This Day In Gay Utah History January 5th

January 5

1965 With 1,500 people in attendance, the $2.5 million structure of Deseret Gym was dedicated by the LDS Church. The facility, “providing for the first time full athletic access for women and children”, was deemed ``The finest health promoting facility in this part of the country.'' At 128,929 square feet, it was twice as large as the old DG. Its numerous amenities included both men and women's steam rooms, with continuous perforated pipe for uniformity of steam, and a 14-by-9-foot Finnish sauna. President and Mrs. McKay were present but did not give formal speeches. Hugh B. Brown of the LDS First Presidency told the crowd, ``We are anxious that our young people and all of us should acquire health-giving exercise.'' Richard Condie conducted the Tabernacle's men's choir in three hymns and Thomas Monson gave the benediction.

1965-Tuesday- Spencer Kimball spoke to the student body of BYU to condemn

Spencer Kimball

homosexuality in “Love versus Lust” later published in BYU Speeches of the Year. He stated “This heinous homosexual sin is of the ages. Many cities and civilizations have gone out of existence because of it…Let it never be said that the Church avoided condemning this obnoxious practice not that it has- winked at this abominable sin. And I feel certain that this University will never knowingly enroll an unrepentant person who follows these practices nor tolerate on its campus anyone with these tendencies who fails to repent and put his or her life in order.”

1982 – LDS First Presidency repeats its 1978 instructions for "interviewing married persons," but adds: "The First Presidency has interpreted oral sex as constituting an unnatural, impure or unholy practice."

1983- Wednesday -"David Leta my attorney informed me of a proposed settlement which involved an award of 15,000 dollars and a 12,500 dollar a year position in the University of Utah Medical Center. I won the right to appear in a documentary but I could not mention the hospital while employed. David and Gerald told me that a person by the name of Dr. Cameron was to be brought in by the state to discredit all gays employed in hospital work. His general testimony as a psychologist was that gay people molest children more than heterosexual people therefore I was considered unfit to work with children. My lawyers had done research which found just the opposite was true but this man was a very hostile witness. " (Dr. Cameron was removed from the Psychiatric Association of America for many of these views.) Essentially my attorney's capitulated to get the settlement. I wanted to go to trial come what may, I was ready. David said the jury selection was hampered due to the lack of constitutional rights for gays. I did not understand but it looked like they had given up. " (Memoirs of David Attridge)

1987-A US State Department policy was implemented which required HIV testing every two years for foreign service employees and applicants, and their spouses and dependents over the age of 12. Any employee who tested positive or whose spouse or dependent tested positive was given restricted duty. If an applicant or his/her spouse or dependent tested positive that person was denied employment, The policy was successfully challenged by the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and the National Emergency Civil Liberties Committee.

1988-Tuesday- Unconditional Support elections held. Meetings held at Crossroads Urban Center at 247 South 400 East SLC. Officers elected were director Ben Williams, Ken Francis Assistant Director and Randy Olsen Sec/Treasurer. ”Scott Anderson was stressed out because yesterday his parents asked him if he was Gay and he came out to his parents. They being staunch LDS did not handle it well. They’ve asked him to move out by the 1st of February and have really been emotionally abusive to him. We visited as I got ready to go open the meeting for Unconditional Support. I made some coffee and brought some orange juice and donuts for the meeting. Scott drove me down to the Crossroads Urban Center but he couldn’t go to the show with us because he already obligated himself to go see Jim Pincock after the meeting. Besides his parents laid down some ground rules now, saying he has to be home by 11 p.m. I guess they have to play the parent. The meeting tonight was a business meeting. We talked about our articles and by-laws, elected Randy Olsen, Ken Francis, and myself as officers, and talked about the Gay Community Council. We discussed which way the group wanted us to vote this Thursday.  We had perhaps 20 people tonight. The weather being so poor, I was not expecting this many. After the meeting we all went to the Plitt Utah Theater to see Maurice. We had perhaps fifteen people from US go.  While at the show Chris Brown said the Lulene “Greg Harden” was taking an Institute of Religion class at the U this quarter. Preparation for a Celestial Marriage! Chris said he’s only taking it for the parking! I think it’s so funny. Well Don Penrose and Richard Morris seem to be an Item now and Chris Brown has a boyfriend in Phoenix who he met at the Desert and Mountain States Conference. Chris also told me that Graham Bell and he got into an awful row at LGSU yesterday when Graham Bell began making rude comments about people in the community.  While waiting in line at the Plitt Theater saw so much of the Gay community there. It seemed a social event. Curtis Jensen was with a new boyfriend, Keith McBride, Rob Ivie and David Sharpton, David Nelson and Michael Aarons, Steve Oldroyd and so many more. Well the Utah Plitt can’t say that the Gay community doesn’t support high quality Gay theme films.  Chris Hicks of the Deseret News, so I heard from Curtis Jensen, won’t even review Maurice even though he’s always given Ivory Merchant films a four star rating. Just because of its positive Gay theme he won’t review it. It sure didn't take David long to attach himself to someone. David can be funny when he wants to but Rob still has too much BYU attitude. [1988 Journal of Ben Williams]

