This Day In Gay Utah History November 17th

November 17

Prince Albert Victor

Add caption

1889-The New York Times published a report on the "Cleveland Street Scandal," a case involving a house of male prostitutes and  members of British nobility. The Cleveland Street scandal occurred when a homosexual male brothel in Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, London, was discovered by police. It was rumored that one client was Prince Albert Victor, who was the grandson of Queen Victoria and second-in-line to the British throne. The government was accused of covering up the scandal to protect the names of any aristocratic patrons. Another client was said to be Lord Arthur Somerset, an equerry to the Prince of Wales. Both he and the brothel keeper, Charles Hammond, managed to flee abroad before a prosecution could be brought. The male prostitutes, who also worked as telegraph messenger boys for the Post Office, were given light

Cleveland Street Boy

sentences and no clients were prosecuted. After Henry James FitzRoy, Earl of Euston, was named in the press as a client, he successfully sued for libel. The British press never named Prince Albert Victor, and there is no evidence he ever visited the brothel, but his inclusion in the rumours has coloured biographers' perceptions of him since. The scandal fuelled the attitude that male homosexuality was an aristocratic vice that corrupted lower-class youths. Such perceptions were still prevalent in 1895 when the Marquess of Queensberry accused Oscar Wilde of being an active homosexual.

1928-The New York Times reported that a London judge found the lesbian novel "The Well of Loneliness" obscene and ordered all seized copies of it destroyed.

1939 Joe Redburn, creator of Talk Radio format and Gay business activist is  born in Laramie,Wyoming 

1952 Monday- A 43 year old man of California was being held in Salt Lake City jail Sunday for investigation of sodomy on a 14 year old Salt Lake Youth whom he enticed to his hotel room after promising him $5 to carry his luggage to the Greyhound Bus Depot. The youth told police that he and a 13 year old companion were accosted by the suspect who offered each $5 if they would assist him with the luggage. The younger boy refused the offer at which the suspect gave him $1.03 to get something to eat while his friend accompanied him to the hotel. The victim told police when he entered the hotel room the suspect locked the door and offered him $10 to participate in an immoral act.  He said that he refused and the man raised the offer to $100. Still refusing the victim said that he called for assistance at which time the suspect thrust his elbow into his mouth and threatened him. Forced to a bed, the victim was undressed, and then criminally assault, he told police who arrived at the scene a few minutes later. The police were called by the younger youth when his companion failed to return after a short time. (Salt Lake Tribune pg. 20 Col. 2).

Utah State Hospital

1956 Saturday SKOUSEN MOVES TO CURTAIL SLC MORAL OFFENSES Chief Orders Police to Cite Offenders Under State Law  In an effort to stem the increasing reports of molestation in Salt Lake City, Police Chief W. Cleon Skousen, Friday, issued orders to charge suspects under state law rather than with violation of city ordinances. In this way Chief Skousen said a conviction would enable authorities to commit offenders to the Utah State Hospital for life if medical examinations showed then mentally ill.  Previously persons charged with indecent exposure or lewdness were tried in police court. Upon conviction the defendant was given the opportunity to submit to psychiatric treatment rather than be committed to jail.  The treatment however was entirely by choice of the offender who would not be confined during the period of treatment. Defendants choosing medical aid rather than jail were referred to the Utah State Adult Parole and Probation Board which arranged for treatment.  In at least two known cases suspects were arrested for similar offenses even after receiving psychiatric care.  Under Chief Skousen new directive, suspects will be charged with violation of Section 76-39-1 of the Utah State Code which outlines misdemeanor moral offenses.  If convicted the chief added the prisoner is subject to other statutes which permit a competent medical examination to determine whether or not the defendant is mentally ill.  If the medical report indicates the defendant needs treatment then Sec 77-49-5 states the offender shall be confined to the Utah State Hospital “for life.” A person committed to the hospital in this manner may be released on probation, parole or pardon only if the superintendent of the hospital certifies its appears “reasonable certain that a repetition of the offense is unlikely.” Another statute specifies committed man must receive ”such treatment as is best suited…care for the mental illness.:”  “If the medical examination shows the defendant is not mentally ill, “ Chief Skousen said, “ he then will receive the normal sentence required by law. “

1962 Saturday- At the Utah Committee on Children and Youth it was said that “Purveyors of pornography or at least objectionable material are finding a market in Utah, although the problem was not diagnosed as wide spread.”  David R. Trevithick, Salt Lake Postmaster called for an approach of “reasonableness” toward material made available to children. Much of it is objectionable he said but not pornographic and therefore not subject to legal remedy. The real solution he said rests in developing healthy interests and activities. (11/17/62 Page 26 Col. 7 SLTribune)

1971-A group of sex researchers looking for physical differences between homosexual and heterosexual men announced that heterosexuals have 40% more testosterone in their blood than homosexuals do.

