This Day In Gay Utah History December 21th

December 21

1856 A man records in his diary that a married woman in Salt Lake City had been accused of trying to seduce the daughter of a man in town.

1887 Yesterday William Cook was acquitted of the charge of having committed the “Crime Against Nature”. First District Court Ogden.

1917-In Russia, the Bolsheviks nullified many laws including sex between men. Seventeen years later Article 121 would re-criminalize it, carrying a sentence up to five years "deprivation of freedom."

1968 Dale Sorenson MY FIRST LIFE - CHILDHOOD &

Dale Sorenson

ADOLESCENCE I was born on December 21, 1968 in San Francisco. My parents chose to leave SF when I was seventeen months old. I've never forgiven them for that. From there we went to Mountain View California (about an hour south of SF) until I was 7. Then we moved to Hollywood, Florida (just outside of Ft. Lauderdale). We lived there for two years and then moved again. From age 9 to age 25 I was raised against my will in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was not a pleasant place to grow up. I attended East High School (the same high school my father attended) and the University of Utah. Ironically, my high school is where in 1995, the founding of the Utah Gay/Straight High School Students Alliance sparked a controversy that became national news. Brave kids! I'm the oldest of five children. As such, I had a rather large hand in raising my siblings. (I've changed more diapers than most straight parents ever will.) MY SECOND LIFE - COMING OUT At age 20, on May 6, 1989, I came out of the closet. It changed my life forever. On that day, I decided I would never again let anyone make me ashamed for being gay. In one day, being gay changed from being a bad thing to be hidden, to a good thing to be expressed. Within two months I came out to my entire family, all my friends and my coworkers. It wasn't always easy. But it was always worth it. I refer to this as, "Dale's Whirlwind Coming Out Tour of '89". I joined Utah Gay and Lesbian Youth and later was elected to serve as one of the group's officers. I joined the Lesbian & Gay Student Union at the University of Utah, the Gay and Lesbian Community Council and started volunteering for the Stop AIDS education and prevention project of the Utah AIDS Foundation. I went on to become an executive officer of Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats (GLUD) for four years, including

David Nelson

executive director from 1992-1994. GLUD was founded by my dear friend David Nelson. David is a brilliant political strategist, organizer, PR consultant and was my political mentor. His decades of volunteer service and leadership have earned him a place in history, and my undying respect and appreciation. GLUD operated with great success from January 1990 through December 1996. In the summer of 1992, I was elected to be the first openly-gay delegate to a national convention from Utah. I attended the Democratic National Convention in New York City. While there I met dozens of Democratic politicians and queer activists, and I also fell in love with New York City. I've held numerous positions in different campaigns of progressive causes (gay rights, AIDS, reproductive choice, anti-death penalty, interracial and inter-community coalition building) and democratic candidates and committees (Congressional campaigns, state legislature campaigns, county commission campaigns, campaign for governor and attorney general, state platform committee and more). I served as member of the board of directors of the Utah Stonewall Center for two years. I helped organize events for Utah's Gay Pride Day and National Coming Out Day. For several years, I was the Utah Canvas Director for the Human Rights Campaign, Speak Out Project. These activities put me in the position of being the most-publicly-out gay man in Utah for about three years. I was in the press at least monthly, often weekly, sometimes daily. It was not uncommon for issues I was working on to be the lead story on all four TV news stations and run front page in both daily papers. Not surprisingly, after five years of full-time volunteer activism in addition to a full-time career in advertising, I burned out. I discovered that my emotions and I were strangers. I was so driven, so rational, so cerebral, that I quite literally didn't know how to feel love or anything else. I realized I had accomplished everything I could politically, and that my life was at an emotional dead end in Utah. So, as an act of self preservation, I left.

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1969-Jim Owles and Marty Robinson broke from the Gay Liberation Front to form the Gay Activists Alliance because they believed GLF was too focused on causes unrelated to gay liberation.

1971 After counseling with Spencer Kimball, Donald Attridge wrote the following in his diary. “Spoke with Elder Kimball. I told him how difficult it was not to have anyone to love, to touch, to kiss. He warned me that I would die alone as a homosexual and that no one would come to my funeral. He said he had a friend who had chosen that way of life and no one came to his funeral."  (We’ll Find A Place Donald Attridge)

1973-A bulletin was issued by a federal judge stating that a person's sexual orientation may not be sole cause for termination of Federal employment in the U.S.

1977- A litigation which grew out of the Hotel Utah withdrawing the use of its facilities for Gay Pride Week was reconciled by an out of court settlement of $1,600 paid to Ken Kline, Ron Hunt, and Bob Waldrop, Individuals and Organizers of the Salt Lake Coalition for Human Rights and D. Kendall Perkins Attorney at Law.

