This Day In Gay Utah History December 28th

December 28

1969-In Berkeley California, Don Jackson announced plans for a "gay colony" in California's Alpine County. Though the proposal received media attention, few gay men and lesbians were willing to move there. Stonewall Nation was the informal name given to a proposition by gay activists to establish a separatist community in Alpine County, California in 1970. The small population of the county and the election rules for California counties at the time suggested to these activists that if they could induce a relatively small number of gay people to move to the county, they could recall the county government and replace it with an all-gay state. The plan did not gain traction in the Gay community and a right-wing Christian minister announced plans to move large numbers of Christians to the county to counteract any attempt by gay people to take over the county government. The plan was abandoned about a year after it was conceived and the idea has come to be seen as a practical joke.

Terry Dolan

1986- Terry Dolan, an anti-gay, "family values" advocate, was discovered to have been gay after his death from AIDS at age 36. Dolan was co-founder and chairman of the National Conservative Political Action Committee (NCPAC). He co-authored Reagan: A President Succeeds with Gregory Fossedal. His brother, Anthony R. Dolan, was also a political activist and Ronald Reagan's chief presidential speechwriter. A native of Connecticut, Terry Dolan became active in politics during his teens as a Republican volunteer. At age 21, he worked as a paid organizer in Richard Nixon's 1972 presidential re-election campaign.  The following year, he was a candidate for chairman of the College Republicans but lost to Karl Rove. He was a member of the Council for National Policy Board of Governors, a member of the advisory board for CAUSA International (an educational, anti-communist organization founded by Unification Church leader Sun Myung Moon),and Director of Conservatives Against Liberal Legislation (CALL).  Although Dolan was a proponent of family values and the organization he led, he was persistently critical of gay rights. He was discovered to have been a closeted homosexual who frequented gay bars in Washington, D.C. He died from complications of AIDS, aged 36.

Kowalski & Thompson

 1988-A district court judge ruled that Karen Thompson must be allowed to visit her lover, Sharon Kowalski, a quadriplegic. He also ruled that Kowalski's father would remain her guardian. (Kowalski had been seriously injured in an accident, and her father refused to allow Thompson to visit her.)

1988 GAY ACTIVIST CHUCK WHYTE EMERGENCY PANTRIES

Chuck Whyte

PROVIDE CRUCIAL SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE, It's two days before Christmas and a line has formed outside of Crossroads Urban Center's food pantry. Hundreds of families are picking up food baskets for the holidays. The supply of baskets is exhausted just before Millie and her six children step up to the desk. Millie has no food at home and staff members assure her they will get her a basket; they'll get more food at the Food Bank. Chuck Whyte, a VISTA volunteer at Crossroads Urban Center, said the center prepared 836 food boxes in September to feed 1,955 individuals; 639 in October for 1,487 individuals and 749 in November for 1,733 individuals. In addition, they prepared 714 Thanksgiving food orders for 2,073 people. Around 600 families received Christmas baskets. Deseret News

1988 Ray Von Neilsen came over this evening to discuss Unconditional Support. He wanted to know how involved was the position of Director, I allayed his apprehensions and said that I would support him and help him with the transition if he chose to run. I’m glad someone stepped forward to serve rather than me having to beg someone. A person will be a better director if he volunteers first rather than waiting to be asked. (Memoirs of Ben Williams)

Arvin Shreeve

1991  B4 SLTribune OFFICIAL SAYS 10 OF CULT'S 30 YOUTHS WERE ABUSED   OGDEN -- Arvin Shreeve, the polygamist cult leader sentenced to 20 years in prison this week for sexually abusing young girls, supposedly founded the child abuse-centered sect about 10 years ago. At its peak, there were about 70 members.  Of the followers, 30 or so were children when police raided the compound August 9 of this year.   According to Weber County Attorney Reed Richards, 10 of the children, all girls, are known to have been molested. Initially, Shreeve was charged with sexual abuse of boys, too, but those charges were amended to name only females when Shreeve showed himself more amenable to admitting to molesting girls rather than boys.

