This Day In Gay Utah History November 20th

November 20

1901-On the night of 20 November 1901, Mexico City police raided an affluent drag ball, arresting 42 men, half of them dressed as women, and dragging them off to Belón Prison.The resulting scandal, known as the Dance of the 41 Maricones, received massive press coverage and prompted a series of widely circulated prints by José Guadalupe Posada that depicted the dance. The cross-dressers were publicly humiliated, forced to sweep the streets under police guard, inducted into the 24th Battalion of the Mexican Army and sent to the southeastern state of Yucatán, where the Caste War was still being fought. Rumors that then-President Porfirio Díaz's nephew, Ignacio de la Torre, had attended the dance but was permitted to escape further added to the scandal's notoriety. Although the official account was that she was a "real woman." Historians, including well-known cultural commentator Carlos Monsiváis, argue that male homosexuality in the modern sense was "invented" in Mexico when the 1901 raid occurred. Since that time, the number 41 has come to symbolize male homosexuality in Mexican popular culture, figuring frequently in jokes and in casual teasing. Although the raid on the Dance of the 41 was followed by a less-publicized raid of a lesbian bar on 4 December 1901 in Santa Maria, the regime was soon worried by more serious threats such as the political and civil unrest that eventually led to the Mexican Revolution in 1910.

1908 Ogden Standard Examiner 1908-11-20 Random References page 6 In Court This Morning arraigned on serious charges James Gooding [Hooding] charged with sodomy, William Douglas charged with fornication ,were formally arraigned in the district court and given until Monday next to plead to the various charges against them [Ogden Standard Examiner Random References]

T. E. Lawrence

1917 T. E. Lawrence "of Arabia" (1888-1935) being held captive by the Turks at Deraa is caned and (probably) raped by Turkish army officers, an incident described in his 1926 book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. His taste for the cane continued through life.

The Children's Hour

1934-"The Children's Hour," a play by Lillian Hellman in which two school teachers are accused of having a lesbian relationship, opened on Broadway. The play is loosely based on an actual case in 19th-century Scotland

1975 A Consciousness Raising Group for  men was held by Babs De Lay at the Gay Community Service Centerof Utah. The group discussed “Dealing With Straight People”

1975 Shirley Price and Camille Tartaglia after a year long engagement exchanged vows at the Rusty Bell at 7:30. The two were married by Rev. Bob Darst former pastor of the Grace Christian Church in a double ring ceremony. Marty Pollack was the best man, and Hilda was the matron of honor. Shirley wore a white satin gown of her own design and Camille wore a baby blue pants suit. The reception was held immediately afterwards with an abundance of champagne and wedding cake, No marriage license was required as the state of Utah does not recognize Gay marriages as yet.  The vows are recognized by the church and Shirley stated that “To us the vows are as legal to us as any other marriage ceremony.  The license makes no difference to us because we take our marriage vows very seriously.  The wedding between Shirley and Camille was the first wedding to be held at The Rusty Bell since the bar opened.

1988 Jim Rieger became a new co-host of Concerning Gays and Lesbians joining Ben Williams and Becky Moss. Becky Moss recorded a program on Lesbian Nuns Breaking the Silence.

1992- At ART FOR LIFE, a benefit auction of more than 70 works donated by Utah visual artists, more than $20,000 was raised for the Utah AIDS Foundation. Event organized by Kelly Chopus, development director of the foundation.

1992- According to the state's Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control, 371 people have died of AIDS in Utah since 1983. There are 590 Utahns now living with   AIDS, and another 790 have tested positive for HIV.