1984 Gay newspaper The Salt City Source discontinued after nine issues. Editor Laura L. Ferreira gave the paper over to the Community Service Center and Clinic. To avoid incurring all old debts of the Salt City Source, the name of the paper was changed to The Best Source

1985 Salt Lake City's last Adult Movie Theater, The Studio Theater, at 228 South State Street closed its doors rather than challenge Utah's pornography laws. Declining attendance and the rise of video pornography doomed the theater.Deseret News

1988 Grant Cheever called about the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society and Archives. We talked for about an hour about the project and how interested he is in it and that he’s collected articles and Gay related information for the past ten years. He was interested in joining Rocky O’Donavan and I in getting the Gay Historical Society off the ground. (Memoirs of Ben Williams)

1988-The Chicago City Council voted 28-17 to approve a bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Mike Archuleta

1989 JURORS SAY ARCHULETA SHOULD DIE It took a 4th District Court jury just over six hours of deliberations Wednesday to decide that Michael Anthony Archuleta should die for his part in the torture slaying of Gordon Ray Church. The defendant, 27, showed no emotion when the jury's decision was read, but as he was taken from the courtroom he glared at prosecutor Carvel Harward, telling him, "I'll see you in hell." Archuleta's sister and parents, who testified earlier Wednesday that the defendant had been neglected and physically abused before they adopted him when he was 5, wept and embraced. Members of the victim's family were not present when jurors reached their decision at 9:10 p.m. "Justice was done. It's not a happy occasion for anyone," said Millard County Attorney Warren Peterson. "But the jury did a tough job. They followed the evidence. They did what the statute called for, and that's their verdict. It was a proper verdict under the evidence." The jury, which last week found Archuleta guilty of capital homicide, had the option of sentencing him to death or life in prison. Several jurors sobbed when 4th District Judge George E. Ballif polled them on their decision, which will automatically be appealed to the Utah State Supreme Court. Next week, Ballif said, the court will issue a death warrant with an execution date. The judge chose lethal injection as the means of execution after Archuleta was unable to decide between injection and the firing squad. Defense attorney Michael Esplin expressed disappointment with the jury's decision but said he was not surprised. "I thought there was some evidence that the jury could have gone the other way with, but that's the verdict," he said. "The amount of time they were out would indicate that they didn't arrive at it (the decision) easily, but considered it carefully." Regarding the defendant's statement to Harward, Esplin said, "I'm sure he's (Archuleta) probably not feeling his best right now." Archuleta, who took the stand again Wednesday before the jury began penalty-phase deliberations, said he wanted to live a normal life. "I feel I should be punished. I don't want to die," he said. "I didn't kill Gordon, (but) I was there." As he did under oath last week, Archuleta placed blame for the murder on co-defendant Lance Conway Wood, 21, who will be tried Feb. 20. Wood led investigators to the murder scene Nov. 23, 1988 _ a day after the slaying. Church's half-nude, badly beaten body was found covered with dirt and tree limbs in an area north of Cove Fort known as Dog Valley, Millard County. Archuleta's remarks conflicted, however, with testimony Wednesday from a prison inmate who shared a cell with Archuleta shortly after the murder. "He said that him and Lance Wood killed Gordon Church," said the inmate, whose identity the court asked the media to keep anonymous. "He told me that it was the ultimate rush. He said the evil had completely taken over him, and once they started he couldn't stop." The inmate quoted Archuleta as saying that drugs couldn't compare to the "high" of killing Church, 28. "He told me they beat him to death" after trying to shock him with car battery jumper cables. Archuleta wept when his mother, Stella Archuleta, took the stand and recounted noticing signs of abuse when she and her husband, Amos, adopted the defendant in 1968. Archuleta's parents testified that he had burn scars on his arms and buttocks. "He was afraid of hot water," Stella Archuleta said. "He was afraid of (closed) doors." She said the defendant was a hyperactive child, that he was suspended from several public schools and received treatment at both Timpanogos Community Mental Health Center and the Utah State Hospital. Archuleta was in prison by the time he was 18 on a conviction of theft of a firearm, said June Hinckley, state prison records officer. He was paroled a year later in 1982. He was imprisoned again in 1987 for distribution of a controlled substance and was paroled Oct. 11, 1988 - about a month before the murder. Psychologist Robert J. Howell testified that the defendant suffers from "attention-deficit hyperactivity syndrome" and that he has hallucinations. However, he said, Archuleta knows right from wrong, though his ability to make correct decisions is somewhat impaired.  "I love him. I couldn't love him any more even if I had given birth to him," Stella Archuleta said. "He's my son."

1990-An MTV poll reported that 92% of America's teenagers say it would make no difference to them if their favorite rock star came out as gay or lesbian.

