November 22
1923 In Tom Sim’s Column in the Ogden Standard Examiner he remarked
about German inflation by saying, “The German Mark is so low now it is about as
useless on earth as a female impersonator.”
1963 Court Reverses Sentence In Contempt Case. The Utah State
Supreme Court, Thursday set aside a Kearns woman contempt of court sentence
that was the out growth of the Jean Sinclair murder trial earlier this year.
Mrs. LaRae Peterson, 35, won her appeal of a five day jail sentence handed down
by District Judge Marcellus K Snow when she refused to answer questions about
her relationship with Miss Sinclair. The opinion held that a witness could be
required to answer a question which would degrade her only under certain
conditions stipulated by law, and that the questions asked Mrs. Peterson did
not meet those conditions. Miss Sinclair was found guilty of first degree
murder in the shooting death of Donald L Foster, who was Mrs. Peterson’s
fiancée. [Deseret News C-6]
1980-Mae West
died in LA at the age of 88. Rumors that she was really a female impersonator are
finally proven false.
1986- Wasatch Affirmation, Salt Lake Affirmation, Dignity,
and Metropolitan Community Church held an Interfaith Worship & Pot
Luck.
1988-Gordon Church a Gay student in Cedar City was picked up by
Michael Archuleta and Lance Wood recent convicts at a convenience store and taken into the canyon for a sexual encounter that turned into a torture sadistic slaying. Before killing him they “shoved a tire iron up his rectum and put jumper cables on his genitals before before castrating him”. One of the most sadistic murders in the history of the state although only a few people are aware of the torture killing because the judge placed a gag order over the case to protect a prominent Mormon family in Delta from having to publicly acknowledge that their son was Gay.
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| Gordon Church |
1989 Concerning Gays and Lesbian’s topic was Mike Bryant’s
book “There’s a Damn Good Life After Testing Postive.”
1989 Jim Dabakis, one of KTKK talk radio's most popular -
and most controversial – communicasters
left the airwaves to move from
SLC to Eastern Europe as an art broker in Hungary.
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| Elbert Peck |
1991 Mark L. Mueller,
age 36, of Salt Lake City, formerly of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, died
November 22, 1991 of AIDS Survived by many special friends in Salt Lake City.
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| David Sharpton |
1991- -- Debate over whether gays and lesbians
should receive protection under proposed hate-crimes legislation became a
one-sided discussion at Weber State University Thursday when legislators
opposed to the bills refused to attend. Two bills have stalled in the
Legislature's Judiciary Interim Committee but may be considered by the 1992
Utah Legislature. The first would require law enforcement agencies to track
hate crimes and issue annual statistical reports. The second measure would make
it a third-degree felony to destroy property, attack or threaten a person
because of race, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic background or
sexual orientation. Such crimes are now misdemeanors. Provisions extending
protection to the state's homosexual community have drawn the greatest amount
of opposition. Thursday, nearly 100 WSU students attended a ``forum'' on
whether gays and lesbians should be protected by hate-crime legislation. ``This will not be a debate. I contacted
eight state legislators and all said they couldn't make it,'' organizer
Steven Petrick-Underwood said. Rep. Merrill Nelson, R-Grantsville, did not
return telephone calls Thursday but told The Associated Press he didn't have
time to attend.`If I were convinced that anything I said would change anyone's
mind, I would go,'' he said. ``But it
looks like the only possible result would be an opportunity for them to heap
abuse on whoever's speaking to them.''
Two other legislators, Rep. John Arrington, D-Odgen, and Sen. Delpha
Baird, R-Holladay, both of whom have expressed opposition to the proposed bills
as members of the Judiciary Interim Committee, said conflicting appointments
prevented them from attending. But gay activists told students that homosexuals
should be included in protective legislation
because they bear the brunt of hate crimes in Utah and nationally. Reported
violence against gays and lesbians increased 400 percent nationally between
1985 and 1991, said David Nelson, the founder of Gay and Lesbian Utah
Democrats, citing a survey by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Michael
Aaron of the Gay and Lesbian Anti -Violence Project said participation of
adolescent males in a game known as ``queer-bashing''
results in people being hurt or killed, and justifies hate-crime protection.
The Utah Anti-Violence Project's survey of 230 gay and lesbian Utahns last year
found 87 percent of the men and 69 percent of the women had been subjected to
anti-gay comments, Mr. Aaron said. In addition, 75 percent of the men and 50
percent of the women had been physically assaulted. (11/22/91 page: E22 SLTribune)
.jpg)
1993-Dolly Parton denied rumors that she's a lesbian, saying
gal pal Judy Ogle was just her best friend.
