me-Not Flowers, a tiny floral
shop she ran out of her house. “It was pretty, and different from the ranch,”
he says. Although King had always loved flowers, he only found himself thinking
about working with them for a living after graduating from Brigham Young
University with a
bachelor’s degree in psychology. King says that he soon discovered he “wasn’t
any good” at his job. “I was too empathetic, and you can’t be that way,” he
explains. “I’d take their problems home and lose sleep and dwell.” At first,
King worked for local shops like Neff Floral. But he quickly discovered that he
wanted his own store. In 1989 Flower Exchange opened its doors on 900 W 900 S,
where it would remain for over two decades. Its catchier name came along in
1993, when King also briefly considered calling it “Stems Flower Co.” “I
thought Twigs was easier to remember,” says King. “[The customers] just held
onto it.” At one point, Twigs had locations in Cottonwood Mall and Trolley Square.
Wanting to concentrate on quality over quantity, King closed those down by
2000. Today, his shop is located in Sugarhouse at 1100 E 1616 S. Along with
individual blossoms for those looking to surprise a friend or liven up a room,
King also sells a variety of vases, garden decorations, fruit baskets, and even
self-described “junk food baskets,” along with flower arrangements for any
occasion imaginable. And while King has created wreathes, bouquets and
centerpieces for everything from funerals to luaus, he says that his favorite
events are weddings and commitment ceremonies. For one upcoming wedding, he
mentions that he is flying in a special kind of peony from Israel. The reason? The bride-to-be
has fond memories of their smell. “If it adds to the celebration of that day,
that’s great,” he says. “Often they [people marrying or having a commitment
ceremony] have planned this day for years, and often they have an exact idea of
what it looks like.” When he is not creating custom arrangements or corsages,
King still spends his time working with flowers and plants. His home, he says,
currently has three gardens — one for roses, one for vegetables, and one for
what he calls “mixed flowers,” or different kinds of flowers growing side by
side. “I’ve got a lot of space,” he laughs. He also attends the Kula Community
Yoga Center
in Salt Lake City,
where he is a much-loved student and sometime-decorator. “Owner Ray King is one
of our favorite students and always brings great smiles and cheer,” reads the
Local Businesses page on the studio’s Web site. “If you've noticed any of the
arangements [sic] at the desks, they have been the gifts of Ray.” And when the
weather is nicer, King also enjoys camping, hiking, biking and hanging out with
his friends. But until the days become longer and warmer, he and others can
take consolation in the gorgeous blossoms that have brought Twigs awards from
all over the state for as long as King has been in business. “In here, it’s
always spring,” he says.
2010 Some wonder why Utah lawmakers backed off on gay-rights bills
Legislature » Momentum was on our side, advocates say, so why wait until next
year? By Rosemary Winters The Salt Lake Tribune 02/02/2010 With an LDS Church
endorsement, surging public support and Utah's most populous city and county
signing on, efforts to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination
had momentum going into the 2010 legislative session. So when Democrats shelved
until 2011 an anti-discrimination effort -- in addition to three other
gay-rights measures -- as a "compromise" to block anti-gay
legislation, many supporters felt deflated. "I understand that there is a
political process," Valerie Larabee, director of the Utah Pride Center,
said Monday. "It just seems to me that protecting LGBT people is the right
thing to do, and waiting another year is disappointing." Martha Amundsen, a Salt Lake City lesbian and
an employment attorney, questions the strategy. "The choice has been made
to roll over rather than go down swinging," she said. "Make the
anti-gay legislators have their feelings be known and draw them into the
spotlight. This just gives them another year to hide." Facing five
potential bills aimed at stopping or limiting local governments from passing
anti-discrimination ordinances -- similar to Salt Lake City's and Salt Lake
County's -- Rep. Christine Johnson and other Democrats called a truce last
week, even though the LDS Church, according to spokesman Scott Trotter, has
urged legislators not to overturn those local statutes. Both sides are expected
to drop their bills. Johnson, who had planned to run a statewide
anti-discrimination bill, is asking the Legislature to take a year to study the
issue and decide whether to pass legislation in 2011. That effort, HB128, is
co-sponsored by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper. Johnson hopes to build on the
collaborative spirit that led to widespread support, including a key
endorsement by the LDS Church, for Salt Lake City's ordinances banning housing
and work discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. "This is anything but giving
up," said Johnson, who is a lesbian. "It is a priority to keep those
[Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County] protections in place. ... The LGBT
community has lost nothing with this compromise but has gained an opportunity
to make progress on an issue which matters very much to us." Gail Turpin, a Salt Lake City mother to two
lesbian stepdaughters, said she felt "disappointment" when she heard
about the deal. As a retiree, she devotes much of her time pushing for gay
rights and was looking forward to visiting Capitol Hill this year. "I was
fired up. I was ready to go," she says. "I respect and trust
Christine Johnson. ... But I do not trust that the other side is really concerned
with the welfare and well-being of the LGBT community. That's what worries me:
What happens in this yearlong process?" Jacob Whipple, a gay activist,
wonders how independent the results of a Republican-led legislative committee
will be -- although he sees why Democrats chose to compromise. "They felt
it was nothing or worse -- and they chose nothing," he said. "The
fact that we came so far in public opinion and in motivating our own community
to now be stalemated for a full year, because of this deal, is incredibly
disheartening." Two-thirds of Utahns support expanding Salt Lake City's
anti-discrimination protections statewide, according to a recent Salt Lake
Tribune poll. Quin Monson, associate director of Brigham Young University's
Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, said it may be a "wise
move" for Democrats to wait. "Certainly the odds won't get any worse
over the course of the year," he said. "The downside to waiting is
you don't see immediate action. But the upside may be success in the long
run." Bills dropped or blocked by the compromise Pre-emption » Five bills
reportedly were in the works that would have weakened or overturned Salt Lake
City's and Salt Lake County's anti-discrimination ordinances.
