This Day In Gay Utah History February 17th

17 February

1910 CHANGES IN UTAH LAWS ADVOCATED  Something New in Criminology Planned for the Next Legislature MOVEMENT TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT Efforts to Prevent Hereditary Criminal Instincts  Also Proposed Lawyers and criminologists of Salt Lake City are already advocating three measures dealing with the disposal of criminals that will they say be introduced at the next session of the Utah legislature next year. Two of these bills are designed to authorize surgical operations to prevent propagation by habitual criminals and by men convicted of crimes against nature respectively. The third is for the abolition of capital punishment substituting therefore life imprisonment at hard labor the profits accruing from such to go to the widow or other dependents of the murdered man.  No state in the union has such a law as one of those proposed but it is stated that a number of legislatures will introduce such bills at their next session and it iis believed that in a majority of cases the bills in some form will be passed. Utah is the only state in the union that has a written law the so called unwritten law in other states This law written or unwritten that has freed hundreds of men whose homes have been despoiled. Now Utah promises to lead in another law. “If the legislature was in session at the present time and. this bill with two cases' now before the public in this city were introduced there is no question in my mind that it would pass,” said one advocate of this bill this morning.  He referred to the case of one man who is charged with incest and another who is charged with sodomy.  Dr T. B. Beatty secretary of the state board of health has pronounced views on the wisdom of the passage of one of the proposed measures by the next legislature and stated that he would go before the members of the next state lawmaking body and urge the passage of such a bill. “It is high time said Dr Beatty that the states of the union took some action to prevent reproduction by habitual criminals and to prevent a repetition of such heinous crimes as incest sodomy and rape by men once convicted of such crimes.” “Debt to Society”  The men and women of this state and every other state in the union owe it to themselves and to their children to take any step that may be deemed necessary to put a stop to such crimes.  No false modesty should stand in the way of the passage of such a law.  I shall certainly advocate for the passage of such a law at the next session of the Utah legislature. A well known jurist who spent four years in this city as a criminal judge during which time he sentenced a number of men to the state prison for various crimes is equally pronounced in his views. “At any time that such a bill as proposed by Dr Beatty is introduced I shall certainly lend all my aid to its passage.  Some time ago I sentenced a man to the state prison for twenty years for outraging a little girl.  The allowed sentence was the extreme penalty allowed under the law.  What Judge Regretted- I am frank to say that I regretted that the law did not permit me impose the death penalty and then to have the opportunity of witnessing its execution Salt Lake Telegram

  

1923  Utah amends its sodomy law to outlaw oral sex and to increase the penalty to 3-20 years. Laws of Utah 1923, ch. 13, In 1923, nearly a decade after the Johnson decision that fellatio was not illegal under the sodomy law, the legislature acted. The statute broadened the definition to outlaw "sodomy or any other detestable and abominable crime against nature" that was committed "with either the sexual organs or the mouth." The penalty also was raised to 3-20 years from the 5-year maximum.

1984-Women Aware and U of U LGSU held a joint social gathering at 20 Jacob Rue in SLC UT

1985- Wyatt Bishop died of AIDS in North Carolina age 30 of Pneumonia [AIDS related] and was a former employee of the Sun Tavern in SLC.

1988 Wednesday John Reeves confirmed with the YMCA of SLC UT the rental of Camp Rogers in Kamas UT for Beyond Stonewall on the weekend of July 30th. “John Reeves is really excited about the retreat and is doing such a wonderful job. He’s getting Mike Buck to be our secretary treasurer. I budgeted $150 after paying my bills to put down as a deposit for the camp.” [1988 Journal of Ben Williams]

1989 Friday 2 BEGIN 1-15 YEAR TERMS IN ROBBERY, KILLING  Two Salt Lake men who robbed and fatally beat another man last spring in Jordan Park have begun serving prison terms. Salesi Fatafehi Tonga, 20, and Feke Latu, 18, were sentenced this month by 3rd District Judge Richard Moffat to two concurrent one-to-15-year terms in Utah State Prison. Both men, originally charged with second-degree murder, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the April 7, 1988, death of Norbert Begay, whose body was found by children playing in Jordan Park, 10th S. Ninth West. The men also pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery for stealing the victim's radio. Begay was beaten unconscious and died of subsequent asphyxiation. Two men charged with the beating death of a Salt Lake man last spring have pleaded guilty to reduced charges. Feke Latu, 18, and Salesi Fatafehi Tonga, 20, both of Salt Lake City, admitted Wednesday that they beat and robbed Norbert Begay, 22, in Jordan Park, 1000 S. Ninth West. Two children playing in the park found Begay's body the afternoon of April 8. An autopsy determined Begay had been beaten unconscious and died of asphyxiation. Originally charged with second-degree murder, a first-degree felony, Latu and Tonga pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a second-degree felony. They also pleaded guilty as charged to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. Third District Judge Richard Moffat ordered the two men to undergo a 90-day mental evaluation at Utah State Prison before sentencing, which is scheduled Feb. 3.