1997 Page: C2 The South
Valley Unitarian Universalist Society will collect food for Thanksgiving baskets
for the Utah AIDS Foundation and Utahns Against Hunger during its Sunday service,
10:30 a.m., 6876 Highland Drive, Salt Lake County.
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| Terence Warner |
2005 Subject:
New Family Home Evening Group for active LDS Gays Hey Everyone, My name is Terence
Warner and I'm 19 years old, and I'm Mormon. I participate in a group called
FHE family. This is the discussion group for Seagull Forums which is not
something very many of you will be familiar with. However, you may have heard
about these FHE meetings on Monday night. Many people think that these are just
regular Mormon religious meetings in the spirit of LDS FHE. However, it is much
different than that. FHE is not misapplied in that we are "family,"
and we meet in a home as a group. However, we are a queer-theory-
meets-mormon-studies-theology-group. It's wonderful for me to be able to say
I'm going to FHE to my parents. And the fact is, I'm not lying. The group is
good for all of the people who go. Those looking to remain celibate and have faith
promoting experiences, as well as those people who want to expand there
understanding of the world around them and discuss philosophical implications
of our experiences. Our Monday night meetings have helped me come to terms with
being Mormon and homosexual. The group has provided me with useful information
about a wide range of topics, from human sexuality to religious theology. We
spend a lot of time talking about dealing with family, the church, getting into
politics and wide range of other issues that people deal with including
emotional and physical responses to their homosexuality. Anyhow, this is my
invitation to all of you to join our group. This week is our one year
anniversary. We are inviting back our speaker from the very first FHE. Terry O'Brien.
An active member of the church… It will be a great meeting and would be so much
fun if you were all to come and join us, there are so many interesting people
here, you're sure to meet new friends and gain new understandings. Hope to see
you there. Sincerely, Terence Warner. Bellow is this weeks FHE announcement:
Hey all . . . Believe it or not, we've been going at this for a year now. And
it's all due to great people like you. Thank you so much for your amazing
contributions. This next week, we'reexcited to have Terry O'Brien, who was our
very first speaker, speak to us again. His
article "Deep Dark Sin, But
Whose?" will be the launching point for his presentation. We've included
the article in the body of this e-mail. So we'll see you all Monday, November
21, at Daniel's at 7. (Salt Lake; no parking on University because they'll slap
with you with a big fat ticket.) And, as a reminder, we want new members to
join the FHE family Online Forum. I mean, everyone is doing it. You should too.
There are some great discussions going right now about arts & entertainment
(such as anticipation for the upcoming release of Brokeback Mountain) and
politics (including Gov. Schwarzenegger's response to Daniel's letter). There
are also some great posts from different forum members about their coming out
experiences with their families. You really ought to check it out. Within a day or two, you will receive a confirmation that you are now
a member and a request to send information to Daniel to identify yourself. That
way we don't have any ill-willed lurkers on our board. At that point, feel free
to post questions that you want to discuss. In fact, this would be a great forum
to continue the discussion initiated during Terry's presentation. See you all
soon. FHEfamily
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| Terry O'Brien |
- DEEP DARK SIN, BUT WHOSE? By Terry O'Brien In light of several newspaper and magazine articles that have lately decried the increasing suicides of young people, I was discussing homosexuality with a friend. Although only an estimated 5% to 10% of young people are gay, they represent 30% of attempted suicides---Utah being one of the top ten states, with 66 deaths in the year 2000 alone, and one of the top three states for suicides by males between fifteen and nineteen. There are many reasons for these tragedies (drugs, broken relationships, school and family pressures, etc), but why so high among homosexuals?* [I use the word "homosexual" to represent gays and lesbians in spite of insistence by some that such words are adjectives and not nouns. (Ensign, Oct. '95, p.9). As one lesbian put it, "I am a noun, not an adjective." Would one say that a heterosexual is only an adjective?] One gay LDS youth in California ended his life on the steps of the Stake Center [this year]. The discussion was going well, and my friend asked intelligent questions, appeared non-judgmental and seemed to be grasping the complexities and stresses of the gay situation. Then, suddenly she grew uneasy. Her understanding had apparently reached its limit, and she felt she had conceded too much. "President Kimball," she reminded me, "was a prophet who wrote about homosexuality in Miracle of Forgiveness. He called it a "deep, dark sin." (p79). She preferred not to think about it or discuss it further. I have observed similar scenes, and witnessed how easy it is for many people to let others do their thinking - or worse, to