1991 - There was no way I could get the apartment ready for a Full Moon Gathering tonight so Homo Erectus and Gillian agreed to host it at their place. Puck is staying with Homo Erectus and has really festively decorated their place.  Anyway I read Carl’s medicine cards at Silver Fox and did some errands today, dropped some Salt and Sages off at Apple Star and Spirit Dancer’s for their womyn celebration tonight and I made apple crisp with cinnamon red hots for the Quick Beam Gathering. About 5:30 people started arriving at their apartment because Puck wanted people to change into their Faerie Skirts down here before going down to Gillian’s. People who attended the Wolf Moon Gathering were Morning Star who was the Pillar, Gillian, Sky bear, Popcorn, Silver Fox, Anzio, Puck, Homo Erectus, Red Coyote, Fuku, Dolphin, Thunder Beam, Peanut Butter, Ceo Kjammi, and myself Gayflower. While Morning Star was the Pillar Puck more or less led the gathering.  I was surprised to see Sky Bear at the circle since he had made his intentions known that he didn’t want to be connected with the Faeries anymore. So it was unique to have all three of the founding Pillars of the Sacred Faeries present at this Wolf Moon and Yule Gathering. Morning Star led us in some visualization and it was a magical circle. We closed the circle at 7:30 to get ready for the Quick Beam Circle which was holding their winter Solstice Celebration in a warehouse next to Squatters and across from Bandaloops.  We all walked down 3rd South in full Faerie Drag just a block over from La France.  There were about 250 pagans gathered in one spot from various covens, circles, and solitary practitioners. Most were in medieval drag and the Quick Beam Yule celebration seemed to be orchestrated by Lesbians and non-Gay Women. To tell the truth, the heterosexual men were kind of duds. I was not pleased that the heteros symbolically killed the old Sun King to bring in the new Sun King. We Faeries don’t hold to that.  We let the Old Sun die of old age to return to the Mother’s womb for renewal as a natural cycle. But all in all it was fun and powerful even if Puck was way drunk loud and boisterous. (Memoirs of Ben Williams)

1994 151 GAYS CLAIMED BY HATE CRIMES Associated Press At least 151 gay people in the United States have been murdered over the past three years in hate-motivated killings, a report compiled by activist groups says. The report examined killings in 29 states and Washington, D.C. "These murders are only the end result of the rampant violence we face as gay people," said Lester Olmstead-Rose, executive director of the Community United Against Violence, a San Francisco group that took part in the study. "What we face is terrorism - the demand by thugs that we conform to their personal and religious standards," Olmstead-Rose said in a statement. The study was coordinated nationally by the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, which said that it "does not purport to document the true number of gay-lesbian-related homicides" since not all states are accounted for and most of the organizations contributing to the list of incidents are all-volunteer. The list, culled from police and news media reports, describes numerous killings in which victims were bludgeoned, stabbed repeatedly or mutilated, or where witnesses heard anti-gay remarks or suspects confessed to anti-gay sentiment. Twenty-four people were victims of serial killers. "What we've found is an extreme level of viciousness during anti-gay murders," Olmstead-Rose said. The gay homicides also appear to be solved at a lower rate than killings in general, the report said. It suggested friends or family members fear revealing a victim's sexual orientation to police, and that anti-gay killings may be a lower priority for some police departments. FBI spokesman Rick Smith in San Francisco said he had "no basis for comment" on the report because the FBI does not differentiate between killings of gays and heterosexuals in its crime statistics.  © 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.

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1999 Date: Page: A1 Benefits Due Gay Couples Same as heterosexuals, Vermont court rules; Vermont Court Hands Victory To Gay Couples BY CHRISTOPHER GRAFF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MONTPELIER, Vt. --    Creating what could be a springboard for the legalization of gay marriage, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled Monday that homosexual couples are entitled to the same benefits and protections as wedded couples of the opposite sex.   The high court stopped short of giving homosexuals the right to marry, leaving it instead to the Legislature to decide whether to legalize same-sex marriages or create some kind of "domestic partnership" status to ensure gay couples’ rights.   Gay organizations hailed the decision as the most far-reaching ruling of its kind in the United States and said it represents their best chance of winning the right to marry for the first time anywhere in this country.   "This is a glorious day," said Evan Wolfson of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. "Vermont's highest court has ordered an end to unequal treatment of lesbian and gay families."   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been outspoken in its opposition of same-sex marriage bills in Hawaii, Alaska and California despite protests from civil libertarians and even some Mormons. After the Vermont decision was announced Monday, the LDS Church issued a brief statement affirming its stand on same-sex relationships: "As the legislative process moves forward, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urges the citizens of Vermont and their elected representatives to protect the uniqueness and sanctity of traditional marriage and to preserve the family as the basic unit of society." The statement pointed out that to date, 30 states have enacted measures to protect "traditional marriage" since President Clinton signed the Federal Defense of Marriage Act in 1996.  In 1998, the church anted up $1.1 million to battle gay-marriage proposals in Alaska and Hawaii. Until recently, Hawaii had been gay couples' best hope. Hawaii's Supreme Court started the debate nationally when it ruled in 1993 that restrictions against gay marriage violated the state constitution. But last year, Hawaii approved a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. "We hold that the state is constitutionally required to extend to same-sex couples the common benefits and protections that flow from marriage under Vermont law," Vermont's high court said. "Whether this ultimately takes the form of inclusion within the marriage laws themselves or a parallel 'domestic partnership' system or some equivalent statutory alternative rests with the Legislature."  The court said the benefits that gay couples should get include access to a spouse's medical, life and disability insurance, hospital visitation and other medical decision-making privileges, spousal support, certain rights of inheritance and homestead protections.   Writing for the court, Vermont Chief Justice Jeffrey Amestoy said the Vermont ruling provides greater recognition of and protection for same-sex relationships than any other state's high court except Hawaii's. Both gay rights advocates and opponents of homosexual marriage went even further, arguing that the Vermont ruling was the strongest in support of gay rights by a state appeals court in the United States.    Democratic Gov. Howard Dean, who had refused to take a position on same-sex marriages until the court ruled, predicted the Legislature would pass a domestic-partnership law. Same-sex marriage "makes me uncomfortable, the same as anybody else," he said. --Tribune Staffer Hilary Groutage contributed to this story.

