This Day In Gay Utah History December 30th

December 30

1943 An unusually light calendar of applications of 130 state prison inmates for termination of sentences and three similar applications continued from December will be considered at the January 15 session of the Utah board of pardons, Attorney General Grover A. Giles board secretary said. Robert E. Little serving three to 20 years for sodomy was among th0se petitioning for a pardon. Salt Lake Telegram

Dorothy Baker

1944-The New York Times reviewed the play "Trio" written by Howard Baker and his wife Dorothy Baker about a relationship between a female college teacher and a young woman and a young man. The play opened in Philadelphia in October 1944 but due to content had a difficult time finding a venue on Broadway. It opened December 29 to “tepid reviews” but became a cause célèbre when it was protested as “injurious to the publics morals” the next day. The ACLU became involved in the arbitrary censorship.

Spencer Kimball

1973- A man who was already known for his statements against homosexuality, Spencer W. Kimball, filled for the first time the office of LDS First Presidency. His presidency ushered in a decade long crusade against the Gay Civil Rights Movement in Utah.

1978 - A request from Socialist Workers Party of Salt Lake that

Tony Adams

the murder of party leader Tony Adams be investigated by the FBI has been referred to US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. A letter making the request was sent to US Attorney Ronald L. Rencher. (SLTribune D1)

1979 -" I was excommunicated last Sunday (23rd). The reason I feel little sorrow is it is the first time I have taken control of my own life. Where I am, no one in the Church can hurt me any longer. Now in the place of eternal separation from my Church I am at least what I consider safe distance from the pain I have experienced. I can still speak with my Creator without being abused. Through the struggle of over a dozen therapists, counsel from the Apostle and President of the Church, Spencer W. Kimball, Aversion Shock Therapy at the hands of Dr. Robert Card, a full time mission, employed in the Temple, member of the Tabernacle Choir, marriage in the Temple, children, family life, Strict obedience to the commandments for several years into the marriage, Hours on my knees begging God to lift this homosexuality from me, I have come to complete realization that I am still a homosexual. I have fought the fight! I have done all I knew humanly possible. And still I am a homosexual and not a heterosexual. If there is no other way as President Kimball has indicated, To Me, There Is No Way. I have knocked on the door till my knuckles were bloody now I take them and place healing salve on them and wrap them up in cloth to heal once again. The door is closed. I did not close it. I do not believe I can knock again in such a manner as I have done. I did not lose my testimony of the Church. The Church lost my testimony. In the words of the Dicken's character in my favorite movie Scrooge " Take me from this place there is only sorrow here." (memoirs of Donald Attridge)

1981 Pam Bruce, a registered nurse and manager of Med III. Stated the first AIDS patient entered Holy Cross  Hospital in 1981. Bruce said,  no one knew what AIDS was then and it is largely a "fear of the unknown" that has been reduced by education. (27 Aug 1989 Deseret News)

1982 - Dr. Wolf Szmuness who conducted the Hepatitis B Experiments  in Gay Populations died of lung cancer. In his eulogy,  Aaron Kellner of the Blood Center wrote: "It is the rare physician who, like Wolf Szmuness, is given the grace to touch the lives of billions of people; those living on this planet and generations yet unborn.

1982- Trevor Southey illustrator for Carolyn Pearson’s books, spoke at Salt Lake

Trevor Southey

Affirmation showing slides of his work and speaking on why he was so controversial in Utah.

1986- Salt Lake Mayor Palmer DePaulis directed the police chief,

Palmer de Paulis

city attorney, and city-county health department director to "explore all legal remedies" to shut down Salt Lake's Gay bathhouses. DePaulis stated "the continued operation and licensing of these establishments is inimical to the community interests. "Police investigation have repeatedly confirmed that illegal sexual activity is permitted and condoned, with all of its health, moral, and other negative implications in our community."

