13 February
 |
| Christine Jorgensen |
1953-Christine Jorgensen, who received one of the first sex change
operation, returned to the United
States and was greeted by a large number of
reporters.
1958 Thursday-
Salt Lake Tribune ran byline “ Suspect Held In Boys Morals Ring” Lawmen arrested a man Wednesday charging him with being the leader
of a ring of teenage boys for immoral purposes.
The suspect, the officer stated, said he had as many as 100 youthful
followers mostly Junior High School age, from Salt
Lake County
to Carbon County Col. 6
SLTribune)
 |
| Liza Minnelli |
1972-The film Cabaret staring Liza Minnelli premiered in New York City . Michael York played a bisexual
character, based on Christopher Isherwood's autobiography.
1975 Utah Senator Howe's Senate Bill 270 “Clarify penalties for rape
and sodomy, expand type of intent required for forcible sexual abuse, remove
age element for aggravated sexual assault. Ogden Standard Examiner
1988 Saturday- Unconditional Support, Wasatch Affirmation, and
Lesbian and Gay Student Union co-sponsored a Valentine Dance held at Metropolitan Community Church Wayne the Deacon to come upstairs and unlock
the building for us. Except for that hectic start, I’d have to say the dance
was a complete success. Before it was
over we had about 70 people there in the basement of the MCC church, mostly
under the age of 25. John Reeves said that he could tell that this 20 year old
from Tooele has a crush on me. But what the hell am I suppose to do with a 20
year old? Anyway as the party went on downstairs, the “older” chaperons went up
to the Deacon’s study and visited about community issues. The dance lasted
until 11 p.m. when I started winding things down. I talked to Dave Malmstrom
about extending the dance for March 26th till midnight. He agreed.
Since everyone groaned when I announced that the dance was over, I guess
everyone was having fun. I let them have
one last slow dance to close with. Anyway I am beat. This has been a weekend from hell but we got
a Gay water slide and a Gay Valentine’s dance accomplished. [1988 Journal of
Ben Williams]
1989 Monday- I spent 2 hours at Crossroads Urban Center typing up
the membership lists and minutes for the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of
Utah [1989 Journal of Ben Williams]
1990-The US Air Force discharged thirteen airmen for homosexuality
after a four-month investigation at Carswell AFB in Texas.
1991-Dr Stephen Herman of Orange County California was charged with
sixteen counts of felony fraud for selling geraniol as a cure for AIDS.
Geraniol is a type of alcohol used in perfume.
1991-In New Hampshire ,
a bill was introduced to the state legislature which sought to require all HIV
positive people to reveal information about their sex partners and needle
sharing partners to state health officials.
1994 –The Mormon First Presidency issued a
statement explaining that “the principles of the gospel and the sacred
responsibilities given” to Mormons, require that the church “oppose any efforts
to give legal authorization to marriage between persons of the same gender.
13 February 1996 Tuesday, GAY STUDENT CLUBS SPONSORS SAY 2 CLUB BILLS
ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND A pair of bills intended to limit participation in
controversial school clubs - namely, proposed gay and lesbian student groups -
meet constitutional muster, say the sponsor and the attorney for the Utah State
Board of Education. But a gay rights advocate predicts otherwise. SB262 would
require students to produce a permission slip signed by their parents or legal
guardian before they could join any club. "This bill, if passed into law,
would make gay and lesbian students have to come "out' to do something
which is already their constitutional right to do under the freedom of speech
and freedom of assembly," said David Nelson, founder of Gay and Lesbian
Utah Democrats. A second bill, which has not yet been printed, is aimed at
teachers. SB246 states that school employees and volunteers "cannot
encourage, condone or support the engagement in or the acceptance of immoral
conduct or other conduct prohibited by law or rule." Sen. Craig Taylor,
R-Kaysville, who is an attorney, is the sponsor of both measures. Taylor has reviewed case
law that supports a school district's right to control what teachers say and do
as it relates to public-school children. He also has reviewed the proposed
bills with constitutional law scholars who believe they would withstand a court
test. the prohibition outlined in SB246 would extend to those acting in a
private capacity if that person knew or had reason to believe that the
"activity would undermine the health, safety, welfare or morals of
schoolchildren or the confidence of the public in the operation of
schools," Taylor said. "This bill gives the district some real teeth
and puts the matter back into local district control," he said.
