Friday, August 16, 2013

This Day In Gay Utah History AUGUST 16th

August 16th

F. E. Daniel
1893-Dr F. E. Daniel, editor of the Texas Medical Journal, presented a paper which advocated the castration of male and female sexual perverts, including homosexuals, to prevent them from reproducing and passing on these traits. He also recommended that those convicted of such offenses be stripped of all rights.Daniels advocated eugenics or human engineering

1893 Utah Journal Charged with a Horrible Crime page 8 Clarence Fielding, a colored waiter, on the diner Golden Gate, was arrested yesterday afternoon by Officer Felker charged with one of the most heinous crimes in the legal category, that of a “Crime Against Nature”. His hearing will take place this morning in the police court. It seems from the complaints made, that Fielding had made it a practice since the bathing season commenced to visit the several bathing holes on the Weber, west of the railroad yards, where the small boys delight to sport in the waters of the river and entice the lads to submit themselves to his horrible passions’ standard. He was convicted of lewd and lascivious behavior but no evidence of sodomy which would have sent him to prison.

George Albert Smith Missionary
1930 - Heber J. Grant remarks that LDS Apostle George Albert Smith "is getting very nervous. We don't want him to have another breakdown such as he had years ago, almost costing him his life." Apostle Smith doesn't begin describing his symptoms until January 1932, and year later writes,"My Nerves are nearly gone but am holding on the best I know how." Symptoms gradually subside and do not resume until he is LDS church president in 1945 and continued to his death in 1951. George Albert Smith had a lifelong struggle with what appears to be some sort of chronic depression and anxiety disorder and mental illness. He was the last church president to have a benign attitude towards the church's homosexuals.

1969-New York City's Gay Liberation Front sponsored the first "Coming Out" dance at Alternate U. to give Gays and lesbians the opportunity to support their own organizations rather than the mafia-owned bars.

Utah State Mental Hospital
1985 The number of sexual abuse cases among Provo School District students more than doubled from last year and school officials say one reason could be that earlier victims are now attackers. 125 children were referred to district social workers for sexual abuses and incest. Of those 108 were elementary school age, 9 were in Junior High School, and 8 in High School. Most of the victims had been molested by family members. One juvenile had abused 31 children from one elementary school for over 4 years. The attacks included forcible sodomy and intercourse. The youngster has since been committed to the Utah State [Mental] Hospital said Provo Police Chief. (08/16/1985 SLTribune B18)

1985 Robert Mahan age 34 died of AIDS in Utah . He was a divorced elementary school

teacher. He was born 21 Feb 1951 in Alameda County, California and died in Salt Lake City


Gary Broadbank
1987- Prince and Princess Royale Gary and Betty John of the Royal Court raised $1000 for the People's Concern and People With AIDS funds from the annual Carnival Fiesta
Russ Lane

1987- Wasatch Affirmation had as its topic, "How to talk to Church Leaders" taught by Russ Lane.

1988 -At Unconditional Support, the topic of metaphysics and the New Age was taught by John Merrill aka Dixie who discussed channeling, reincarnation, astral projection, crystals and the like. Eric Vaughn and Alan Peterson elected new assistant directors of Unconditional Support after Ken (Sugartush) Francis stepped down to move to San Francisco.

1989 Wednesday,  CANDIDATE FOR S.L. CITY COUNCIL ASSAILS `SMEAR TACTIC' LETTER SAYS REPUBLICAN ATTACK IS OUT OF PLACE IN A NON-PARTISAN RACE  By Robert Rice, Staff Writer A letter circulated by the Salt Lake County Republican Party questioning a Salt Lake City Council candidate's "moral integrity" is a smear tactic and out of place in a non-partisan municipal election, the candidate said Tuesday. The Aug. 4 letter, on party stationery, signed by County Republican Chairman Peter Van Alstyne and sent to Republican voting district officers, urges District 5 voters to defeat incumbent Councilman Tom Godfrey. "Tom Godfrey does not represent the Republican values and philosophies of high moral integrity," the letter reads. The letter also said Godfrey has ignored the Republican point of view, noted his "liberal" voting record and concluded, "We must elect a person of high moral integrity to the City Council." The Deseret News obtained the letter from a source requesting confidentiality under the condition it be made clear Godfrey himself did not release the letter. "If one of my high school students had written that, they would have received a failing grade," said Godfrey, a teacher. "It's filled with generalizations and no supporting details . . . because there aren't any supporting details." Godfrey said he has returned a personal letter to Van Alstyne airing his reaction to the letter. Asked for examples of Godfrey not adhering to high moral standards, Van Alstyne said the councilman had advocated positions "supportive of issues such as homosexual rights. "Very recently, he was a keynote speaker at a homosexual-rights rally. As such, we take the position that those are not values compatible with family and community life," Van Alstyne said.  Godfrey said he was not the keynote speaker at the rally, held in a local park on Gay Pride Day. Rather he was invited to give the welcoming speech at the rally on behalf of the city. "What seems to be implied here is that there is a certain denial of one's civil rights - I can welcome some people and not the other people," Godfrey said. "I think Mr. Van Alstyne must remember that as a member of the City Council, I take an oath to uphold the Constitution and the Constitution guarantees people's civil rights," he added. Further, the letter charges Godfrey with supporting "programs and ordinances that are anti-family." Van Alstyne said Godfrey's support of the Salt Lake Community and Resource Shelter, a homeless shelter, is anti-family. "I hope that Peter's not suggesting that the City Council only represent the well-to-do families and not those in low- and moderate-income situations," Godfrey responded. Van Alstyne said he was prompted to write the letter when he learned from "reliable sources" that Godfrey was receiving support from the Democratic Party. "I have no more hard evidence that the Democratic Party is assisting Mr. Godfrey; it is circumstantial," he said, explaining that an accumulation of comments led him to conclude the party is involved. Van Alstyne said Democratic Party leaders have solicited contributions from other Democrats on behalf of Godfrey's campaign. Salt Lake County Democratic Party Chairman Earl Hardwick, once a City Council member, said Godfrey never contacted the party for support. Glen Cahoon, a former Salt Lake police captain running against Godfrey, denied any cooperation in circulating the letter. "That isn't my kind of campaign," he said. Godfrey called the Republican's letter a "smear letter, a piece of political propaganda" and added such strategy shouldn't be employed by a political party in a non-partisan race. "I've always argued strongly . . . that the council needs to be non-partisan," he said. City Council races previously have been non-partisan, Van Alstyne said. "But we have found on an increasing basis that although the public may consider them non-partisan, the parties consider them as significant political races," Van Alstyne said. According to the "Corrupt Practices Act" in the Utah Code governing elections, "No person shall knowingly make or publish, or cause to be made or published, any false statement in relation to any candidate." © 1999 Deseret News Publishing Co.

