This Day In Gay Utah History December 15th

December 15

1894 Ogden Standard Examiner 1894-12-15 Fourth District Court page 1 Frank Smiley was sentenced to serve three years in the penitentiary for a

“Crime Against Nature”

1928-The New York Times reported that the British publishers of the lesbian novel "The Well of Loneliness" lost their appeal against the decision that all copies of the book be destroyed. Poet Rudyard Kipling appeared in court to testify in favor of the suppression of the book, but did not actually testify. On the same day, the novel was published in America.

1950-The US Senate made public its report "The Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts," which said homosexuals are a security risk because they are easy subjects for blackmail and because they have a weak moral fiber. The report recommended measures be taken to root homosexuals out of government jobs.

Christine Jorgenson

1952-Christine Jorgensen made her first public appearance since her gender reassignment surgery, and was warmly welcomed by her Danish audience.

1956- Homophobic Police Chief Cleon Skousen and his staff meetings are opened with a Mormon stylized prayer.

1959-Because he believed the risk of backlash was too great, Don Lucas of the Mattachine Society wrote to Boston

Prescott Townsend

Mattachine founder Prescott Townsend asking him not to begin a campaign to repeal the Massachusetts sodomy law.

1969- The Mormon Church issued a statement justifying their denying Church positions based on skin color. "Each citizen must have equal opportunities and protection under the law with reference to civil rights, however matters of faith, conscience, and theory are not within the purview of the civil law."

1973-The American Psychiatric Association dropped homosexuality as "a psychiatric disorder," and began to advocate for laws to protect Lesbians and Gay men from discrimination in employment, housing, transportation, and licensing, and encouraged "the repeal of all legislation making criminal offenses of sexual acts performed by consenting adults in private."

• 2004 Salt Lake Metro Issue 17 Volume 1 Lambda Lore 1973: WHEN HOMOSEXUALITY STOPPED BEING A MENTAL ILLNESS by Ben Williams    Most Gays remember June 27, 1969 as the date of the Stonewall Rebellion. However very few remember the historical significance of December 15, 1973. On that date the American Psychiatric Association's Board of Trustees recommended the removal of homosexuality from the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders' (DSM) list of psychiatric disorders. Until 1973 homosexuality had been treated in American society as a crime and then later a disease. Homosexuals, who did not regularly end up in jail, often ended up in mental hospitals subjected to various brutal "cures," such as aversion therapy and electroshock therapy. For most of the 20th Century, homosexuals were being classified as mentally ill which prevented 

  

  Alfred Kinsey

  them from entering such professions as education, government, law enforcement, and ironically psychiatry. After the Stonewall Rebellion Gay activists demanded that all this stop by removing homosexuality from the APA's list of mental diseases. An APA Committee first instituted the construct of homosexuality as a pathology in 1952 with the first edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Known as the "Psychiatrist Bible", the DSM classified homosexuality as being "among the sociopathic personality disturbances". In other words homosexuals were insane; this despite of the findings of Dr. Alfred Kinsey that 37 percent of American males had reached orgasm with another male. In the 1950’s UCLA Psychology professor Evelyn Hooker was the first to challenged the

  

  Evelyn Hooker

  theory that homosexuality was a mental illness. In her 1957 ground breaking study "The Adjustment of the male Overt Homosexual," she showed that there was no specific psychopathology linked to homosexuality. However later Dr. Irving Bieber published a study that declared homosexuals were the product of a dysfunctional family containing a domineering mother and a passive father. This theory became widely accepted by Americans, even today. Gay Liberatists and the APA collided in 1970 when activists barged into the APA National Conference held in San Francisco, where Dr. Irving Bieber was a
  
  keynote speaker. The Gay Libbers’ main goal was to "de-legitimize the authority" of the APA and to "talk back to them. Activists thus dressed in outlandish costumes, heckled from the audience, called Bieber a "motherfucker", while APA attendees verbally attacked back, even calling a Lesbian a "paranoid fool and stupid bitch".  At the 1971 APA  National Conference, Gay Liberationists broke through a conference room door and stormed through the audience denouncing the APA's position on homosexuality and demanding the removal of the stigma of mental illness. The following year, Lesbian activist Barbara Gittings asked John Fryer, a Gay Psychologist whose career was ruined for merely being suspected of being Gay, to speak at the 1972 National Conference. At the Dallas Convention, Fryer donned

  

  Barbara Gittings, Frank Kameny John Fry

  a large Richard Nixon mask and addressed his peers as Dr. Anonymous, detailing the plight of Gay Psychiatrists. He received a standing ovation. While Gay Liberationists were hammering at the APA from the outside, a group of closeted Gay psychiatrists worked to put liberal psychiatrists in the political echelons of the APA. The fall of 1973 Ronald Gold, a Gay Liberationist, met with Dr. Robert L. Spitzer,who was on the APA Committee which decided what and what was not a disease. Spitzer agreed to have Gold speak at the 1973 APA Conference in Honolulu.  There Gold gave a speech entitled, "Stop! You Are Making Me Sick." After the

  

  Ronald Gold

  conference Dr. Spitzer was invited by Gold to attend a meeting of Gay psychiatrists in a "campy Gay bar" in Honolulu and was surprised to see so many well-respected colleagues there. Dr. Spitzer and Gold left the bar and went and drafted a change in the DSM, deleting any reference to homosexuality being pathological. Later, on December 15, 1973 the APA's Board voted to remove homosexuality from the revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM II) after intense debate. The board stated that homosexuality "does not necessarily constitute a psychiatric disorder." Members of the
  
  APA who specialized in treating homosexuals, in particular Dr. Bieber protested the board's decision.  However a letter went out in the name of the board, urging APA members not to reverse the board's decision which was upheld by the general APA membership the following year on April 9th by a 58 percent approval.  Effectively, this decision was the official acceptance of homosexuality as a viable sexual orientation and acted as a catalyst for an increase in Gay Liberation throughout the Western world. "Gay Libbers triumphed over their greatest enemy, the psychoanalysts", by forcing the APA to examine its own positions and remove homosexuality from its official list of mental diseases.