1990 Saturday, MILLS CRENSHAW STAYING AT KTKK RADIO TO DO 2-MAN MORNING SHOW WITH REDBURN Although he considered moving on, Mills Crenshaw will stay at radio station KTKK (alias "K-Talk," AM-630). The mid-morning talk show host came close to leaving to take a job in Washington, D.C., but he has now decided to team up with regular morning host Joe Redburn for a two-man show. According to Redburn, KTTK management believes two-man morning shows are a radio trend of the future for both talk and music formatted radio stations. The Redburn-Crenshaw show airs weekday mornings from 6-10 and provides a balance of sorts, with the conservative views of Crenshaw vs. the liberal views of Redburn. (Deseret News)

1991-Officials at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg Virginia began an investigation of sociology professor Vernon Edmonds after reports that he told sexist, racist, and anti-Gay jokes in class. He admitted to only the anti-Gay jokes.

1992 -James Gordon Cummings, age 33, died of an HIV-related malady in Salt Lake City.

1994 17 February 1994 BOY SCOUT SEX CRIMES  02/17/94  Category: Local Page: B2  Keywords: UT, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Criminals, Crimes  BOY SCOUT AIDE GETS 6 YEARS TO LIFE FOR ABUSE  Byline: By Tom Quinn SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE  OGDEN -- The former assistant to the leader of a Boy Scout troop who admitted to abusing at least 16 boys was sentenced Wednesday for sexual molestation.   Robert Michael Tubbs, 42, Slaterville, was given a prison term of 6 years to life by retired 2nd District Judge Ronald Hyde, who was sitting in for Judge Michael Glasmann.    In addition, Tubbs was ordered to pay therapy costs for victims, which will be determined at a later date.    Tubbs pleaded guilty Jan. 12 in 2nd District Court to first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child.    In return for his guilty plea, a first-degree felony charge of sodomy on a child was dropped.   Tubbs was immediately taken into custody by bailiffs Wednesday and will be sent to the Utah State Prison this week. Because he pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse, sentencing guidelines require he receive a 3-, 6- or 9-year minimum mandatory sentence. Tubbs' attorney, Kevin Richards, said his client ``recognizes what he has done is wrong and is crying out for help.''  The crimes took place between June 1991 and August 1992.    Tubbs told police he had molested boys from his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward at his home and once on a camping trip.    Weber County sheriff's Det. James Hansen was contacted in May 1993, when a Mormon bishop reported he received a letter from a boy saying he had been molested by Tubbs. When questioned about the incident, Tubbs gave deputies the names of 16 boys he had molested. He also said he had been molesting boys since he was a Boy Scout in the early 1970s. Tubbs worked with Scouts in attaining the Order of the Arrow, which studies and replicates American Indian skills, dress and culture, Hansen said.  One of Tubbs' ploys was to have boys come to his home for ``fittings'' of American Indian outfits. He would then urge them to strip to ``get a proper fit'' and then molest them, Hansen said.  Tubbs' became an assistant to the Scout leader in 1985 according Richard Walker, national spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America, in Irvine, Texas. A Boy Scouts of America document lists Tubbs as his ward's ``varsity coach.'' He also was on the Boy Scout's Weber View District Committee.  Tubbs was stripped of his Scout membership after an earlier allegation of sexual abuse was made by a boy in 1990. Tubbs was ordered never to take part in scouting activities again and told to receive counseling by scouting officials.    Criminal charges were not filed in that incident for lack of evidence. Hansen said Tubbs told him that once he was banned from his Slaterville ward, he moved his activities to a ward in adjoining Harrisville and continued to advise boys in the Order of the Arrow, even though he had been barred from doing so. It was a Harrisville scout's accusation in May that led to the felony charges being filed against Tubbs in September. rapper Trail Boy Scouts chief executive Harvey Mortensen said his office had not conducted an investigation of Tubbs after the first accusations of sexual misconduct, but had ``instantly turned the information over to the police -- as was the proper and legal thing to do.''  He said the Boy Scouts have a number of rules pertaining to adult Scout leaders that minimize the chance of sex abuse, and that any deviation from them result in the adult's dismissal from scouting. The name of the person is also placed in a national file so that the individual cannot re-enter scouting at a later date or in some other place.   Mortensen says the Boy Scouts also have a course taken by all Scouts that provides information and warnings about what to do if approached by pedophiles.