Dean Walton

1985- Empress XIII Auntie De [Dean Walton] hosted his 7th annual Salute to Cowboys at Radio City Lounge as an AIDS Fund Raiser.

1987- The Topic of Unconditional Support was External Homophobia and prejudice within the Gay Community against different elements within our community.

1987- Ben Williams director of Unconditional Support  and Ben

Connell Rocky O'Donovan

Barr director of Utah AIDS Project begin Utah Names Project modeled after the AIDS Quilt project.

1988 Rocky O’Donovan and Ben Williams created a mission statement for the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society of Utah.

Gordon B Hinckley

1988 [Posted on Gay BYU Group Site by Ben Williams] I had a call from Davyd Daniels asking for me to find a place to put a person with AIDS up while visiting Utah. I told him that he could use my couch and it turned out that the man was Charles Van Dam who had been reputing that he had sex with Gordon B. Hinckley.  Earlier at October Conference several picketers had called Hinckley a false prophet but I didn't make the connection until November. A few days afterwards, Daniels said that Van Dam was going to stay with him at the Belvedere Condos because he was too sick to be moving around. In 1988 Affirmation was having their conference over the same weekend as LDS Conference in October but out in California. One on the presenters was Rocky O'Donovan who had been doing research on Gay History in Utah from 1847-1947. He had been allowed access to the church archives and had done lots of interviews. When he returned to SLC there was a note on his apartment door from a friend of his who worked at the church archives telling him that he had been banned. Not knowing why he should be banned he went and talked to the head of church security for the archives who basically told him to shut up and that it was a private archives and the church can do whatever it likes. So Rocky went and talked to Steven Sorensen who was head of the archives at the time who confirmed to him that he was indeed on a list of people banned from using the archives and that it came from the highest levels. Evidently the LDS Church had informants at the Affirmation Conference who reported on Rocky's talk. Rocky had briefly discussed Patriarch Joseph Field Smith's homosexuality and mentioned how he had come to the conclusion that Richard L. Evans was Gay. That raised the ire of LDS authorities especially because of the picketing that had been going on at Temple Square with people wanting Gordon B. Hinckley to resign for "immoral conduct". And here I had agreed to put up this man Charles Van Dam from Arizona who was dying of AIDS. I heard that he had been excommunicated from the LDS Church specifically on orders from Hinckley. Van Dam was claiming that back in 1964, Hinckley and he were at a "private Party" where they had sex. O’Donovan and I assumed that the church cracked down on Rocky's access to archival material because it came coincidentally at the same time Hinckley was being accused of immoral conduct. At the same time I heard from BYU students that a massive crack down on Gays at the university was being ordered from the top. Friends at the school informed us in SLC that BYU was threatening Gay students with expulsion unless they agreed to undergo "Reorientation Therapy". When I heard that I cringed. Aversion therapy was rearing its ugly head. They also were copying down license plates with BYU stickers at Gay Bars, sending out spies to Gay organizations in SLC and generally being unethical, immoral, and fascist again. Geoff McGrath head of an unofficial Gay club at BYU, Utah Valley Men's Group, was called into Standards to intimidate the rest of the group.  A list had been compiled of members of UVMG by standards. The men's group sent a letter to standards asking for a copying of BYU's new policy towards Gays but Standards refused to give them one. However unbeknown to Standards the group had acquired a copy of the policy from a Gay man inside Standards. On October 20, 1988 I received a call from Theresa Watanabe, a reporter from the San Jose Mercury News asking if I knew anything about Gay Mormons and rumors about Gordon B. Hinckley. I said I knew virtually nothing. However later Rocky O'Donovan came over to my apartment with a copy of his research to hide it from church security who had been trailing him and had interrogated some of his colleagues who were part of a Mormon Historical