not think at all. Brigham Young expressed concern for members who rely too heavily upon those who lead us, and neglect to enjoy the spirit for ourselves (Doct. Of Diety, 111). The First Presidency spokesman says ". . . it is not true that the LDS President's word is law on all issues." And President Kimball himself expressed concern over ". . . unthinking follow the leader mentality." (Quinn,The Mormon Hierarchy, Vol II, 832, 873). President Hugh B. Brown, acting President for David O. McKay, said: "The church is not much concerned with whether the thoughts of its members are orthodox or heterodox as it is that they shall have thoughts. . . . Revealed insights should leave us stricken with the knowledge of how little we really know." He further added, "While I believe all that God has revealed, I am not quite sure I understand what he has revealed, and the fact that God has promised further revelation is to me a challenge to keep an open mind and be prepared to follow wherever my search for truth may lead." (Memoirs of Hugh B. Brown, Signature Books, 1988, 135-140) We are told that even the elect can be deceived (or mistaken), and someone who knows President Kimball's daughter, says that upon his deathbed he told her his one regret in life was "that chapter on homosexuality." I have not been able to authenticate her statement, and President Kimball, if he did say it, is not here to explain what he meant specifically, but his son, Edward Kimball, told me that although he didn't know about that statement, his father did tell him that in writing the book he had, perhaps, been too hard. (Personal conversation 8/11/01). After much reflection upon President Kimball's statement of "Deep, dark sin," I am now willing to concede that the practices involving the homosexual condition are indeed deep, dark sin. But let me explain. No doubt there are homosexuals who use their sexuality impersonally to manipulate and control others, or as a game, mere entertainment, or release with no regard for the well-being or feelings of their partners. For some, nightly conquests are salve to soothe their psychological wounds, egos, and feelings of inadequacy. But, these practices are not unique to the homosexual for many heterosexuals use similar ploys. Mature homosexuals would decry such behavior on either side as irresponsible, but, at the same time, would likely agree with Paul Ferrini in his Silence of the Heart, p. 51, that "the only sexual ______________expression that is reprehensible is sex without love." Many homosexuals, unwilling to face their future alone and emotionally unfulfilled, do practice loving and caring relationships with only one partner over a long period of time - and even for life - without the societal traditions and role models that support heterosexual marriages. How ironic that while homosexuals are seeking to give permanence and stability to their relationships, heterosexuals are increasing their promiscuity, live-ins, no-fault divorce, and a 50% divorce rate. Yet same-sex unions are considered a threat to the "sanctity" of marriage. Again, how ironic that the LDS Church which once considered polygamy a sin, and later embraced it whole-heartedly against strong societal pressure, now considers any marriage outside the norm of one man and one woman demeaning to the marriage covenant. Elder Dallin Oaks, when questioned about homosexuality on a CBS news show, stated that it was not sex that was objectionable, but sex without marriage. But, he added that the church does not offer - and rejects -same-sex marriages, (as society once rejected polygamy to the LDS). How soon the rejected become the rejectors. The issue about marriage, according to Andrew Sullivan in a recent TIME essay (June 30, 2003, p. 76), is not religious, but civil – an attempt to reverse an "illicit discrimination against a minority." "Religious groups," he says, "can well decide this matter on their own time." But, he insists, it is also about respect, and adds: ". . . if the love of two people, committing themselves to each other exclusively for the rest of their lives, is not worthy of respect, then what is?" Since many homosexuals will pair up anyway, perhaps the recent Canadian acceptance of Gay marriages will resolve the contradiction and encourage a binding tradition of civil unions, if not marriage, that will add further dignity, responsibility, and permanence to committed same-sex relationships. No, the practice I refer to as "deep, dark sin" is not that of the committed homosexuals who choose to be loving, caring and responsible, but, ironically, of the people who censure them without question or attempt at understanding. Homosexuality is "deep" because it is complex and requires more than superficial examination and treatment. Homosexual feelings are often profound and far from the surface where uninformed judgment and easy "cures" deceptively promise removal. Like those of the heterosexual, these feelings are an integral part of one's being, extending deeply below the conscious level. They are difficult to comprehend (for the possessor as well as for the counselor), complicated to analyze, and basically, in many cases, unresponsive to permanent change. For whatever effect it may eventually prove to have, our DNA is determined long before we are born. Homosexuality is "dark" because so many people are in the dark about