Neil Hoyt

1989-Thursday Elections were held for Gay and Lesbian Community Council. Neil Hoyt of Affirmation was elected as Chair, Chuck Whyte of the Royal Court was elected Vice Chair, and Ben Williams of Unconditional Support was elected Secretary/Treasurer. “ Shit! I was elected secretary-treasurer of the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah tonight. The reason I was elected was that Chuck Whyte who originally said he wanted the office but changed his plans. Originally Curtis Jensen agreed to run for vice chair and Chuck Whyte for Secretary/Treasurer. However before the meeting Chuck asked if I would nominate him for Vice Chair and not caring I said sure. When he was elected over Curtis, Curtis said he would not accept the secretary-treasurer position. So Val Mansfield was nominated but he said he would not accept the nomination unless someone else agreed to run also. So about five other people were asked and they declined so Bruce Barton nominated me saying it would be a natural position for someone from the Historical Society. Well I am a girl that just can’t say no especially in service to the Gay community so I accepted the nomination and was elected. The new chair of the council was an even bigger surprise but I think ultimately a good choice. I would not be honest if I did not say that the position was almost thrust upon him but Neil Hoyt will be a good chair. He will have to grow some and get over the fact that he can’t make everyone happy. If he tries to do that he’ll be mediocre. Chuck Whyte when he’s focused no one works as hard as he does. [1989 Journal of Ben Williams]

1994- Donald James Lynd, age 39 died of AIDS, at University of Utah Hospital. His obituary stated, “AIDS has killed more of our young men than the Viet Nam and Gulf War combined. If you wish to make contributions please send them to The Utah AIDS Foundation.”

Paul Hardman

1996-Paul Hardman, co-founder of The Society for Individual Rights (SIR), and founder of the first Gay American Post died at age 72 after complications from surgery. OBITUARY-Paul-Hardman-

1997 01/05/97 Page: B9 Our dearly loved son, brother, uncle, nephew, and friend, ended his long courageous battle of pain and suffering on January 1, 1997 in Santa Rosa, California.    Born May 1, 1960 in Salt Lake City to Ray and Carol Satterfield. Jason lived his life to the fullest in his own unique way. His creativity and talent took him many places.    A private memorial will be held with family and close friends. In lieu of flower, please send donations in Jason's name to AIDS Research at AMFAR, 733 Third Ave, 12th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10017

1998-Monday--I read with interest Robert Austin's criticism of Stephen Covey (Forum, Dec. 19) and had to wonder which one of the two is lacking in understanding. Austin portrays gay and  lesbian ``families'' as profoundly beautiful and nurturing and criticizes Covey for ``not understanding'' because he opposes same-sex marriage in Hawaii.   I want my voice to be counted as one who sides with Covey's attempts to block legalizing same-sex marriage. I believe that Covey does understand the implications of two people of the same sex marrying and that Austin is choosing to ignore some incredibly obvious down sides of  homosexual behavior. At its very best, homosexual behavior has never once produced a single new life into the world. Our civilization needs new life to replenish itself. At its worst, homosexual behavior is primarily responsible for the horrible waste of human life associated with AIDS. There has never been a civilization that has founded itself on the notion of homosexual behavior, but the entire epoch of our current civilization has thrived based on the notion of heterosexual relationships. I wonder if Austin can understand that. Can he understand that there are people who oppose the push for acceptance of homosexual behavior as normal, yet do not have a single thread of hatred for the people who, nevertheless, choose that type of behavior? I wonder if Austin can understand that there are thoughtful, nurturing, beautiful people who disagree with his view point and value truth over sanction.   SCOTT M. SOULIER  Salt Lake City (Salt Lake Tribune: 01/05/1998 Page: A6)