1994-Sunday- State health officials say the demographics of Utah AIDS cases are following a pattern a little bit behind the rest of the nation. The typical new Utah AIDS victim still is a homosexual man between the ages of 25 and 44. Nationally, gay men make up 53 percent of new cases; in Utah they make up 67 percent. But the statistics are not a result of ignorance in the state's gay community. Mark Bigler, outreach coordinator for the Utah AIDS Foundation, said education programs are booming. The organization has more volunteers than ever and has recently pulled out of yet another financial crisis. Every weekend, outreach teams packing condoms and AIDS information kits visit ``cruising'' spots -- areas frequented by homosexuals seeking quick, high-risk sexual encounters. Teams also go to Salt Lake City's gay bars to pass out condoms. But Bigler said there still is a disturbing number of encounters between bisexual married men and single, gay men. ``Utah isn't the only place where we have married men who venture out. Unfortunately, it happens here very often because there is so much social stigma that goes along with that. Sexual activity is very clandestine,'' Bigler said. ``Those situations tend to be very quick and very high-risk.'' For Utah men, AIDS ranks as the fourth leading cause of death, right after cancer. For Utah women, the disease is ranked 10th after pneumonia-influenza and cerebral-vascular diseases. Every month about a dozen new cases of the disease are tallied by the state Bureau of HIV-AIDS. (11-20-94  Page: A11 SLTribune)

1994 Chad Jeffery Wellesley passed away with his family at his bedside. He died of Pneumocystic Pneumonia, a complication of his eight year struggle with AIDS.   He was born May 17, 1954 in Provo. Chad was a strong and determined young man who seven years ago managed to conquer over 14 years of alcoholism. He was blessed with many gifts. Among them was his talents for decorating and interior design. He was the recipient of numerous awards for Christmas decorating in both Provo and Deer Valley.   He had a capacity to love that knew no equal.

1994 SL Tribune chronicles AIDS impact on Utah’s Arts Community.  The Utah arts community has experienced the void left in the wake of AIDS. Dancers Tim Wengerd, Tomm Ruud, Dennis Wright, Robert Martinez and David Jackson had Utah connections, all dancing here at one time or another. Utah filmmaker C Larry Roberts lost his life to AIDS, as did actors Robert Proctor, Michael Buttars, Lawrence Lott, David McCullough, Michael Lueders and costumer Douglas Hansen.   Immortal for Quite Some Time, a yet-to-be-published book by Brigham Young University professor Scott Abbott, was written in response to Abbott's younger brother's AIDS death in 1991.  The work recently won the Utah Arts Council's first prize for creative nonfiction in its 1994 Utah Original Writing Competition

Tyron Garner & John Lawrence

1998-John Geddes Lawrence and Tyrone Garner of Texas were ordered to pay fines of $125 each after being arrested for having sex in their home. The couple refused to pay and announced they would challenge the Texas sodomy law. Case would lead to the Supreme Court overturning the Nations Sodomy Laws in 2003.

1998 New Club AXIS Private Club opened at the old site of Club 108 and BackStreet at 108 South 500 West Salt Lake City. Jim Dabakis was a partner.

2002 The first meeting of the Utah Stonewall Historical society in 5 years was held at Angles Agenda Welcome and Introductions  -Ben Williams-President Mission Statement- The Utah Stonewall Historical Society and Archive is established to promote the recovery, preservation and understanding of the history of the Lambda people. Our history is best served by preserving the records and cultural artifacts of our people and our events and by recording our observations. The USHSA is dedicated to preserving and interpreting all of the above as part of an important historical record and legacy to the state of Utah. Our primary focus is on Lesbian and Gay history and culture along the Wasatch Front in Utah. We are an all-volunteer and nonprofit  organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.  Area Needing Attention- Women Studies Oral Histories Photography October's Yearly Digest Speaker Bureau contacts The Value of History- Why is there a need of a Historical Society?-  Ben Williams