Intellectual Underground. This one friend, MaryBeth Raynes, I believe it was, was interrogated for 1 1/2 hour on what she knew about Rocky and threatened to black ball her from the archives if she didn't cooperate. Rocky told me that many of his friends are frightened by the harassment the church security was giving on what they knew about his research. Halloween 1988 Rocky and I formed the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society of Utah as a forum for research we were doing. His focus was Gay Mormon history while mine was Gay Utah history. On November 25, 1988 I went over to Davyd Daniels’ Condo to met Van Dam and tape record him for the historical society. I stayed over two hours. Van Dam was dying of AIDS and was up from Phoenix Arizona to try some experimental drugs that a Dr. Morrow was testing. Van Dam was very weak, frail, and several times I had to stop the tape so he could vomit into a bowl I held for him. The AZT was causing him to be severely nauseous. The story he told was different then the rumors I had heard about Hinckley and him being lovers. Hinckley according to Van Dam was not his lover rather he attended secreted sex parties that Van Dam held for the Hunter Brothers for whom he use to work in the late 50's and 60's.  Van Dam said that while the men mostly had sex with female prostitutes, Van Dam who was a Gay prostitute, at the time had sex with Hinckley. Van Dam claimed that Hinckley had anal intercourse with Van Dam. Van Dam was in the last stages of AIDS and I had no idea how accurate was his information because of the vagueness of some of the dates. But then he was talking about something that had occurred some 25 years before. He also mentioned that President George Albert Smith was his uncle and that Paul Van Dam was his cousin.  Checking through the LDS Family Library some time later, I discovered that Van Dam was indeed former Atty Gen. Paul Van Dam's cousin but rather then Smith being his cousin, the church President was his second cousin. I had over an hour of audio tape of Van Dam's interview and to tell the truth I was very nervous about what I had because of the allegations made against an extremely powerful man, who I am sure religious nuts would kill for. I had intended to come back the next day and interview Van Dam again but during the night he had a stroke and lost his power of speech. Everything was gibberish. Daniels and I rushed him to Holy Cross Hospital where Dr. Kristen Ries took care of him. He never recovered his voice and he died that December. I made several copies of the tape and gave it to several people, because I was paranoid to have the only copy of it. I gave Reporter Lynn Packer a copy of the tape. Packer I believe is a nephew of Boyd K. We discussed it and he had doubts about Van Dam's veracity. I said, “I was there and somehow this death bed confession ringed true for me. What did Van Dam have to gain? I felt like this dying man wanted to tell his story.” Gordon B. Hinckley in 1988 was only in the first Presidency of the church and was a very staid, corporation man. Outside of the church no one had ever heard of him. If Van Dam was simply trying to slur the church why wouldn't have gone after the Prophet? Later in 1989 a former female prostitute who had worked out of the Hotel Utah came to Rocky and I for information on how to get out of Utah safely with her daughter. She also made allegations about Hinckley and I always thought it was curious that two people from different backgrounds made similar charges against Hinckley. Coincidence? History is fun! I find it so interesting that the responses to the Charles Van Dam story all seem to center on the sentence about helping a woman who wanted to leave Utah but was scared for the safety of her child. Nothing about BYU's crack down on Gays and reorientation therapy, nothing about the church security interrogation of Mormon intellectuals, or allegations that Van Dam made. Whether Van Dam was in the last stages of dementia or not- the events did happen as I wrote them. Whether my writings upset some to the point to question whether I am  a real "historian" or not doesn't bother me at all. You probably still believe that the Baker-Francher Wagon train brought it upon themselves and that the GA's were inspired to send the Martin Hand Cart Company out on the trail so late in the season and with so  little provisions. For those who don't care to read any further-STOP-who cares.

