Thus Day In Gay Utah History January 15th

January 15

1851 - First of Brigham Young’s' five formal divorces from plural wives. He is only one formally divorced while serving as church president. Joseph Smith informally ended several plural marriages, and four LDS presidents are formally divorced as apostles (John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow and Joseph F. Smith)

1897 - Apostle Brigham Young, Jr. temporarily resigns as vice-president of Brigham Young Trust Company because first counselor George Q. Cannon allows its property to become "a first class" brothel on Commercial Street (now Regent Street), Salt Lake City. Apostle Heber J. Grant is invited to its opening reception and is stunned to discover himself inside "a regular whore-house." This situation begins in 1891, and for fifty years church controlled real estate companies lease houses of prostitution. Mar 10,1941 - First Presidency orders Clayton Investment Company to get rid of its "whore-houses," no matter the financial loss, so that church affiliated company can merge with church-owned Zion's Securities Corp. Ends fifty years of church's leases to brothels.

1926-The Greenwich Village Ball, a dance for gay men and lesbians, was held at Webster Hall. The announcement poster read, "Unconventional? Oh, to be sure--only to be discreet!"

1973-The New York Department of Motor Vehicles banned certain combinations of letters from being used on standard or personalized license plates, including FAG and DYK.

1976-The Vatican released "Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics" which called homosexuality a serious depravity which cannot be approved of under any circumstances.

1978-Petitions began circulating in California to put the Briggs Initiative on the ballot, which would bar GLB people or anyone advocating tolerance of homosexuality from teaching in the public schools.

1984- The Lesbian Mothers Support group held meetings at 20 Jacob Rue SLC

1988 Rev Bruce Barton, pastor of SLC’s Resurrection MCC  attended the International AIDS Conference in Houston, Texas.

1992- Jeff Workman and I ran into Russ Lane at Albertson’s. He looked well. I don’t know how to introduce Jeff. Hi this is my friend? Hi This is my lover? So  I just say this is my friend. Gillian was working again at the Rhino Nest. Homo Erectus and Thunderbeam was there also so it was kind of fun. Blair Lewis and Peter Crane are a lot of fun. In the mail we received two subscriptions for the Salt and Sage, one from Bethsaida Maryland and one from Eugene, Oregon. I had an obscene message on my answering machine, “Suck My Dick Bitch”.

1991-In San Francisco, mayor Art Agnos signed a domestic partnership ordinance.

1991-During a parade to celebrate the inauguration of Texas governor Ann Richards, Queer Nation staged a kiss-in along the parade route. Members of the American Family Association protested.

1991-In Denver Colorado a citizens group which opposed the city's gay rights ordinance filed petitions to put a referendum on the May 21 ballot to overturn the ordinance. The petition would be rejected after 33% of the signatures were determined to be invalid.

1996-American poet Mark Doty was named winner of the T.S. Eliot poetry prize in recognition of his poems that chronicle his partner's HIV-positive diagnosis.

1998 Data Lounge Salt Lake Gay Rights Repeal Moves to Mayor's Office By C. Barillas, Editor SALT LAKE CITY -- Since the repeal on Tuesday of Utah's first municipal ordinance protecting the rights of gay men and lesbians, protests from gay advocates have moved from the Salt Lake City Council chambers to the mayor's office. Gay rights advocates espressed the hope they could convince Salt Lake City Mayor Deedee Corradini to veto the council's repeal of a law aimed at protecting gay city employees. The Salt Lake Tribune reports, however, that Corradini plans to let the repeal stand. "We haven't seen any evidence that we needed that law in the first place," Ken Connaughton, the mayor's spokesman, told the paper. "This is a policy issue. The council deals with policy. The mayor is comfortable leaving that decision up to the council." Told of the mayor's sentiments, civil-rights attorney Ross Anderson said she was ducking responsibility. "As long as you have the veto power, you can't run away from it," he said. "It is very much her business whether this ordinance is repealed. Her decision ultimately could make the difference." The Tribune says that under state law, the mayor has 15 days to sign the council's repeal, reverse it or let it take effect without her signature. A two-thirds -- or at least 5-2 -- council vote would be required to overturn a veto. The repeal passed by a 4-3 margin. "It's premature at this point to focus on anything beyond the mayor's duty to let this repeal take effect or veto it," David Nelson, a gay activist, told the Tribune. "She's charged with protecting the integrity of the work environment for her employees. She has a responsibility. I hope she takes it seriously."