1978 SL Tribune featured a story headlined “Murder Suspect in Mental Ward; Awards Gays” in Section B page 4. A suspect picked up Wednesday in connection with November 30 murder of Douglas Ray Coleman, 26 of Salt Lake has been committed to the psychiatric ward of University Medical Center and city police captain said  Thursday. Arrest of the suspect was disclosed Wednesday by Police Chief Bud Willoughby during a meeting with leaders of the city’s Gay community. They contended that the Coleman killing may be connected to a number of murders within the Gay community. Mr. Coleman was shot to death in a box car behind the Union Pacific Railroad Station at 177 West South Temple was last seen leaving the nearby Sun Tavern according to Rev. Bob Waldrop of the Metropolitan Community Church. The group asserted that they had information from a police detective linking the Coleman killing to the murder November 3rd of Gay Activist” and Socialist Workers Party leader, Tony Adams who was found brutally murdered in his Avenue apartment. The Chief said he had no knowledge of the alleged link specifically that the same killer committed both murders but urged all persons with evidence on any homicide to come forward to police.  Rev. Waldrop said fear is sweeping the Gay community that there might be “an L.A. Slasher type” out there” systematically murdering persons thought to be homosexual. He said 4 persons with ties to the Gay community have been murdered in the Slat Lake area. Captain Roberts said the suspect who was not identified was committed to the psychiatric ward by doctors following a medical examination. (SLTribune 12/15/78 B4) Suspect was Perry Stanger age 28 who told police, “Everything I do God tells me. God tells me everything.”

1980- Steve Baxter opened The Deerhunter at 700 South 3rd West, SLC, as a levi leather

Steve Baxter

men’s bar. Becomes a very popular cruise bar. “The Deerhunter was often affectionately called the Queer Hunter. The Deerhunter was the premier men's bar in the 1980's. Before being remodeled, it was a converted small house that had been gutted to accommodate a circular bar and pool table. No dance floor was added until the 1990's. The Deerhunter had a long four foot wide bar aisle, where men lined the wall as others sat at the bar. Anyone walking down the aisle had to nearly rub up against everyone else to get through. Since the lay out of the bar was nearly circular, a continuous parade of cruisy men made the rounds throughout the evening. Steve Baxter worked the bar mostly himself and became a fixture in the community, all be it a non political one. A handsome bearded, masculine man, he had one but niche and filled it well. The Deerhunter's masculine allure changed dramatically in the 1990's when Baxter enlarged the Deerhunter by adding a front and back dance area. He did so to compete with the dance club theme then in vogue. The Deerhunter became twice as large but lost half its feeling of intimacy. Times were changing and bars were becoming more mixed with men and women. Often there were more women in the bar then men. Still whether sitting on the north patio under a warm summer night visiting with friends or cruising the crowded and often packed dance floor, the Deerhunter was a special place, one which is now just a memory. [Memoirs of Ben Williams]

1986- A handful of individuals from various Gay organizations volunteered to help form a steering committee in the hopes of creating a new Community Center's board of directors. Representatives from People Who Care, Salt Lake Affirmation, the Restoration Church, Concerning Gays and Lesbians, and others attended.  No consensus could be achieved.

1987- Unconditional Support showed The AIDS Show, a video brought by Chuck Whyte. The

AIDS Show is a theater group from San Francisco  which dealt with the AIDS crisis in humorous skits and monologues.

1987-The International Scientific Conference on Gay and Lesbian Studies began at the Free University of Amsterdam.

1988 - I didn’t go to Gay Fathers but I got a Christmas Card form its founder Steve Breckenbury who wrote, “I want you to know that you have taught me many things about friendship, leadership, and service. Thanks for the gift of yourself.” (memoirs of Ben Williams)