it. President Kimball says it is "repugnant to those who find no temptation in it." Conversely, many homosexuals feel the same about heterosexuality--it is unnatural and therefore repugnant to them. And why stress the "temptation" part? Although neither Jesus nor Joseph Smith, nor the Book of Mormon or Doctrines and Covenants ever comment upon it, and the word, "homosexual" nowhere appears in the Bible, many people reject it based upon a few inconclusive statements which may be more about temple prostitution than about the love and long- term commitment of same-sex partners. Why stress a few obscure passages about same-sex love then totally ignore other more direct statements in the O.T. about killing those who work on the Sabbath or curse their parents, and for women not to wear men's clothing – walk through the BYU campus and notice how many girls today prefer jeans over dresses. How would our young Priesthood holders respond if we stressed Paul's admonition for men to not touch a woman nor seek a wife, or our sisters if we adhered to Paul's forbidding women to wear costly pearls or to speak in church or to teach? Is it not possible that ancient scriptures may have various personal, limited, outdated, or other interpretations? True and committed love is encompassing and beautiful. Like heterosexuality, sex is only a small part of homosexual feelings, and for many has not even yet materialized. Homosexuals do not ask for license to sin or for heterosexuals to find temptation in it; they only ask for others to try to understand their feelings. Without understanding comes fear and prejudice--the ugly companions of rejection and persecution. Truth is light, and those who have come to accept the truth about themselves have learned to walk in its comforting warmth. Those who turn their backs on truth and light will see only the darkness of the shadows they cast. Finally, many practices directed by heterosexuals at homosexuality are "sin." The practice of admonishing homosexuals to repent of that which they only discovered within themselves but did not choose. Teaching them to lie to themselves and others about who they are. The practice of making them feel unworthy for something that is natural to them. Misunderstanding, scorning, and rejection so that they learn to distrust or deny their deepest feelings and to hate themselves even to self destruction. And in extreme cases, the practice of gay bashing and even murder, as in the heart-rending case of Matthew Shepard, beat up and hung on a fence to die in freezing weather by homophobic youth [one of whom was LDS]. In place of Christian love and support, these demeaning practices heaped upon God's homosexual children by judgmental heterosexuals are in effect, sin, for sin blocks the natural progress and growth people of both sexual orientations were meant to experience from their special God-given challenges. Sin is often defined as estrangement from God, who is defined by Mormons as a perfect male whom we are told to love with all our hearts, minds, might and strength--above all else. Yet homosexual males who have a deep understanding of what it is to love another male in a complete spiritual, social and emotional context (apart from the sexual), are told to repent of such "repugnant" feelings. If they were able to manipulate their natural feelings to become emotionally estranged from other men, would that not also negatively affect their psychological feelings toward Heavenly Father and Jesus? Would that rejection not then, for them, become sin—deep and dark? The same applies to Lesbians who are discouraged from loving a partner of their choice. President Kimball, in the same chapter, p.82, also said, "How can you say the door cannot be opened until your knuckles are bloody, till your head is bruised, till your muscles are sore?" After years of therapy, of prayer, of fasting, and of agonizing, many of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters can honestly say "our knuckles are bloody, our heads are bruised, and our muscles are sore." And as a result, like the seed that must first pass through the dark earth while casting off its confining coat, the way for many has opened and they have emerged into the light of who and what they are with full acceptance of their same-sex feelings and unlimited potential for continued spiritual growth. Years ago, the Church youth recited weekly, "Dare To Be Different," and it is hoped that with increased understanding, love and acceptance, today's gay youth will no longer loathe their being different, no longer betray themselves in others' expectations, or feel trapped in the bonds of "deep, dark sin" heaped upon them by the well-meaning but uninformed. Trusting the voice within, they will refuse to accept shame for who they are, beat themselves up, or attempt suicide as the only solution. With the help of caring family and friends, and with spiritual strength from an unconditionally- loving Father in Heaven, they can joyfully recognize, honor, and own their unique experience with life – including the trials – as personal gifts from God for growth. As they let go of the past, gently dismiss the critics, open themselves to new discoveries, and choose whatever path works for them, they will finally say, "We have found the light of truth within ourselves, and, as promised, it has made us free." Terence....that one kid.