Isaac Mizrahi

1994- An Evening of Film and Fashion'' brought 600 guests to Abravanel Hall where New York fashion-designer Isaac Mizrahi revealed all in ``Unzipped,'' a behind-the-scenes peek at the high-ticket, high-fashion garment industry. (``Unzipped'' is in Sundance Film Festival competition.) The event, benefiting the Utah AIDS   Foundation, was the brainchild of Salt Lake's Bill and Sharon Loya. (01-01-95  Page: J8 SLTribune)

Pope John Paul II

1998-Pope John Paul II spoke out against the acceptance of non-traditional families, saying it disfigures the traditional family structure.

Michael Aaron

2002- Michael Aaron to GLCCU about Anti-Violence Project: I am wondering where this 'talk' is coming from? I have been asking and asking if our 'community council' was going to make good on its promise of earlier this year that something was in the works. Haven't heard anything. New York's group, along with CUAV in San Francisco, were models for my earlier organization of AVP in Utah. Utah has a different dynamic than either place, so of course some modification would make sense. Since no member of the council is responding to our questions of AVP, perhaps several emails from people to thecenter@glccu.com would get their attention. -Michael

2002- David Nelson remarking on the closing of the Stonewall Archives in 1997 -Not the

David Nelson

least of which was the complete original archives of the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats (1990-1996) including internal minutes, memoranda, newsletters, correspondence, candidate surveys, legislation, bill drafts, buttons, applications, forms, direct mail, databases, membership lists, addresses, posters, signage, advertisements, campaign merchandise, and on and on. All that's left are the collective memories of those involved. What a waste. Someone should be accountable for such a decision. Who was it? David Nelson

2002-Michael Aaron-In some research I was doing today, I ran across a document from the Department of Health titled "A Topical Resource Guide for Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs in Salt Lake and Surrounding Areas." http://health.utah.gov/cshcn/able/PDF/Res_Man.pdf The innocuous, albeit l-o-o-n-g, title would usually be something I would pass right over. In looking at it however, I found two organizations that they refer people to: HELP - Homosexual Education for Latter-day Saint Parents  PO Box 354 Pleasanton CA People Who Care - Support Group for Parents and Spouses of Homosexual Persons PO Box 520785 Salt Lake City UT The only thing I can find out about HELP is that they are no longer considered a 501(c)(3) charity by the IRS because they failed to file proper paperwork. I can find nothing about "People Who Care." Does anyone have any information about these organizations?-Michael

2005 Utah Gay Forum Wed posted by Mark Swonson To all our Film Society members

Mark Swonson

and supporters, Happy New Year from all of us here at Salt Lake Film Society! May your film viewing for the 2006 season be amazing, challenging, and  entertaining. We'll certainly do our best to help make that possible. Holiday Hours! We're OPEN regular hours except New Year's Eve when we're OPEN through  the 7 o'clock show times with no 9pm show times. Otherwise, we'll see  you at the theater! Starting with...BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN Opens Friday. Early MIDNIGHT screening on Thursday night. Tickets on sale now. If you're interested in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, the author, the actor, or the director's body of work, please support Salt Lake Film Society by  choosing us to see this film the first week! We'll see you at the  theater! Mark Swonson