1989 JURY DELIBERATING FATE OF MAN ACCUSED OF STUDENT'S

Michael Archuleta

SLAYING  The fate of Michael Anthony Archuleta was up to a 4th District jury Friday, with jurors scheduled to begin deliberating the defendant's fate at 9 a.m. Following closing arguments Thursday afternoon, 4th District Judge George E. Ballif sent jurors home for the evening. Defense attorney Michael Esplin, in closing arguments, echoed Archuleta's testimony this week that co-defendant Lance Conway Wood, who will be tried in February, is to blame for the death of Gordon Ray Church, 28, Prosecutor Carvel Harward, however, said trial evidence indicates otherwise. "Both Wood and Archuleta were there," he said. "Both engaged in the execution," which he said was committed in an "especially heinous, atrocious, cruel and exceptionally depraved manner." Church's bludgeoned body was found Nov. 23, 1988, in a Millard County area north of Cove Fort known as Dog Valley. The victim had been stabbed in the liver and had suffered numerous abrasions, contusions and blows to the head. Harward said the state had presented "overwhelming evidence that Wood and this defendant participated in all the events that resulted in Gordon Ray Church's death. A fair and just verdict is guilty of murder in the first degree." Esplin, however, said prosecutors had only proved Wood's guilty. "The state has proved a case against Lance Wood. He's not on trial here," he said. "Your question is: Have they proved a case against Mike Archuleta?"  The state showed that Archuleta, 26, was present when Church was murdered, Esplin said, but it didn't prove the defendant actually killed the victim. "If he (Archuleta) were making up a story, it wouldn't be the story he gave on the stand," in which Archuleta admitted involvement in putting Church in his car's trunk, driving him to Dog Valley and committing a sex act with him. Esplin said Wood, 21, was the leader and initiated the violence when he cut Church's throat after the victim made sexual advances toward him in Cedar Canyon. "So you can see that it's clear that Mr. Wood started that whole series of tragic events that night. Lance was wild, he was hyper, he was still under the influence of alcohol. Mike was scared." Esplin, holding up a picture of Wood, told jurors that he was the "prime mover" the night Church was murdered. Harward said Archuleta's pants had more blood on them than Wood's pants, he drove Church’s car most of the way from Cedar Canyon to Dog Valley, he bought gasoline for the car and he controlled the relationship he had with Wood. he told jurors that Archuleta had suffered a "convenient loss of memory" on the witness stand and reminded them that the defendant admitted misleading authorities. "Who killed Gordon Church? From the evidence, the answer is clear," Harward said. "The same two people who put Gordon Church in the trunk (of his car) ... are the same two people who killed him at Dog Valley." Both Archuleta and Wood tied the victim up in chains, both drove his car, both took some of his belongings following the murder, both inflicted wounds on his body and both left fingerprints on his car, he said. "They did it (killed Church) because once injured, they couldn't let him go. In assessing the risk, they elected to take his life," Harward said. The defendant, after helping Wood force the victim into the car trunk, "knew that Gordon wouldn't live to see the sun rise on Nov. 22." ***** Michael Anthony Archuleta: defense vs. prosecution Closing arguments were presented Thursday to the jury, which began deliberations Friday morning. Archuleta and Lance Conway Wood were present when Gordon Ray Church was killed. "The state has proved a case against Lance Wood. He's not on trial here," he said. "Your question is: Have they proved a case against Mike Archulta?" --Defense attorney Michael Esplin Archuleta's pants had more blood on them than Wood's pants; he drove Chruch's car most of the way from Cedar Canyon to Dog Valley. "Who killed Gordon Church? The same two people who put Gordon Church in the trunk (of his car) ... are the same two people who killed him at Dog Valley." -- Prosecutor Carvel Harward (Deseret News)

1994- Raymond R. Henke, died December 15, 1994, peacefully at home, after courageously fighting multiple myeloma. Born February 12, 1921 in Wheatland, Wyoming  He spent years on his cattle ranch before moving to Salt Lake City. Graduated from University of Utah. Spent two years in ETO in World War II, attaining the rank of Tech. Sgt. Involved as a Burmese cat breeder and enjoyed his many flowers. Ray requested no memorial services with the University of Utah Medical Department as final disposition.  Special thanks to Dean Fordam, Dr. Clyde Ford, and his ever-helpful staff. ``GOODNIGHT, SWEET PRINCE'' Ray Henke, 73 years old, an Gay Activist died of Cancer. Funded and operated the Gay Help Line for several years and helped form the Gay Service Community

1995- Enid's lawyer says gay porn was found in husband's closets.  JUDGE FREES JOE;

Joe Waldholtz

CHARGES MAY COME LATER  By Lee Davidson, Washington Correspondent and Bob Bernick Jr., Political Editor  Sixteen hours after Rep. Enid Greene Waldholtz, R-Utah, testified at length to a grand jury, a federal judge set Joe Waldholtz free Friday as he continued his silence on allegations of financial misdeeds. Meanwhile, the congresswoman's lawyer, Charles Roistacher, confirmed that "male, gay pornographic materials" had been found in Joe's closets at both the Waldholtzes' homes in Washington and Utah. But he would not comment on if that is what Enid Waldholtz meant earlier this week when she said she had recently discovered "questionable lifestyle choices" by her husband beyond financial misdealing. Meanwhile, a former aide said he saw Joe Waldholtz take large amounts of prescription drugs, raising questions if that is what she meant. Roistacher said Enid Waldholtz will likely not return to the grand jury until sometime in January. Meanwhile, Roistacher confirmed that gay, male pornographic material - none of which involved children - had been found in Joe Waldholtz's closet at the Waldholtzes' homes. He would not comment on whether it included videos, magazines or other material. He said he was commenting on that only to correct a TV story asserting such materials had been seized from the Waldholtzes' homes by the FBI. Roistacher said such materials had merely been observed in Joe's closets before federal authorities had ever been contacted about the case. Possession of such material is not illegal, but could figure in the custody battle between the Waldholtzes over their daughter, Elizabeth. Earlier this week, the Deseret News reported that Gay and Lesbian Democrats of Utah felt Waldholtz was gay-bashing when she charged Joe with "questionable lifestyle choices," which it said seemed to intentionally suggest in a negative way that Joe