1998-Monday- Salt Lake City Councilman Bryce Jolley is on a crusade. Last month,

Bryce Jolley

Jolley's effort to stop the council from adopting a new anti discrimination ordinance that protects gay city employees failed. Council members voted 5-2 to approve the new law. But the terms of three of the members who voted for the ordinance -- Tom Godfrey, Mary Mark and Lee Martinez -- expire  today. Now is Jolley's chance. He tried to convince Council Chairwoman Deeda Seed to schedule the new law for a repeal vote at Tuesday's meeting. She refused. So, he intends to revive his campaign to kill the ordinance at the City Council's first work meeting of 1998 the same night. Council members approved the new law in December after a month of wrangling. The ordinance prohibits discrimination ``against another wise qualified employee or applicant based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation or disability.'' Salt Lake City is the first Utah municipality to adopt such an ordinance. ``We just passed the ordinance and by a significant margin,'' says Seed. ``We should see what happens, give it a chance. If there are problems, they will become obvious. If there aren't problems, that will become obvious, too.'' That's not good enough for Jolley. He believes the law is ambiguous and unfairly singles out  gay and lesbian employees for protections that should be extended to all workers. ``It's bad law,'' he says. ``It's got flaws to it. . ..  I want to make sure we look at everything properly.''  The only problem is, rules dictate Jolley cannot start the discussion. As a council member on the losing end of the 5-2 vote, Jolley cannot bring up the issue. Instead, one of the council members who voted for the law -- only Joanne Milner and Seed remain -- or a new council member will have to start the discussion. Councilman Keith Christensen voted with Jolley against the law last month. Councilman-elect Carlton Christensen is firmly in Jolley's camp. Councilman-elect Tom Rogan strongly supports the new law. And Councilman-elect Roger Thompson will not say where he stands. Still, Jolley is confident he has enough support to repeal the ordinance at the Jan. 12 meeting.   After that, he wants a response to 21 questions he drew up last year before a council work meeting discussion. Then, he plans to send the city's old ordinance, the ordinance the council approved in December and a more generic version he touts to legal experts at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University for scrutiny.  Legal scholar Ed Firmage, a U. law professor, says Jolley is exploiting a hot button issue, ``I only see political problems with the law the City Council passed.''  Jolley's page of questions included: -- Does the council need to state that sexual behavior is different than sexual orientation and extramarital behavior is not protected?   -- Should the city clarify that it believes it is in the best interest of society that sexual relations occur only between persons who are lawfully married-- Would it be helpful to establish a program for city youth to encourage them to resist and overcome homosexual orientation? Jolley says he has been misunderstood and misrepresented. ``A person's personal life is their business,'' he says. ``Employees should not be discriminated against for any reason other than their qualifications.'' But advocates of the law say Jolley's argument is flawed. And his list of questions undermines his claim of objectivity. ``There's a reason we still need to think about people who are different and try to protect them. We aren't all alike. In a perfect world, we could say discrimination shouldn't happen to anyone, but it does.'' says Charlene Orchard, chairwoman of the Utah Human Rights Coalition.   Firmage agrees..``We are in a position in our society today where the normal acts of civility no longer protects this group of people,'' he said. ``When that happens you need a law to single out gays and lesbians for protection. It is a matter of pulling your knuckles up off the ground and doing the right thing.'' (01/05/1998 Page: D4 SLTribune)

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2000 Page: A5 LDS Church Asked to Review Anti-Gay Marriage Position  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Religious leaders from more than 70 California churches are asking The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to reconsider its support for an anti-gay marriage initiative. Proposition 22, titled the "Limit on Marriage" act, won't solve problems facing families, said the church leaders, who planned to release a copy of their letter to the  LDS church today. Religious leaders who oppose the ban, which include Catholics, Unitarians, Jews, Episcopalians and Methodists, want to hold a round-table discussion with LDS church officials to discuss their support for it.    "If they are really concerned about supporting marriage and families, there are many other things that are a threat to marriage and families," said the Rev. Ed Hansen, pastor of the Hollywood United Methodist Church.  "That includes wages too low to enable both parents to be home as much as they need to be. It includes a lack of good child care, a lack of a support system for troubled families and many others," he said. "Why spend all this time and money to support an initiative that does literally nothing?"