2005 Gay Utah Forum by Stuart Merrill I just spend the last two nights reading all the

Randy Merrill

dialogue on this forum. (Yes I know that's a remarkably pathetic admission). As one of the group some of you call the "caviar club," my first reaction is to be defensive. But, what good would that do? I, for one, do all my community work for no pay. I have AIDS, my health is compromised as was my career. I presently make below the poverty line, some 90k a year less than when I was healthy. I work nights so I can lobby for HIV/AIDS funding during the day. I too am a native Utahn, who returned a couple years ago after many years abroad. I too have, even in my short 2 year tenure here, been a victim of some of the incomparable viciousness of past gay Utah leadership. To give you an example; I get the shakes for several hours a day due to my meds. I tried to get more involved in the community, however, a person who had a personal stake in seeing that my voice wasn't heard started telling people that I was a meth addict. Just for to the record I have been clean for some time, and he knew it, and I work for a company that has random and mandatory drug tests. This particular person was successful. There are still many doors closed to me as a result, and many people who unfairly took sides against me. These people are now so invested in being against me that, I fear, it could damage the work I do trying to help impoverished people living with HIV/AIDS. I fear they will never see past the anger they were told to have for me. I fear they are just as much victims as I. I tell you this so you, Chad and David, understand that I get, to some small degree, your anger. Utah really amazes me. More that anything I am continually struck by the fact that the Christian Right of Utah doesn't need to defeat us. Look at the dialogue in this forum, we defeat ourselves. We defeat each other. We don't need their help. I read this dialogue and I hear so many incredibly articulate, intelligent, well educated, well meaning, gay Utahns express their anger. I wonder to myself how to stop us from destroying ourselves by constantly attacking each other? How can we turn all this talent into a positive cohesive force? Believe it or not Chad and David, this is one of the underlying motivations of the GLBT Leadership Task Force. They didn't try to exclude anyone. On the contrary, they went to great lengths to get as broad a sampling of the community as possible. We just want to address this and other pressing problems. We want to figure out how to get people to play nice in the sandbox. We want to harness the talents of many people like you guys and many many more out there. We want to move the community forward and stop the constant beating each other over the heads. I think you would be amazed at how many of us on the task force agree with much of your sentiments. Your assumptions to the contrary are mistaken. Yes, it's a big task. But, if they can do it in South Africa, I think we can manage here in Utah. That being said, I my opinion, it is important to keep a balance. As someone who lived, worked and studied in the Soviet Union for several years, I am a firm believer that too big a "Soviet" will always destroy the best intention. A mob dialogue also isn't the answer. This type of resolution can't be accomplished in an electronic forum. It can only be accomplished face to face. The electronic forum was merely a by-product, a tool to assist in the face to face dialogue. If mistakes were made I'm sure all are as eager as I to improve the process, most especially if it will make the process more inclusive. But, I believe above all it must remain a face to face dialogue rather than shifting the focus to an electronic forum. Lastly, I have to say a word about the people at the GLBTCCU, "the center". I have called people from the center on their cells literally in the middle of the night to asked for help for addicted homeless youth. The person I called got dressed and drove to help on the spot. They always offer sound systems for a candlelight vigil, or whatever event is coming up. They are there for conference calls at 8 am or 9 pm. Sometimes I think they are not allowed to say "no". Often, I drop in, to their always open doors, just to vent. They are good people and, in my opinion, under paid. They work their asses off to put it frankly. I understand that it was not always so, but you should not assume they are the same as the people you are vilifying. They are not.  I must have said the serinity prayer dozens of times reading this dialogue. Peace to all and to the rich a hefty tax cut… Stuart Merrill

2006 Ben Williams to Richard West director of YMCA Camp Rogers: Richard-Beyond Stonewall's Board have discussed the predicament you've placed us in.  As none of the dates you offered will work for us, we are requesting that you remit the $550 deposit and then we will consider the contract voided.  Have the check made out to Utah Stonewall Historical Society. West cancelled Beyond Stonewall’s contract for hosting a weekend retreat at Camp Rogers.

Nicki Bidlack & Chris Wharton

2015 The Salt Lake Tribune: The best gift Nicki Bidlack got for Christmas in 2015 was a piece of paper. It’s an amended birth certificate for her 2-year-old son that lists both Bidlack and the late Sara Clow as the boy’s mothers. “This is what she would have wanted,” said Bidlack, 41, of Ogden, her voice trembling as tears slid across her cheeks. “She wanted him from before he was born. To have her name on it … to have him see her name, even though she’s not here … she would be so happy.” Clow, 29, died from injuries sustained when she rolled her pickup on Interstate 15 near Willard just before midnight on Sept. 13, 2014. The birth certificate was issued as part of a Dec. 4 order from 2nd District Judge Ernest Jones that recognized the couple’s eight-year relationship as a common-law marriage — a decision believed to be the first for any gay couple in Utah, attorney Christopher Wharton said. The ruling will allow Bidlack to access critical benefits for the son she’s now raising alone, Wharton added. Because Bidlack and Clow had not married — and legally could not in Utah until two years ago — when Clow died, her estate and death benefits were out of reach, even for the couple’s son, who is biologically Clow’s. Utah is one of only eight states that recognize common law marriages.