1989 A full moon Sacred Fairy gathering was held in City Creek Canyon and Memory Grove in SLC where the Fairy Manifesto was read. The Gay Spirit was invoked to help bring down Patriarchy and to bring harmony back to the world. Sky Bear burned his ties as symbols of Patriarchal oppression. In attendance was Puck, Sky Bear, Ariel, and Gayflower.

David Sharpton
1989 David Sharpton and members of the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah held a press conference to discuss the AZT federal program, scheduled to expire Sept. 30. AZT slows down the Human immunodeficiency Virus, which causes the syndrome, but the medication costs $700-800 a month per patient. The coalition was not worried the program will end, since the State Legislature appropriated $125,000 to provide the AZT if Congress lets it lapse. However, the coalition feared administration costs will divert money from the purchase of AZT if the state takes over the program. "We feel very strongly that every penny should and must be spent on people with AIDS," he said. "Medication is the only tool we have in the fight against AIDS." Some 212 Utahns have been identified as having AIDS, but between 2,000-4,000 may have HIV, according to Lewis Garrett, manager of the AIDS Control Section of the Utah Health Department.

1989-Actress Amanda Blake, best known as Miss Kitty on the television show Gunsmoke, died of complications from AIDS.

1991 The Utah State Board of Education says the following may NOT be taught in the schools: Intricacies of intercourse, sexual stimulation or erotic behavior.  Acceptance of, or advocacy of, homosexuality as a desirable or acceptable sexual adjustment or lifestyle. Advocacy or encouragement of contraceptive methods or devices by unmarried minors. Acceptance of, or advocacy of, "free sex," promiscuity or the so-called "new morality." The nine objectives of human sexuality contained in the draft of a teacher's resource guide that is being considered for use in Utah high schools: Discussion of dating, family, marriage, love and infatuation. Explanation of anatomy and physiology of the male and female reproductive systems. Discussion of maturation and the stages of sexual development. Discussion of responsible sexual behavior, stressing the benefits of strong families, abstinence and fidelity. Development of skills that promote responsible decision making. Recognition of the impact of sexual behavior on one's life goals. Discussion of pregnancy and birth. Recognition of the impact of teen pregnancy and quality of life. Discussion of the legal, social and emotional implications of pornography, prostitution, sexual abuse, incest and rape.