2002 U Kissing Booth Incident Raises Equality Questions By Sheena McFarland If a gay man wants to go on a date with the student body president, he will soon have his chance. The Associated Students of the University of Utah's Bill Edwards will be on the auction block at the Freshman Fever Week event, and a new policy will allow the highest bidder—regardless of gender—to garner a date with him or a handful of other ASUU representatives. Organizers changed the policy after an incident at Tuesday's kissing booth, held outside the Union. While the booth was giving out only Hershey's Kisses, Adam Noshiraban, a sophomore in electrical engineering, approached the booth with his dollar, and asked the male attendant for a kiss. The attendant said Noshiraban should kiss the girl, not him. "We went down to test limits, to see if the organizers had actually thought about what other students think and care about," said Lisa Hoyt, a freshman in ballet and Noshiraban's girlfriend. After Noshiraban tried to get a kiss, the attendant wrote a sign in marker stating "No same-sex kisses," Noshiraban said. But Freshman Council leadership says no such sign went up. Jenny Earl, Freshman Council's vice president over activities, said that it was obvious Noshiraban was joking around so the organizers didn't take the kissing request seriously. But organizers have since said that during Thursday's date auction, no restrictions will be placed on gender. Cole Bell, the council's president, said anyone who forks out enough cash can go on a date. However, according to Charles Milne, director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center, said the council had not always had this policy. Milne said he spoke with organizers Monday and warned them of potential problems but until he approached them, organizers hadn't thought about such complications. "People need to understand that when they're selling a commodity, that commodity needs to be available for everyone," Milne said.

2005 Sunday, Nov 20– Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil & Reception– Center Space GLBTCCU (6-8pm) Come and honor those Transgender Individuals who have been killed simple for their gender presentation and celebrate vibrant, successful Transgender lives at a vigil and reception in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance. This is a time to remember our dead as well as celebrate the unique beauty and contributions of transgender individuals everywhere. Appetizers and drinks will be catered by Lavender Catering. Candle light vigil begins at 7pm and will include an open mic portion for you to speak on how hate crimes have affected your life.

Barry Franklin

2005  Petition puts gay benefits on USU plate Issue on Faculty Forum agenda By Arrin Newton Brunson Special to The Tribune Salt Lake Tribune LOGAN - After a nine-month hiatus, a proposal to offer domestic partners the same benefits enjoyed by married employees is back on at the Utah State University campus. A professor - Barry Franklin of the College of Education and Human Services - has circulated a petition and won the right to raise the issue Monday before the USU Faculty Forum. And the Faculty Senate, on Dec. 5, could vote on whether it wants to further discuss the controversial issue. The "Domestic Partners Benefit" proposal was dropped at the northern Utah university in March after USU legal counsel Craig Simper informed employees that Utah's Amendment 3, approved by popular vote in November 2004, defines marriage as a legal union between a man and a woman."No other domestic union may be recognized as a marriage or given the same or substantially equal legal effect," Simper said earlier this year, adding that the university wasn't interested in fighting this particular battle."Utah State University does not want to be the test case and does not intend to be the test case," Simper said in March. The University of Utah in Salt Lake City offers health insurance to employees' domestic partners, but the employee is required to bear the full cost of that insurance for the partner."I'm not sure everyone who signed the petition is in favor of domestic-partner benefits," Franklin said Friday, "but apparently they agree that the discussion should take place."But not everyone is ready to talk about the issue. On Friday afternoon Derek Mason, chairman of the USU Faculty Senate, said he had no comment, and Stan Albrecht, who became USU's president in January, would only respond through spokesman John De Vilbiss, who said: "It's possible that [the Senate] won't even vote to discuss it. The president respects the process and wants to make sure the Faculty Senate has a chance to weigh in before he does." While the policy may have its critics, Franklin said the time has come for the university to provide the same benefits for all couples - especially gay and lesbian employees. "It's good business in terms of recruiting. We want to have the best faculty we can have," Franklin said. "We should discuss it and talk about it as matter of justice and good business."