• 1998 The Salt Lake Tribune Corradini Won't Use Her Veto Aide Says City Didn't Need Gay Policy in the First Place Corradini Plans to Let Repeal Stand By Rebecca Walsh They have been ignored, maligned and brushed aside. Salt Lake City Councilman Bryce Jolley even tried to throw gay-rights advocates out of a council meeting this week. But they aren't giving up. Now, they are organizing, focusing their phone calls, e-mail messages and letters on Mayor Deedee Corradini. Late Tuesday, the City Council repealed a month-old anti-discrimination law that protected gay city employees. Corradini could reverse that decision with a veto. But The Salt Lake Tribune has learned that Corradini plans to let the repeal stand. "We haven't seen any evidence that we needed that law in the first place," said Ken Connaughton, the mayor's spokesman. "This is a policy issue. The council deals with policy. The mayor is comfortable leaving that decision up to the council." That's a cop-out, critics say. "As long as you have the veto power, you can't run away from it," said civil-rights attorney Ross Anderson. "It is very much her business whether this ordinance is repealed. Her decision ultimately could make the difference." Under state law, the mayor has 15 days to sign the council's repeal, reverse it or let it take effect without her signature. A two-thirds -- or at least 5-2 -- council vote would be required to overturn a veto. The repeal passed by a 4-3 margin. "It's premature at this point to focus on anything beyond the mayor's duty to let this repeal take effect or veto it," said David Nelson, a gay activist. "She's charged with protecting the integrity of the work environment for her employees. She has a responsibility. I hope she takes it seriously." "This is the role of our leaders," said University of Utah law Professor Terry Kogan, a gay man. "If it's not the role of our leaders, whose is it?" Salt Lake City was the first Utah municipality to adopt such an ordinance. Salt Lake County leaders approved their own anti-discrimination law -- which included sexual orientation -- six years ago and have had no complaints. The University of Utah, REI, American Express and Delta Air Lines have similar company policies. But apparently Corradini won't touch the issue. If she does, she risks alienating LDS Church leaders. That could severely damage any chance the mayor has for re-election. On December 8, the Mormon Church-owned Deseret News ran an editorial against the anti-discrimination ordinance. The newspaper's editorials generally reflect the views of the LDS hierarchy. The repeal essentially takes the city back a month -- before the anti-discrimination ordinance was passed. Until December, no nondiscrimination law was in place. Instead, city employment decisions were based on an administrative policy that prohibits discriminating against an employee based on "race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, mental or physical disability." Sexual orientation is not listed. The four councilmen who voted to repeal the law say they intend to replace it with a generic ordinance that protects all employees equally, just so long as it doesn't include the words "sexual orientation." This week, they asked city attorneys to draft the law in the next 60 days. City Attorney Roger Cutler is not worried about the gap between the repeal and possible approval of a new law. He says he never has seen any employee complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation. "The state and everyone else seems to manage life without having such a policy," Cutler says.

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2000 Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons! present a discussion on "When Good People Do Nothing" Sunday at 5 p.m. at Metropolitan Community Church, 823 S. 600 East, Salt Lake City.