Kathy Worthington

1988- 2 POSTAL SERVICE WORKERS SELECTED TO STAMP OFF TO GLOBAL CONFERENCE  Kathy Worthington, a U.S. Postal Service window clerk from Murray, has been selected to assist a global conference of top postal officials from throughout the world Nov. 13 to Dec. 15, 1989, in Washington, D.C. The two Utahns are among 105 postal workers selected nationwide for the position of Universal Postal Union Congress guide. They will act as hosts and hostesses at the conference, which will discuss how to improve postal operations worldwide and will determine how member nations will handle and charge for international mail through 1994. Worthington and Hatch will work in registration centers and information booths and generally assist the attendees and their spouses.  According to acting Salt Lake Division general manager and postmaster Ed Broglio, each guide had to pass numerous tests and interviews comparable to those required by the U.S. Department of State for employees in overseas embassies.  "They have to be proficient in at least one of eight languages, demonstrate excellent English language skills and have enthusiasm and cultural sensitivity," Broglio said. Worthington acquired her Spanish language skills while living in Mexico six years and while attending the National University in Mexico City and Hatch is fluent in French, a language he learned on an LDS Church mission.© 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.

1989 OWLS  (Older and Wiser Lesbians) a support group for mature Utah Lesbians disband after five years.  Liza Smart primary organizer.

Luci Malin

1990 I went with Debbie and Carla Gourdain to church at the South Valley Unitarian because Luci Malin was speaking and I wanted to support her.  Interestingly I found out that Brenda Voisard, Luci Malin, Debra Burrington, and Abby Maestas are all members of that Church and the church as a Women's Pagan program. After church I went home to try and get some sleep before the Party Luna was having in lieu of a gathering tonight for the Blue Moon.  About 11:30 p.m. Debbie called to say that she and Carla wouldn't be making it to Luna (Kathryn Warner's)

Kathryn Warner

celebration so I walked down to it myself.  It was bitterly freezing walking to Luna's but I am glad I went. She had lots of people at her party but there was only a few Faeries there who I knew. Sky Rat, Ursis Herribulous, Buffalo Song (Becky Moss), and Puck (mike Pipkim) and I were really the only ones there so we created a circle and did some magick for the Blue Moon however the energy levels were way off because of the non-Faeries and straits at the party.  I'm really beginning to sense the need to have a commitment of some type before allowing people into the Full Moon Circle. Luna has such a beautiful voice and she sang for us "From A Distance". She was going to be singing it at the Peace Celebration also. The Faeries left the Party at Luna's at 3:45 a.m. to go to Kingsbury Hall up at the U of U.  Debbie and Carla met us there and we were joined also by Brandon Burt.  I also saw my little friend Daniel Terranova. The Peace Celebration was wonderful but I was exhausted and I know I fell asleep during the meditation rather then meditating.  Luna's singing was electrifying and the Scottish Bagpipes stirred my old Scottish blood.  I'd say that at least 500 were at the gathering. Some having stayed up all night and others rising early. I caught a ride home with Luna and was in bed by 6:30 a.m. and the morning sun still hadn't risen. (Memoirs of Ben Williams)

1992- NOT ALL HOMOSEXUALS ACT ON URGES I appreciated Dr. DeCaria's excellent expose of prejudice and myths regarding homosexuality (Forum, Dec. 19). Those who join the gay community should be treated with respect. There is, however, one more myth associated with homosexuality that I feel should be mentioned: The myth that the only healthy choice for homosexuals is to join the gay community. There exist homosexuals who find these urges in conflict with higher spiritual values and make the choice not to act upon them in order to achieve a higher spiritual congruence. The choice to transcend homosexuality can be accomplished without damage to one's mental or Emotional health. There is nothing wrong with this choice and many people make it successfully. I personally support this choice for those people who find themselves in great pain because of the conflict between their sexuality and their spiritual beliefs. On the other hand, it is naive of society to assume that all homosexuals will make this choice, and those who choose a different path must be allowed full rights as citizens of this state. Alan Seegmiller Licensed clinical social worker St. George © 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co. (Alan Seegmiller was one of the first organizers of Evergreen a reparation therapy group)

1993 Jean Paul Lenoir, 46, died  at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage, California, where he had been during a lengthy illness. A Native of France A resident of Salt Lake City for ten years, and former longtime resident of Palm Springs and Palm Desert, California,  In 1958, the family immigrated to Salt Lake City, where Jean Paul graduated from East High School, Class of 1966. He served in the United States Army and at his return home he worked for the National Guard in Salt Lake City. Then he moved to Los Angeles where he worked for Blue Cross-Blue Shield for a few years. He moved to Palm Desert, where he was a chef for the Marriott's Desert Springs and Resort at the time of his death. Survived by his lifetime friend, Lloyd Wright,

1993-Martin Thomas Nissen was found guilty of first degree murder in the death of transsexual Brandon Teena and second degree murder in the deaths of Lisa Lambert and Phillip DeVane.