1994 The Salt Lake Tribune Victim's Family, Gays Say Killer Got Off Too Easy Killer's Sentence Too Light, Says Family of Gay Victim By Stephen Hunt David Nelson Thacker cut his potential prison time from life to 15 years by pleading guilty to manslaughter for killing a man in a Park City parking lot. On Monday, the Nevada cowboy got another break when 3rd District Judge David S. Young sentenced him to no more than 6 years at Utah State Prison. Stunned family members of the victim believe the lenient sentence was handed down because the victim, 31-year-old Douglas C. Koehler, was gay. ``It's a mockery,'' said Koehler's sister, Susan
David Nelson
Nelson. ``It's like his life wasn't worth anything. When you murder someone, you should spend your life paying for that murder.'' The ruling provoked a rally on the steps of the Capitol, where more than 100 outraged protesters gathered Monday night and called for Young's removal from the bench. ``With clowns on the bench, you get murderers in the streets,'' said Val Mansfield, an activist for gay and lesbian causes. ``Judge Young is an embarrassment to the state of Utah. Hate-motivated crimes deserve stiffer sentences not more lenient ones.'' Speakers called upon citizens to flood the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission with complaints about Young's rulings. And if that doesn't oust Young, who was appointed to the District Court bench by then-Gov. Norm Bangerter in 1987, he can always be voted out, said David Nelson of the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats. ``We'll get even on Election Day in November 1996,''  Nelson said, ``because that's when Judge Young won't be a judge anymore.''   Michael Aaron, chairman of Gay and
Michael Aaron
Lesbian Utah Democrats, said Young is biased against gays. ``Any reasonable Utahn would look at the case and see it as gay bashing,'' said Aaron in an interview. ``Thacker hunts down and executes someone and is guilty of no more than a third-degree felony? That's the same as shoplifting $250 of merchandise.''  Koehler was murdered Aug. 21, 1993, following a night of drinking and snorting cocaine at a Park City bar with Thacker, 27, and his roommate, Clint Crane. The two men invited Koehler to their apartment. Thacker took Koehler to his bedroom for a time but when they later emerged, he kicked Koehler out of the house and told his roommate the victim had tried to kiss him. Thacker grabbed a .22-caliber revolver and he and Crane caught up to Koehler as the victim was walking the four miles to his Park West condominium. Crane testified he thought they would scare or beat up Koehler. But Thacker shot Koehler between the eyes. The victim's body was found within 50 feet of his condo, his hands still shoved in his pockets. Crane, 21, pleaded guilty to attempted obstruction of justice and will be sentenced Aug. 21. He faces up to 5 years in prison. Defense attorney Ron Yengich said Thacker was intoxicated and the gun went off accidentally. But Summit County Attorney Robert Adkins said Thacker's drug and alcohol intoxication was taken into account when prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge from murder to manslaughter. Adkins said it was ``highly probable'' the victim and Thacker had consensual sex, despite Thacker's contention Koehler had made an unwanted sexual advance. Tests show Thacker is more aroused by consenting males than consenting females, Adkins added. But the judge suggested the murder was a one-time tragedy. The victim would be alive if he had not ``supplied the drugs and alcohol'' the night of his death, said Young. And Thacker may not have killed had he not lived by the rule, ``Don't get mad, get even.''  Young said that based on his experience as a Utah Board of Pardons member, the recidivism rate for murder is lower than any other category of crime. (08/16/94 Page: C1 SLTribune)
  • ·     Deseret News Utah's gay community protests killer's sentence Members of Utah's gay community rallied Monday night to protest a judge's decision to give a reduced sentence to a Nevadan who shot and killed a homosexual man. More than 100 people attended a rally at the Utah Capitol, and  many called for 3rd District Judge David Young's removal from the  bench. "What Judge Young has said is that it's OK to kill faggots. This is  beyond insult," said David Nelson, founder of the Gay and Lesbian Utah  Democrats. Young ordered David Thacker to serve a zero-to-five-year  sentence with a one-year enhancement for shooting Douglas Koehler in the  head nearly a year ago. Thacker was originally charged with murder but  pleaded to a reduced charge of manslaughter. The maximum penalty for  the reduced charge is one to 15 years in prison, but Young felt that was  "too high a penalty" and sentenced Thacker as if the charge were reduced one more degree. Upset members of the dead man's family said they believe the lighter sentence was imposed because Koehler was gay. “It hurts to think our brother's life was taken by this man and it's being  justified because he was drunk and on drugs and because he (Thacker) was embarrassed because a pass was made at him," said Christine Williams. Young has also come under fire recently by the National Organization  for Women for decisions involving ethnic minorities and women. NOW has  begun a detailed research of his decisions in cases involving women's  issues and plans to put a feminist in the judge's courtroom to listen for  misogynist remarks, said NOW-Utah spokeswoman Luci Malin.

John Robert Holbrook
1996 Page: B1 The Aug. 20, 1996, edition of The Advocate, a national gay and lesbian magazine, contains on Page 103 an ad for Utah local John Robert Holbrook Co.'s ``Essence of Men'' cologne. The ad features a photo of a nude man (in a discreet pose) and gives two 800 numbers for marketers of the product. One number is for International Male Boutique. The other is for ZCMI.

President Bill Clinton
1996-At a volunteer campaign training conference in Chicago sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, President Clinton said through a videotaped address, "I'm especially proud to be the first president to endorse a civil rights bill that specifically includes gay and lesbian Americans. I support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act because I believe in the fundamental values of fairness and equality."

1998 The Utah Stonewall Classic was held at Sunnyside Park in Salt Lake City. This softball tournament is a fundraiser for the Utah Gay and Lesbian Community Center.

Bob Henline
2009 Tolerant Rollercoasters Gay day at Lagoon notably free of bigotry By Bob Henline Salt Lake City weekly – 21 August- This past Sunday, Aug. 16, I had the pleasure of attending Q Salt Lake’s Gay Lagoon Day event. I will admit that I was somewhat concerned before hand, being skeptical of the Utah public’s response to a gathering of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in a “family” environment such as Lagoon. Throughout the day, we walked through the park, enjoying the atmosphere, the games, the rides, and all of the fun normally associated with Lagoon. We walked behind large groups of people from the LGBT community, mostly wearing red to affiliate themselves, trying to observe the reactions of people in the park to their presence. My hat goes off to Utah. Not once did we hear any negative or derogatory comments toward gays in the park. No sideways glances, offhand gestures or anything in any way inappropriate or demeaning. At one point, as the entire crowd had gathered near the park entrance for a group photo, one passer-by raised both hands in a victory gesture and shouted his support. The question this begs, though, is why are Utah’s elected leaders so far behind the will of the people? It was obvious from my observations and from several comments overhead by others and reported to me that the masses of Utah do not hold the level of animosity for the LGBT community that is evidenced by the repeated comments and actions of our elected bigots. Granted, this was not anything resembling a scientific poll, but based upon my observations, it was a pretty decent sampling of Utah’s population roaming Lagoon. Ironically enough, the “Gay” pavilion was located in a somewhat secluded area, relative to the other pavilions, but was connected by a small shared courtyard to one other pavilion. On Sunday, that other pavilion was occupied by the Trinity Lutheran Church group. One could almost expect that such groups would mix about as well as oil and water, but again, there was not a hint of a problem from any part of the general crowd. Would this have been the case 10 years ago, or even five? We have differences in our society, differences of race, religion, belief systems, ethics, gender, gender identity and preference, culture, creed and all sorts of other things. There is absolutely no reason that society cannot embrace these differences and be the better for it. While there is still much work to be done to help bring Utah’s laws in line with the finest traditions of liberty and equality for all, if the acceptance and even support that I witnessed on Sunday is any indication, that day is coming. If only our leaders were as in touch with the masses as they are with the fundamentalists at the Eagle Forum and Sutherland Institute.

