The Day In Gay Utah History December 14th

December 14

1887 William Cook was arraigned on the charge of committing an infamous “Crime Against Nature”. He pleaded not guilty in First District Court Ogden. Deseret News

1894 Ogden Standard Examiner Fourth District Court page 4 Frank Smily Changes his plea and says he Is guilty. The case of the People vs Frank Smily arraigned for a “Crime Against Nature” plead guilty. Sentence set for tomorrow

Ezra Taft Benson

1963, "Former agriculture secretary Ezra Taft Benson charged Friday night that the civil rights movement in the South had been 'fomented almost entirely by the Communists.' "Elder Benson, a member of the Council of the Twelve of the Church... said in a speech at a public meeting here that the whole civil rights movement was 'phony.' " Deseret News,

1971-A demonstration sponsored by the Gay Activists Alliance took place at Suffolk County Police headquarters in New York. Two men and one woman were arrested. It was held to protest the arrest of two members of GAA on charges of sodomy.

1978 SL Tribune featured a story headline “Gays Claim Lack of

Tony Adams

Protection” in Section B page6. Story was about the Tony Adams’ murder and its impact in the Gay community. Gay leaders and civil libertarians appealed to Salt Lake City police officials Wednesday for more vigorous protection in a “general atmosphere of violence in the community against Gay people.” Meeting with Public Safety Commissioner Glen N. Greener and later with Chief Police Bud Willoughby, the group of men and women bluntly asserted that police are in sensitive to the needs of the Gay community and are involved in a concerted program of harassment.  Such harassment encourages violence among “sickos” in the community they said. The group, particularly a spokesman for the Socialist Workers Party, accused the police of dragging their feet in investigating the recent murders of homosexuals. Both Mr. Greener and the Chief said the police do not condone violence against any person or group.  The Chief urged members of the Gay community to “contact me personally” with complaints of police harassment or brutality. Chief Willoughby and a homicide detective at the meeting both said recent murders involving Gay men are being “rigorously” investigated, including the murder of Tony Adams in his apartment November 3rd. Mr. Adams was a Gay rights advocate, a Socialist Workers Party leader, and a “fighter for justice” according to Rev. Bob Waldrop of the Gay Community Metropolitan Community Church. The church leader himself, the recipient of 22 death threats in 2 years, said rumors are sweeping the Gay community to the effect that police are looking the other way when it comes to violent acts against homosexuals. “I have no knowledge that what you are saying is true.  If the Gay community has complaints regarding police performance those complaints should be brought to my attention,” Chief Willoughby said. Sid Stapleton, a Social Workers Party Official out of New York said the investigation in the death of Mr. Adams should be approached as an “assassination of an out spoken political leader.” (SLTribune 12/14/78 B6)

1986- Wasatch Affirmation sponsored a lecture by Dr. R. Jan Stout MD on the origin o

Jeff Manookian

f homosexuality at the Unitarian Church. Lecture entitled; A New Look At the Causes of Human Sexuality Dr. Stout addressed “Psychobiology and Its Impact on our Sexuality “ We went to Affirmation where Dr. Jan Stout talked about the biological basis of sexual development.  He said the conclusion today is that sexuality is not a learned condition but biological. In other words I was Gay from my mother’s womb. There was about 130 people tonight at the Unitarian Church. Jeff Manookian played a concert recital from Lizst.” (Memoirs of Ben Williams) Obituary of Dr. Stout