Enid Greene

Waldholtz is gay because gays describe homosexuality as an "alternative lifestyle." "It's nothing short of what Joe McCarthy used to do with communism, asking are you now or have you ever been a sympathizer," said David Nelson, founder of that group. He noted that Joe Waldholtz has many gay friends and is known to be pro-gay - but gay groups do not believe he is a homosexual himself. Nelson said it is also common in divorce cases for spouses to accuse each other of homosexuality in custody battles - which his group especially condemns, saying that should not be a determining factor in custody cases. Meanwhile, David Harmer, a former campaign manager and congressional chief of staff for Enid Waldholtz, while responding to questions at a press conference he called on Thursday, said, "Joe was always popping pills" - raising questions if that may also be part of what Enid described as "questionable lifestyle choices." Other members of her congressional staff have told the Deseret News that large amounts of prescription drugs were delivered to Enid's House office for Joe. Harmer said he'd see Joe walk into Joe's campaign office and take two or three pills at a time, adding that Joe said they were pain killers for a bad back. Harmer added he had not seen Enid Waldholtz taking prescription drugs.  © 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.

Renee Rinaldi

1995- The Salt Lake Tribune published an interview with Renee Rinaldi the new executive  director of the Utah Stonewall Center entitled “Passionate About: Her Cause Utah Stonewall Center Gets a New Director” As a member of Queer Nation in San Francisco, Renee Rinaldi hung posters, kissed women in public and got arrested in the line of duty. Not that Rinaldi can't meld into the main stream. She was a librarian for Salt Lake County and worked in customer service for AT&T. But corporate America lacked the passion of a good cause. Now the 32-year-old Brigham Young University graduate directs the Utah Stonewall Center, Salt Lake City's gay and lesbian community center. ``I don't think I have to label this as a job in or out of the system,'' she says. ``The most important part of our role here is to work for the community. They are my boss.''  Named three weeks ago, Rinaldi replaces John Bennett, who stepped down in July. ``She was an excellent choice,'' says Hank Hannah, a Stonewall trustee. ``She is

John Bennett

very dedicated, trustworthy and has a limitless amount of energy.'' Rinaldi was chosen from more than a dozen applicants for the $22,000-a-year post, according to Nikki Boyer, chairwoman of Stonewall's board of trustees. ``She left a corporate job to take on an almost overwhelming job of reorganizing the Stonewall Center,'' says Boyer. ``She has been long time community activist and [is] known as a hard worker. Besides, she writes a great [fund-raising] letter.'' Rinaldi's office is cluttered with the trappings of a gay activist --rainbow pencils, a pink file cabinet, old T-shirts from a weekend craft sale. Since coming to Utah four years ago, she has joined many community activities, including the Lesbian and Gay Chorus, the Gay and Lesbian Community Council and the Anti-Violence Project. She is blunt about her goals as executive director. First, she wants to move. The Stonewall Center has already relocated once since its founding in 1991, but Rinaldi thinks the present location at 770 S. 300 West is too removed from the community it serves. The lease expires in June. ``I would like some place less like a warehouse and more like a  community center,'' says Rinaldi, who envisions the new center as having a coffeehouse atmosphere with literary readings, chess and social hours. ``I would like a place in Sugar House or downtown.'' Which leads to her next problem. ``We need money,'' she says. ``We need huge amounts of money. We need it now.'' The center's 1995 budget was $47,000, virtually all of it raised through private donations and fund raising. Through an internal shuffling, Rinaldi's position was made full-time instead of part-time. While rumors circulated last summer that Stonewall would close, Rinaldi says it won't happen. She is currently sending out grant proposals to the private and public sector. ``We are always teetering on the financial edge, but close? No, no, no,'' she says. ``If it comes down to me walking the streets and begging, I would do that. There are too many people committed to us.'' After funding, Rinaldi sees dealing with controversy as her greatest challenge. Because her social and work circles are predominantly gay, Rinaldi says she often forgets about lingering prejudice, not only in Utah but across the country. Just this week, a ``Roseanne'' episode about two gay men marrying was aired by ABC 90 minutes later than usual because of its ``adult'' content . “I live in my little gay world,'' she says. ``I am always shocked when I step out and find there are people who hate us and would rather see us dead than give us any rights in this world. ``I would venture to say that no one in America doesn't know a gay person, although they might not know they are gay. We are everywhere. It's trite but it's true.''   (SLTRIBUNE 12/15/95 Page: B3)

1995- The Gay and Lesbian Chorus of Salt Lake City’s traditional holiday program was held at First Baptist Church, 777 S. 1300 East, Salt Lake City. During Pride Week, usually the second week in June, the choir will sing music written by gay and lesbian composers.  Also in June, the ensemble plans a trip to Tampa, Fla., for the Gay and Lesbian  Association of Choruses' Festival V -- one of 90 invited ensembles from across the United States. Music director Meloni Gunderson said the singers also perform for area church services, and at memorial services, conferences and community events throughout the year.