2010 Q SaltLake Activist Calls for UAF Director Penfold’s Ouster by Michael Aaron At a rally
Stan Penfold
focused on community building, building bridges and a call to “band together to change our common destinies,” community leader Richard Matthews raised more than a few eyebrows by calling for the resignation of Stan Penfold, executive director of the Utah AIDS Foundation. “I hate making enemies; I really deep down just want to be friends with everyone,” Matthews wrote in a Facebook appeal titled, “Save the Utah AIDS Foundation” after the rally. “However, [rally organizer] Turner [Bitton] and I agreed: there comes a time in your life when you can’t worry about what people think. You have to do what you know is right.” “I would avoid such impropriety at all costs if it weren’t about the lives and livelihoods of young people who are UNeducated, UNaware of the danger, and woefully UNPREPARED,” he continued. Matthews believes Utah needs a “comprehensive HIV prevention program” and that Utah is “losing the battle against HIV.” He also questions Penfold’s dedication to his job.
Turner Bitton
  “The leadership that we have entrusted to carry our banner in this battle is absent. The commander is not on the battlefield. In fact, I don’t believe you can even see the battlefield from the golf course or the city council chambers. I don’t think everyone realizes the gravity of this crisis. This is all hands on deck! That means you captain! You can’t save this sinking ship when you’re only at the helm for an hour a week,” he wrote. Penfold said he was surprised at the call. “I think it’s unfortunate that someone who clearly has concerns about HIV in our community didn’t come and talk to us at the UAF,” Penfold said. “It has caused me to reexamine our open-door policy. We apparently have barriers we are not aware of.” Penfold said he understands that there might be a perception that he cannot handle both the UAF and his role on the Salt Lake City Council, which he was elected to in November of last year. “Yes, the city council is a demanding job, and the Utah AIDS Foundation is a demanding job. Both require a lot of time,” Penfold said. “I put in my full time at UAF. I work at least 40 hours a week, but not at my desk. I 
Richard Matthews
meet with community partners, community leaders, funders, donors and the Board [of Trustees].  A significant part of my job is outside the office. In fact, if I were at my desk, I wouldn’t be doing my job as director.” “Stan works an average of 45-plus hours a week,” said UAF Board of Trustees Chair Shawn Jackson. “He is a very dedicated executive director and has put his life on hold for many years to ensure that his first obsession — the Utah AIDS Foundation — is the best it can be. UAF’s staff is very well trained with the day-to-day operations, where Stan concentrates on the big picture — the community, community partnerships, donor relations and so on. HIV on the Rise Matthews points to recent statistics, which show a significant increase in new HIV diagnoses, as his reason for taking action. In eight years, the rate of HIV infections has risen nearly four-fold from 30 to 112, according to the Utah Department of Health. Seventy percent of all HIV-positive people in the state are men who have sex with men, including IV drug users who also have sex with men. (Twelve percent of HIV-positive people are unclassified.) “We are losing the battle against HIV, and the response of our flagship HIV foundation is to decrease prevention efforts,” Matthews wrote. Matthews is a former UAF volunteer who helped run a program since cut by the Foundation — The Village. “Two years ago I came out of the closet. I had no friends and didn’t know one openly-gay person,” he said. “I found a sense of family in The Village.” He has since started a similar group, called SimplySocial, which meets on Wednesday nights at the University of Utah for an hour before going to dinner all together at a restaurant. Matthews points to what he says are severe reductions in services by UAF. He says that the organization has “dismantled nearly all of their HIV prevention programming,” with the exception of a program for Latino men. He also points to a reduction in HIV testing, especially free and walk-in testing, the discontinuation of the annual Gay Men’s Health Summit and support groups for people living with HIV and AIDS. He claims there is no HIV prevention programming for youth nor services for HIV-positive youth and that the organization turns away coordination requests from other groups. Penfold said he is well
aware of the increase in HIV transmission rates. “It has been agonizing to see that, despite all of our efforts, infections are still going up across the country and in Utah as well,” Penfold said. “We’ve been taking a serious, hard look at our prevention programming. We are trying to be proactive. The old programming wasn’t working anymore, so we took a critical look at it.” “We looked at other models across the country, but no one yet has a ‘magic cure,’” he continued. “Any good prevention program has a life expectancy of about five to six years. After that, it gets stale and routine.” New Outreach Programs Penfold said that the organization is currently focusing on two main efforts — A Mr. Gentleman campaign and the Doctors, Dudes and Dinner (3D) program. “The Mr. Gentleman campaign is a refocus of our outreach in bar and social settings,” he said. Volunteers dress as superheroes and hand out packets with condoms, lube and a voucher to receive free HIV testing. “It’s an effort to show that safer sex can also be sexy. We worked really hard on sex-positive messages. There are plenty of sex-negative messages out there.” Penfold says the program scales back in the summer because bar attendance is down and volunteers are more difficult to attract. “It’ll pick up when school starts,” he explained. The 3D program focuses on frank talk about sexual subjects in a relaxed, open setting. Topics are on health issues for gay men, including body image, steroids, drug use and anal care. “We need to be very focused and specific in HIV education,” Penfold said. “We have done three and a fourth is coming up.” “They’ve had good evaluations,” he said. “We want to make sure they are hearing the HIV [messaging] pieces. We’re going to crank it up a bit this fall and winter, doing more of those and broadening the topics to be more edgy and cool.” As far as free HIV testing, Jackson says that the Foundation still offers testing twice a week — Mondays for drop-ins and Wednesdays for appointments. “In our prevention outreach programs, we give out safe sex packets which include a card for free HIV testing,” Jackson said. “Also if you cannot pay for the test, we will not turn you away either. “ “Frankly, we are overwhelmed by the amount of people coming to get tested,” Jackson continued, “We do not have the manpower or the facility to accommodate everyone.” HIV-Positive Youth Matthews also expressed concern about youth entering the community, already sexually active, and already HIV-positive. “My heart broke upon hearing from a 19-year-old kid, only recently joined our community, freshly diagnosed and now burdened with a lifetime of stigma, compromised health, a shortened lifespan, compromised relationships, and psychological burden,” Matthews wrote. This is a terrible price to pay for a mistake, especially when you did not understand the danger. How many kids do we have to lose to this terrible infection before we stop being polite about it?” “It’s a huge concern and a significant challenge,” Penfold said. “Young men are becoming sexually active before we have any chance to interact with them. They are sexually active in high school and they are not looking to gay organizations and such.” Penfold said that current Utah law restricts even the mention of homosexuality in any kind of positive light in the classroom. “They are not going to bars or social groups. They are hooking up online,” Penfold said. “It becomes a really incredible challenge to get to them — especially if they are under 20.” “People need to start demanding comprehensive sex education in schools,” he said. “We need a bigger, full-community response. Any encounter with a gay youth needs to have a talk about their safety and safer sex.” Capitol Hill Matthews counters that Penfold cannot be an effective lobbyist on Capitol Hill to demand such things as a shift in sex education because of his role in the Salt Lake City Council. “The role of director of UAF should be that of lobbyist-in-chief over the issue of HIV/AIDS,” Matthews said. “The door knocking and lobbying on Capitol Hill this year was done by other organizations. I find it hard to believe that being elected to the city council would make one more willing to be a bull-dog advocate on Capitol Hill when one has sworn an oath to represent the city.” One of the leading organizations which did the “door knocking” on Capitol Hill was the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah. Executive director Toni Johnson only said that she has “read the Facebook article, and I agree that there are legitimate concerns which need to be addressed.” However, QSaltLake was on an email list last fall where Johnson and other prominent community leaders were going out of their way to accommodate Penfold’s schedule to join them in a meeting to address the needs of people with HIV and AIDS in light of decreasing Ryan White funding – and the possibility Utah wouldn’t match the funds at all. Penfold, who was in the final throes of his city council campaign, never attended, even the week following the election. “Instead of leading the charge of organizing a community-wide response to cuts in state funding to HIV medication, he failed even to attend,” Matthews said. Former Utahn and HIV/AIDS activist Stuart Merrill, who ran the Campaign to End Aids–Utah, said that Penfold refused for years to meet with him and other community organizations. He believes it came down to the bottom line as to why he wouldn’t have a presence on Capitol Hill. “He refuses to lobby,” Merrill said. “He goes to great lengths to avoid anything even remotely politically touchy because it may affect his donor base.” “There are just some times when his political goals directly conflicted with needs of the HIV community,” he said. “On two occasions we successfully lobbied for enough state money to eliminate wait lists in Utah. Stan, for whatever reason, tried on both occasions to stop our efforts, in spite of the fact that this work and these monies may literally have saved the lives of UAF clients.” People with HIV/AIDS at Risk Last October, the Utah AIDS Drug Assistance Program closed its doors to new applicants, lowered its income eligibility requirements and kicked 87 people from its rolls because of a state funding shortage. “This is the money that [Penfold] said wasn’t needed the previous two years,” Merrill said. “Now there are people with HIV and AIDS in Utah who must wait while their disease progresses before they can get treatment.” “Last year I was hospitalized because I wasn’t on medications,” wrote former Utahn Adam Alder in a guest editorial in the August 3 issue of QSaltLake. “I spent four days at the University Hospital battling pneumonia. I couldn’t get medications because the Utah AIDS Foundation constantly lost the paperwork needed for the Health Department and the Ryan White Program … Four days, and many antibiotics and shots later, I was starting to make a recovery. Upon checking out of the hospital, I was told to call and make an appointment with the doctor to get me started on HIV meds. The next day I called and was told there were no openings for six months. So, I told myself that I’d try to stay healthy until I could leave in August.” “Here in Minnesota we are flush with HIV cash,” Merrill said. “The state budget was just cut by almost $1 billion, but nobody so much as whispered the thought of cutting our HIV funding. The federal bill that I worked on with Senator Hatch netted Minnesota almost $2 million a year more. It also netted Utah $1/2 million per year, but I guess it wasn’t enough … now new HIV cases in Salt Lake City have worse access to meds than in Havana or Rio.” A Director’s Pay Matthews also complained of Penfold getting a raise in difficult economic times. Penfold’s salary before 2008 was 58,275 plus $1,020 in an employee benefits plan, according to public records of UAF’s tax returns. In 2008, he received $68,000 and $5,630 in benefits. “The salary of the director of the Utah AIDS Foundation is larger than the entire organizational budget of the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah,” Matthews wrote. “Many would argue that PWAC provides more value and programming to the HIV-positive community. The Northern Utah Coalition operates tremendous programming in the Weber County area with almost no funding.” “The last time the Board approved any salary adjustments was in January of 2008,” said Jackson. “And it was based on a market survey of the sector and local nonprofits. We made adjustments to several positions, including Stan’s and all adjustments were still below market rates.  Prior to 2008, Stan had not received any increase in salary for more than six years.” “I’m not saying a director isn’t worth $70,000 per year,” said Matthews, “I’m just saying that with that kind of money, we should have a passionate advocate and warrior that is the most recognizable face in the community providing education and guidance.” Petition Matthews has created a Facebook page to collect “signatures” at tinyurl.com/saveUAF, titled “Petition to Save the UAF — A Call for New Leadership.” So far, 180 people have “signed” by choosing the “Like” button. “I’m asking you to stand with me in calling on the Board of Trustees of the UAF to bring in a fresh new perspective, someone with new innovative ideas and approaches,” Matthews wrote. “Young people are more empowered than ever. They’re coming out in junior high. They’re not being rejected by their friends and family. They hang out with straight friends and go to straight clubs. They don’t define themselves by gay labels.  This is a whole different gay man we need to reach. Our traditional approaches are completely irrelevant. It’s not enough to sit in a bar and pass out condoms. We can’t keep using the same old approaches that have been used for 30 years. We need new approaches to tackle a problem that we are currently FAILING to address. Actually, I take that back. Even old approaches would be adequate right now. But NO approach is not okay. Doing nothing is not okay. We are not beaten, we have not lost.” “We are really open and accept criticism,” Penfold said. “I get that this is truly about all of us. It’s going to take every single one of us to make change happen.”  “I think it is great that we are talking about it,” he continued. “If we can get a dialogue going, we can bring our concerns and problems, and come up with solutions together. I think that’s incredible.