1988 Becky Moss called me this evening to tell me about this reporter Chris Jorgenson of the Salt Lake Tribune who called her. He is doing a news story on the Gordon Church murder and he wanted to talk to someone in the Gay Community about how to handle Gay sensitive news stories. She wanted me to call him back so I did. He said that his dilemma was how to treat something as a Gay bashing murder with out “outing” the person who is a victim of Gay violence. I told him that just because a person is attacked because someone thinks he’s Gay does not mean the person is Gay. However, if a person is attacked because he is perceived to be Gay whether the person is Gay or not it is still a Gay Bashing Crime. Jorgensen wanted some guidelines from the Gay community on how to write Gay sensitive stories and I said that I would contact the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah and have someone from that organization meet with him on the 23rd.  He also confirmed what Chris Brown told me last month. The judge has put a gag order on the case and this reporter is going to court to get it lifted. He also said that the Millard County Sheriff is treating this case as “If this guy wouldn’t have been a faggot we wouldn’t be spending the holidays investigating this case.”  Millard County is also mad about how much this faggot murder case will cost the county. I am glad that other decent people like Jorgansen are as incensed over this senseless murder as I am. I did not know this boy but hope I can be instrumental in helping his murder come out and not be covered up as a little bit of nasty embarrassment to the “good people” of Delta, Utah. I first called Chris Brown if he would go with me but he will be home in Portland for the holidays. So I contacted Curtis Jensen and Val Mansfield and they agreed to go with me. (memoirs of Ben Williams)

 

1988-The movie version of Harvey Fierstein's play "Torch Song Trilogy" opened in New York.

Gordon Church

1989 WEEPING ARCHULETA MINIMIZES HIS ROLE IN DOG VALLEY SLAYING  The capital homicide trial of Michael Anthony Archuleta was expected to go to a 4th District Court jury Thursday. Archuleta, charged with killing Gordon Ray Church on Nov. 22, 1988, took the stand in his own defense Wednesday and downplayed his involvement in the slaying. He said co-defendant Lance Conway Wood, who will be tried Feb. 20, was the real perpetrator. Archuleta wept through part of his testimony as he recounted how the victim was beaten to death with a tire jack. Millard County investigators found Church's badly beaten and half-nude body, covered with dirt and tree limbs, a day after the killing in an area north of Cove Fort known as Dog Valley. Portions of Archuleta's testimony conflicted with statements from six witnesses, and he denied several statements investigators had attributed to him. He also admitted intentionally misleading investigators. Archuleta said Wood had been drinking heavily the evening prior to the slaying and that he was angry over a spat with his live-in girlfriend, Brenda Stapley. "I feel that this happened because of Lance wanting blood," Archuleta said. "He didn't care whose blood it was. He wanted revenge because Brenda went to Arizona to see another guy." Archuleta admitted, however, that he also had been drinking and that he had an argument that evening with his live-in girlfriend. Archuleta said he and Wood left their apartment and walked to Main Street in Cedar City, where they met the victim. After "cruising" for a while, Church drove the men up Cedar Canyon and stopped after pulling onto a dirt road. "I asked him (Church) if he was gay. He said he was," Archuleta said. "That's when everything started to happen." At different points in his testimony, Archuleta both admitted and denied that he had sex with the victim. A short while later while Church was talking to Wood, he said Wood pulled a knife on Church. Wood tackled Church when he fled, breaking the victim's arm. Wood then cut his neck, Archuleta said. "I do believe I said, "We're in trouble,' " Archuleta said. "We chained Gordon up, tied him up and put him in the trunk. I don't know why we did that." Archuleta said he wanted to drop Church off and take his car. After he and Wood pulled off I-15 about 70 miles north of Cedar City, "I thought maybe he (Wood) was thinking the same thing I was . . . that we were going to leave him up there." "Did Gordon deserve to die?" asked defense attorney Michael Esplin. "No, he didn't," replied Archuleta. The defendant said he and Wood pulled Church from the car trunk and tried to shock him using jumper cables hooked to the car battery. Witnesses testified earlier that Archuleta admitted hooking the cables to the battery, but on Wednesday he denied doing so. "What were you thinking then?" Esplin asked. Archuleta replied, "At the time, I thought Gordon wasn't going to leave the canyon. I was up to my neck already. It was one event after another." He said Wood then twisted Church's neck, and that the victim fell to the ground. "I heard like a smack, something hitting something else," Archuleta said. "He (Wood) had his foot on Gordon's face and was swinging the jack like a golf club . . . or like a mallet when you play croquet." After being struck several times by the jack, Church appeared dead. Archuleta said Wood then stabbed him with a tire iron. Archuleta said he has been plagued by continued flashbacks of Church's killing. While in a jail cell after being arrested, Archuleta said, he needed to talk to someone about his hallucinations. "I was seeing Gordon. He was right there. I could see Gordon saying, "Why are you doing this to me?' I could see Gordon laying on the ground. I could see the shallow grave Gordon was in. I could see myself standing right next to Gordon, looking at him. I still see him." Esplin asked Archuleta, "You wanted to talk to someone so it would go away?" Replied Archuleta, "It'll never go away." (Deseret News)