"Academic freedoms are much less when you are talking about public
schools." Nelson said the language of the bill is similar to an Oklahoma law, struck
down in the 1980s. "Because it is so similar, I'm nearly 100 percent
certain it would be thrown out without so much as a trial. He (Taylor) can pass
it but I promise it will be enjoined," Nelson said. Doug Bates, attorney
for the Utah State Board of Education, said language of SB246 is "well
established in court cases. This simply puts it into statute." Nelson said
the proposed legislation sets the stage for another losing legal battle such as
the fights waged over abortion legislation and the state Cable TV Decency Act.
"It's going to end up on the scrap heap, just like them," Nelson
said. The proposed legislation is a response to student requests to form
gay-lesbian student organizations at three Salt Lake District high schools. The
issue has stirred an emotional debate in forums ranging from the board rooms of
the Salt Lake City
School District
1996 Monday-TOPIC-ANTI-GAY POLITICS SLTribune ran an
article entitled “Bills Aim To Keep Gay Students in Closet”- Proposals aimed at
prohibiting discussion of homosexuality in the classroom and restricting Gay
student clubs by requiring permission from parents emerged in the Legislature
on Monday to mixed reaction. Doug Bates attorney for the state Office of
Education praised the measures as reasonable and in apparent line with federal
law. David Nelson, founder of the Gay
and Lesbian Utah Democrats stated that both bills will absolutely generate
lawsuits Bills Aim to Keep Gay Students in Closet Proposals aimed at
prohibiting discussions of homosexuality in the classroom and restricting gay
student clubs by requiring permission from parents emerged in the Legislature
on Monday to mixed reaction. An attorney for the state Office of Education
praised the measures as reasonable and in apparent line with federal law. ``I
really like the bills given the emotional hoopla of late,'' said state
education attorney Doug Bates. ``I don't see either bill creating a problem
with civil libertarians or advocates of either side of the equation, aside from
those on the extremes.'' But a spokesman for a gay and lesbian political group
said the measures are legal time bombs. Both bills will ``absolutely'' generate
lawsuits, said David Nelson, founder of Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats ``I'll
grant the first one [on parental permission for club membership] has a 50-50
chance of winning. But the second one I'm confident would be thrown out by the
courts,'' he said. Sen. Craig Taylor's two bills -- which were publicly
released Monday -- do not specifically mention homosexuality. One requires
written parental permission for participation in any student club or
organization that meets on school premises. The second prohibits teachers from
advocating or promoting illegal or immoral behavior. But the two measures
represent the first concrete measures to address legislative concerns over gay
student clubs and alleged homosexuality-promoting activities in schools. The
topics were covered in an illegal, secret Senate meeting two weeks ago. A gay and lesbian student support group has
petitioned for club status at East
High School Utah schools. Bates, along with the office
of Utah Atty. Gen. Jan Graham, had warned lawmakers against trying to ban gay
student support clubs outright because it would violate the federal Equal
Access Act. Nevertheless, U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Gov. Mike Leavitt
have said they believe school boards have the moral authority, and likely the
legal ability, to impose such a ban. ``That's the best solution,'' agreed Gayle
Ruzicka, president of the ultraconservative Utah Eagle Forum. Ruzicka said her
group supports Taylor 's
bills as the best options for state action. Meantime, she wants school boards
to prohibit all nonacademic clubs. There also has been some discussion about
the state ``possibly'' coming up with money to assist school districts to wage
a court battle over gay clubs, Ruzicka said. ``There's certainly enough
[public] interest for them to take action -- whatever it takes,'' she said.