Randy Shilts

1994-Randy Shilts, author of "The Mayor of Castro Street" and "And the Band Played On" died of complications from AIDS.

1995- Friday William (Bill) Keith Lewis of Vernal, 37, in Salt Lake City  from AIDS.  Survived by wife, Sherry; and children,

 2003 I would like to invite all of you to The Trapp this Monday 4-7p.m. to celebrate 30 years in the bar business for, I should have my head examined, me.  A free buffet and lots of fun. The Mayor has been invited.   Thank all of you for supporting my bars and this great Utah gay community, it is the best. Joe Redburn aka: Captain Redeye 2 Ahoy Mates!...Guard your ship well...or prepare to be boarded! I'll swash my buckle and steal all the Family Jewels! 

17 February 2005 Western Regional LGBTQIA College Conference February 17-21, 2005  Theme:  Putting the Puzzle Together: Connecting Communities & Identities  For more information about the Conference please go to www.comeoutwest.org.  Deadline for registering for the Conference, is Friday February 4th.  Please Notify us By Friday February 4^th to register for he conference.  We will need your full name and a deposit of $50 by Wednesday February 9th to hold your place.  The availability will be on a  first come first serve basis.  Join students from the University of Utah and Weber State University as we travel to University of California Davis.  We will be driving out on February 17th, and returning on February 21st.  The LGBT resource Center will be providing letter for your professors to excuse you from class if you choose to use the letter.  The conference will cost $200, but LGSU has agree to sponsor a number of students to go to the conference.  These sponsorship will be limited, as a first come first serve basis.  The sponsorships will cover $75-$100 of the cost of the trip.  