2000 Community leaders differ on extent of hate crimes Low numbers may not tell whole story, some experts say By Jim Rayburn Deseret News staff writer Published: Saturday, Jan. 15, 2000 There is no consensus among community leaders and law enforcement officials on whether Utah has a problem with hate crimes. Of the almost 8,000 hate crimes reported to law enforcement agencies nationwide in 1998, only 66 such complaints were made to Utah police agencies. Experts say that number could mean the state doesn't have a serious hate-crime problem, or that people are simply hesitant to report such crimes believing their complaints will go unheard. Regardless of the differing views on the level of the state's hate-crime problem, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, government leaders and community leaders all agree that bias, discrimination and intolerance for diversity are bad. And the way to end such thinking and behavior is through proactive rather than reactive measures. "We want to cut it off at the path. We don't want it to grow here," said Forrest Crawford, an associate professor at Weber State University. The catalyst for that proactive movement could be a report released Friday from a two-day national symposium on hate crimes held last summer at WSU called "The Changing Face of Hate." The conference was the state's first major effort to bring a broad range of agencies together to discuss the social problems associated with hate. The conference was sponsored by WSU, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Utah Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Fairness in the Judicial System and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a national organization committed to eliminating hate crimes and fostering tolerance. The 50-page report makes 10 recommendations and defines the roles individuals and differing agencies need to take to recognize, reduce and prevent incidents of hate. The report says hate is a community and individual issue and not just a problem for law enforcement and prosecutors. "It's much bigger than that," said U.S. District Attorney Paul Warner. The report says making respect for differences a community value is an individual responsibility. "Legislation cannot mandate respect. Law enforcement cannot force respect," the report says. Law enforcement officers and prosecutors need more specific training on recognizing, reporting, investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, the report recommends. The education system must teach students to recognize, respect and live with differences in each other. The report emphasizes that individuals, elected officials, community leaders and religious leaders need to acknowledge that hate-motivated violence exists and they should take every opportunity to speak out against it. Community leaders are encouraged to join law enforcement in proactive efforts to let residents know that hate crimes will not be tolerated. "Conference working groups saw the denial of the existence of discrimination, intolerance and hate crimes in Utah as a serious problem," the report says. For a better understanding of the sensitivity of hate-motivated violence, the report recommends that law enforcement agencies, the courts and prosecuting offices have a more ethnic diverse makeup of their workforce. Police and prosecutors also need to take hate-crime reports more seriously. "People should not feel that their wrongs are going un-remedied," said Utah Supreme Court Justice Michael D. Zimmerman. When lawmakers meet next week they will debate proposed legislation that would make the state's hate-crime statute more clear and more enforceable. The conference did not generate a consensus on the need for the new law. However, the report says there was a consensus that whatever laws are in place should be vigorously enforced "if we want to make our communities safe from hate-motivated violence." The report recommends the need for more research and information on effective ways of punishing hate-crime offenders. Special attention should be given to juvenile offenders to determine the cause of their behavior. "It is important for a young person to face the legal consequences of his or her actions, but communities also should work to develop successful intervention and education programs," the report says. Those involved in the conference view the report as a call to action and a sparkplug to stimulate cooperation among organizations and individuals in addressing hate issues. The report will do no good if its recommendations are not adopted and applied by mayors, legislators, community organization leaders, law enforcement and prosecutors throughout the state. "This report is really not the end. Hopefully it is just the beginning," Warner said. The success of last summer's conference will be measured by the success of the report and the influence it has, Zimmerman said. Community leaders must keep hate issues on the surface and be willing to address them. "If leaders deny that it happens, there is no way to have an honest dialogue with people in the community to deal with it," he said. Because the report emphasizes the struggles and challenges related to human rights issues, Crawford said it was fitting that it was released on the weekend prior to Human Rights Day.

2003- Our monthly meeting was held January 15 at Angles Cafe. Discussed was the need for space to house donated material, and getting volunteers to scan and catalog pictures. Also discussed was the need to have a digital archive rather then a paper one. Highlights-David Hurst owner of Angles Cafe is actively seeking community photos for the historical society. Chad Keller will be approaching community organizations regarding how  the USHS might assist them in establishing a "historian position" in their groups. Local artist Randal Meyers has agreed to help design a Web page for the USHS Kelly Peterson founding member of East High's Gay/Straight Alliance is willing to donate her collection of materials QUAC has approached co-chair Chad Keller regarding donating pictures  from their swim organization. Jay Bell has agreed to contact Stan Larson, U of U archivist, on the status of the former Utah Stonewall Archives donated to the University last year. Michael Romero agreed to scan Utah Gay Rodeo Association pictures onto a CD. Co-chair Ben Williams has made contact with former Community Leaders, Alma Smith, Ben Barr, Bob Waldrop, who have left the state, and John Cooper who had recently returned to Utah. Alma Smith and John Cooper were both instrumental in running Affirmation during its transformational period in the early 1980's. Smith was also a co founder of LGSU at SLCC. Ben Barr pioneered AIDS information and assistance in Utah as director of Utah AIDS Project and Salt Lake AIDS Foundation and oversaw the emergence of Utah AIDS Foundation. Bob Waldrop was pastor of Salt Lake's MCC and Gay Libertarian Candidate for his nearly 20 year stay in Utah. Our Next Meeting will be held: February 19 7-8 p.m. at Angles Cafe.