(02/13/96 Page: A4 SLTribune)
1999 Cris
Williamson and Tret Fure, womyn music artists performed in a Concert held
at Clayton Intermediate School (1471 S
1800 E) in Salt Lake City.
1999 The Gay/Lesbian Student Union at Weber
State University
held a Valentine's Dance in "The Lair" at the Student Union on the Weber State
13 February 2000 Affirmation Dr. Kathryn McKay at
the Viking Villa Club House, in Ogden
2001 Public institution must be tolerant Tuesday, February 13, 2001
Courtney Moser,
Adviser, USU Pride Alliance, Logan In reference to the recent
controversy concerning the USU Pride Alliance History Project display at USU,
if the Pride Alliance had put up a display of offensive pictures with vivid
descriptions of lewd acts, people on campus would be well within their rights
to block the view of said material. However, the Pride Alliance History display
contained nothing that was offensive. It contained newspaper articles and
historical documents regarding the gay community in Cache Valley. Almost half
of the content was from the pages of The Herald Journal itself. These may be
controversial but not offensive. As a public institution, USUs doors are open
to everyone. Gay tax dollars support this university just as straight tax
dollars do. Gay students pay tuition and expect a good education in return,
just as straight students do. For an official office on campus to physically divide
them from and symbolically demonstrate exclusion of a segment of the students,
faculty and staff is reprehensible. Individuals have the freedom to erect walls
of division and exclusion in their own homes, in their churches, in their
private clubs and businesses, according to the dictates of their own beliefs,
but not at a public institution. We cannot and should not try to govern peoples
personal beliefs. However when those beliefs result in discriminatory acts, we
must protest. Gay people are a part of the community. We always have been and
we always will be. However, we are no longer willing to be treated as
second-class citizens, staying invisibly in the closet so that the majority may
remain comfortable in their ignorance of our existence. We claim our full,
rightful and equal place at the table of humanity. I feel sorry for people who
cannot even bear the sight of us, let alone try and learn something from us.
Ignorance breeds fear and contempt. As long as people keep building walls of
division and exclusion, and refuse to even be open to information, civil
discussion will not be possible. Ignorance will continue unabated, and hatred
and fear will flourish. Please lets let USU be an institution of higher
education and learning.
2003Ogden
 |
| Courtney Moser |
2003
2005 Questioning
Minds 2004-2005 Lecture-and-Discussion Series presents “IS RELIGION THE BASIS
OF MORALITY?” by Professor David
Keller Meet & Greet: 1:45 pm •
Presentation: 2:00 pm Meeting
Closes: 4:00 pm Salt Lake Main Library, 210 East 400 South, Fourth Floor
Conference Room Free and Open to the Public David R. Keller is Director of the
Center for the Study of Ethics and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Utah
Valley State College. His first book, The Philosophy of Ecology, explores the
philosophical issues implicit in the science of ecology. He has contributed to
The International Global Studies Encyclopedia, Classics of
Philosophy: The Twentieth Century, and Terra Nova Books’ Writing on Air. He
also has been published in BioScience, Humanitas, Teaching Ethics,
Environmental Ethics, Interdisciplinary Humanities, Ethics and the Environment,
Encyclia, Journal of the Utah
Academy
2006 Monday • NEW! 4
week Photography Course - Mondays (7-8:30pm) - Center Space. Starts Feb 13th!
Join Terry Marasco, Fine Art Nature Photographer, for Monday evening drop-in
courses (beginner to intermediate everyday user) on photography with focus on
the following: Developing your personal style, Manipulating light to achieve
your personal style, Composition & Equipment discussion - which way to go?
You will need a digital or 35ml SLR camera. If digital, please bring your
cardreader to download pics for immediate review. If 35ml, have your printed
developed for the next class. This class is offered for four Mondays ONLY – so
don’t miss your chance!