The Jam
2012 Brandon's Big Gay Blog / Culture SLC Gay Club Flare-Bombed by Dumbasses on Karaoke Night Posted By Brandon Burt o It was the courage of some quick-witted gay men -- along with a measure of sheer luck -- that thwarted a potential tragedy early Thursday morning at club JAM (751 N. 300 West) when, according to Salt Lake City blogger Fernando Noriega, several lighted incendiary flares were launched onto a fenced-in patio during a popular Wednesday-night karaoke event. --- Noriega's blog TheGayHotSpot.com reports that 30-40 individuals were on the patio when they were "pelted with what are believed to be at least 6 lit high-temperature flares." Miraculously, nobody was seriously burned -- the flames were soon doused by alert homosexual karaoke aficionados.  In the ensuing confusion, Noriega
Fernando Noriega
himself actually scaled the fence and caught a glimpse of three white males in the act of throwing flares -- and then, along with a nearby witness and other action-oriented JAM patrons, chased down the fleeing assailants, catching them at 800 North & 300 West, where Noriega and other witnesses identified the flare-bombers' vehicle as an early-'00s red Pontiac Grand Am. As it turns out, the dumbass attackers had such poor aim, they not only failed in their attempt to cause serious burns and injuries among the gay men occupying the patio, but even failed to disrupt the evening's karaoke event -- which, with characteristic sang-froid, JAM patrons soon resumed. JAM management is generously characterizing the event as a juvenile prank rather than an actual terrorist attack -- which means it's perfectly safe for bar patrons to go back and have a good time at this very nice club. At the same time, once these flare-tossing muttonheads are brought to justice, it could end up being a decent motivation for updating Utah's anemic hate-crime statute that, so far, fails to include sexual orientation as a protected class. Over the past several years, the Salt Lake City Police Department has been really quite effective and decent in its dealings with the LGBT community. So, my guess is that the mad bombers will be quickly apprehended and held to account for the property damage JAM sustained during the attack. [Thanks to City Weekly writer & blogger Colin Wolf for the heads-up on this story.]