• Charles Van Dam made many serious charges against Gordon B. Hinckley in a video
  
  tape, made on July 17, 1988 that was included in Ed Decker's film Godmakers II. Van Dam maintained he had a homosexual relationship with Hinckley that lasted from "about 1964 to 1966." He also claimed that Hinckley was involved in sexual parties and "heavy drinking." Moreover, he charged that Hinckley was "a frequent customer" of prostitutes. Van Dam indicated that he procured prostitutes for Hinckley and that "he wanted wild, kinky girls.... Girls that wouldn't mind being tortured- tied up and things like that. He was a kinky man." In the 1960’s Hinckley was supposed to have warned Van Dam and others to flee from the state of Utah to avoid an investigation. Later, when Van Dam was in Denver, he received money from Salt Lake City that he felt "had to come from the church." He bought a liquor store and "two gay bars," and they were used as fronts to "launder" money for the people in Salt Lake. Eventually, however, the law caught up with Mr. Van Dam. He was called before a grand jury and "went to the penitentiary for telling the grand jury to hang it in their ear, that I wasn't going to testify against them Salt Lake people." In Van Dam claimed that in 1969 or 1970, he "went up to the Church Office Building to be excommunicated and found himself in the presence of Hinckley who rebuked him for his homosexual lifestyle. Van Dam claimed that he argued with Hinckley at that time: "I told him, I said, how can you... sit in judgment on me, when you're as big a queer as I am." Mr. Van Dam said that Hinckley refused to listen to his argument, and he was excommunicated. He went on to state: "They kicked me out of the city — threatened my life."  With regard to Van Dam's moral character, his own interview seems to speak for itself. He acknowledged participation in criminal activity and admitted he refused to testify before a grand jury.  Lighthouse Ministries

1991 Condom ad aired (FOX- TV) The Fox Broadcasting Company has become the first national broadcast television network to change its policies to accept commercials for condoms. And one of the Big Three networks, CBS, said yesterday that it was reviewing its policies of refusing to accept such spots. So far, commercial messages from condom makers have appeared only on local stations. Fox made the change about three weeks ago, Andi Sporkin, a spokeswoman, said in a telephone interview. However, she added, no condom spots have run on Fox so far, nor has any condom manufacturer committed to buy air time. Fox's change, first reported yesterday in The Los Angeles Times, followed a meeting with representatives of Schmid Laboratories, a manufacturer of condoms that wanted to advertise, Ms. Sporkin said. The network decided to allow condom spots to run only if they deal with the issue of disease prevention, she said. A telephone call to Schmid was greeted with a recording that its office was closed. George F. Schweitzer, senior vice president of CBS marketing and communications, said his network would reconsider its policy "in light of recent events." Discussions will be held with affiliates, he added, to determine if their opinions have changed. CBS's five owned-and-operated stations, like WCBS (Channel 2) in New York, do accept condom spots. At ABC, a spokeswoman, Janice Gretemeyer, said no change in policy was being contemplated. An NBC spokesman, Richard Cutting, said, "I don't think we have any plans at this time" to make changes. [THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Fox to Show Condom Ads Published: Wednesday, November 13, 1991]

Leslie Howard

1991- Austrian born pianist  Leslie Howard returned to Salt Lake to give the United States premier of the Tchaikovsky Piano Sonata. Howard gave the piece its first performance last month in his 25^th anniversary recital in London.  The recital was in the Utah Museum of Fine Arts Gallery at the University of Utah. The event was co-sponsored by The Utah Stonewall Center and the Museum of Fine Arts.