5 January 2000    SL Tribune Page: A5 A Ban in Nevada? A proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages will kick off the political year in Nevada. A group called the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage intends to file an initiative petition with Secretary of State Dean Heller to place the issue on the November election ballot. Gay and lesbian organizations are already discussing strategy to combat the coalition 's effort, which they see as an attack on equal treatment. Nevada law already specifies that marriage is between male and female, said Richard Ziser, chairman of the coalition seeking the ban. But his group wants to "solidify it in the constitution." The concern, Ziser said, is that courts in other states may allow same-sex marriages. Under the "full faith and credit clause" of the U.S. Constitution, Nevada would be required to recognize such marriages, he said. *EXTRA**  "This keeps a judge from another state from telling Nevadans how to define marriage," said Ziser, who formerly owned a casino token manufacturing business in Las Vegas. His organization will have to gather 44,009 signatures of registered voters by June 20 to get the issue on the November ballot. The petition must contain 10 percent of the registered voters in 13 of the 17 counties. If the initiative passes in November, it would go on the ballot again in 2002 before it becomes part of the state Constitution. Gay and lesbian groups are beginning to plan a response, said Lee Plotkin, a political columnist for the Gay publication Las Vegas Bugle. An anti-Gay petition in 1994 failed to get enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, he said, predicting that the same thing will happen this time. "The reality is this is a fund-raising gimmick by some people who don't have the desire to protect existing marriages but rather prevent others from creating marriages of their own," says Plotkin. "If they were truly concerned about protecting marriage, they would be doing something to improve on their own divorce rate of 50 percent. "What's truly remarkable are these are the same people who said Gays and lesbians were incapable of maintaining relations. Now they want to prevent us from having equal treatment under the law." Plotkin says Ziser is a failed political candidate for the Clark County School Board who was beaten in the primary election by a Gay Republican. "He may be smarting from that loss," Plotkin said. "The reality here is they are trying to gather tens of thousands of signatures to build a mailing list to perpetuate their causes," Plotkin said. "Anybody who is conned into signing this petition can expect a mailbox filled with right-wing material." That won't be the only petition organizers hope to get on the ballot. Neal said he will file an initiative petition to raise the casino tax as soon as it's been checked to ensure it is in its correct legal form. Neal's petition calls for imposing a new license fee of 5 percent on all gross gaming revenue that exceeds $1 million per month. The new fee would be added to the present tax is 6.25 percent. The gaming proposal would amend the Nevada law, not the constitution. Neal would still have to gather the same number of signatures as a constitutional amendment, but he would have until Nov. 14. If successful, the gaming petition would be presented to the 2001 Legislature. The Legislature would have 40 days to approve or reject it. If it is not passed, the issue would go on the 2002 election ballot for the voters to decide. The Legislature could also pass an alternative plan but the Neal petition would still be on the ballot.

2009 Gay-rights activists to rally near Delicate Arch Date: January 5, 2009 Gay-rights activists hope to build a bridge to their fellow Utahns before the state's most iconic span: Delicate Arch.On Saturday, more than 60 people plan to gather in view of the redrock wonder to rally support for Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative. The effort is a collection of five bills, aimed at the upcoming legislative session that would provide legal protections to same-sex couples, such as hospital visitation and inheritance rights, Author:    Rosemary Winters The Salt Lake Tribune

2010 Dark Star: Clubs & Nightlife Utah’s weird liquor laws fade, and city nightlife moves into high gear. By Bill Frost & Jamie Gadette Salt Lake City Weekly Club City Weekly 