2003   Page: B3 BYU Pulls Show on Gay Therapy Complaints didn't sway decision, TV station says BY KIRSTEN STEWART   THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Amid a flurry of gay activists' complaints, Brigham Young University television stations yanked from their programming schedules Tuesday a therapist's presentation on helping gay men turn straight.   The segment  --  one in a 10-part series on topics such as divorce, sexual assault and abstinence  --  featured a presentation on reparative therapy delivered last fall by Orem psychotherapist Jeff Robinson at BYU's "Families Under Fire" conference. It was supposed to air several times beginning next week on BYU-TV, a cable and satellite feed, and on PBS affiliate KBYU, Channel 11.   But the stations opted not to broadcast it "out of concern that it might provide an oversimplification of a complex issue," said Jim Bell, KBYU's marketing director.   Bell said the rest of the series will air and emphasized "this is a KBYU decision" and not a mandate from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns BYU and the stations, or from PBS headquarters in Alexandria, Va. Bell also insisted that the decision had nothing to do with complaints. Michael Mitchell, executive director of Unity Utah, publicly criticized KBYU for effectively endorsing Robinson's theories on changing sexual orientation and sending the wrong message to gays and lesbians. The show even caught the attention of national groups, including the Los Angeles-based Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which challenged BYU to "present both sides of the story" and feature critics of Robinson's form of conversion therapy. "He says he wants to reach out to young men who are feeling hopeless and who are living lives of guilt, shame and secrecy," said Monica Taher, a media watchdog for the alliance. "He's generalizing that all gay men are suffering and in doing so cornering the gay community." BYU spokeswoman Carri Jenkins said it is not unusual for the stations to make last-minute programming decisions. "It's something they try to avoid, but not an absolute rarity." The American Psychological Association neither endorses nor advises against reparative or conversion therapy. Don Strassburg, a sex therapist and psychology professor at the University of Utah, said there is some evidence to suggest "that at least for some people these programs may work." But he said it is unlikely "that any therapy program will change someone who in all ways is exclusively homosexual in their orientation to someone who in all ways is exclusively heterosexual." Even if reparative therapy is proved effective, Strassburg said, "should this automatically be the route for anyone to be encouraged to take? There are probably some healthy and appropriate motivations for changing and not-so-healthy, extrinsically motivated reasons." kstewart@sltrib.com

2004 It is a sign that there is growth in Salt Lake City!  Ron Johnson, Owner of Signs & Such, and now SGO, is hosting an open house.  Please come out Sunday January 18, 2004 to his new facility next to Signs and Such at 1414 South West Temple. Ron has been a long time supporter of our community, giving countless hours of his talent to help us all.  Best of Luck on this new adventure!   Attached is one of his designs.  And if you know Ron like I do, the possibilities will be endless, and highly creative! So spread the word to people!  Lets give great community support that Salt Lake is known for! CONGRATULATIONS RON!! In Service! Chad Keller A note from Ron! In order to introduce our new stained glass service to everyone in the community, we're hosting an open house this weekend, Sunday January 18th, between Noon and 6pm.  We invite you to stop by 1414 South West Temple to see dozens of samples of our colorful creations. Stained Glass Overlay is a remarkable process that can convert your existing clear glass into beautiful stained glass.  You might say that SGO brings old world beauty into the space age.  The patented mylars and lead are applied directly to existing glass.  They are permanent and carry a guarantee for quality and durability.  There are over 300 colors to choose from, beginning with clear textures all the way through the color spectrum to dark opaques.  We also offer a variety of lead colors, from antique to brass.  The lead also comes in several sizes to match the complexity of design chosen.  Sparkling bevels can be incorporated into SGO designs, as well.  The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.  In addition, SGO mylars contain a UV block to protect their colors from fading as well as your interior environment from sun damage.  SGO can be applied to surfaces where traditional cut glass is unwise, such as shower doors and tub enclosures.  The SGO materials can be cleaned the same as ordinary glass ... with Windex or its equivalent.  SGO can add special interest and design to mirrors.  It can also block the view of visitors as they reach your door, while at the same time add color and interest to your entryway.  See the attached photo of a special "Theater Masks" design we just completed.  It is a framed piece that can be hung in a sunny window.  All SGO glass can be customized to fit in a specific location of your choosing.  A decorated piece of glass can be installed permanently, but is also removable so you can take the glass with you when and if you decided to move.  In short, with proper care it's yours for a lifetime. If you'd like to see more of our work, visit our website (sorry, we haven't corrected the address on it yet) at: www.sgoweb.com/net/saltlake There is also a national SGO website at:

www.sgoinc.com You'll see our Salt Lake location also listed there under studios.