Jay Bell

2003 This is Jay Bell's obituary from the SL Tribune. (On a personal note I feel sadden that his family chose to ignore his life work and his passion for chronicling the history of the Lambda people in the LDS Church. Again I am reminded how it is so important that we reclaim our histories and our lives from heterosexual bias. This is not how the Jay Bell I knew would have wanted his obituary to read as if his homosexuality was a dirty little secret- Ben Williams).

•        Edward Jay Bell Edward Jay Bell 09/04/48 ~ 12/18/03 E. Jay Bell was born in thesmall town of Trona, California in the Mojave Desert on September 4, 1948 to Clarence M. and Deola S. Bell. After graduating from Trona High School, Jay went on to serve an LDS mission, then to BYU where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986. Since then he has lived and worked in the Salt Lake Valley, and dedicated many hours to research and in support of the diverse cultures of America. Jay will always be remembered for his brilliant mind, his love of knowledge and especially his delightful sense of humor. Jay is survived by his mother Deola; two brothers, Ray (Gloria) and Lynn (Debbie); nieces, nephews and cousins. His father Clarence preceded him in death. Funeral services will be Monday, December 22, 2003 at 11:00 in the Mountain View Memorial Chapel, 3115 East 7800 South (Bengal Ave). Friends and family may visit one hour prior to service. Interment Mountain View Memorial Cemetery. Published in the Salt Lake Tribune on 12/21/2003.

Chris Buttars

2005 Wednesday Who is lying? Salt Lake Tribune I have an answer for Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan ("Gay-straight clubs under fire," Tribune, Dec. 16). The gay-straight alliances are most likely talking about people like him who have picked on and bullied anyone who does not fit his vision of "normal." These groups, many of them with more straight than gay members, work with teacher - and sometimes with parental - supervision to help kids cope with the hatred they face every day of their lives. And why

Mike Picardi

does Sen. Buttars say it is the "gay groups" who lie? What lies have been told? When was the last time he spent any time with kids who were bullied and/or threatened every day they were alive? I also find it curious that while our first lady, Mary Kay Huntsman, is working to bring help to all kids who are disenfranchised, the senator is out to slam the door shut on them. Most Utahns find the senator's anger and hatred perverted. Mike Picardi Holladay

2005 Wednesday A waste of time Salt Lake Tribune Why would Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, even spend one minute of valuable legislative time on trying to outlaw gay-straight alliance clubs in Utah high schools when there are so many more important things to worry about such as homelessness, affordable housing, eliminating the sales tax on food, etc. Get a life! Jeff Geigle Richfield

2005 Wednesday posted by David Nelson Here are some links to recent financial

David Nelson

disclosures of Utah Rep. Jackie Biskupski (campaign), state Sen. Scott D. McCoy (campaign), Equality Utah (political-action committee), Equality Utah Foundation (educational), and Gay and Lesbian  Community Center of Utah Inc. (educational). The web sites are also useful to learn the details of other non-profit and political groups.  David Nelson Salt Lake City

•        EQUALITY UTAH FOUNDATION (2004) In 2004, "Salaries, compensation, and employee benefits" was "$67,034" and "Other salaries and wages" was "$129,995." Specifically, "Vice Chair Scott McCoy" "$42,000" ($16.80 an hour), "Treasurer Carol Gnade" $19,000" ($63.33 an hour) and "Executive Director" "Michael Mitchell" "$6,034" ($15.09 an hour). *In 2004, "Compensation of officers, directors, etc." was "$28,489" including "$15,086" "Executive Director" "Michael Mitchell" "$15,086" ($15.09 an hour).

•        GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY CENTER OF UTAH INC. (2003) *In 2003, "Compensation of officers, directors, etc." was "$39,993" and "Other salaries and wages" was "$180,339." In 2002, "Compensation of officers,  directors, etc." was "$73,000"  and "Other salaries and wages" was "$134,003."

•        Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:18 pm posted by Chad Keller From the looks of it the Center might be better off without all of the Salaries and benefits. Stream Line and reduce the labor overhead would make it stronger!

•        Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:22 pm posted by Melissa Larsen Re: Financial-disclosure reports For anyone reading or participating in this group, the financial records for every non-profit organization in America are available at www.guidestar.org For every state run PAC organization, those records can be found at www.utah.gov  I believe that if you look at these websites you will find that the salaries of the major gay non-profit organizations in Utah are no better or worse than anywhere else in the state or country. In fact, with a little investigation...the salaries of those who run other statewide organizations such as the Utah Foster Care Foundation and the United Way make a considerably larger amount of money than other Executive Directors. When we sacrifice our hard earned dollars to donate to non-profits some of that money must go to salaries, it is the nature of the beast. Thank you for bringing this important topic up however, no non-profit in Utah remains secretive about the amount of money they bring in and spend. They all have to report that information to the IRS and other financial institutions. Of all the salaries in the world, those of the people who give their time and energy to the non-profit sector are the least kept secret. They are not hard to find at all.  Melissa Larsen"