- Addendum-New Family Home Evening Group for active LDS Gays Regarding the posting about a FHE group for active LDS Gays, while no longer of the Mormon persuasion myself, I feel anything that can relieve some of the incredible stifling oppression placed on Gay people in Utah County is a good thing. Terry O'Brien was once an art appreciation instructor at Cypress College in Orange County California. I took a class from him in 1971 when I was 20 and he could not have been much older. He was a heart throb but Mormon. Last I saw of him was in 1983 sitting in a hot tub surrounded by a bevy of beautiful men at an all men's health club in OC. I knew no Mormons until I attended Junior College and my greatest teacher was Thomas V. Reeve who taught history there and was as it turned out also Mormon. I became close friends with a Gay Mormon boy named Kent Larsen, an art major who introduced me into not only the world of Mormonism but Gay Mormons. I thought the LDS Church was cool because of all these Gay people. (Boy was I wrong) While I have no fondness for the LDS Church any more I do miss the Gay Mormons of my youth even if most of them were pompous little shits. They couldn't help having been brainwashed that they were 'born under the covenant' and there for better than those who weren't. At BYU my first Branch President that I confessed "sins" to was C. Terry Warner. I've heard that he has Gay children. I wonder if this Terence Warner is one of them?
2005 Tuesday,– Film and Panel
Discussion – Center Space (6pm) What does it mean to be a man or woman? In
America's growing transsexual community, this question takes on a whole new and
powerful meaning. We will be showing the A & E Investigative report,
Transgender Revolution, followed by a panel discussion with local individuals
in our community. This will be an opportunity to hear real stories by real
people in our community and ask questions to help you better understand the
similarities and differences in each of our life experiences. INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTS goes beyond ignorance and stereotypes for an intimate portrayal of the
people who choose to change their gender. Among the unexpected, ferociously
articulate characters we meet are a female-to-male transsexual who works for
the Tampa sheriff's office, a male-to-female electrical designer who has hosted
an MIT radio show called Gendertalk, and a Southern good-old-boy who we follow
through his surgical transformation. THE TRANSGENDER REVOLUTION also examines
the fast-growing movement to combat gender oppression, highlighting the
nation's most notorious transsexual killings and a Congressional battle over
including transsexuals in the Hate Crimes Act.
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| Mike Thompson |
to be their first responsibility.
- Equality Utah's response to this Resolution is as follows: Although we appreciate value that the City of North Salt Lake's proposed Resolution places on families, we believe this Resolution is short-sighted and fails to acknowledge other valid family units. The Resolution, which only recognizes natural families with both a husband and wife present in the home, fails to recognize single-parent families, families with foster and adopted children and well as families of same-sex partners. It saddens me that these families, and other non-traditional families, are neither recognized as valid nor accepted as contributing members the North Salt Lake community. Please call or email the City of North Salt Lake City and ask them not pass this Resolution tonight. Mayor Kay Briggs Councilman Lynn Ballard, Councilman C Jacobson, Councilman Gene Madsen, Councilman Bryan Morley, Councilman B Muir If are able to attend the Council meeting, the meeting will be held at the North Salt Lake City Hall at 7pm. The resolution is on the Agenda for 9:30. The address of North Salt Lake City Hall is 20 South Hwy 89 in North Salt Lake. Mike Thompson Executive Director Equality Utah is the state's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political advocacy group and works to empower our community and allies to become actively involved in all levels of the political process.
- Dear Leadership Folks, Apparently this resolution was crafted by the Sutherland Institute (whose attorney lives in North Salt Lake) and sent to NSL, but it has also been forwarded to other City Councils across the state (I know Mapleton is also up for a vote). It looks like Paul Mero and the gang at Sutherland have starting gay baiting early this year, trying to frame the pro-family, anti-gay debate well before the legislative session. Don.
2007 On Thursday, November 22nd, over 30 people attended a free
dinner in celebration of Thanksgiving Day. Café Marmalade staff worked very
hard to create a delicious meal, and the Utah Pride Center was able to host
this warm-spirited event for members of our community in need this holiday
season because of the generous donations made by our supporters. Thank you for helping our neighbors, friends,
and family have a place to call home!
Remember, Christmas is approaching soon, and there are still many GLBT
people and families in need. We hope Christmas will be even bigger and better!
We understand that the holidays put extra demands on everyone’s budget, but if
you’re able to give any amount, you will brighten the holidays for hundreds of
people by showing that our community takes care of each other. We
encourage you
to include The Center as part of your holiday outreach. If you’re not sure about what to get that
special someone, you can make your donation to the Utah Pride Center in the
name of a loved one! This gift that
keeps on giving will help us continue our legacy of service to the GLBT
community by assisting members and organizations in need during the holidays.
The gift will appear in the name of your choice, and the recipient will be
recognized in our annual report, as well as receive a complimentary membership
to The Center (along with its benefits).
To purchase your gift, please contact Marina Gomberg
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| Marina Gomberg |
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