Bryce Jolley

1997 Page: A10 Tribune Editorial Let SLC Ordinance Stand    The Salt Lake City Council got it right last week when it voted to protect gay city employees from discrimination in the workplace. By making Salt Lake City the first Utah municipality to add ``sexual orientation'' to its anti-discrimination policy, the council took an honorable action that needs no correcting, no revisiting.   Unfortunately, though, a do-over is just what Councilman Bryce Jolley has in mind. He warned that the ordinance, which passed by a5-2 vote, will face repeal next year, when three of the members who voted ``yes'' last Tuesday go off the council. That means he's counting on two of the three councilmen-elect -- certainly Carlton Christensen and possibly Roger Thompson -- to support his repeal effort after New Year's Day.   The curious effect of Jolley's position is that, while he questioned the legitimate right of the three lame-duck council members to vote on the ordinance before leaving office, he has put an undue amount of pressure on a man who hasn’t even been sworn in yet -- namely Thompson, who represents the swing vote Jolley would need.   But Thompson has been in a similar spot before. In February 1996, he was one of three members of the Salt Lake City School Board who courageously voted against the ban on extracurricular clubs in city schools during the controversy over the East High gay club. He was in a 4-3 minority, though, and the following November, he was voted out of office. A year later, he has been elected to the city council.   Before he is seated on the council next month, Thompson should develop a supportive position on the new ordinance. He should take into account not only his correct stand on the 1996  gay-related dispute, but also the reality that his predecessor from District 5, Tom Godfrey, voted for the ordinance last Tuesday and that he won his November race over a lesbian candidate by a mere 43 votes -- all of which indicates that his constituents are sympathetic to this ordinance.   Then he should quietly inform Jolley that he will not support a repeal effort and that it would be fruitless for the council to pursue it. That way, further divisive debate of the kind that the council heard last week can be avoided, and the new ordinance can take effect.   Councilman Jolley may believe that the vote to protect gay city workers was just a reversible parting shot by three lame ducks. But in time it will be recognized as a last act of honor by the departing Godfrey, Mary Mark and Lee Martinez, of which they can be proud.

1998 Page: B9The Salt Lake Tribune Steven Peterson is a co-compiler of the gay-friendly Little Lavender Book. Publishers of new gay and lesbian directory list businesses that demonstrate tolerance and understanding in . . . The Little Lavender Book; Lavender Book Leads a Path to Business' Doors Byline: BY PHIL SAHM THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE People who want to patronize gay- and lesbian-friendly businesses in Salt Lake City can now turn to a directory to find them. The Little Lavender Book, published Monday with a first run of 5,500 copies, lists 140 businesses owned by gays and lesbians or people considered friendly to the gay and lesbian community, said Steven Peterson, one of two men who compiled the directory. ``I've seen a need for this directory for quite some time,'' Peterson said.   One survey, the Simmons Gay and Lesbian Market Study, showed 88 percent of gays and lesbians would go out of their way to buy products from companies that advertised to them specifically, Peterson said. Similar directories have been published in other metropolitan areas for many years. A Los Angeles directory has been published for 14 years, according to Peterson. The Lesbian and Gay Pink Pages in New York City, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Phoenix and Portland, Ore., have been published since 1991. Circulations in the six cities range from 25,000 to 50,000 copies every six months, said Pink Pages spokesman David Cohen. ``We have a very nice [advertising] renewal rate,'' Cohen said. Cohen considered starting a directory in Utah, but decided against it because of the state's conservative reputation. ``If I'm going to invest my money, I'm going to go where it is more welcome,'' he said. The Little Lavender Book is not the first such directory in Utah. A similar one, Connections, was published two years ago, but has not been published since. The new directory will fill a gap in the community, said Michael O'Brien, of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah. She says she receives up to 30 calls a day from gays or lesbians seeking referrals to businesses.    After the center received 400 copies of the directory Monday morning, 17 went out the door in 90 minutes, she said. ``We just simply like to support our own.''    Patronizing gay- or lesbian-friendly businesses can be a matter of feeling comfortable, or something more important, O'Brien said.  Two lesbians who buy matching rings from a jeweler might feel uncomfortable doing so if the salesperson is heterosexual. But other decisions, such as choosing a doctor who is gay or lesbian, is much more important, she said. Peterson said he has received hostile treatment from sales people while shopping for furniture with his partner, Channing Galbraith, whom he met at Brigham Young University. ``There are those companies that are going to be a problem,'' Peterson said. ``And I don't want to contribute my money to them.'' Rainbow Mountain Realty in Salt Lake City advertised in the directory because the company is trying to develop a niche in the gay community, said Tyler Dahlsrud, an agent at Rainbow. ``It's pretty much business for us,'' said Dahlsrud. Sheri and Owen Hogle advertised their business, the Wild Bird Center in Salt Lake City, because they simply want to reach people interested in bird feeding, Sheri Hogle said. ``We believe in bird feeding. Anyone who is interested in that, we are interested in,'' she said.

Pete Suazo

1998 HATE-CRIMES 'TOWN MEETING' PLANNED SALT LAKE CITY - Gay and lesbian Utahns will have the chance to learn more about a new plan to amend the state hate-crimes laws to make them more protective of gay and lesbian people among others, and more effectively enforced against crimes committed because of race, religion, national origin, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability and ancestry. Lobbyists for the state Hate Crimes Amendments Act will hold a gay and lesbian "town meeting" about the bill at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah at 361 North 300 West from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Jan. 7. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Pete Suazo and was written by gay state

David Nelson

Democratic leader David Nelson, who helped write the original 1992 laws. Nelson will join meeting host David G. Thometz, who is the state Democratic Gay and Lesbian Caucus chair, to explain what the bill would do if adopted by state lawmakers and what its supporters can do to help its passage. "This bill's adoption depends on how effectively people who would be protected by it are in convincing state

David Thometz

lawmakers to make the much-needed changes to our existing laws," Thometz said. "If done well, citizen lobbying can almost guarantee the bill's passage." Thometz serves as a member of the bill's constituent-lobbyist group which includes advocates for disabled and gay and lesbian people, ethnic, racial and religious minorities, and women.