1993: Local Page: D1   NOT ALL PUBLICITY OF GAY SKI WEEK DRAWING PRAISE AD OF NUDE MAN PROMOTING GAY SKI WEEK IN PARK CITY IS NOT AMUSING TO LESBIANS Byline: By Lili Wright THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE It's not your typical Utah landscape. The ad for Park City's upcoming Gay Ski Week depicts a nude man, his muscle-bound body buffed to perfection, napping on granite rocks. The great outdoorsman remembered to shield his genitals but forgot to bring skis. And there's no snow in sight.    The caption reads: ``Get your piece of the ROCKies.'' But some lesbians, such as Salt Lake City businesswoman Joyce Eden, aren't laughing. The ad reinforces stereotypes that being homosexual is primarily about sex, and that gay men think of little else, says Ms. Eden. And while the ski event is intended for men and women, the dozing hunk has little appeal to lesbians.    ``It sucks,'' says Ms. Eden, a member of the Gay and Lesbian Business and Professional Alliance. ``I don't like it at all. It's trashy. It's tasteless. It has nothing to do with skiing.''  Produced by a California-based Pride Productions, the ad appears on promotional cards and posters from New York to San Francisco, and in magazines like Out, Genre and The Advocate. Promoter Peter Siderius has a simple explanation. ``In our culture, and anybody's, sex sells,'' says Mr. Siderius reached in his gym in West Hollywood. ``It's not intended to speak to my promiscuity. It speaks to, `There's a cute man -- what's that all about.' '' Mr. Siderius is hoping that Utah can attract skiers who no longer want to patronize Aspen, host of a gay ski week for 16 years. Last year, a nationwide boycott of Colorado was launched to protest passage of Amendment 2, which out lawed gay-rights laws. The amendment was struck down earlier this month as unconstitutional and Aspen will once again hold its annual event.   Meanwhile, a cottage industry of competing packages has emerged. Lake Tahoe is holding its own gay ski week. As is British Columbia.    In fact, the gay travel business in general is booming. Where there once was only Fire Island, N.Y.; Provincetown, Mass. and Key West, Fla., there now are many destinations marketed to gays and lesbians -- from Club Med to cruises.   Now Utah is getting in the act.   A thousand skiers are expected to descend on Park City from Jan.15 to 22. Winterfest '94events include a rave dance party, disco night, Sundance movies and ski races.   Park City welcomes the business.   ``Anyone is welcome to visit here,'' says Joan Calder, director of Park City's Chamber/Bureau, who says the average skier spends $200 a day. ``Sexual preference] is not an issue here.''   The only backlash to date, Ms. Calder says, came from Wyoming-based Mountain West Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. The group canceled its Park City reservations, claiming the resort promoted ``repugnant'' lifestyles. As for the ad, Ms. Calder figures the promoters know their audience. But Brent Benaschak, a Canadian ski promoter, says some gay men are turned off by flesh shots. His ad for Whistler Gay Ski Week in British Columbia shows two smiling men, in ski clothes, with snowy peaks in the background. One man has his arm around the other.   ``[Our customers] are a little more sophisticated than just coming for sex,'' says Mr. Benaschak. ``You don't have to travel for that.''   University of Utah professor Debra Burrington says the photograph has a sensuous appeal, but is typical of how mass media either prostitute women or ignore them.   Besides, she adds: ``At least they could get the mountains right.''