1996 Page: J8 Byline: By Judy Magid --AIDS Community Awards

Barbara King

AIDS COMMUNITY AWARDS ``Don't give up your dreams,'' urged the Rev. Barbara King of Atlanta. ``If you don't follow those dreams, someone will miss out.''  King, founder/minister of the Hillside Chapel and Truth Center, spoke to 350 gathered for the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah's third Community Awards Dinner at the Salt Lake Hilton. Honored were Terrlynn Crenshaw, co-chairwoman of the statewide HIV/ AIDS Prevention Planning Committee; Anne Stromness, founder of Community Nursing Services' Journey Home Program; George Peppinger, an -HIV/ AIDS programs volunteer since 1989; Kindly Gifts, whose members make afghans and sweaters for those with -HIV/AIDS; Julie Mohr, Blue Marble owner, who has contributed to AIDS-related causes; and Steven Black and Richard Carter, coalition volunteers. Mohr was accompanied by her parents, Arthur Mohr, Salt Lake City, and June Mohr and friend Joan Coch, Phoenix; sister, Jan Meng, Eucha, Okla.; and Cheryl McGovern. Mohr paid tribute to her brother, Michael, who died of AIDS in 1989. Stromness was accompanied by her mother, Barbara Holmes, Grand Junction, Colo. Jean Peppinger was with husband George. Brook Heart-Song chatted with Dee and Randy Peterson and daughters Amanda and Holly. Daughter Kelli Peterson and Erin Weiser talked with Carl Nelson.  Sipping wine were Susan Massey, Elizabeth `Betsy'' Baker, Virginia Rainey, Janet and Tom Lund, Piper Napier, Sharon Kelly, Michael Westley, Michael T. Manning, Jack Droitcourt, Lucy Ormond, Bill Balkan and George Miller. Robert A. Chase, vice chairman of the People With AIDS Coalition, was with Saliva Sister Kristen Merrill. Also in the crowd: Kristen Ries, Maggie   Snyder, Larry Riemer, Katherine Zimmer, Veronica and Bill Sutherland (whose daughter, Cori Sutherland, is director of the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah), Carole Gnade, Linda Hunt, Andrew Hunt and Lori Bona, Eric Mitchell, Lisa Carricaburu and Chris Maxfield. The $25,000 raised at the dinner and auction goes to the coalition.  Tribune staff writer Helen Forsberg contributed to this report.

1996 David B. Smith, 38, our loving son, brother, uncle, friend, passed away November 17, 1996. David was born November 8, 1958 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Blaine and Margie Smith. He graduated from Cottonwood High School and attended the University of Utah. He worked for First Security Bank in the Corporate Trust Department until the time of his illness. He enjoyed his family, friends, traveling, his computer, reading and testing his knowledge with "Jeopardy." Survived by parents; sisters, Linda (Greg) Mitchell; Carri (Darin) Rushton; three nieces and two nephews; along with uncles, aunts and cousins. Special thanks to Dr. Kristen Ries for her devotion and care.  Obituary

1997 Utah reports big drop in hate crimes, but S.L. detective says don't believe it Associated Press Published: Monday, Nov. 17, 1997 Police are questioning the accuracy of state statistics showing hate crimes dropping in Utah, while rising dramatically elsewhere in the country since 1995. But the deceiving reports appear the result of ignorance on the part of investigators and victims, officials said. Some police record systems also don't differentiate between hate crimes and other offenses. According to the state's Bureau of Criminal Identification, 64 hate crimes were reported in Utah last year. That was 60 less than the previous year. The report shows eight hate crimes occurring in Salt Lake City. But police Det. Jim Alcock, who investigates hate crimes, said at least two hate crimes are committed each week. Hate crimes "are to the late '90s what domestic violence was in the early '80s," he said. "It is a crime we're becoming more and more aware of. It's happening at an alarming rate." Such crimes "are being reported as assaults or harassment or disturbing the peace," Alcock said. "The officer on the beat (may not) recognize a crime as being specifically a hate or bias crime." Nationwide, 8,759 hate crimes were reported last year, compared to 7,947 for the previous year, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Hate crimes nationally have been rising since 1991. Adrienne Koran, who compiles state crime data, said some police agencies are more willing to report hate crimes while others "want to pretend that they don't have them." Most Utah police agencies use a records system that does not allow officers to differentiate between hate crimes and other attacks. Each year, the state crime bureau sends agencies a one-page form to track hate crimes. But of the 126 agencies that report annual crime statistics, only 22 reported a hate crime last year. Alcock said even victims may not understand hate crimes. "The victim (only says) he got hit or was assaulted," he said. "The victim cannot recognize that the reason was because of his race, creed, gender or lifestyle." Ignorance about hate crimes may extend to prosecutors. For the past five years, Utah has had a hate-crimes law that prosecutors have yet to use. The law boosts a misdemeanor offense to a third-degree felony if the offense is committed to "intimidate or terrorize another person." Some argue the statute is constitutionally vague because it contains no reference to race, ethnicity, religion or sexual preference - a compromise by lawmakers who did not include gays and lesbians in the bill.

1998-A federal judge has taken under advisement a request to allow East High School's Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) to meet as a school-sponsored club until the case goes to trial.  