Anti-discrimination » Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, planned to push
a statewide ban on housing and employment discrimination based on sexual
orientation or gender identity. Wrongful death » Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake
City, shelved his bill to allow same-sex partners and other financial
dependents to sue when a breadwinner suffers a wrongful death. Currently, only
spouses, parents and children can.Adoption » Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt
Lake City, dropped her three-year fight to restore adoption rights for
unmarried couples, including gay and lesbian pairs.Military service » Johnson
won't run a resolution urging the president and Congress to end "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell," which bans openly gay service members.
 |
| Bob McIntier |
2016 Robert Morgan McIntier was born October 23, 1948, to Morgan E. (Bud) and Beth M. McIntier in Pocatello, Idaho. He passed away on February 2, 2016 at his home in West Valley City, Utah, after a struggle with cancer. His three passions in life were electronic gadgets, music, and television broadcasting. In school, he could always be found setting up microphones or lighting for a school play, assembly, or dance, as well as for church events. He sang in the Highland High School choir,and in smaller groups, including a quartet that won local and regional competitions. His long career in television included KID-TV, KTLE, and KPVI in Pocatello, and KUTV and KSL in Salt Lake City, before moving into the manufacturing of television studio equipment. He served a two-year mission for the LDS Church in England. Following that, he served in numerous capacities in both the LDS Church and other churches [MCC and the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ] devoted to the LGBT community. He served for two years on the board of directors of the Utah Stonewall Center. He was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his three siblings, Marcia (Wayne) Cahill, Arvada, Colorado; Alan (Charlotte) McIntier, Salt Lake City; Scott (Carol) McIntier, Everett, Washington. A viewing will be held at Larkin Sunset Lawn mortuary at 2350 E. 1300 South, in Salt Lake City, on February 13 from 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM. Funeral services will be at the same location at 11:00 AM. Interment will be at the Sunset Lawn Memorial Gardens in Salt Lake City
- I have known Bob
for 30 years one of the first people I met at the old Affirmation and was one
of the founders of the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ. He succeeded Tony
Feliz as president of the Church a position he held for probably 25 years.
Prior to RCJC he was on the board of the Resurrection metropolitan Community
Church. I will find out more details as they happen... He attended the 1987
March on Washington as I did and he was an important figure in the late 1980s
laying the foundation for the community we have today. A true pioneer. RIP, Ben Williams
 |
| James Humphreys |
2017 After
Berkeley, Utah man says he's faced left's sting for being gay, Republican by
KUTV Utah gay Republican activist James
Humphreys does not share the flamboyance or inflammatory rhetoric of Milo
Yiannopoulos, whose planned speech at UC Berkeley triggered a violent,
destructive protest. But
Humphreys said he can relate to Yiannopoulos in one way -- being subjected to
intense criticism for being gay and conservative. "It
means we share something very important in common," said Humphreys in an
interview with 2News. "We're both hated more by the gay community than we
are by Republicans." Yiannopoulos,
editor for Breitbart, who speaks on behalf of free speech and against political
correctness, has traded in what critics may call "hate speech." He
was also a vocal supporter of President Trump during the campaign. "I
don't have opinions that are particularly outrageous," Yiannopoulos told
students at another California campus earlier this month. "But I like to
say them in outrageous ways, of course, because I like attention." Humphreys
-- a former GOP state delegate, Log Cabin Republican president, and campaign
aide -- called Yiannopoulos an "entertainer," who takes oratory to an
uncomfortable level. But
Humphreys said backlash was "ridiculous" at Berkeley. "For
people who claim to love free speech, they seem to only love it when the
free-speech agrees with them," he said. Humphreys
said the Utah Eagle Forum's Gayle Ruzicka, perhaps the best known conservative
presence in Utah, has shown him more "dignity and respect" than many
in the gay community. While
gay leaders in Salt Lake City have also been respectful, he said
"vocal" gay activists have treated him "abhorrently." Humphreys
said his stance on same sex marriage -- in which he preferred a state solution rather
than a U.S. Supreme Court ruling -- even led to death threats. "I
received close to a half dozen (threats) over the course of the year,"
Humphreys said. "And I lost a lot of friends." Asked
if Yiannopoulos ought to be heard, Humphreys responded, "Yes on a
taxpayer-funded state campus, paid for by the federal government, primarily
through student loans that the state of California eats constantly for
breakfast." Asked
if he thought he, himself, should also be heard, Humphreys smiled and said,
"Well maybe."
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