Ski and Swim

2006 Friday Quac Presidents Ski & Swim Weekend Feb 17-20 2006 IMPORTANT NOTES President’s Day Weekend is the biggest ski weekend in Utah! You are strongly encouraged to book flights, hotel rooms and car rentals NOW!!!! No refunds will be given. You will find under the "Lodging and Transportation" section, a list of local hotels, their locations and special rates if we were able to secure them. Even though we hope to accommodate all those who want hosted housing, space will be allocated on a first-received, first-served basis. Due to multiple and dispersed event locations, you are responsible for your own transportation. Book your flight, hotel and car now!! You can always cancel your reservations or possibly change them over to those waffling friends who always end up coming. Also, because many venues are weather dependent, please continue to check this web site for updates and final event locations! SUMMARY ORDER OF EVENTS: Friday Night: Registration and Party, Clubbing afterwards Saturday Morning: Skiing, Alternative events Saturday Afternoon: Ice Skating Saturday Night: Hosted Dinners, Dance Club Sunday Morning: Swim Meet Sunday evening: Snowshoeing, Coffee & Dessert Closing Social afterwards EVENT INFORMATION Registration and Party From 7 - 10pm, we will be meeting at Club Sound where we will have a large private room for registration and the mix-and-mingle. Pick up your information packets, munch on some finger food, indulge in a cash bar, and meet your fellow swimmers. Afterwards, you will have access to dancing and entertainment at the club for as long you want to stay and party with the locals. Club included in your registration fee. Club Sound is located at 579 West 200 S. Skiing The skiing venue will be at Solitude Ski Resort up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It has a wide range of terrain for all levels of skiers. It also has options for snow boarders and x-country skiers. The resort is about a 40-minute commute from downtown. There are numerous shuttles from the downtown and outlying areas. There are also many outlets that rent skis and other equipment. Carpool 1: Fairmont Acquatic Center 1044 E Sugarmont Dr. at 7:30am  Carpool 2: Park and Ride lot at mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon at 8:00am  Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth at Moonbeam Center, Solitude Ski Resort, located in Parking Lot 1 (Entry 1) starting at 9:15. Discount tickets can also be purchased same day or ahead of time at Canyon Sports 1844 East Fort Union Blvd. Lunch will be at the Last Chance Mining Camp at the base of the resort at 12noon. Skis or other equipment can be rented at the resort at the Moonbeam Center, or at Canyon Sports. Skiing is a pay-as-you-go event. You are responsible for all costs associated with your day on the slopes! We are not responsible for snow or weather-related conditions. Details on meeting times to be announced. Please continue to check web site! Skiing is an inherently risky endeavor. You are skiing at your own risk. Ice Skating We have rented the Gallivan Center Ice Rink on Saturday afternoon from 2:15 until 4:15. The ice rink is downtown and within walking distance of many of the hotels. This will be a private skating party open to QUAC Ski & Swim participants as well as our local GLBT community and its supporters. The highlight of the event will be “QUACAPADES!”. You may have seen them in the water, but until you see them on ice, you haven't seen our talented QUAC “dragsters”. Our team of “exhibitionists” is well-known throughout the area and perform at numerous local charities and functions. They are quite literally booked throughout the year. They are sure to delight! There is an additional $12 fee for the ice skating event which includes your skate rentals. There will be no refunds for weather-related cancellations. Ice skating is an inherently risky endeavor. You are skating at your own risk. Waivers will be required at the door. NOTE: Skiers will have to leave the mountain early to participate in the ice skating event. Hosted Dinners Hosted dinners will be provided on Saturday night. Cocktails and socializing will begin around 7:30. Dinner times will vary but service should begin around 8:30. Meet in groups of 3 to 30 for dinner, cocktails and socializing. Arrangements are made on an individual basis, not as a team or group. Please enjoy the night to get to know other swimmers before the meet. Dinners will be scattered throughout the city. You will be given the name, address, directions, a map and the phone number of your host at the registration party. Some travel arrangements MAY be made through your host. Our hosts will do everything within reason to accommodate you. You must fill-out FORM D if you want to attend a hosted dinner. HOSTED DINNER COURTESY POLICY: We Utahans are fun, generous and hospitable. Our hosts will be going out of their way to provide cocktails and food for their guests. Please INFORM US in advance of any changes (see below for contacting the Ski & Swim Committee). Please CALL your host for emergency cancellations or for bringing an unregistered guest (you will be given contact information at registration). Our hosts will attempt to accommodate your changes; however please attend the dinner to which you are assigned!! Host gifts are appreciated but not required. Saturday Club Nite Party until late (or at least as late as you can in Utah!) at at The Trapp Door, all evening, address is 615 West 100 South. Admission is included with your registration fee. Swim Meet The swim meet will be ALL RELAYS in a short-course-yards pool. The meet will be held at Fairmont Aquatic Center, 1044 E. Sugarmont Dr., Salt Lake City. The pool is approximately a ten minute drive from downtown Salt Lake. The USMS sanction number for the event is 356-002. All swimmers must be active members of their local USMS (FINA or equivalent) affiliate and provide proof of such before swimming. ALL swimmers must be at least 18 years old on the day of the meet!  Check-in and warm-ups will begin at approximately 9:30am on Sunday morning. Meet will begin at approximately at 10:30am. We hope to conclude the meet by 2:00pm. There will be at least one lane for continuous warm-up and cool-down during the meet. Electronic timing will be utilized. However, only officially sanctioned relays and eligible teams will be hand-timed as well for official records (see below). Cheerleaders will be on hand for support and encouragement, including Salt Lake's own Cybersluts! The swim meet fee is included with your Ski & Swim Weekend Registration Fee. There will be no refunds for weather-related cancellations. We're used to snow here and rarely shut down!