• Club Edge shifts gears from night-to-night. Promoters resurrect the defunct Trapp Door’s popular Thursday house parties, then turn over the spotlight to rockers for raucous, live gigs in a spacious, bare-bones warehouse space. 615 N. 400 West, 801-755-6389 
• In the Venue The biggest (and soon-to-be-biggest) touring acts play In the Venue, the hybrid indoor/outdoor/bar/all-ages room on the burgeoning West Side that also functions as a dance club (Club Sound, to be exact). TRAX and fine Chinese food (Hong Kong Teahouse) adjacent. 200 S. 600 West, 801-359-3219 
• The Rail Ambitious addition to downtown Salt Lake City features 42,000 square-feet of floor space, VIP lounges, banquet seating, ample room to dance and socialize, a digital-recording studio and many other amenities designed to meet any occasion: concerts, private parties, trade shows and corporate events. Past musical headliners include 30 Seconds to Mars and genre-bending Kalai. Who will stop in next? 235 N. 500 West, 801-326-5014, TheRailEventCenter.com Local LGBT friendly institutions attract a steady, loyal clientele. 
• Jam (751 N. 300 West, 801-891-1162, JamSlc.com), the newest kid on the block, is a welcome addition to the city’s Marmalade District. More Manhattan loft than generic nightclub, it hosts DJs Tuesdays through Saturdays. 
• The Trapp (102 S. 600 West, 801-531-8727) opened in step with the gay line-dancing fad of the early 1990s and, to this day, it has maintained the air of a country-western bar. The crowd is decidedly mixed, however—it’s the kind of place you might encounter a bi-curious construction worker playing pool with a Latina drag queen. 
• Club Try-Angles (251 W. 900 South, 801-364-3203, ClubTryAngles.com) is a popular downtown spot for a primarily gay crowd but welcomes anyone with an open mind and a decent pair of dancing shoes. 
• One of if the only—if not the only—lesbian bar in town, Paper Moon (3737 S. State, South Salt Lake, 801-713-0678) is closed on Mondays for “employee sanity.”

2020 Breaking: Longtime gay activist John Bennett dead at 57 years old by  Michael Aaron

January 6, 2020 Friends of longtime gay activist John Bennett say that he died over the weekend of January 4, 2020. He was 57 years old. No further details are available at this time. Bennett held leadership roles in the ’80s and ’90s at the University of Utah Lesbian and Gay Student Union, AIDS Project Utah, Utah Pride Festival, and the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah.  He was an accomplished classical pianist and was accompanist at the Salt Lake Men’s Choir for three years and, in 1993, founded The Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Salt Lake City. He was also former Sen. Bob Bennett’s nephew.

Bennett served as executive director of the Utah Stonewall Center, now the Utah Pride Center, from 1994 to 1995. He was part of many other groups, including the Utah AIDS Memorial Quilt Project, and marched with the Utah contingent at the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987. Bennett managed a senior center of Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services from 2004 to 2013 before taking on the fulltime role of caregiver for his aging parents until his mother’s death in May of 2018. He started Bennett’s Art Glass in 2015. The name paid homage to the Art Glass Department of a former family business, Bennett’s Paint and Glass. He did custom pieces for many homes as well as Franklin Covey. He became president of Life Ring Secular Recovery, a secular alternative to 12-Step recovery for drug and alcohol dependency, in 2017. In November, Bennett was hired as a program manager at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Department. 

Obituary John Bennett, cherished friend, uncle, brother, and cousin, left us January 5, 2020. John was born June 11, 1962, to Bonnie Stone and David Wells Bennett. He prized his pioneer heritage and Utah roots and strove to serve his community as his forebears did, including his grandfather Wallace F. Bennett and uncle Robert F. Bennett, both U.S. Senators. John graduated from the University of Utah and was awarded his diploma by his father. He held leadership roles in the ’80s and ’90s at the University of Utah Lesbian and Gay Student Union, AIDS Project Utah, Utah Pride Festival, and the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah. Growing up in a musical home, John became an accomplished classical pianist. He was accompanist at the Salt Lake Men’s Choir for three years and, in 1993, founded The Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Salt Lake City. He loved accompanying and playing music with his friends. He served as executive director of the Utah Stonewall Center, now the Utah Pride Center, from 1994 to 1995. He was part of many other groups, including the Utah AIDS Memorial Quilt Project, and marched with the Utah contingent at the Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987. John had a gift for loving and working with seniors, and managed a senior center of Salt Lake County Aging and Adult Services from 2004 to 2013 before taking on the role of full-time caregiver for his aging parents until his mother’s death in May of 2018. He started Bennett’s Art Glass in 2015. The name paid homage to the Art Glass Department of a former family business, Bennett’s Paint and Glass. He did custom pieces for many homes as well as Franklin Covey. He became president of LifeRing Secular Recovery, a secular alternative to 12-Step recovery for drug and alcohol dependency, in 2017. In November, John was hired as a program manager at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy Department. With a quirky sense of humor and a natural playfulness, John was at home with children and loved his nieces and nephews and his dogs, Squirt and Sparky. He was part of a loving extended Bennett family. He is survived by his sisters, Amy Johnson and Emily Watts, and his brother, Dan Bennett.  His life and gifts will be celebrated Sunday, January 19, 5:00 p.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 261 South 900 East, Salt Lake City.