Wed 2005 Wednesday posted by Chad Keller Jere answer simply this one question without all the crap stating only the facts surrounding it. Did you bother as a board member to look how it would appear to post board positions, with such a limit time to prepare to apply or even give the community a chance to get people interested? While I think the world of Fran (Pruyn), and I see the urgent need to make the changes, again, the Center and the community has come up short handed. The schedule does not give proper time to show interest or get people interested. With the printing schedule of community news papers, some with internet, and some without, word of mouth and etc. From an industry standard, from a marketing, public relations 60 days with an aggressive campaign to let people know there were positions open. Jere, do you support such a limited time, what was the discussion on this, and Is this time enough to truly enroll the community in being members of the board. Or is this just another way to alienate people and limit the pool of candidates to those who are part of what seems to be your own clique of people...lets call em Jere's Kids! I will not need to provide much from the past, I can see that plenty will be provided to me in the days months and years to come. But what the heck do I know.....From what everyone running the Center says thanks to its board members and you, is that I am truly stupid, non talented, and full of hot air.... Perhaps the degree on the wall wasnt worth it. One things for sure, no matter how well intended, it will someday be thorn in all of our sides. Chad Keller

2005 Wednesday posted by Chad Keller Jere; It would seem that this is an exact copy of what was trying to be attempted under the name of Utah GLBT Community Leadership Forum. I guess I should be flattered that you found one of my ideas to be so wonderful that you would copy it. In reading your blog, since the statement and policy you wrote is so limiting to our community to participate, would this be a complete list of what you feel best represents the Utah Gay and Lesbian Community: Jere Keys—GLBTCCU & SLMetro, Charles Milne—U of U LGBTRC, Kellie Foreman—U of U SRHSS, Mike Thompson—Equality Utah, Mike Picardi—UT Stonewall Dems, Stuart Merrill—UT Stonewall Dems, Debra Daniels—U of U WRC, L'aura L. Bradford-- NUWROC, Robert Austin--GLBTCCU, Evelyn Garlington--GLBTCCU, Keri Jones, Troy Williams--KRCL, Alice Sikorski- -PFLAG, Valarie Larabee--GLBTCCU, Peter Savas—RCGSE Seems that if this organization to accomplish anything for the community it must first follow the rules of what was established with the GLCCU (thats the old community council) which the Leadership Forum based itself off of, which you are infringing upon what we were attempting to do: 1) Everyone is welcome to come to meetings, with appropriate times for none members to address the group. 2) Every organization is a member until such time there is sufficient interest to require membership 3) until such time there is a strong, broad, and diverse representation of the community, we remember that we serve at the will of the community for which we are attempting to represent. Please tell us why these people were selected to be representative of our community, while others are not. It would seem other than one or two that this is more of a group to insure that the paychecks keep flowing, and that only people who have a paycheck, and those willing to support the paid gay process are welcome. Is this assumption correct? I can honestly say Jere, that when I was doing the Forum, we were a true representation of the community. Not just those I liked and those I did not.  Participation was to just come if you could.  Chad Keller It takes people to build things like, centers, festivals, and oh yeah communities. We all have a right to participate in something that is COMMUNITY RELATED. Something I understand you forgot in Vegas too.