1998-The Vatican newspaper issued an article attacking countries which have allowed same-sex couples to have the rough legal equivalent of heterosexual marriage, specifically singling out the Dutch for considering allowing same-sex couples to adopt. The article stated that homosexuals are naturally incapable of providing the environment a child needs to group up healthy and balanced.

2003 Enough is Enough Well everyone your new fearless leader has done it again. Yes, Ms. York has tooted her own horn to the Herald Journal. I have waited to see If she ,herself would respond to the article but obviously she thought the way it was written was O.K.. I on the other hand do not. I can't believe the wording of the article. It is possible that it was the writer of the Herald Journal who got a little confused because it sounded like Beth York has been a stalwart leader of the gay community for years. Beth also had to have seen the mention of Courtney . How TACKY! Maybe it was the Journal and perhaps Ms. York mentioned it., either way they share a 50-50 share of the blame. If I was Beth York I would have at the very least, contacted the Herald Journal to inform them that if they continue their defamatory way of reporting that they would never get another interview with me! Courtney's name DID NOT NEED TO BE MENTIONED AT ALL! The article made it sound like Ms. York has and will be the New Leader- Advisor for the Pride Alliance and Community at large, but the article left out a couple of groups. Not only is Pride open to Gay Men and Lesbians, there was no mention of Bisexual and Transgender people. ( We can't Leave anyone out). I wondered exactly what Ms. York has done in her eight years here in Cache Valley , for the Community as a whole. Men and Womyn included. I know she hasn't reached out to the Men in this community that's for sure. Two years ago " The Men " tried to bridge the gap between the men and women, we set up meetings, three in fact, and the womyn canceled all three times. I must say one was because Ms. Yorks

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father was ill. Ok two times. Nothing more was said, and the womyn didn't respond. I do know that one of the key men was Courtney ,whose service to the gay community has been Outstanding to say the least. In years past Here are a number of things he has done. PRIDE ALLIANCE: President 1year and half. Officer 2 years Advisor 5 years Helped re-instate GLA on campus after the collapse in 1998 13 years- Participated in several radio call in shows about GLBT issues AIDS: Served on the Cache Valley AIDS council for 12 years 4 years as chair Facilitated the weekly support group for HIV pos and relatives Certified HIV test administrator/councilor by Utah AIDS Foundation Volunteered at Utah AIDS Foundation Booth testing 125 people on Pride Day. Organized the display of the AIDS Quilt in Logan 3 times. Organized and staffed AIDS info booths for 12 years at Cache Co., Fair, Box Elder County Fair, Franklin Co. Fair, Rich Co. Fair, Hyrum City Celebration, Lewiston City Celebration, Wellsville Celebration, Smithfield Health Day, USU Health Fair and others. 4 years- Volunteer for Hospice of Cache Valley Helping 3 individuals in their last months of life. Organized and Executed 2 fund raising AIDS Walks in Logan. For 10 years, taught several thousand students HIV/AIDS Prevention Classes for the American Red Cross at the Locations: Logan High, Mountain Crest, Sky View, Cache High, Preston High, West Side High, North Gem High, South Cache Middle School, Lewiston Elementary, Bear River High, Box Elder High, Fremont High, Adel Young Middle School, Bear River Middle School, Planned Parenthood, Sunshine Terrace, Utah State University, Paradise Lions Club, Police Academy. Established condom distribution program for men. COMMUNITY 11 Years- Established weekly movie night activity, for first four years in his home. 5 years- Established and executed Weekly Coffee Klatch gathering. 12 years- Organized Annual camping Trips to High Creek. 11 years- Organized Annual River Trip " Fruit Float" 11 Years- Organized and Sponsored several dances, Including the "Gender Blender" Halloween dance. 4 years- Published Community Events Calendar and News Letter, and E-mail. Helped organize the first GLBT Youth Group in Logan, after the President left town, Facilitated the continuation for 3 more years.  Helped organize and Participated in the first ever Drag Show in Cache Valley. Board Member- Faith and Fellowship Center for 3 years. Board Member_ NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN- LOGAN CHAPTER SPECIAL PROJECTS Planned and executed first Gay Float in a Parade in Utah Planned and executed Gay Human Rights March on the Herald Journal Co- funder/ organizer USU Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, 3- Years. Created Gay Cache Valley History Display Organized Gay and Lesbian Leadership training Weekend Written and had published dozens of letters to the Editor defending the GLBT community. I think Courtney deserves a little more respect that having his name defiled in an article that was supposed to be something positive for the gay community not only at Utah State , but the gay community as a whole. I did some research of the USU Pride Group Page of messages that are Archived There have been 2210 messages sent since Feb 9, 1999. Courtney has sent 474 messages broken down as follows: *110 general GLBT community announcements. *205 announcements of activities the he has personally planned and or hosted to which the ENTIRE GLBT Community has been invited. *105 interesting articles about GLBT issues forwarded from other sources. * 7 letters to the editor that he has written and has submitted to the newspapers about GLBT issues. *47 messages About Pride Alliance administration or Business *Of all his messages at least 95% were of interest or invitation to the ENTIRE GLBT Community. * AT LEAST 10 OF HIS MESSAGES WERE OF EXCLUSIVE INTEREST TO LESBIANS ONLY. During this same time frame, Beth York submitted 2 messages. One was an advertisement for her partners Massage business, and the other was to announce a Lesbian Only Pot Luck. This Only represents the Last Five years. Courtney has been in the Cache Valley for 15 years , so there is 10 more years of unrecorded efforts before this record begins. I myself resent having the womyn ignore all the work that Courtney and Others have done for the Benefit of the GLBT Community. I also resent that the Church which I attended regularly and which WELCOMED WOMYN and Women. ( take your pick!), and that all the GAY MALE ACTIVITIES were kicked out of the FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP CENTER, and that our Pastor Kelly was Kicked off of the Board of Directors, Largely due to the Influence of BETSY FRANCHINIA, Beth Yorks " Good Friend" and that Beth York was Immediately Added to their Board of Directors, and that SAPHO which expressly Prohibits participation by men, ( visit the website you'll get the picture) Now meets at the FFC Building! Does anyone smell something fishy??????? Oh and by the way, don' t let anyone see two women hugging or kissing in front of the building and make sure the drapes are drawn so no one knows that Lesbians meet there. Before to Long the Board of Directors may even ask for a disclaimer to be placed on the door , so anyone coming to the building will know just what type of people use the FFC building. If there happens to be an Incident with your group don't expect the Board to meet with you to discuss ways of resolution, they will just prohibit all activities you have and say ABSOLELUTLY NOTHING. Because , , they are loving caring people and they would never say that it is because one of you're group had some personal problems , so instead we are going to get rid of all of you. Sound Insane?? you bet. This will probably happen after 12 years or so. Be prepared. Oh, the other thing that will happen is, people who should be your allies and stand with you during the hard times will turn on you , discount all the work you have done. Who knows you may even lose your job and believe it or not you may even know the person who decided that he wanted to dismantle your life. These people will knock you down again and again all for POWER! And to say that their moral values are better than yours and that THEY will save you and ridicule you. These people will be GAY MEN. The ones you trusted , and knew would stand by you, but instead they will start a Civil War and men and women will be divided forever. So guys here your new leader stepping up to bat. If I were you I would keep looking, for someone with a little more integrity. Wayne Hansen Member of the GLBT Community