  

1998 Salt Lake City adopted a non-discrimination ordinance without using the words “Sexual orientation” for city employees

2004  Subject: Does anyone have more info on attack?  Alleged assault outside gay bar may be hate crime Salt Lake City police are investigating a possible hate crime near a gay bar. A man says he was hit by a car twice and then assaulted by two of its occupants outside the Trapp, 625 S. 600 West, about 7:15 p.m. A gray Oldsmobile Cutlass, carrying four passengers, drove by and someone yelled at the man. Then the driver struck him with the car, backed up and struck him again, according to a police report. A man and a woman got out of the car and beat the man, who was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The suspects are described as a Latino man in his 20s, with black hair and no shirt, and a Latino woman with medium length hair in a pony tail and a white sweat top.

Chad Beyer

 2004 Gay community copes with No. 3 Legislation and civil disobedience are two ways in which members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community are coping with the passing of Amendment 3, a discussion group concluded on Tuesday. Although there was some disagreement regarding which method was better, some participants stressed the need to incorporate both aggressive and behind-the-scenes tactics. “Every civil-rights movement has depended on different strategies,” said Chad Beyer, executive director of the GLBT Community Center of Utah. Beyer gave the example of the Women’s Civil Rights Movement. He said women successfully won the right to vote through both protests that put them in jail and through lobbying for changes in legislation. So, too, should the GLBT community work multilaterally to effect social change, he said. Evan

Evan Done

Done, president of the U’s Lesbian Gay Student Union, said he agreed with Beyer. “The reason why there is a place for both is because they both work off each other,” Done said. Done cited a more recent example of the accommodating-militant dichotomy: Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. “I don’t think that Martin Luther King Jr. would have gotten nearly as far as he had it not been for some of the work that Malcolm X had done,” he said. “Likewise, I don’t think that Malcolm X would even have had a place to speak and a voice…had it not been for the initial work of Martin Luther King,” he added. A panelist of three experts argued strongly that legislative pushes will lay the groundwork for combating Amendment 3′s

Jane Marquardt

effects. Jane Marquardt, chairperson of Equality Utah’s board, said that legislators and courts have community roots, and that these federal officials would need to know GLBT people before changing laws. “I heard someone say a great line: ‘Before we’ll ever win at the ballot box, we have to win a discussion at the water cooler,’” she said. Marquardt added that states around the country are voting on the issue of gay marriage before spending enough time debating the issue. “It’s like we took the test on the second day of class,” she said, urging the GLBT community to become gay-issues educators. Panelist Scott McCoy, campaign manager for the Don’t Amend Alliance,

Scott McCoy

said he agreed with Marquardt that people should educate the community about the basic legal rights that Amendment 3 denies homosexuals. He added that the topic of gay marriage itself carries too much emotion and religious ideals. Panelist Michael Mitchell, executive director of Equality Utah, said that in addition to education and discussion, he sees lobbying

Michael Mitchell

as a powerful tactic. “Early in the session, we’re going to have a lobby-training day,” he said “We’re talking about bringing in people from all over the state, bussing people in…and getting everybody up on the hill on the same day to lobby.” Mitchell also spoke about Governor-Elect John Huntsman’s campaign promise of pushing for reciprocal benefits for homosexual couples. “He said it, we’re going to push him for it,” Mitchell said. Because the proponents of Amendment 3 gained a victory on Election Day, they may become more relaxed toward other gay issues, such as hate-crime legislation, Mitchell said. “This may be the year for hate-crime [legislation] to pass,” Mitchell said. Together, the panelists also urged the audience to write letters to newspapers, volunteer for equal-rights groups and continue talking to friends and family members. “It’s incredibly important as we approach the holidays…that we take our partners home,” Mitchell said. For some audience members, the panelists’ suggestions were not enough. Some expressed a desire to take a more active approach by holding protests and

Charles Milne

filing lawsuits. “One of the questions we’ve been asked frequently…is ‘When are you going to sue?’” Marquardt said. “I think that most likely, the challenges to Amendment 3 will come up as life happens.” Marquardt cited a possible example of a gay couple whose family challenges the legitimacy of a will after a partner’s death. Mitchell said the audience should not give up protesting completely, but that the GLBT community as a whole should focus on channeling its rage in a proactive manner. Not much is accomplished if the goal is just to stage an angry protest, he said. Instead, perhaps GLBT supporters should wear black armbands on Jan. 1, the day Amendment 3 becomes an active law. Charles Milne, program coordinator for the U’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center, echoed Beyer and Done’s sentiments. “We all need to be working together from different angles,” he said. He added that building coalitions, both with legislators and with straight friends, is key. Done said he agreed with Milne that straight people can be powerful allies to the GLBT community. “The most powerful thing an ally can do is be an ally every day,” Done said. For more information about becoming an ally or about gay issues in general, visit the LGBT Resource Center online at www.sa.utah.edu/lgbt/ or Union Room 317. Students can attend the LGSU meetings, which are held every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Union Room 411.