2005 2:29 pm posted by Chad Keller Jere; Please provide to the community a complete list of all of the GAY/LESBIAN ORGANIZATIONS that are participating. While I believe in building coalitions, and partnerships I wonder exactly how many of the straight organizations that are present in this list need to be truly enlisted in the building a healthy gay community. Would it not be better to start internally and invite all gay groups to have one representative present, rather than a collection of people who don’t necessary have a mission to serve our community, and then multiple representation from others. Are the missions of the people participating consistent with the goals of the organization. Do the PARTICIPATING organization hierarchy and bylaws allow for the participation in such a group? Is this organization properly incorporated under the laws of the state of Utah, or is it part of another group? If is part of another group, is it permitted in the bylaws that they have on file with the state? Let’s look at and discuss the following from your last minutes that were posted in your blog. Remember, your group is conducting the business of our community, we have a right to ask, and I would hope that other members of this "group" representing our community would also respond to my inquires. I am and so are other listening Jere for you to launch another of what I see as your signature attacks on me. Im ready! I would remind those listening that the Community Leadership Forum that was created and crushed by the Center was accomplishing much of the same. The forum however had board participation and input from the entire community; Minutes from September 1 Meeting Minutes for September LGBT Task Force meeting: September 1st, 2005 The Following members were present at the meeting: Jere Keys—GLBTCCU & SLMetro, Charles Milne—U of U LGBTRC, Kellie Foreman—U of U SRHSS, Mike Thompson—Equality Utah, Mike Picardi—UT Stonewall Dems, Stuart Merrill—UT Stonewall Dems, Debra Daniels—U of U WRC, L'aura L. Bradford-- NUWROC, Robert Austin--GLBTCCU, Evelyn Garlington--GLBTCCU, Keri Jones, Troy Williams--KRCL, Alice Sikorski- -PFLAG, Valarie Larabee--GLBTCCU, Peter Savas—RCGSE Are the above a complete representation of the actuall GLBT Community. In the spirit of full disclosure who are the other "leaders", and why is there multiple representations from certain groups. Is this a redo of the Police Liaison Committee? The below mention mission is puzzling: It states GLBT Task force "is Community wide coalition working toward....." Is this not the mission to similar to that of the Alliance for Unity? Should we not be concerned with health of our own community first, then later create (I’m sure a paid position knowing our community) someone from this group to represent this group to something like that Alliance. Also more puzzling, why is this then called gay when it is not specific in its structure and membership to our community. Mission as approved:The Utah GLBT task force is a community wide coalition working toward a unified, proactive, and healthy community in Utah. Vision: A cohesive, empowered, and mobilized GLBT Community. The above Vision is actually the basis for your Mission Statement. All of this should be present here. Regardless of it missing, this vision is limited to only the members. If we are to mobilize the Community would then the organization be open and willing to make a positive effort to enroll and seek their participation. Seems narrow and to quote a previous email from you "sinister" Remember Jere, I get paid to write Missions, bylaws, and incorporation papers....So as a professional what’s up with the added unnecessary verbiage? Your mission is overly broad. The people participating in the vote below. Is this a clerical error on the part of the of the person recording the vote or are there "mystery members?" The numbers in attendance and the yays and nays don’t add up. A motion was made to approve the above vision statement given review of the vision statement in 6 month, by Stuart Merrill, and seconded by Evelyn Garlington, 13 yeas, 2 abstentions and 1nay. Jere, this is a big one. Your integrity dealing with me, as with the Center's dealings with me and others....miss the whole statement you have adopted. Again, larger, who is the focus here? The larger main stream, or the our community? Or is this requirements for membership. Please explain this, and narrow it down for us how exactly this partisans to our community  (GLBTWHATEVERELSETODY) (Yeah...I’m one that has a problem with our title GLBT, and us being a dumping ground for the masses of sexually repressed.) Code of ethics: Membership in the Utah GLBT Leadership task Force requires personal integrity, belief in the dignity and worth of individuals, respect for individual differences and diversity, respect for individual privacy, a commitment to service, and dedication to the development of individuals and the larger community through education, communication, and service. Motion for approval by Evelyn Garlington, and Mike Thompson seconded, 15 yeas, 1 abstention, and 0 nays. Strategy and Work What materialized with the Katrina Aid. I have spoken to many in the community who heard nothing. I fully support the aid to Katrina, and hope that we didn’t drop the ball. Was there specific connections to our community that need to be addressed? Katrina Support, what will the community response be to help the survivors of response specifically towards the GLBT community? Monetary contributions should be sent through the rainbow fund. Service projects were proposed. A call will be sent out for donations for the Youth Food Pantry. Use of existing tools for communication will be used to mobilize organizations and groups. Did this happen? Again the masses heard nothing. Wouldnt it be better to enroll all of us in planning this important event. Seems like the select few doing this always seem to complain how much work they have on their plate, then really great action on behalf of our community falls through the cracks. National Coming Out day Full page Ad. Use of the shoe network. Evelyn to set up donation forms and electronic forms. Discussion about feasibility will happen online. All task force members agreed to raise 10 people to recruit 10 people. The Peace Rally listed is disturbing. Am I to assume that our community and its leaders don’t have enough clout to have a rally of their own? Sadly the New World order Protest Strategy doesn’t work. If our message was to Bush to stop a war on families why then would we allow our message to be lost with in the mix of all the others seeking the spotlight? If the point was to have gay people there as participating citizens, what would then make them stand out among the rest of the crowd. Isn’t our ultimate goal to finally be accepted and blend in? Peace Rally, September 24th, unified presence of LGBT Community. Pioneer Park Rally at Noon, meet up at 11:00 AM, Please bring a sign that says stop the war on gay families, or we support all troops. Idea is to show visibility at the protest and join as a community in the protest. Again, Big problem listed here below regarding the Media, as leaders you have the right to speak on behalf of your individual groups only. NOT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE! Not all of the community accepts the missions of those represented, and unless the whole community,(everyone wanting to participate Jere) can come and participate in the creation of the talking points, then we are just rehashing old statistics time and again. This is where we allow the our enemies to gain strength. Talking points are created to address specific issues surrounding a specific moment. (IE the participation of the GLBT Community in the Pioneer Park protest, and why the end of the war in Iraq had importance to us here in America, the statistics of the don’t ask don’t tell and it impact on the war, Gay families who lost sons or daughters in the war, and how the new Iraq government will benefit gay people in Muslim based Iraq.) Basically your asking only those you allow to participate in how to talk to the media. I personally do not support at this time groups like Equality Utah, only because I don’t see any payoff at this point to the supposed allies we have in the state legislature. Truly where is the contract that a candidate would support our issues if they take our money and get elected? Or do we fund them and just hope in the end provided they answer their questions in a positive manner. Do you feel the same?  A proposed committee was formed to create talking points for working with the media. It was addressed that Equality Utah will draft some talking points, and propose those to the task force. We also need to reframe the language that we use to restructure the information that is available to the community. The purpose of such documents will help community members in talking with others, including the media based upon current situation and personal experiences so we can reframe the language used to describe the GLBT community. Don’t know Jere, but I think you and this group are shortchanging yourselves and our entire community. It would appear that it is not

going to work. Did I miss some minutes or something? CK

2005 Utah Gay Forum Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:27 pm posted by Barrytowns WOW! This really is a free space for all of you bitter people to rip each other apart in a "public space." Well let me just tell you what this looks like to an outsider. To me this looks like a community that isn't getting anywhere because you all insist on being right. Some of you speak of a "level playing field" well unless you are willing to compromise as well there will be no "level playing field."You say nasty things about the community leaders, WHY? are you trying to prove a point, because if you are make it already and lets move on. I realize that people in this community can be really cruel to each other, but you all have a golden opportunity to be the bigger person. Some of you have been around for a long time, which is great, maybe your knowledge could be of use instead of spending all your time ranting and raving about what a bad job everyone is doing on this group. My hope for you all is that you can get over all the wounds and crap and make some progress in this damn state. Good Night and Good Luck- Barrytowns