Ty Mansfield
2013 Openly gay Mormon taught religion classes this summer at BYU By Ray Parker | The Salt Lake Tribune Ty Mansfield, a gay Mormon who co-wrote a book about same-sex attraction and has since married a woman, taught a religion course this summer at Brigham Young University. He may have been the first openly gay instructor hired to teach at the private university owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but school officials said Friday they could not verify that. Mansfield was hired as an adjunct, or temporary, professor to teach two religion classes, which means he is not part of the faculty, said BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins. She said she was unsure whether he might return next summer to teach the course, called LDS Marriage and Family. Mansfield, a marriage and family therapist in Lubbock, Texas, married his wife, Danielle, in 2010. They are the parents of one son. The sexuality of a staff member would not be an issue unless there was a violation of the Provo school’s Honor Code, Jenkins said. On the BYU website, the code states that a person’s "stated same-gender attraction is not an Honor Code issue." It adds: "However, the Honor Code requires all members of the university community to manifest a strict commitment to the law of chastity. Homosexual behavior is inappropriate and violates the Honor Code. Homosexual behavior includes not only sexual relations between members of the same sex, but all forms of physical intimacy that give expression to homosexual feelings." Years ago, LDS leaders faced criticism within and outside the faith for earlier statements about same-sex attraction. Mansfield came out in 2004, when he co-wrote In Quiet Desperation: Understanding the Challenge of Same-Gender Attraction. The book began with the story of Stuart Matis, who shot himself on the steps of his LDS chapel in Los Altos, Calif., after struggling with same-sex attraction. Today, the Utah-based church emphasizes that same-sex attraction is not a sin, but acting on it is. LDS leaders recently created mormonsandgays.org, which urges compassion for those with same-sex attraction. Mansfield has been featured on the site, under "Ty’s Story." Mansfield, who could not be reached for this story, co-founded the nonprofit organization North Star, "a support organization for LDS individuals and families affected by homosexuality." In May, he wrote an essay on North Star’s website titled "Owning Our Stories, Living Authentically and Standing as Witnesses." "Over the course of the last few years there has been a remarkable shift in the conversation we’re having around homosexuality in LDS culture," he wrote. "While core doctrines of the church with regard to the appropriate bounds of sexual expression have not changed (and will not change), there has been a clarifying and nuancing of church teachings (i.e., sexual attraction or temptation is not a sin — it’s simply part of the broad range of human experience we’re called to channel and transcend if we’re to become divine — only inappropriate indulgence in thought or behavior is), as well as a notable shift in our cultural attitudes." He also has discussed the topic on YouTube, and in May 2012, Mansfield and his wife told their courtship story in an LDS Living magazine article called "Living With Same-Sex Attraction: Our Story." An editor’s note reads: "We are in no way suggesting marriage is a catch-all solution; we recognize everyone’s experience is different. This is simply one man’s story of finding fulfillment and happiness while living in harmony with the gospel." Adam White, head of the BYU student group Understanding Same-Gender Attraction, said it’s helpful for Mormons with same-sex attraction to be visible like Mansfield. "Our stories need to be told," White said. "It’s important to demystify. ... We read the Honor Code before every meeting. The purpose is to talk about homosexuality and Mormonism." David Nelson, a pioneer in the gay-rights movement in Utah, who ran the first campaign as an openly gay candidate for the Salt Lake City Council in 1985, said Mansfield being hired at BYU is a move in the right direction, showing "that the LDS Church is practicing what it preaches when it comes to welcoming church members and employees with same-sex attraction." "Coming from the premier church university," Nelson said, "the decision is especially remarkable," considering LGBT students were disciplined in the 1970s. 