2009 Cold virus may have foiled HIV vaccine test By Randolph E. Schmid Associated Press Published: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 Deseret News WASHINGTON — The failure of an experimental AIDS vaccine trial two years ago may have been caused by the common cold virus. The vaccine was intended to block the spread of HIV, which causes AIDS. But the test was canceled after volunteers who got the shots were more likely to become infected than those who got a dummy shot. The problem, which could hamper efforts to stifle the spread of HIV in Third World countries, may have been using the common adenovirus to carry HIV material around the body to help the immune system recognize the invader. The conclusion comes from researchers reporting in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The test vaccine itself did not spread the illness, the team of researchers said. However, adenovirus — which causes the common cold — is so widespread that many people have previously been exposed to it. The researchers said that prior exposure resulted in mucus membranes producing large numbers of immune cells called CD4 T-cells to fight off the adenovirus. But those are also the cells that HIV infects, providing a ready place for the AIDS virus to grow in people who had received the vaccine and were later exposed to HIV, the researchers said. "Our research would suggest a cautious approach for the future development of adenovirus vector vaccines for use in areas of high HIV prevalence, or in individuals whose lifestyles meant that they were at higher risk of HIV infection," said Steven Patterson, lead author of the study appearing in Tuesday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Adenovirus is also used in vaccines for tuberculosis and malaria that are under development, said Patterson, of Imperial College, London. This raises a particularly difficult problem in many areas of the world with a high rate of HIV, and high rates of TB and malaria that will be targeted by vaccines for those diseases, he said. "If our hypothesis is correct, then the use of an adenovirus vaccine against any disease in an area of high HIV prevalence may increase the risk of HIV infection," he said. However, Patterson noted in an e-mail, "there are scientists in the HIV vaccine field who do not believe that the adenovirus was the reason for increased number of infections in the vaccinated group." Dr. Michael Robertson of Merck & Co., Inc., which was conducting the discontinued study, known as Step, welcomed the report as providing "additional insights. The research was supported by the Coalition for AIDS Vaccine Discovery, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Stephens Trust and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London. Other viruses and bacteria are being studied for use in vaccines, as are different subtypes of adenovirus, he said. Adenovirus is also used in some gene therapy, but Patterson said: "For most individuals undergoing gene therapy, I would not expect the use of an adenovirus vector to increase their risk of HIV infection unless their lifestyle rendered them at a higher risk of HIV infection anyway." "The unexpected findings from the Step Study have led to a major reassessment of the entire HIV vaccine field, so any advance is helpful," Robertson said. However, "it would be premature to suggest that this provides an explanation for the Step results, and the implications for other vaccines or gene therapy are unclear," Robertson, director of Infectious Diseases/Vaccines Clinical Research at Merck, said through a spokesman.

2015 SALT LAKE CITY — It's official: Jackie Biskupski will become the first openly gay mayor of Utah's capital city. The Salt Lake City Council, acting as the city's board of canvassers, certified final election results Tuesday, solidifying Biskupski's victory after a long, hard-fought battle against incumbent Mayor Ralph Becker. She will officially take office Jan. 4. "We are very aware that today is historic, but today is not just about making history. It is about people," Biskupski said Tuesday, her voice cracking slightly as she spoke with composure at the Salt Lake City-County Building. "It is about effecting change for the sake of so many people in this community who felt like they had not been heard. We will move forward today with ears wide open, and there is no question you will be heard." On Election Day Becker lagged 1,450 votes behind Biskupski. He did not concede, holding onto hope that he could still be re-elected because the results of nearly 5,000 outstanding ballots could not be released until Tuesday's canvass — a comeback that election experts deemed highly improbable. 