•        Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:02 am posted by Ben Williams I agree that so much of our energy could be put to better use- however people posting on this site have every right to express opinions and feelings they may have. People have the right to respond back. Every one that has posted something on this site had a need to get something off their chest. Agree or disagree. That's okay. Everyone that has posted on this site are people who are extremely strong willed personalities with strong opinions and emotions. That is why they are the movers and shakers. Everyone has worked passionately in some way or another to contribute to the building of this community. Perhaps an "outsider" will see these expressions differently than I do. I see them more as quarrels and squabbles within a "family". I am old fashion enough to still think of Gay people as family and not little straight wannabes. Besides those who are as old I am remember vividly the slogan "Silence = Death". Utah is full of passive aggressive people who wouldn't say shit if their mouth was full of it. They smile at you while stabbing one in the back. I myself would rather know where someone stands then trying to sugar coat everything. We are humans we have differences of opinions. We all have egos. We get our feelings hurt. David Nelson and I sparred ferociously when we were members of the GLCCU. We were in different camps and had different perceptions how GLCCU should operate. I've written some pretty nasty things in my private journal about him from heated council squabbling. Having said that there is probably few in the community that I admire more than David. He has followed his vision, been knocked down, verbally abused, disparaged, and yet he has the fortitude to continue working for the rights of Gay people from his perspective. Do I have to agree with everything David does. Hell no...but in my mind he's been robbed of recognition and accolades by short term visionaries with short term memories. Chad Keller is a visionary, a passionate, free floating ideas man. Most of the groups in this community have at one point or another benefited from his vision of fabulousness. I have disagreed with Chad many a time and told him so, and yet I also know that I owe my re-involvement in a community to Chad, a community in which my archives was stolen and destroyed, a newspaper I created was usurped, and my name sullied by my insisting that our community center have oversight by the community. Duh! My love of the Gay community is greater than the animosity I feel to the people who did some wrongs to me. I really don't dwell on it but just move on. But like the proverbial elephant "I never forget." Chad has had many of his ideas usurped and probably is feeling a little bitter. (okay a lot). I hope he can move on and use his incredible talents, which less imaginative people seen to always be "borrowing", to create new spaces suited for his artistic temperament. Mike Picardi has the soul of Don Quixote to still be passionate in the Democratic Party in Utah. I so admire him for seeing how things should be and not as they currently are. What is more brutal than then the political arena? Ask David Nelson. It darn nearly killed him. Jere Keys is an incredibly energetic young man who brings the fresh perspective of an "it can be done" attitude. He is doing great things. He's allowed to make mistakes. He's earned it. Anyone willing to jump into our collective Gay bed and scrap and scrabble with the rest of us is truly a remarkable person or plain crazy. We say we love diversity but sometimes I think not. That's my opinion and I am sticking with it! (or at least until I change my mind) Ben Williams the old and fat

•        Thu Dec 22, 2005 2:19 am posted by Ben Williams Gay Heaven will not be Gay Heaven to me if both my Gay friends and my Gay enemies aren't there. They both shape who I am and who I will be. (I hope I have a few lovers there also). I guess a few straights will make it to heaven also. Not many with their attitudes I would imagine. Ben Williams

•        Thu Dec 22, 2005 9:45 am posted by Ben Williams Re: Ripping each other apart I set up this site that anyone, members of the group or not, may post, however only members receive email. I only have this group monitored for one reason and that is to keep the proliferation of porno advertisers from going unsolicited to subscribers to this group. Some people live in Utah some don't. Who cares. I've lived in Utah off and on since 1973 and continuously since 1985 and I still don't consider myself a Utahn and neither do Utahns. I am and always will be an outsider. However as resident of Salt Lake City that’s another story. I feel very attached to my adopted city and love LOVE Salt Lake. When I chose to finally buy a house I made sure I had a SLC address. Salt Lake City contains some the best people on the planet! West Jordan can go fuck itself along with all of Utah County! That's my opinion and I am sticking with it!  PS Come move to SLC if the air don't kill you nothing will.  Ben Williams

•        Thu Dec 22, 2005 9:55 am posted by Barrytowns Re: Ripping each other apart Thank you for your assumption that I live somewhere else. Truth be told, I am a native of Utah and have just come back here after a long hiatus, your reaction and lack of acceptance is why I left. I appreciate your paranoia and the assertion that I am from another state, it reaffirms for me your true motivation in participating in this "open dialogue". It is interesting that when someone you don't know participates in this dialogue your delusions get the best of you and you feel that you must delve into someone’s private life in order to discredit them immediately. I used to go to the Sun before it was destroyed in the tornado, I go to the Trapp on a regular basis. You know me, you all know me...I am the one you never wanted to talk to because it would be beneath you. Thank you for reaffirming my opinions. I will no longer be participating in your "open dialogue".Good night and good luck. Barrytown