1998 Poll finds dissent over Weaver ruling  By Jeffrey P. Haney Deseret News staff writer  PROVO -- A gay teacher's recent landmark federal legal victory does not sit well in Utah County's conservative court of public opinion, according to a recent survey. A Deseret News poll of Utah County residents by Dan Jones & Associates shows that 52 percent "strongly or somewhat disagree" with the recent ruling that Wendy Weaver's constitutional

Wendy Weaver

 rights were violated by Nebo School District officials when it ordered her not to discuss her  sexual orientation.  The Spanish Fork High School teacher's discrimination suit against Nebo officials sparked a firestorm of controversy in the small southern Utah County burg -- and attracted the glare of national and media attention.. Backed by the ACLU,  Weaver filed suit after she was denied a volleyball coaching job. The veteran coach and psychology teacher claimed in her suit that administrators took the assignment away from her when they learned of her "marital-like" relationship with another woman. And after Weaver responded to a student's query about her sexual orientation, district officials told her she would face discipline if she discussed her homosexual orientation with parents, students and school colleagues. After a November hearing, U.S. District Senior Judge Bruce Jenkins  ruled in Weaver's favor on all claims, ordering the school district to remove two letters from  her personnel file, to offer her the girls' volleyball coaching assignment next year and pay  $1,500 in damages. Almon Mosher, Nebo's human resource director and one of the named defendants, did not seem surprised by the poll's numbers indicating support for the district.  Officials felt they had the backing of parents, he said. "We knew it was an uphill battle to begin with," he said, "but I think we had support." Count Linda Campbell as one of the dissenters as well. Four days after Weaver's legal win, the outgoing member of the neighboring Alpine School District's Board of Education pointedly denounced the ruling. "I think it is sad we can talk about our sexual preferences in the classroom," Campbell told some 200 parents at a board meeting, "but we can't say the name of the Lord Almighty."  Conservative political philosophies thrive in Utah County, considered by some as one of the most far-right in the country. Demographically speaking, 87 percent of the poll respondents are members of The

Carol Gnade

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Utah's ACLU leader Carol Gnade, whose cadre of attorneys are working on Weaver's defense for a pending 4^th District Court case, called the poll numbers "encouraging." Gnade takes heart in the number of respondents who believe Weaver was wronged by the district. Although in the minority, 38 percent of Utah County residents agree with Jenkins' decision. Ten percent were undecided. The poll has a 5 percent margin of error. "We are, obviously, pleased with (Jenkins') ruling," Gnade said. "I think there is a changing attitude. People are realizing this teacher's rights of privacy and free speech were violated." "It's encouraging to see so many people start looking at themselves and changing attitudes" about how gay teachers are perceived and treated, Gnade said. "We hope we are headed in the right direction."  Weaver's federal case appears to be near an end. Another court appearance is unlikely.  Nebo officials have decided not to file an appeal of Jenkins' ruling, Mosher said. "We just decided we can't put more money into that," he said.

2002-ACTING CLASSES FOR GLBT PEOPLE PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR

Bill Poore & Harvey Fierstein

MEMBERSHIPS:  Lakota Rainbow's Artistic Director Bill Poore is proud to announce the beginning of acting workshops designed for the GLBT.  He hopes to begin classes in early Feb. Bill taught similar workshops both in San Diego and Los Angeles to great success.  He provided the workshops and then on going classes at a much reduced rate for the community because he felt there was a need to provide a "safe place" for members of the community to work on scripts that dealt with issues related to who they are. It does not matter if you have any acting training or not, the classes work on the individual and all is welcome. There is a lot of talent in our community and he hopes to develop for future productions for Lakota Rainbow which has just gone nonprofit. Bill graduated from the U of U in Theater, moved to NYC worked at the Helen Hayes Theater, where he worked on numerous Broadway shows, was an assistant for ten years to Clyde Vinson at the Vinson Studios in NYC, studied with Michael Howard and Eric Morris.  For more information about the workshop call Lakota Rainbow at 583-2036.  The class size will be limited so each m ember will receive a great deal of attention. Virgin actors welcome. Who knows you might become a star.........Bill Poore