Sean Parker Dennison

2006 Monday, November 20th at 7:00 p.m. National Day of Remembrance Vigil 7:00p.m. – 7:30 p.m. This is a candlelight vigil honoring transgender individuals who have passed on. This will be a short program featuring spiritually enlightening sentiments by respected local Reverend Sean Parker Dennison. To be followed by a light social celebrating the lives of those still living. TEA Party Reception 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. A reception which will include light refreshments and a brief awards ceremony by TEA to recognize the local individual and organization most instrumental in assisting the transgender community and TEA for the year of 2006. We will also have live music by the phenomenal Seattle band "Coyote Grace". This event will be held in the Center Space at the Utah Pride Center located at 361 North 300 West.

Add caption

2009 Michael Aaron wrote: We are doing a story on the Gordon Church murder and had heard rumor that Lance Conway Wood was being paroled. In checking the Dept of Corrections site, it appears he is still in custody, but "housed off site." How can I find more information? -Michael Aaron editor/publisher QSaltLake  39165 WOOD, Lance Conway  MALE  INMATE  Housed off-site

• From: "Debra James" To: "Michael Aaron" Subject: Re: Inmate: Lance Conway Wood Lance Wood has compacted to Idaho. He is serving his time in Idaho. I do not have the prison or address. You could look online at Idaho's prison to get a phone number. Have a great day.
• From Ben Williams to Michael Aaron Thanks for the info... I was reading a blog of friends of Gordon Church and someone said that he had been paroled but I had never heard that he was and the last I heard he was up in Idaho prison for some strange reason
• From: Michael Aaron Subject: Lance Wood – Idaho To: "'Ben Edgar Williams'" Found him: LANCE CONWAY WOOD #31919 Status: Inmate Date of Birth:  03/29/1968 Mailing      Address:  IDAHO STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION UNIT 11 P.O. Box 14 Boise Idaho 83707 Phone Number: 208-336-0740 IDOC Sentence Information The sentence information shown is for active sentences under the jurisdiction, custody, and/or supervision of the Idaho Department of Correction only. Offense Sentencing County  Case No. Sentence Satisfaction Date MURDER, 1ST DEGREE   N/A  1141 Life ASSAULT W/INTENT TO RAPE  N/A  1141  Life KIDNAPPING, 1ST DEGREE  N/A  1141  Life  Parole Eligibility Date:                    

2011 John Geddes Lawrence died this day  John Lawrence died  Obituary.. He sued Texas for its sodomy Laws and the U.S. Supreme Court over turned all the Nation's Sodomy Laws in 2003 due to his case.

2013   International Transgender Day Of Remembrance in Salt Lake City Hosted by Connie A. Anast-Inman Arbor Manor Reception Center & Garden 2888 W 4700 S, Salt Lake City, Utah 84129  The International Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1999 in San Francisco to remember the murder of Rita Hester, a transwoman stabbed to death in her apartment in the Boston area. After seeing how the victim was being portrayed in the media, a group of individuals formed the “Remembering Our Dead” website and have continued to document the deaths of transgender individuals, or those perceived as transgender, over the past 14 years. There are Candlelight Vigils being planned across the US and throughout the world to coincide with November 20th. The program features a Candlelight Vigil, where the names of transgender individuals who have lost their lives to violence, murder, medical apathy and suicide will be read. The names are gathered from public records and news reports from November 20 of last year to November 20 of this year.  There are also musical tributes and speakers to complete the program. A reception with light refreshments will be served. Many feel that TDOR is a time to gather as a community, not only to mourn the loss of those in our communities, but as a time to build our commitment to equality and increase our awareness. TDOR is free and open to the public. Age-appropriate children are welcomed, families are encouraged.

2020 The November Public Oratory of the Utah Queer Historical Society featured Walter Larrabee We are honored to have actor, singer, and flawless Carol Channing impersonator Walt Larrabee give our November Oratory! Come share in the adventures of his life, including his reign as Empress XVIII of the Royal Court. Ben Williams Journal excerpts "I went out again this evening back to the Pride Center to listen to Walter Larrabee share his adventures at the Queer Historical Society's monthly Oratory. There was a really good turnout, I think, but mostly Court people and long time friends. I sat between Courtney Moser and Dan Fahndrich by John Bennett.