2009 Legislature: Ground Zero As Common Ground squares off against
Sacred Ground, both sides allege ulterior motives. By Eric S. Peterson Salt
Lake City weekly The Utah Legislature has seen its fair share of bills meant to
provide equality and protection for the state’s queer and transgender
community. That is to say, at least a committee or two got to see these bills,
before shuffling them to the bottom of the agenda, never to let them rise
again. The bills had roundly been defeated, mostly by being ignored. This year,
a package of bills establishing legal protections for Utah´s LGBT community is
far from being brushed aside; it is actually causing political waves. While the
bills are supported by Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., they´ve still
encountered tremendous pushback from legislators and conservative groups. Known
as the “Common Ground Initiative” by gay-rights group Equality Utah, the bills
have pushed the conservative Sutherland Institute and other groups to set their
own proposals in reaction. Sutherland has tagged it “Sacred Ground.” Proponents
include the Constitutional Defense of Marriage group and its Common Sense
agenda. The groups have gone on the offensive, claiming the Common Ground
Initiative is an elaborate ploy designed to legalize gay marriage in Utah. With
both sides pushing hard with ad blitzes, lobbying, rallies and protests—the
rhetoric in the debate is heating up. Both sides allege deceptive mudslinging
and demand to know each other´s real agenda: Basic legal protections or
redefining marriage? Equality or alienation? Equalit y Utah launched the Common
Ground Initiative after the passage of California’s Proposition 8 in reference
to an LDS Church statement that expressed support for basic protections—so long
as they didn’t interfere with traditional marriage. It contains a package of
bills offering employment and housing protection, partnership benefits and
probate rights. Of the six bills, two have already been sunk. A measure
sponsored by Sen. Scott McCoy, D-Salt Lake City, would have allowed for nontraditional
financial dependents to sue in wrongful death cases. It never cleared
committee. Last week, Sen. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake City, yanked her own
resolution—which would have allowed a public referendum on amending Utah’s
traditional marriage amendment to the state Constitution. While Common Ground
advocates have always maintained their push for basic protection has nothing to
do with marriage, their foes disagree. In an interview prior to Biskupski
dropping her measure, Jeff Reynolds, spokesman for the Sutherland Institute,
pointed to it as evidence of Common Ground’s ulterior motives. “Amendment 3 is
safe, is what they’re telling the public,” Reynolds says. “If you’re not
opposed to it, why are you messing with it?” Despite the fact that the
resolution was removed from the bill package, Reynolds worries that
collectively, the bills will create multiple legal avenues by which a court
could determine that since LGBT individuals are granted rights similar to
straight couples, they should also be able to marry. “It’s clear with Equality
Utah, what their ultimate goal is,” Reynolds says. He points out similar bills
were referenced by the Supreme Courts of California, Massachusetts and Vermont
when same-sex marriage was legalized in those states. “By lumping all these
[bills] together and trying to put the whole turkey into the microwave all at
the same time, it’s pretty clear what [Common Ground’s] focus is.” Will
Carlson, policy director for Equality Utah, agrees the focus is clear: “Our
involvement on these issues was inspired by the fact that we have gay and trans
people who are losing their jobs and are being denied access to their partners
while in the hospital.” Carlson sees the arguments presented by the Sutherland
Institute and Defense of Marriage as disingenuous. He says of the three states
allowing same-sex marriage, none of them had traditional marriage amendments
beforehand. When California adopted one, the state stopped issuing same sex
marriage licenses. “This slippery slope argument ignores reality.” Yet Reynolds says Proposition 8 legal battles
continue in California— evidence that a state court could still rule against
the popular will of the people. “They’re trying to get Prop 8 overturned,” he
says. Carlson, however, notes that the case in California is an argument over
whether Proposition 8 could have been allowed in the first place. He notes
California law can allow minor procedural changes to its constitution by a
simple referendum like Proposition 8, but that substantive revisions need to
first go through the legislature then to the people, much like Utah’s
traditional marriage amendment. “They’re not arguing to the California Supreme
Court about same sex marriage being a fundamental right,” Carlson says. “They
are arguing that that is a big change and needed to go through a different
procedure.” Carlson simply doesn’t see any precedent set by a court to somehow
overturn an amendment to its own state constitution. He´s not the only one.