2002- Chad Keller to Michael Aaron: CK: Michael What exactly do you mean when you state 'community council?' Up until July when the Community Leadership Forum came to be, we had not had anything for almost a decade that would even remotely qualify as a community council. The Community Leadership Forum's ongoing and active participants would I’m sure like to discuss this with you the preservations and reimergence of this valuable and much needed service in Utah at the next meeting January 8th at 7:30 at MCC or at the marathon bylaws meeting on the 18th. Chad Keller Community Leadership Forum Facilitator Pillar Services. M.A: I suppose since our community 'leaders' have chosen not to use this forum as an exchange of ideas/concerns/complaints, I could take this and other concerns more public. I hate to air laundry to the general community, but what other recourse could we have? Face-to-face doesn't work, because they get defensive. Our only community publication is printed monthly, making it difficult to be a facilitator of discussion. Perhaps The Salt Lake tribune and Salt Lake City Weekly? 

2002- Subject Stonewall Archives Michael Aaron to Ben Williams- Subject Utah Stonewall Center Archives-Seems they have some of the old periodicals, but nothing near the whole set: as well as a set of Community Reporter: 2000 and 2002 Pride Guides Out of the Past VHS - East High Gay Straight Alliance A few newspaper clippings etc. I noticed how subjective and lacking their system is for categorizing. Do you look up gay utah? No. Homosexuality -- Utah -- Periodicals. Gays -- Utah -- Periodicals. Lesbians -- Utah -- Periodicals. Gay men -- Utah -- Periodicals.  All yield different results. Community Reporter wasn't categorized at all. Lots of stuff gone. I have spoken with a few people over the past few days and it is possible we could recreate some of the archives with items they have saved and collected, going back pretty far. The question would be finding a stable organization that would properly maintain it and provide access. I doubt the Marriott Library would be interested in items such as posters, fliers, etc. which would be a great asset to us. -Michael

2002-I went up to Special Collections this afternoon and here's the info I gathered: IF you people are genuinely interested in getting as much of the Stonewall Library archives together, then the Marriott Library is the way to go. The major plus with going with the library is that pretty much everything is guaranteed to be where anyone can access it, but you don't have to worry about it being thrown away, vandalized, stolen, etc. Fliers, videos are definitely ok, and me and the lady at the front desk are 99% certain posters are fine as well. If you want to pursue this, call Stan Larson at (801)581-8863. He's the head of Manuscripts and he can answer all of your questions. On a slightly different note, but one that has come up on this topic sort of, might I suggest that we put aside any personal drama, anger, etc. ... take it off list? Alternative-lifestyle communities have more than enough opposition with the Utah majority without everyone fighting one another. There are so many great ideas floating around on this board and maybe we can actually get some of these things to work if we drop the in-fighting and discuss things as adults who respect one another even though our viewpoints and ideas are different. Just a thought. ~Laurie Meacham

2006 Stage bids several adieu By Ellen Fagg The Salt Lake Tribune Utah's theater world suffered losses in 2006, beginning with Salt Lake City actor Eric Tierney, 26, who died

Eric Tierney

suddenly of liver failure just hours after the end of the run of the play "Love! Valour! Compassion!" in which he starred. The year closed with the sudden deaths of three well-known actors - Tim Albrecht, 41, and

Dian Woodhouse

sisters-in-law Micaela Nelligan, 47, and Dian Woodhouse, 51.  Head East, young actors: Plan B, an ambitious little socially conscious Salt Lake theater company, continued its commitment to producing original work by extending the life of Utah playwright Aden Ross' "Amerika" from its world premiere in Salt Lake City to the Toronto Fringe Festival in July. Just announced is an even more ambitious undertaking: remounting "Facing East," Carol Lynn Pearson's story about the aftermath of a gay Mormon man's suicide, on New York City and San Francisco stages. Race! Gender! Sexuality! Nudity! People Productions continued its dogged work producing plays by and about African Americans in a very white state. Pygmalion Productions and Avalon Isle told innovative stories from female-centric perspectives, such as "The Sex Habits of the American Woman" and "Fat Pig." Other politically charged productions - including Wasatch Theatre Company's gay-themed "Love! Valour! Compassion!," complete with a skinny-dipping nude scene, and Kingsbury Hall's co-commission of "1984" - revealed the entertaining relevance of Utah theater. * Who's a cowboy? Auto magnate Larry H. Miller pulled "Brokeback Mountain" from his Megaplex 17 theater hours before it was to screen there in January, citing the gay-sheepherder storyline. News of the cancellation went worldwide, cementing for some the stereotype of bigoted Utahns - and even inspiring a "Brokeback Mormons" float in an Australian gay-pride parade. The film's distributor, Focus Features, has kept its word and not booked another movie in Miller's theaters.