1993-In Denver Colorado, Judge Jeffrey Bayless ruled Amendment 2 unconstitutional. The amendment to the Colorado state constitution sought to eliminate all gay rights laws in the state and prevent any more from being passed.

1994-  `A Holiday Family Portrait'' is the title of 8 p.m. concerts by the  Lesbian & Gay Chorus of Salt Lake City at First Unitarian Church,.

  

2002 Ben Barr to Ben Williams->I am so happy for you that your life is going in a positive direction. Everyone deserves to take a hiatus and take to nurture a relationship. 

Ben Williams The Historical Society right now seems to be thriving in cyber space but our meetings have been iffy. That's okay..from little acorns etc. Unless you just have to get rid of things I would hold on to them for a while...sort through what seems to be personal and what might be historical. Best Wishes  Ben

2002-Thank you for responding to my suggestion. No I am not the John Johnson that you spoke of. We have met on an occasion or two and you probably would recognize my face if you saw me. I was in the leadership of "Reconciliation" year ago, approximately 1991-1993? I was the development coordinator at the Utah AIDS Foundation 1993-1995. Many people know me from this involvement. I will be a new board member of "The Center" in 2003. Best of luck with your documenting gay & lesbian Utah History. Thank you, John Johnson

2004 Mark your calendars! Our Stonewall Shooting Sports of Utah meetings include our indoor

David Nelson

and outdoor shooting-range meetings on Dec. 14 and 19. If you know someone who is or was a SSSU member, remind them to resubscribe to our forum. Our database was deleted accidentally in October, and we're trying to rebuild it. Invite your family and friends to join us … just forward this message to them. And, remember to celebrate the Second Amendment, and all our constitutional rights, on Dec. 15 for the 213th U.S. Bill of Rights Day. David Nelson Salt Lake City

2004 Salt Lake Metro Issue 18 Vol1 Lambda Lore A LITTLE OFF GAY CENTER by Ben Williams  With the departure of Chad Beyer as executive director of the GLBTCCU (I think its pronounced glib-tick-coo but have never found anyone to confirm this), I got to thinking about all the other courageous men and women who served as Utah’s Lambda Community EC’s. I say courageous because it takes nerves of steel and a hide the thickness of a bull (dyke) elephant, to face the on slaught of name-calling and daily criticism. And that’s just from the Gay community. Someone asked me once to apply for the position of director of The Utah Stonewall Center and I looked at him in disbelief as if he had asked me to ceremoniously disembowel myself. I’m sure that would have been less painful then what we inflict on our leaders. Actually I have to admire how long Chad lasted being a transplant from the east and not used to Western hospitality. It had to have been a step down to unpack bags in the City of Salt and think, “what the hell am I doing here!”  The first person, of whom I am aware, to have stepped up to the Gay Community Center directorship plate was way back in 1975. Dorothy Makin served as the first director after Joe Redburn and the Board of the Gay Community Service Center told her that Judy Garland expected every homosexual to so his (or her) duty. “Ask not what the Gay community can do for you but what you can do for the Gay community center!” Later some confused homosexuals thought it was “who you can do in the community center” but that’s another story. Ms. Makin lasted about six months until the “flippin’ fags” drove her to distraction and she said the hell with