2009 Buttars: Gays 'greatest threat to America' He called the gay-rights movement "probably the greatest threat to America," likened gay activists to Muslim radicals and dubbed same-sex relationships "abominations." Now Sen. Chris Buttars finds himself in a familiar place: under fire amid demands he step down. Last year, the NAACP called for Buttars to resign after comments he made on the Senate floor about a complex school-funding bill, saying, "This baby is black . Author:    Rosemary Winters The Salt Lake Tribune

2009 Buttars: Radical gay movement threatens America The Associated Press : Tuesday, February 17, 2009 SALT LAKE CITY -- A Utah state senator who opposes legal rights for gay and lesbian couples says the radical gay movement is probably the greatest threat to America. Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, told documentary filmmaker and former KTVX news reporter Reed Cowan that some in the gay rights movement are similar to radical Muslims. KTVX, the ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City, posted an audio file of the copyright interview on its Web site. Buttars declined to comment to The Associated Press on Wednesday. In a blog post, Buttars wrote that Cowan promised Buttars he would be allowed to approve the interview before it was released. Cowan could not immediately be reached for comment.

2009 Utah lawmakers kill two more gay-rights bills Four down, one to go. The Utah Legislature snuffed out two more gay-rights bills Tuesday. After lengthy public hearings, House committees rejected two measures: HB288, which would have allowed same-sex couples and other unmarried pairs to adopt and foster children; and HB267, which would have protected gay and transgender Utahns from housing and employment discrimination. Two other gay-rights measures also are off the docket:... Author:    Rosemary Winters And Sheena Mcfarland The Salt Lake Tribune

2009 On Feb. 17, Salt Lake County Council Member Jenny Wilson proposes and sponsors a bill to the county Council which would amend the county Code of Ordinances by providing health-insurance benefits to the adult designees of county-government employees. Council members vote 6-3 for the bill, and it is adopted.

2009 Gay rights issue: S.L. County OKs adult-designees' benefits For nearly two decades, David Turner has watched his colleagues provide their families with health insurance. But he couldn't do the same -- not even when his partner battled prostate cancer. Why? Because his employer, Salt Lake County, wouldn't offer benefits to same-sex partners. That's about to change. The County Council voted 6-3 on Tuesday to extend health insurance, dental coverage, extended funeral leave, life insurance and a variety of benefits to same sex couples... Jeremiah Stettler The Salt Lake Tribune

2010 Angry (at) Queers By Jesse Fruhwirth Salt Lake City weekly The unity of Utah’s LGBT community, noted in June 2009 by The Nation magazine, showed some cracks in recent weeks as a one-year truce was announced between leaders of Utah’s LGBT community and Republican leaders in the Legislature [see “Hits and Misses,” CityWeekly.net, Feb 10]. The disagreement was over the wisdom of deferring legislative debate over gay rights for one year. Online commenter FNaught suggests the divide separates those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender from those who prefer the label “queer.” You can’t trust a queer to support gay marriage, FNaught writes, because many of them believe the legal institution of marriage is corrupt and queers shouldn’t want it. “You can’t agree on strategy with people who don’t agree on what the goals are,” FNaught writes. “Of course, far-left ‘queers’ make up less than 2 percent of the GLBT community. Maybe things aren’t really that fractured.” First, there is no distinguishable “queer” community—2 percent or otherwise— that has political goals distinct from Utah’s LGBT community, so that scapegoat is bizarre. More importantly, cooperation does not require stifling debate. Shaming members of a movement for their views or methods will do more to stall—and shrink— that movement than the disagreements do themselves.

2010 Ben Williams wrote SL Tribune “Will they be a news story on the death of Dick Dotson along time AIDS Activist and partner of Donald Steward. The pair are responsible for the Horizon House for AIDS care in the early 1990's and the on going Camp Pinecliff Retreat for PWAC and their families.  You did a lengthy article on him 08/26/94  Page: D14 SLTribune.  His partner Donald Steward also known as Ruby Ridge is a charity raiser for the 3rd Friday Bingo at the 1st Baptist Church   