2006 Utah's sodomy law was nullified by the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Lawrence, et al v. Texas in June of 2003, however it remains in Utah Code. The sodomy law has been used in Utah to vilify gay and lesbian citizens, including being used to justify not protecting them from hate crimes. The law also criminalizes a large portion of Utah's non-gay citizens in that it makes oral and anal sex a crime. We call upon the Democratic and Republican legislative leadership to change this law in the 2007 General Legislative Session. Join us by signing our petition: David Nelson Salt Lake City

Bruce Palenske

2008 Activist claims censorship by newspapers Bruce Palenske, a Park City gay-rights activist, has accused Salt Lake City newspapers of blocking him from running a political ad criticizing the LDS Church's efforts to ban gay marriage in California. Palenske had agreed to pay $2,000 to run a full-page ad last Sunday in both The Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News , according to a contract supplied by his spokesman, Sal Peralta. But on Friday, Palenske was told the rate would be $10,000. Author:    Rosemary Winters The Salt Lake Tribune

2009 Seven-Days Gay Because you’re not just gay on Saturday nights. By Annie Quan Salt Lake City Weekly Living out loud and proud in Salt Lake City is a double-edged sword. On one hand, you may experience garden-variety intolerance. Utah’s Amendment 3, which passed in 2004, defines marriage in Utah as a union between one man and one woman. So don’t plan on a big, legal, same-sex wedding in Utah any time soon. On the other hand, Salt Lake City boasts a vibrant gay community that’s the envy of other towns. Our LGBT community is woven together with organizations, clubs, bars and activities geared to make all LGBT folk feel welcome. So, how to make a connection in this town? Obviously, there are the quintessential gay nights at nightclubs such as Gossip at Club Sound (579 W. 200 South) on Fridays and Babylon at Bliss (404 S. West Temple) on Saturdays. There’s a Lesbian night at Club Edge (615 N. 400 West) on Wednesday and Friday. Then there are the tried and true, everyday gay bars and clubs such as Paper Moon (3737 S. State), Try-Angles (251 W. 900 South), Trapp (102 S. 600 West) and Jam (751 N. 300 West).But what if you want to leave the bars and music behind for the light of day? Here’s a list of gay-by-the-day suggestions: Sunday What’s better on a Sunday afternoon than good food and new friends? On the first Sunday of every month in 12 different neighborhoods from Tooele to Sugar House, you can take part in a Neighborhood Potluck. Each individual event is organized by a neighborhood captain. More information is available at the Utah Pride Center (361 N. 300 West).  • Enjoy a Sunday brunch at Café Marmalade, also at the Utah Pride Center. Offering an array of coffees, teas, fresh entrees and delicious pastries, Café Marmalade is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday. If you’re looking for a good book with your morning coffee, Café Marmalade offers the largest LGBT library in the state.  Monday Want to write the next great American novel? Perhaps penning your first short story? The Diverse City Writing Series holds a GLBTQ Writing Group. The group gathers on the second and fourth Monday from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Salt Lake Community College’s Community Writing Center in Library Square (210 E. 400 South). Supported by mentors, these groups share and discuss writing ideas, collaborate on projects and provide feedback for writers. Tuesday You can always join a gym for your mundane weekly workouts—or you can join QUAC for a fun-filled time at the pool. QUAC (Queer Utah Athletic Club) meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon at Fairmont Aquatic Center in Sugar House (1044 E. Sugarmont Dr.). QUAC welcomes swimmers of all orientations, and all skill levels—even beginners. In addition to swimming, QUAC offers programs in diving and water polo. For more information and practice times, visit QuacQuac.org. Wednesday All right, youngsters, ready to get your dancing shoes on? The Youth Queer Ballroom Dance Class is open to all LGBT youths, ages 14 to 20. This is a