Ken Storer

this. To the rescue came Ken Storer, who having a Master’s Degree in Organizational Behavior as well as extensive training in psychology counseling and group therapy, should have known better. After six more months the Radicalesbians drove him to drink and he headed to Boise where he knew he could get a stiff one.  After a valiant effort, Salt Lake City came to the conclusion that perhaps we were a tad bit immature to actually run a “community center”. After all the Seventies was the “me generation”. It could have work though if someone would have thought to put a disco ball in the joint. Nearly ten years would pass before memories faded enough to start another venture. In 1984 The Gay Community Service Center and Clinic was incorporated as an offspring of proud parents, Auntie De and Beauchaine. Because no one else was crazy enough to do so, this odd couple was chosen as pro tem co-directors. Now what was different about this second go around was the clinic portion; which was inspired by Duane Dawson. He noticed a lot of Gay boys were starting to get mighty sick and nobody in the straight world gave a hoot. The Center and Clinic inspired a lot of hoopla and fundraising but that was about all. Auntie De sputtered out and Beauchaine reinvented the

Melissa Sillitoe

concept so often that it became nearly unrecognizable. Kind of like Michael Jackson. The third effort was more effective. The Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah decided that it was high time to have a community center back in capital city. So after endless monthly committee meetings, Charlene Orchard got the financial packaging

Craig Miller

together to open the Utah Stonewall Center-a Project of the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah. What a mouth full! Effable Craig Miller was elected as the first director of the Utah Stonewall Center but after a slugfest year he chose to step down. Since it’s not polite to hit a girl, Melissa Sillitoe, lately of the Utah Gay and Lesbian Youth (UGLY) Group, rolled up her sleeves, and charmed the hell out of everyone while cleverly managing to be efficient and business like. She even sweet-talked Marlin Criddle into having the post be a part time salaried position. A first! Melissa was short enough to dodge most of the slings and arrows, and after nearly 3 years she walked away with all her integrity and most of her body parts. The experience, however, scared her straight! By now the Utah Stonewall Center had cut the cord from the GLCCU and was free floating. Between 1995 and 1997 the Stonewall Center seemed to be hemorrhaging directors, among them, John Bennett, Renee Rinaldi, who 

Renee Rinaldi

became the first full time director, Michael O’Brien, and Alan Ahtow who had the distinction of

John Bennett

pulling the plug as directed by Brook Heart-Song. Ahtow oversaw the disembodied Utah Stonewall Center while it was in the “Ethereal World” (also known as Cyberspace) until a new creature arose in 1998, reincarnated as the Gay and Lesbian Community Center and tuh-duh “Stonewall Coffee House”. New and improved, with respectable hardwood floors, “The Center”, wink wink, hired Monique Predovitch, for about five seconds, until asking for a tried and true Utah Gay activist, Doug Wortham, to make sense of the place. Rolling up his sleeves and putting his shoulder to the wheel, Wortham managed to hand over the wood floors to Seattle’s Best, Paula Wolfe without a scuff mark. Paula Wolfe and gang ran

Paula Wolfe

Doug Wortham

the center for five years, hand picked their own board, and swallowed up Pride Day. Wolfish about getting grants for the

Chad Beyer

Center Paula finally bailed as the cash cows dried up. Seeking greener pastures she moved back to the Emerald City. Then lo and behold a knight is shining armor came from the east to rescue us but faster than you can say “dangling Chad” he dropped from the scene. Now a plucky Valarie Larabee will be our new lightening rod, ahem, I mean GLBTCCU

executive director. Valarie -Do not ask for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee! Quick someone call the Gay Help Line. Oh I forgot. It’s been disconnected.   Valerie Larabee resigned in 2013 under a barrage of criticism)