2017 QSaltLake In unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election, Sophia Hawes-Tingey has progressed to be on the general election ballot for Midvale City Mayor, Chris Wharton will be on the ballot with Phil Carroll for Salt Lake City Council District 1, Marcia White took nearly half the votes for Ogden City Council At Large District A and Paul Rogers will be on the ballot for Logan City Council.
  • Sophia Hawes-Tingey received 628 votes, or 24.27 percent. while conservative
    Sophie Hawes-Tingey
    Robert Hale received 788 votes, or 30.45 percent. Hawes-Tingey would become the first openly transgender person to win an elected position in the state if she wins in November.
  • Chris Wharton
    In the Avenues/Capitol Hill race for Salt Lake City Council, Chris Wharton, an attorney who has represented many in the LGBT community and lives with his husband, received 1,311 votes for 31.79 percent of all votes cast and will face long-time community activist Phil Carroll in November. Carroll received 1,353 votes for 32.81 percent of the total votes cast in the race.
  • In the Sugar House/Forest Dale Salt Lake City Council Race, Equality Utah-endorsed Amy Fowler received 1,280 votes for 40.75 percent, and will face Abe Smith, who received 716 votes for 22.80 percent of the vote.
  • In Ogden, Equality Utah-endorsed Marcia White received nearly half the vote
    Marcia White
    — 2,517 votes for 49.87 percent — and will face Lew Wheelwright, who received 1,035 votes for 20.51 percent.  On November 7, Marcia White made history as she became the first openly gay candidate to win election to Ogden’s city council. White, who pulled in endorsements from the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, the Utah AFL-CIO, Good Government PAC, and Equality Utah, among others, secured 64 percent of the vote.