free class held in the Multipurpose room at the Utah Pride Center on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. Ballroom dancer Veronica Argyle teaches this great program for a toe-tapping good time. More information at UtahPrideCenter.org • The University of Utah LGBT Resource Center offers a LGTBQ Film Series at the Olpin Student Union Theater the first Wednesday of every month from 4-6:30 p.m. These free events are open to the community as well as students and faculty. Free popcorn is offered at every screening. For various films, a panel and discussion is available after the screening. Additional information about screenings are available at http://www.Sa.Utah.Edu/LGBT/  • If you’re looking for more LGBTQ films, Tower Theatre (876 E. 900 South) offers a good selection of gay-and-lesbian titles, with constant new releases for your at-home viewing pleasure. The Tower’s collection ranges from foreign LGBT films to cult classics like Adam and Steve. Thursday A New Day Spa (3975 Highland Drive) offers gay couples spa packages and treatments. Spend the day getting pampered together with New Day’s couple’s massages and hot-stone treatments. You can even watch a movie while getting body wraps. Nothing beats a blissful evening with your love, relaxing and lounging.  Friday Fabulous Fridays is an informal social held by the U’s LGBT Center. From 3-5 p.m., students and the community are invited to hang out, play games and meet new peers in an entertaining environment with refreshments and snacks. The socials are held until the end of spring semester and will restart at the beginning of fall semester. For more information and events, visit SA.Utah.Edu/LGBT/.  • The big hair and uber-fab Utah Cyber Sluts have created the wild and famous Friday Bingo. Featuring party fouls, fantastic prizes and campy humor, you won’t want to miss these marvelous events taking place on the second Friday of every month, usually at the South Salt Lake Columbus Community Center (2531 S. 400 East). Come out and join in the fun and help raise money for local charities. UtahCyberSluts.org Saturday It’s Friday night and you’ve just left the bars, so technically, it may be early Saturday morning. If you’re looking for a late-night breakfast, coffee or burger, head over to the gay friendly and gay-owned Off Trax Café (259 W. 900 South), open after the clubs close on Friday and Saturday nights. This cozy café is next door to Club Try-Angles and features free WIFI, pool tables and a great menu selection. They’re also open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. • There’s nothing more tranquil than a weekend getaway or an overnight stay at a fabulous hotel. Whether you’re traveling into Salt Lake City or doing a staycation in your own city, Hotel Monaco offers a great gay-friendly package. A fan favorite is the Wine & Dine package offering a dazzling room, Champagne upon arrival, $50 dining credit for a romantic dinner at Bambara and nighttime turn-down service with cookies and milk. If you’re coming in during Salt Lake City’s fun-filled gay Pride weekend (June 4-6, 2010), Hotel Monaco offers a Gay Pride: Simply Proud package which includes the oh-so important late check-out for Pride weekend. Monaco-SaltLakeCity.com Special Events Many special LGBT-friendly events take place throughout the year. Human Rights Campaign Utah (Utah.HRC.org) has its amazing annual gala and silent auction; every three months, Utah Pride Center presents Pride in Pink, a cocktail gathering at the Oyster Bar; COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) creates great family-fun events; Equality Utah’s Allies Dinner attracts more than 1,000 to raise funds for gay-friendly political candidates, and SWERVE (SwerveUtah.com) hosts numerous events for the lesbian community. Strolling down Main Street hand-in-hand with your special someone may still illicit stares and snarls (and, as you may have heard about in 2009, a shakedown if you happen to smooch on the stretch of Main Street owned by the LDS Church!). But with the range of LGBT activities and events available in Zion, you’ll not be bored or feel left out in the cold for long. Annie Quan was City Weekly’s marketing director from 2005-09. She owns Q Clothing Boutique