 

Chris Buttars

2005 Buttars wants to prohibit gay clubs He plans bill to stop homosexual-straight alliances in schools By Bob Bernick Jr. and Jennifer Toomer-CookTwo months after a gay-straight alliance club started meeting at Provo High, a state senator said he plans to run a bill in the 2006 Legislature that would prohibit such clubs in Utah's public high schools. Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, already taking on the public school establishment with legislation to require schools to teach a religion-based alternative to the theory of evolution, is now aiming at high school gay-straight alliances as well. His effort is backed by the conservative Utah Eagle Forum. "I'm concerned about gay clubs," Buttars said Wednesday, a day after opening a bill file regarding extra-curricular clubs. Buttars said his goal is to ban gay student associations from meeting on public school property. "In my mind, if you are in the chess club, what do you talk about? Chess," Buttars said. "If you are in the dance club, what do you talk about? Dance. If you are in a gay club, what do you talk about? I just don't believe members of sexual orientation clubs should be sanctioned by the public schools — what they are talking about even a part of the public schools. They should not be allowed to have that on school property at all. It's just wrong." Utah Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka says Buttars' bill would simply clarify existing law, which curtails what can and can't be said in terms of sexuality in public school health classes, school clubs and even surveys. And it certainly leaves no room for a school club that on its face indicates sexuality. "That's talking about the sex the people involved practice . . . clearly violating the law," Ruzicka said. "We're looking at the law saying, what do we need to do to help the districts? Most of the districts don't want the clubs. . . . Provo certainly wouldn't have a club if it didn't have this fear (of lawsuits) hanging over its head . . . (or) if it were up to parents." Buttars' bill would tweak Utah law to make that more clear, Ruzicka said. But opponents say Buttars is wasting his time and taxpayer dollars — should the bill pass — defending an act that would be struck down in the courts. "Oh, that silly Sen. Buttars," said Dani Eyer, executive director of the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. "What would we do without him? He just doesn't have a nuanced concept of constitutionally mandated fairness and freedoms." "Why do this now?" asks Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake, an attorney and one of two openly gay Utah legislators. "My gosh, the East High School club case was landmark law for the whole country." In 1995, a group of East High students asked to form a gay-straight alliance, resulting in a firestorm of debate over homosexuality. The Salt Lake City Board of Education responded by eliminating all non-curriculum clubs, a move that took out groups including Young Republicans and Students Against Drunk Driving. Students protested. The Legislature held a special session to discuss club restrictions. National headlines and lawsuits ensued. The district won one federal lawsuit challenging club policy. But in a second, a judge ruled it must allow People Respecting Important Social Movements (PRISM), which students wanted to create to discuss issues affecting the gay community, until the lawsuit was resolved. The school board in 2000 allowed all clubs to meet either as curriculum-related "school clubs" or extracurricular "student clubs," essentially ending the fight. The East High Gay-Straight Alliance today is a well-attended, service-centered student club, assistant principal Jeff Herr said. "They haven't been controversial or anything," Herr said. "Frankly, I'm not sure if half the kids in school know what the GSA is — now. That's how mainstream the commitment and the contribution of the club is." Today, 14 gay-straight alliances have been established in Utah public schools, said Stan Burnett, director of youth programs for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Utah, which recently hosted an alliance summit. Provo High School's alliance is the first in Utah County and among the newest. It started meeting in October when attorneys told the district to let the students meet and firm up its club policy, which now distinguishes between curriculum clubs and non-curriculum clubs, which require parental permission slips. "We have asked for an opinion from the attorney general's office," said Provo District student services director Greg Hudnall, who was surprised by Buttars' efforts. "We want to make sure we're on solid ground. If the Legislature gets a new bill passed, we would want a new opinion from the attorney general." The Provo alliance brought the issue to a head again, Ruzicka said. But the legislation is about more than that. "It's about . . . having a safe place to send our children to school where they don't have to worry about the environment, where parents can trust the teachers and advisers there to uphold high moral standards," Ruzicka said. "This does not help the young people; this is very damaging to them." But Hillcrest High School assistant principal David Breen says the alliance there — one of four that have been set up in Jordan District schools over the years — is much like a support group. "The kids just get together and talk about how they can be part of the school. That's their whole conversation," Breen said. "I think they've made a big difference with the kids that are involved. . . . (We should) definitely keep it around, no question about it." Burnett says some alliances talk about civic issues and bring in guest speakers on current events. Sex isn't part of the discussion — that would be illegal under Utah law. Clubs at Bountiful and Hillcrest high schools, for example, have teachers assigned to them. "They give youth — both gay and straight kids — a place to come together and talk about issues that affect them . . . and how to improve the school environment by talking to teachers and others in the schools, educating them about diversity and acceptance," said Valerie Larabee, executive director of the GLBT center, which held an inaugural meeting for a Utah chapter of the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Wednesday. Jordan District superintendent Barry Newbold believes a ban would have far-reaching consequences under federal "equal access" laws. "Going after a single club or group is a very small piece of a larger legal issue as it relates to open and closed forums," he said. "This would essentially create closed forums on all school campuses," meaning no extra-curricular clubs. "You have to let all clubs in or ban all clubs," Eyer said. "It is settled law." But Ruzicka says the bill won't have to deal with equal access issues. "Equal access does not allow for illegal or immoral activities, (nor) does our Utah law. Would they allow a marijuana club? A tobacco club? Because we have an equal access law doesn't mean they have to allow every club in there," she said. "We do not want to violate equal access. Districts (allowing gay-straight alliances) either don't understand the law, they're ignoring the law, or they're under pressure." Buttars said he personally is not afraid of a lawsuit. "I know the school districts and some others are scared of the ACLU. Not me." The East High lawsuit cost the state $175,000, and the state's risk management division declined to fund an appeal of the PRISM ruling. McCoy calls Buttars' timing curious. "I suppose it has to do with the Provo (High alliance and) being an election year." It is not unusual for some Republicans to introduce conservative, moral legislation in an election year, and if Democratic lawmakers vote against the bills then GOP challengers have an issue to take after the Democratic incumbents. Already, several Democratic legislators have complained about an anti-abortion bill that will be introduced when legislators convene Jan. 16. "I hope this doesn't pass," McCoy said of the clubs bill. "It is the mantra of the far-right not to be deterred by a threat of litigation, but Utah taxpayers suffer."