Stanley Katz, a professor in public and international affairs for Princeton´s
Woodrow Wilson School sees the situation as pretty clearcut. "You can´t
have an unconstitutional constitutional amendment; that´s a contradiction in
terms," Katz says. "The highest authority in America is popular
sovereignty. And this norm [the amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil
unions] has been authorized, for better or worse, by the people of Utah."
Even for states without amendments that ban marriage for gays and lesbians like
Utah has, Carlson says, evidence doesn’t show that states with legal
protections for gays and lesbians have slipped down the slope to gay marriage,
citing the examples of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. If the
argument for changing the Constitution is abstracted, Carlson proposes, then
there is an underlying rationale for conservatives opposing the Common Ground
Initiative. “The undertone of what they’re saying is that if we stop
discrimination against gay and trans individuals, we’ll have to treat them as
equal people,” Carlson says. “Their message points about marriage are really
points about what are we going to do with people we think are different.”
Ultimately Reynolds, of the Sutherland Institute, recognizes that for a court
in Utah to overturn its own amendment would require a judge to act counter to
the political beliefs of most Utahns. “Judges have a pretty good feel for the
[political] climate,” he says. “But again, why even get to that point?” “Our
involvement on these issues was inspired by the fact that we have gay and trans
people who are losing their jobs and are being denied access to their partners
while in the hospital.” Will carlson, policy director for Equality Utah
2010 Unwilling to be silenced Published: Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010
12:00 a.m. MST Eric Ethington and Tala Chebib and other supporters of the Salt
Lake Valley LGBT community wear symbolic gags during a sit-in at the Utah State
Capitol in Salt Lake City on Friday afternoon. The group was protesting a
warning issued by Utah Senate President Michael Waddoups to the LGBT community
last week that "offensive activities in a public setting" would
impact the direction of future gay-rights legislation.
2016 Harry Cassidy Fisher, 28, beloved son, brother and friend, ended his life on Feb. 13,
2016. Harry was born at home in Salt Lake City on March 5, 1987. He grew up in Orem, Utah, attended Orem High School, and most recently lived in Draper, Utah. Harry attended Brigham Young University as a history major, and he worked for Ancestry.com for several years. Harry is survived by his parents, Claire Fisher and Paul (Diana M.) Fisher; siblings, Heather Fisher, Sarah (Jacob) Clark, Fernando, Diana E., Aldrin, and Ingram Fisher; aunts, Cathie and Marla; his uncle, Lou; and nieces, Dezirae and Kiara. Harry will always be remembered for his intelligence and clever sense of humor. He valued his college education and worked diligently to maintain a 3.97 GPA. Harry served an honorable mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Rochester, New York, from 2006-2008, and enjoyed his most recent calling as a Gospel Doctrine teacher. Harry loved the Rochester area and later returned to live there to write a book. He was a talented writer and had an affinity for reading and writing science fiction and fantasy literature. Harry recently identified himself as gay and always modeled unconditional love and acceptance of all people. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 E. 800 N. in Orem. The family will be greeting friends and relatives from 10:00-11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to suicide prevention or LGBT support organizations, such as Hope 4 Utah (www.hope4utah.com), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.afsp.org) and the Utah Pride Center (www.utahpridecenter.org).For help recognizing suicidal behaviors, please visit www.utahsuicideprevention.org, and seek support by contacting a mental health professional or calling 1-800-273-TALK.
2016 Harry Cassidy Fisher, 28, beloved son, brother and friend, ended his life on Feb. 13,
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