We look forward to seeing you at our open house this weekend.  If you're unable to attend, feel free to stop by anytime.  We're open from 9 to 5 weekdays and weekends by appointment.  Our phone/fax number is 486-1460  Thanks for your time. Ron Johnson Stained Glass Overlay of Salt Lake City

we are also Signs & Such

2004 Don't forget to check out "Latter Days" playing in SLCon January 30th and Madstone Theaters. According to those that have seen this movie in cities where it has already been shown have said that it is one of the BEST gay movies to be made in a long time. This movie is definitely of interest to gay Utah historians...a very quality and entertaining movie about gay life as a Mormon missionary!

2005  8:52 am Episcopal bishops to meet in Salt Lake on gay issues  By Jennifer Dobner The Associated Press Salt Lake Tribune Episcopal bishops seeking ways to mend the rift over homosexuality that has strained relations between the American denomination and its sister churches worldwide plan to gather for a closed-door strategy session next week in Salt Lake City. U.S. bishops are scheduled to spend Wednesday and Thursday in Salt Lake City, discussing their response to recommendations from an emergency panel of Anglican leaders on how the loose, global association of churches called the Anglican Communion can remain unified. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of Anglicanism. The gathering is the first of several meetings in which Episcopalians will discuss the study, called the Windsor Report, which chastised the U.S. church for consecrating its first openly gay bishop without fully consulting overseas Anglican leaders who opposed his election. New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, who lives with his longtime male partner, is expected to attend the meeting. Conservative American bishops who had boycotted previous meetings with him plan to attend this gathering as well. ''This is a pivotal meeting,'' said Cynthia Brust, a spokeswoman for conservative Anglicans, who have formed a network of dissenting dioceses and congregations. ''The [conservative] bishops will push for real decision and action.'' It is unlikely that the bishops will take dramatic steps to address global tensions next week, ahead of a critical gathering of Anglican leaders next month in Northern Ireland. The task for American bishops is made more difficult by the fact that many Episcopalians - and even members of the emergency panel - disagree over what the Windsor Report has asked of them. Generally, the report sought apologies from Episcopal bishops who consecrated Robinson and suggested a moratorium on electing bishops who are in same-sex relationships. The report also discouraged dioceses from authorizing blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples. Some Episcopalians argue the report only asked bishops to refrain from developing official prayers for such ceremonies, while others contend the study recommended an outright moratorium on same-sex union ceremonies. The report also criticized conservative bishops who have crossed boundaries, unauthorized, to lead North American parishes that cannot accept the authority of their liberal bishops. Utah bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish declined to comment before next week's meeting, but is on record supporting Robinson and the blessing of same-sex unions. Last year, Irish called for Utah churches to create formal rites for such unions. The 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church is a small but important part of the 77 million-member communion. The Rev. Dan Webster, spokesman for the Utah diocese, said he is encouraged by the return of the conservative bishops.  ''Their voices will be heard at the table and it will be much better,'' Webster said. ''I suspect there will be frank and earnest discussion and I believe there will be direct conversations between bishops.''

2006 Sunday At the Eagle Forum Convention at the Redwood Community College campus, Sen. Chris Buttars made the comment that there is a "homosexual rule book". Does anyone have a copy and can I read it? I need to bone up on the rules. He also says that Gays have no morality, well neither does he the lying sack of shit. Someone need to tell his that lying is a sin and God hates liars including him. Some one should also tell him that bigotry and homophobia are also diseases. " Buttars, a West Jordan Republican, also was a featured speaker at the convention.... Buttars disparaged homosexuals, claiming they are "changing the meaning of everything," that "their definition of morality is they have no morality" and harbor diseases at a higher rate than the general population. "If you read the homosexual rule book, you'll find their greatest target is your kids," he said. But Buttars talked only generally about the school-clubs bill, saying it's being held up while drafters figure out how to define certain terms, including "acceptable." Buttars said he figures he has the votes for both bills. But if the gay-clubs bill doesn't pass this session, that's it. "If I lose this time, I probably won't get to rise up again," he said. 