• Thu Dec 15, 2005 1:35 pm Posted by James Hicks [gay_forum_utah] Chris Buttars Attacks again! Chris Buttars Attacks again! I just heard the latest on Chris Buttars trying to pass legislation on eliminating all Gay/Straight Alliances from Utah's Schools.  Does anyone know anything about this and how we can stop these attacks? James Hicks 
• Thu Dec 15, 2005 5:41 pm  Posted by Mike Picardi Re: [gay_forum_utah] Chris Buttars Attacks again!  the best thing is to vote him out of office in '08. BUT, until then, we need and should swamp the radio talk shows, the editorial sections and all of our friends with how unfair, expensive (to fight in court and loose) and discriminatory his ideas and legislation are. Mike Picardi

Jay Bakker

 2006 Jay Bakker the punk preacher son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker told Larry King: "I think they (homosexuals) deserve equal rights just as much as anybody else does. And I think it's… it's such a big social issue right now, it's something that really needs to be looked at and I think passed." - Jay Bakker on gays and gay marriage (Larry King, December 15, 2006)

2012  Steve Brackenbury‎ to Utah Stonewall Community Forum

I know that the Pride Center wants to do whatever it takes to stop young people from killing themselves and they think this was a good move in that direction but I honestly do not see it that way. I think it makes it much worse. To be told that God made you a certain way but your joy in life will be limited until you are made whole and straight in the afterlife is an awful thing. It's schizophrenic. It's mean-spirited. It is a weird form of spiritual reparative theraphy. It solves nothing. I want to hug all of these young people and say, "It's not true. You are good. They are wrong. Do not believe them, believe in yourself." It is amazing to me that this church has such an iron grip over peoples minds. I always realized that I escaped because I was strong but there are so many who are not and they need help to get that way. This website is just not it and I think ultimately it will cause more harm than good. I am curious as to why the LDS church did this. It certainly does not help them with their efforts to make nice with the christian churches they so dearly want to be liked by and it undermines their assimilation efforts. There must be a pretty good reason (and I do not think it is altruistic) that they are playing this card. The Pride Center should stick to what they were already doing well: providing acceptance and instilling pride in one's natural state of being instead of supporting a half-assed attempt at reparative reconciliation.

Ruadhan O'Sheridan 

2015  Gay Men Aloud held a Great meeting this evening about Queer Spirit and Gay Energy facilitated be Ben Williams and Ruadhan O'Sheridan