Biskupski still captured a majority of votes after all ballots were counted and certified Tuesday. She defeated Becker by 1,194 votes — 51.55 percent to 48.45 percent — with more than 38,000 votes cast. The updated results brought Salt Lake City's voter turnout to 54.6 percent — the highest ever in the city, according to city elections officials. The final count's 3 percent gap was even closer than expected, Biskupski said. "Today our work begins, and we begin with thanks," she said. "I am grateful to Mayor Becker for his years of service and leadership. … For the last 11 months we have been competitors, but today we are on the same side committing to the best interest of our city, our residents and the people of Utah." When the final tally was certified, Biskupski's supporters cheered, applauded and congratulated her with hugs. In the hall outside the City Council chambers, Becker's staff was somber as the mayor walked toward his office to prepare for his concession speech. Speaking solemnly, Becker congratulated Biskupski for her victory as he stood outside his office. "I remain committed to this city and our future. I will work with Mayor-elect Biskupski to assist in a smooth transition," he said. Becker paused and his eyes brimmed when he thanked his family for supporting him through his campaign.

"A way to measure success in a job is to look at whether the place you’re leaving behind is better off than when you started. I leave this job with a wonderful feeling of success," he said. "Now it's time for us to move on and support (Biskupski) and her administration so that we can have an evermore successful Salt Lake City." When asked what he will do next, Becker answered simply: "I have no idea." "My whole career has been a step at a time," he added. "Today is no different." Over the next month and a half, Biskupski will lead a transition team to phase her administration into office. She said she doesn't yet have a timeline for announcing any staff changes, but she will be meeting with existing department heads before she makes any decisions. "We have a lot of work to do between now and Jan. 4 to make sure that the transition happens in a very smooth fashion," she said. "We absolutely want every public employee to understand and feel that they will be respected through this entire process." The mayor-elect celebrated her victory Tuesday night at the Utah Pride Center. When she arrived, about 100 supporters welcomed her with cheers. "What a journey," she said, thanking her supporters. "This wasn't just for me. This is for you, and the rest of the people in this city. I promise we will never lose sight of why were are here and the work that needs to be done. We will effect change. We will experience a cultural shift we have been needing for a very long time, and that is one that includes everybody."

The mayor-elect deemed solving the city's homeless "crisis" as one of her top priorities, and she pledged to move quickly in her efforts. Biskupski said she had already met with Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams this week and has a meeting scheduled Wednesday with Gail Miller and Palmer DePaulis, leaders of Becker's homeless facility commission that is due to make site recommendations by the end of the year. "That work will get done without missing a beat," she said. Biskupski also has prioritized improving collaboration between the city's police department and other law enforcement agencies to tackle the region's drug and weapon trafficking, and she has a meeting scheduled Wednesday with Mike Brown, the city's interim police chief. Throughout their expensive and at times bitter campaign, it was Becker's call to build upon the momentum he had set in motion for Salt Lake versus Biskupski's demands for change and a more "collaborative leader." Becker's bid for a third term was a historically rare pursuit in Salt Lake City. It's been 31 years since a Salt Lake City mayor has won a third term. Ted Wilson, first elected in 1976, was the last to win three consecutive terms as mayor. In Becker's eight years, he carried Salt Lake City through the Great Recession and to new economic heights. Hallmarks of his administration include protected bike lanes, the high-tech Public Safety Building and the up-and-coming Broadway-style theater on Main Street. Biskupski is no stranger to making history in Utah: In 1999 she was elected as the first openly gay member of the Utah House of Representatives, where she served until 2011. She will also become the city's second female mayor, after Deedee Corradini, who was elected in 1992. Hours after Biskupski's win was made official, she attended a tree planting in honor of Corradini, who died of lung cancer in March. Tears ran down Biskupski's face as she spoke about their friendship and working closely together the last three years of Corradini's life on Real Women Run a nonpartisan initiative focused on empowering women to run for public office. Biskupski said she felt like Corradini was with her throughout her campaign. "I hope I make you proud," she said. Tuesday's official tallies also solidified wins in Salt Lake City Council races for incumbent Charlie Luke and newcomers Derek Kitchen and Andrew Johnston. Luke bested Tracey Harty 63.54 percent to 36.46 percent; Kitchen beat Nate Salazar 51.77 percent to 48.23 percent; and Johnston defeated Van Turner 52.71 percent to 47.29 percent.