Evan Wilcock

2011  Former SUU Pride Club leader and founder kills self during standoff  by Michael Aaron Cedar City police say a recent breakup led former Southern Utah University Pride Club president Evan Wilcock to end his life after a 3-hour standoff with law enforcement negotiators. Cedar City police say a recent breakup led former Southern Utah University Pride Club leader and founding member Evan Wilcock to end his life after a three-hour standoff with law enforcement negotiators. Wilcock’s father called police at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday. He said Evan drove to a “secret camp spot” in Right Hand Canyon. The spot was a special place Evan once shared with a “significant other,” according to Cedar City Police Dept. Information Officer Lt. Keith Millett. Police responded and spiked Wilcock’s car as he was coming down the canyon. His car crashed into an Iron County Sheriff’s vehicle and police negotiators surrounded Wilcock’s car. Police also barricaded three city blocks near the incident. Wilcock’s rifle went off around 10 p.m., striking him near the side of his stomach. He was taken to Valley View Medical Center where he died of his wounds. Wilcock was a former radio host on SUU’s Power 91 radio station, a “quirky waiter” and a manager at the Convergys call center in Cedar City. Last October, Iron County Today wrote a story on  the suicides of six teenage boys tormented by their peers for their homosexuality. Wilcock was quoted as saying he “honestly and truly thought he was the only gay man on the planet” as he grew up in Cedar City. “In Southern Utah there wasn’t a lot of talking about it back then … you didn’t ‘come out’ out of fear,” Wilcock told the paper. “There were no ‘out’ role models in the 80s, that I had heard of, no celebrities, or anything that I had heard of living here in Cedar City, and I really thought that I was the only one in the world, and I was terrified.” Wilcock told those struggling in high school that life doesn’t begin until after high school. “Just hang in,” Wilcock said. “It does get better,” Wilcock was quoted as saying. “Sure wish he had taken his own advice,” Carin Batcho-Miller wrote on the wall of a Facebook memorial page‘s set up for friends and family to share stories and their grief of his passing. “You are loved by so many. From our days at North Elementary, ” wrote Mindy Benson, “to college days where you taught us all to be more accepting, campaigned for student rights, started the gender blender, which you so brilliantly performed at, wore your tiara in the parade, and basically ruled student life at college! You walked away with a T-bird Award to prove it. You were a favorite of everybody and loved by so many.” Wilcock was 40 years old at the time of his death. Benjamin King Smith, president of the SUU Queer-Straight Alliance — the new name for the SUU Pride Club, said the group had counselors from the school’s Counseling and Psychological Services available at their meeting Wednesday night after members heard of the incident. A donation account in the name of “Evan Wilcock” has been set up at Zion’s Bank, 3 S. Main Street, Cedar City, Utah 84720, to help with funeral and medical costs.

2020 Openly Gay Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigeig held a rally in Salt Lake City. Excerpts from Journal of Ben Williams "The rally was being held at the Union Event Center where the Pride Spectacular was held last year and even before we got to 4^th West there were so many cars and people walking to the event that I said to Kyle to just park in front of Mike’s place on Hodges Lane.  It was a cold clear night and I was not relishing walking all the way over the Event Center so I thought why not ask Mike to take us there, which he did. The line was already down 3^rd North to 4^th West packed with people and we slowly moved a few steps at a time. At one point this person with a bullhorn was harassing the people in line saying voting for Buttigieg is voting for a racist. That pissed me off and I instinct yelled “Go to hell.”  There at the front entrance was this same gal with the bullhorn who was further agitating the crowd, accusing this tiny woman of assaulting her, which I witnessed that she hadn’t, but was just playing for sympathy from the crowd. She then started chanting “Black Lives Matter” over and over. She was a gathering of 1 with a bullhorn. After standing out in the cold night air we finally made it inside where it was warm and the place was already packed and yet I knew there were still a huge line of people behind us waiting to come in. The only person I saw there I knew was Angela Snow who comes to my history lectures and we briefly talked.  Once inside Kyle wanted me to take some pictures of him holding a “Mayor Pete 2020” sign.  Eventually we made it up to the upper balcony for a better view of the stage. I saw on my cell phone that Michael Aaron had left me another message about writing a column “Hey Ben, are you not getting my emails? I haven’t seen a column from you for this or last issues. Are we okay?”.  I just responded “taking a break”. We made it inside at about 7:30 but it was after 8:30 that Pete Buttigieg took to the stage after Mayor Erin Mendenhall announced her endorsement of him. We were right next to the railing so we had a pretty good view but after about 15 minutes Kyle wanted to leave. We agreed with all that he was saying but it was just a political speech to fire up his base so we left about 9. It was nice to hear from someone running for president who couldn’t remember where they were when Kennedy was shot. As long as it isn't Trump I respect everyone's choice for a presidential candidate even if they are wrong. I am glad I went and witnessed the political rally and I told Kyle that the first political rally I went to was in 1967 when Jerry Smith and I went to see George Wallace who was campaigning for the presidency. At the time we sat in the front row and even shook Wallace’s hand. I said to Kyle that going to this rally kind of atones for me going to that one in my youth.