2013 Another Utah amendment on marriage coming BY LEE DAVIDSON THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE After a federal judge struck down a Utah constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage, legislators are about to consider asking Utahns to vote on another amendment — this one seeking to ensure that churches cannot be forced to participate in marriages that violate their religious views. "The truth is, the main reason I'm proposing this is that I just want people to relax" and to cool heated rhetoric after the same-sex marriage ban was overturned, says Rep. Jacob Anderegg, R-Lehi, the amendment's sponsor. "If they know they have their federal religious guarantees in writing, I hope they will just relax." Even Sen. Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, who is gay and was married after the ban was struck down, does not oppose the idea. "I don't think anybody wants to be married by somebody that doesn't want to marry them," he said, adding it could help end worries and fighting. However, Dabakis says he would support the amendment only if it were changed to require a civil marriage first for everyone, followed by a possible religious ceremony to help make clear that "civil marriage is a constitutional right." Timing • Anderegg said he made his proposed amendment, HJR1, public online the day before Judge Robert J. Shelby rejected Utah's same-sex marriage ban created by Amendment 3 in 2004, and a few days after Judge Clark Waddoups ordered decriminalizing polygamy. Anderegg said his legislation is not in reaction to those court rulings and that he has been working on it for more than year. He said he had a draft written last year that he did not introduce because he figured then that it would not have enough interest to pass, but the rulings have changed that.  "We'll see if it sprouts legs and walks in this session," he said, "or runs." Anderegg said he started working on the proposal because federal courts seemed increasingly to be using the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law to trump the 10th Amendment's protection of state rights on marriage. He figures tests will come eventually over whether the 14th Amendment can also trump the First Amendment's protection of religious liberty on marriage. "Like [hockey star] Wayne Gretzky said, 'A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be,' " Anderegg said. "I think this is where the law is going and want to put some extra protection in place." He is also writing, but has not yet made public, a simple statute aiming to do the same thing as his proposed constitutional amendment. He said they may run in tandem, or one instead of the other, depending on support. Anderegg says some conservatives have told him his amendment is not needed because the First Amendment already guarantees religious freedom. — Expanding exemption • On the other hand, he also has been told that some lawmakers may try to expand his amendment beyond covering just clergy and churches to also seek protection for commercial enterprises that do not want to participate in same-sex weddings, noting that some wedding photographers and cake makers have been sued in other states. Dabakis said he would strongly oppose such an expansion. "That is about public accommodation. Do we want to go back to the day when somebody goes into a public business but [the owner] decides that African-Americans are inferior and it is their right not to provide them service?" Bill Duncan, director of the national Marriage Law Foundation based in Lehi, said, "Maybe that's a signal he [Dabakis] doesn't believe the amendment will actually accomplish anything of any significance" if it focuses only on churches and clergy. Duncan said while such a narrow amendment is "a good first step," he believes it should be expanded to business people who don't want to be forced to participate in something that violates their religious beliefs "because that is where legal challenges are most likely to come" —Â and already have —Â and where protection is needed the most. Anderegg said he has heard of five other marriage bills in early stages of discussion by state legislators, but added he is not at liberty to talk about their contents or sponsors yet. He expects marriage to be a hot topic when the Legislature convenes next month. Anderegg said a key to his legislation may be whether the Salt Lake City-based LDS Church takes a stand on it or any other bills. He notes he believes his amendment mirrors current church policy. Memo to LDS bishops • The LDS Church this month sent to its bishops in Utah — who legally may officiate at weddings —Â a statement after the same-sex ruling reminding them about its position on such marriages. "The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution does not require ministers to perform marriages that are contrary to their faith," it said. "The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds that marriage is between a man and a woman. Consistent with that fundamental belief, the church does not perform marriages between two people of the same sex." It adds, "Church policy also precludes the use of church meetinghouses or properties for ceremonies, receptions, or other events associated with same-sex marriage. God loves all of his children and the church respects those with different opinions but its position on marriage is clear and unchanging." Anderegg's proposed amendment says, "No religious organization, association, or society and no individual acting in a role connected with a religious organization, association, or society, may be required or compelled to solemnize, officiate in, or recognize a marriage or religious rite of marriage in violation of their right of conscience or their free exercise of religion." — Proposed constitutional amendment "No religious organization, association, or society and no individual acting in a role connected with a religious organization, association, or society, may be required or compelled to solemnize, officiate in, or recognize a marriage or religious rite of marriage in violation of their right of conscience or their free exercise of religion."