  • In Logan, city council candidate Paul Rogers placed the rainbow flag prominently on his campaign signs and web site. He also spoke of the need to keep Logan Pride alive and thriving. He received 1.123 votes for 12.92 percent of the vote, coming in second in the 10-way race. Top four vote-getters progress to the November general election. Two of the four who receive the most votes in November will become Logan City Council people.
Dan Reynolds

2017 Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds gets a boost for his LGBTQ fundraising concert from, of all groups, the Mormon church SLTRIBUNE Peggy Fletcher Stack Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds was busy putting together this month’s Orem concert to benefit at-risk LGBTQ youths when he got an offer from an unexpected source: the Mormon church. The Utah-based faith — which is famously at odds with gay-rights activists over same-sex marriage and certain LDS Church policies — wanted to know what it could do to help with the Aug. 26 LoveLoud Festival, perhaps an endorsement. Reynolds readily accepted and, on Wednesday, the church posted a statement of support on its newsroom website. “We applaud the LoveLoud Festival for LGBTQ youth’s aim to bring people together to address teen safety and to express respect and love for all of God’s children,” the release stated. “We join our voice with all who come together to foster a community of inclusion in which no one is mistreated because of who they are or what they believe.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints added that it shares “common beliefs, among them the pricelessness of our youth and the value of families. We earnestly hope this festival and other related efforts can build respectful communication, better understanding, and civility as we all learn from each other.” Those words were “wonderful,” Reynolds said Wednesday, “powerful and progressive in a lot of ways.” The LoveLoud Festival will include Reynolds’ band and Neon Trees, both of which have Utah and Mormon ties, as well as EDM duo Krewella and singers Nicholas Petricca, Joshua James and Aja Volkman. It also will feature short appearances by NFL Hall of Famer and Brigham Young University graduate Steve Young and his wife, Barbara; Tom Christofferson, a gay Mormon and brother of LDS apostle D. Todd Christofferson; and Julianne Hough of “Dancing With the Stars.” “We applaud the LoveLoud Festival for LGBTQ youth’s aim to bring people together to address teen safety and to express respect and love for all of God’s children,” the release stated. “We join our voice with all who come together to foster a community of inclusion in which no one is mistreated because of who they are or what they believe.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints added that it shares “common beliefs, among them the pricelessness of our youth and the value of families. We earnestly hope this festival and other related efforts can build respectful communication, better understanding, and civility as we all learn from each other.” Those words were “wonderful,” Reynolds said Wednesday, “powerful and progressive in a lot of ways.” The LoveLoud Festival will include Reynolds’ band and Neon Trees, both of which have Utah and Mormon ties, as well as EDM duo Krewella and singers Nicholas Petricca, Joshua James and Aja Volkman. It also will feature short appearances by NFL Hall of Famer and Brigham Young University graduate Steve Young and his wife, Barbara; Tom Christofferson, a gay Mormon and brother of LDS apostle D. Todd Christofferson; and Julianne Hough of “Dancing With the Stars.” For some, it’s an unexpected show of support by the LDS Church, given that Neon Trees’ Tyler Glenn, a gay man, has disavowed his former faith, mocked Mormon founder Joseph Smith in performances and offered biting rebukes of the church’s treatment of LGBTQ members. Reynolds, who launched the event, also has been strong in his criticism of the LDS Church stance on gay members. The Grammy Award-winning singer told Billboard magazine in June that his church’s stance — that it’s OK to be gay, but acting on same-sex attractions is a sin — was “a very dangerous and hurtful and hateful thing to preach and to teach our children.” To be gay “is beautiful and right and perfect,” he told the magazine; “to tell someone they need to change their innermost being is setting up someone for an unhealthy life and unhealthy foundation.” Reynolds said Wednesday he still rejects the church’s position. “If you are gay, your life and your love is correct,” he said, “and just as valid as my life and my love.” But the musician wishes he had been clearer in the Billboard interview that he didn’t mean to criticize all Latter-day Saints “with a blanket statement.” “I have family who are Mormons, friends who are Mormon, and I am Mormon,” said the former LDS missionary, “and so many of them are bighearted and full of love for LGBTQ members and the community.” It’s a “hard road to tread for LGBTQ youths,” he said. “They need our help and our love.” The LDS Church caused a stir in November 2015 with a new policy that does not allow the children of gay parents to be blessed or baptized until they are 18, and deems same-sex married couples “apostates.” Last year, the Salt Lake City-headquartered faith did update its website mormonandgay.org to include more statements of love and acceptance for gay members, while holding to its behavioral standards. For his part, Tom Christofferson welcomes the church’s support for LoveLoud. “I’m thrilled the church wants to be part of a community response to supporting LGBTQ young people and youth safety,” he said Wednesday, “and try to make it better for everyone.” Erika Munson of Mormons Building Bridges, a group that seeks harmony between the LGBT and LDS communities, applauded the statement. “I see this as an important positive expression of support for LGBT youth,” Munson said. “I am really happy that it was an unequivocal statement, with no comment about condoning anything or anybody going too far.” It shows that the church, she said, “sees the harmony that exists between LGBT support and the gospel.” Stephenie Larsen, founder of Encircle, said she heard whisperings a few days ago that LDS Church leaders might issue a statement in support of LoveLoud. “I am grateful that they would reach out,” Larsen said. “I think this is the goal. The more we can love and support each other and who we are as individuals, the better humanity becomes.” Encircle, which opened in February, sees about 60 youths and their families come through its doors each day for services aimed at keeping kids safe and families united. That’s why the church’s statement will be meaningful to so many people, Larsen said. “It will give families the OK,” she said, “to love and support those kids the way they want to.” Reynolds was ecstatic as he described his hopes for the concert, scheduled for Aug. 26 at Utah Valley University’s Brent Brown Ballpark. The festival will provide music as well as a “platform for LGBT youths and their families … to come onstage and talk,” he said. “This is a tricky and tender subject to discuss.” The first step is “for everybody to come to the table with a listening ear,” he said. “Everyone needs to feel respected — otherwise it’s just people yelling at each other.”

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