2005 Calling all primary and secondary school teachers, counselors, staff, and any others who would like to get involved with GLSEN!  Please meet with us Wednesday, December 14 at 6pm (NOTE: this is a time change from previous announcements) at the GLBT Community Center (361 N 300 W).  We'll discuss the current situation in Utah Schools, successes of the previous Utah GLSEN chapter, and preliminary plans to reactivate the Utah GLSEN chapter. For more information, contact Stan Burnett "GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/_expression."  -–GLSEN mission statement

2004   Big Water home of Utah's only Gay Mayor   Appeals panel upholds firing of Big Water's town marshal By Mark Havnes The Salt Lake Tribune BIG WATER - Former Big Water Town 

Marshal Chad Killian said he will keep his options open after a town appeals board Monday upheld his firing in September. The mayor removed Killian for allegedly downloading pornography on a Police Department computer and for insubordination. Killian denies he downloaded any salacious material onto the town's computer and he did not rule out appealing the board's decision to a higher court. Killian said Big Water has no written procedures for behavior of its two marshals. He testified he clashed with Mayor Willy Marshall over law enforcement since the mayor hired him in April. "We were never given written guidelines other than the mayor's way of selective enforcement," said Killian, during a recess in Monday's proceedings. "He [Marshall] said he wanted policy and procedures somewhere between 'Mayberry' and 'CHiPS.' There was no direction." Bruce Oliver, a Salt Lake City attorney hired by Killian, asserted the proceedings had no relevance because of bias in the composition of the five-member board favoring the mayor's decision to fire Killian. "It's small town politics," said Oliver. "A travesty." "Take it up with the Legislature," was Marshall's response after a 4-1 decision supporting him was returned by the appeals panel. State law requires that the panel consist of two council members and three town employees. As mayor of the Kane County town of more than 400, Marshall, who will not seek re-election, has the authority to hire and fire with approval of the Town Council. "I just want things to get back to normal," said Marshall. "Or as normal as anything gets in Big Water." mhavnes@sltrib.com

2007 Please Spread the word – Bingo has changed locations!! Utah Pride Center Gay Bingo with the Utah Cyber Sluts is on the move.  Our Bingo friends have provided so much support that we are moving to new facilities to give you the best Bingo experience possible.   But before we settle in our new digs, the Sluts are taking a road trip! That’s right we’re bringing Bingo to you…….For the  next several months we'll be visiting  locations across the  valley to bring  Bingo closer to many of our  friends. For December, January, and February - We're hitting Mid-Valley at the home of our friends at the South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society.  We're still calling numbers on the 2nd Friday of the Month....only the location has  changed.  When?  Friday December 14th, 7:00 pm Why?  To have fun, wind prizes and raise money for the Utah Pride Center and local charities Where? South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society 6876 South Highland Drive (2000 East) Salt Lake City , Utah 84121

2008 Reporter Derek P. Jensen wrote for The Salt Lake Tribune “Gays unite at 'town hall' event” Stung by California's passage of Proposition 8, Utah's gay and transgender community is brainstorming on how to best be seen and heard -- and how to secure social justice. Small crews have taken to the streets to shovel sidewalks and hand out equality pamphlets. The blogosphere brims with grass roots energy to boost awareness. And on Wednesday, Utah Pride Center will film testimonials, YouTube-style, to send to state lawmakers as the Legislature looms.

2012 Not far enough Re "New Mormon church website has softer tone on gays" (Tribune, Dec. 6): I am troubled that some members of our community think The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should be congratulated for just doing the right thing. I am upset that the unelected executive directors of the Pride Center and Equality Utah feel the need to gush over this new website, which does not change anything about how the LDS Church is going to work to defeat gay rights. Yes, the LDS Church now encourages Mormon families not to kick their kids to the curb, but it still insists that gay people live lonely, celibate, loveless lives. The Pride Center was right in thanking the church for its progress in acknowledging that being gay is not a choice, but as long as that church remains dedicated to preventing full equality and to not allowing gay people to live out the full measure of their lives, the center should respectfully decline to use the website as a resource for gay Mormons. Ben Williams