•        Thu Dec 22, 2005 10:09 am posted by Ben Williams Re: Ripping each other apart I don't go to the Trapp often anymore but I am more than happy to talk to you. I will be the balding heavy bearded guy with glasses. Oh wait that describes most of us! LOL Seriously glad you are back and have fresh view points Ben Williams

2006  Naked Yoga in Provo??? That's right. And it's not a moment too soon. eNerGY will be having a special Nude Yoga for Beginners in Provo, Utah on Thursday, December  21st at 7pm. The cost is $10. This class will be specifically designed for the first-time yoga practitioner. Learn some of the fundamentals of yoga. You will experience some of the benefits that yoga can offer. Your instructor will be John Cottrell of eNerGY: Nude Guy Yoga. To learn more about

2013 Hundreds seeking marriages turned away in Weber County Same-sex marriage Weber County clerk offers personal apology to crowd. By Marissa Lang | The Salt Lake Tribune Hundreds of marriage applicants were turned away at the Weber County clerk’s office Saturday afternoon after they had been told the office would open to issue licenses for one hour. Weber County Clerk Ricky Hatch personally handed out an apology letter to each Utahn who stood in line outside the county’s offices for hours in the freezing cold Saturday afternoon in anticipation of applying for marriage licenses. Officials at the Ogden office had previously announced they would open between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to handle an influx of applications, after a federal judge declared Utah’s same-sex marriage ban invalid on Friday. "I want to personally apologize for the confusion today," Hatch wrote in the statement. "I intended to open the office on Saturday for logistical reasons in anticipation of a large volume of marriage applicants on Monday. "I did not anticipate the security requirements of opening the county building." More than two hundred people stood in line Saturday — some for as long as two hours, according to those who witnessed the scene in Ogden — only to be turned away about 1:30 p.m. Hatch later explained to The Salt Lake Tribune that he made the decision to open for an hour on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. — just an hour and a half before show time. It barely gave him enough time to solicit extra help from his deputy and staff, let alone notify the county’s contracted security detail. Other tenants in the building —including federal government offices — expressed concerns about opening the county offices to the crowd without any security measures in place. Hatch had also been advised that opening the office for "special circumstances" may violate equal-protection laws, as the county had never before opened on a Saturday to accommodate a particular group or event. "It looked like we’d be making a special accommodation for a particular group and we’ve never done that before," he said. "Even though that’s not why I did it, legally, the argument could be made."  Hatch noted that had the offices been able to open Saturday, anyone could have come down to apply for a marriage license — opposite-sex as well as same-sex couples. About 1 p.m., the time at which the office had promised to open its doors to the eager marriage applicants outside, Hatch made the "difficult" decision to remain closed. "I felt horrible that I made people stand outside in the cold, some of them for a couple of hours, based on a promise or decision I had made, only to turn around and tell them no," Hatch said. "I felt bad about that. As a public servant it’s my responsibility to be out there and face them directly and talk to them personally." So, he drafted a letter, put on his jacket and went outside to apologize. Though clearly disappointed, Hatch said, the crowd was largely understanding and accepted his explanation. He told individuals to return on Monday, when the office will open at its usual 8 a.m. The Weber County clerk’s staff will open an increased number of terminals equipped to handle marriage applications on Monday and Tuesday in an attempt to process as many as possible before the Christmas holiday. The office will close at noon on Tuesday. "There were a lot of people here who were really excited to get their marriage licenses today," said Max Green, a Weber County resident who works as Equality Utah’s assistant manager of community programs. "They left disappointed." Hatch dismissed the notion that there was any political motivation behind either of his decisions Saturday — to open the office and issue marriage licenses for an hour, or, ultimately, to stay

closed. Green, who went to the Weber County office building Saturday to make sure Hatch "kept his promise," said he was satisfied by the genuine apology the crowd was given. But added he would have preferred there be no need for one. Weber was the only county that offered or attempted to open its clerk’s office on Saturday following Judge Robert Shelby’s ruling. All other county clerk’s offices will be open — as usual — on Monday morning.

Camille Neider

2017 The Utah Senate just confirmed the first ever openly Lesbian Judge, Camille Neider. It was an 18-2 vote. Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Camille Neider to the Second District Court.“Camille Neider has distinguished herself as a knowledgeable, thoughtful attorney who has experience and skills that will make her a fine jurist,” Gov. Herbert said. “If confirmed, Camille will take the bench following an impressive legal career, and will bring with her a sincere desire to provide public service.”She received a B.A. in Political Science from Brigham Young University and a J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University. “I am grateful and humbled to be appointed to the Second District Court by Gov. Herbert. I accept the charge to be fair, impartial and dedicated to upholding the rule of law,” Neider said. “I look forward to serving the people of the second district and intend to do all I can to further the integrity and trust the public has in the judiciary.”  Her wife and three children were there for the vote. Neider will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Brent West on Dec. 29, 2017.