2006 Designee' Benefits Package: City trying too hard to avoid recognizing domestic partners-Salt Lake Tribune Fearful of appearing to support gay domestic partnerships, the Salt Lake City Council seems willing to let city taxpayers subsidize health insurance for roommates and relatives of city employees, the dependents of roommates and relatives and just about anybody else who wants to move in with a city worker and share finances. That, it seems to us, is being just a bit too generous with city funds. While the council's proposed benefit program for "adult designees" may be interpreted as a good-faith effort to help provide insurance benefits to uninsured city residents, taxpayers might reasonably wonder why the city's uninsured are suddenly their responsibility. All seven City Council members say they support an ordinance that would extend health benefits, now offered only to married spouses of city employees and their children, to gay and heterosexual domestic partners who are functioning as spouses. That part of the ordinance mirrors an executive order signed by Mayor Rocky Anderson in September to fairly provide such benefits to those who, if the law allowed (in the case of gay partners), likely would be married or who, for a variety of reasons, have chosen not to be married. The legality of the order is being decided in court. But the council's proposal goes much further. A "designee" would only be required to have lived with the employee for a year and be a dependent of the employee as defined by the IRS, or financially connected in three ways, such as sharing a loan obligation, lease or bank account, being a signatory on a bank account, having power of attorney or being listed as a beneficiary. The designee's legal dependents would also be covered. Estimates of the cost to the city range up to $225,000, but the actual price tag could be much higher. We support Anderson's effort to treat married and unmarried domestic partners equally. But the council's extension of eligibility for city-subsidized health insurance to a host of other folks seems to us to be lifting the lid off Pandora's Box with little justifiable reason. In fact, we fear the real reason is to avoid simply recognizing long-term domestic partnerships between two people, whether or not they are married and whether they are of two genders or one. Making public policy for the wrong reason usually leads to bad policy. We urge the council to reconsider-Salt Lake Tribune Editorial

2006 Miller's moral stand Salt Lake Tribune On Jan. 11, movie star Heath Ledger called Utah Mormons "immature" as a society for believing the film "Brokeback Mountain" is controversial. I think it's unintentionally hilarious an actor from Hollywood, a town not known as a bastion of societal maturity, seeks to instruct Utahns on what is and isn't controversial. As a film distributor, it is obvious to me that Ledger and Focus Features ("Brokeback" distributor) are deliberately trying to rouse an argument to score a free, worldwide PR campaign that will make them an Oscar shoe-in. I have decided to take the bait, because I believe Larry Miller's actual moral stand should be applauded at least as much as Ledger's faux moral "look-at-me" game. Bravo, Larry, for canceling "Brokeback Mountain." It is his right to choose what content he accepts for his theaters. Moreover, shame on all the middle-American theater owners who well know their neighborhoods don't want this movie, but who lack the moral courage to stand up to Ledger and Focus Features. Finally, to film-goers: If you want morality, go see "The Chronicles of Narnia" or one of the other family films available at Jordan Commons. So there it is, all of the moral outrage Ledger could possibly need to claim his "artistic victim" status. In March, he'll be the one with the golden statue and we'll be the ones with our "immature," real moral convictions. Randy Davis Vice President, Film Distribution, Excel Entertainment Group Salt Lake City

2006 Battle against vice Salt Lake Tribune On Jan. 10 Tribune cartoonist Pat Bagley portrayed Eagle Forum leader Gayle Ruzicka as a chainsaw murderer standing over the dismembered bodies of the two gay cowboys portrayed in the film "Brokeback Mountain." Mrs. Ruzicka's crusade for family values has never killed or injured anyone. The same cannot be said for the gruesome behavior that she opposes. Abortion accounts for the deaths of more than a million unborn children each year in the United States. Police investigators almost always find pornography with the personal belongings of those who molest and kill little girls. Sexual immorality, both gay and straight, is mostly responsible for the spread of AIDS which kills millions worldwide. Has Bagley ever depicted those who advocate abortion, gay rights or pornography as grim reapers with blood dripping off their scythes? What spirit possesses an artist to characterize a sweet grandmother, exercising her right to free speech, as a homicidal maniac while giving a free pass to the deadly vices she battles against? Mitch Vilos Centerville

2006 More Oscar buzz Salt Lake Tribune Controversy tends to give movies that extra edge during Oscar season. It causes people to talk non-stop about the movie and gives it extra publicity. So pull the movie, Larry. Stick by your "morals" for all I care. You may just help this movie win an Oscar. Katherine Poruk Sandy

2006 Anti-growth initiative Salt Lake Tribune Truly, no conceivable Utah anti-growth initiative could have afforded to buy the galactic publicity provided by the Miller- Ruzicka "Brokeback Mountain" movie repudiation. Brilliant. What company in its right mind would consider relocating to Utah after this hyperbolic episode, the latest and most widely disseminated of our seemingly endless supply of goofy products to undermine the efforts of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, and of the Huntsman administration's thrust to lure companies from all the world to a "normalized" Utah. So much for that. Back to the '80s, if not long before. We are transported! Maybe there's a chance, after all, for rational planning. Ivan Weber Salt Lake City