This Day In Gay Utah History February 19th

19 February 

1923-The God of Vengeance, a play with lesbian characters, opened at the Apollo Theatre in New York after playing smaller theaters in order to accommodate larger audiences.

1963 Betty Friedan wrote “The Feminine Mystique” the Uncle Tom’s Cabin for the Women’s movement. Book would ignite The Women’s Liberation Movement. The Feminine Mystique brought to light the lack of fulfillment in many women's lives, which was generally kept hidden. According to The New York Times obituary of Friedan in 2006, it “ignited the contemporary women's movement in 1963 and as a result permanently transformed the social fabric of the United States and countries around the world” and “is widely regarded as one of the most influential nonfiction books of the 20th century

1965 Democrat Governor Calvin Rampton signed Utah's first Civil Rights Law

1984- Lesbian Mom's Group met at 20 Jacob Rue in SLC UT meet every Sunday at noon.

1987- AS IS, the acclaimed Broadway drama about AIDS is performed at Salt Lake's Theater 138 with actor Mike Picardi who became later chair of Utah Stonewall Democrats..

1992  Stephen Matthew Gaskey, age 33,  died of AIDS.  won the battle.  

1995 Joe Panek died in Salt Lake City of AIDS DEATH: JOSEPH "JOE" DANNY PANEK

Joe Panek passed to the other side February 19, 1995, at his home in Salt Lake City of a PML brain  tumor. He was born June 22, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Walter and Mary Lee Panek. Joe was reared and educated in the Salt Lake area, graduating from Jordan High School in 1971. He attended a trade school in Denver and worked as an auto mechanic much of his life, most recently for Chevron and Texaco. Joe married Kathy Aerts in September 1976, later divorced. They had two children, a son, Josh, and daughter, Jamie. Joe loved country music and dancing. He founded and directed the "LakeLiners", a performing line-dance group. Many close friends were made along the way and he endeared students
with his wit and enthusiasm as a teacher. Joe enjoyed remodeling and made his home a showplace. He shared its warmth and beauty with friends and family, especially at Christmas. He is survived by his children; his mother, Mary; three brothers and five sisters, Ed, Claude, David, Marie, Bonnie, Linda, Claudia and Mary Louise. He also leaves behind his friend and companion, Ron Johnson, and their most t

Ron Johnson

reasured friend, Kathleen Revell. He was preceded in death by his father. Many thanks to the staff of Clinic 1 at the U of U Medical Center for their concern and care for Joe over the years. Thanks also, to everyone at the U.A.F. for compassion and services, especially Sally, whom he dearly loved. We appreciate his home care nurse, Lorrie, his magnificent aide, Edda, and volunteer helper, Jackie. Special thanks to his friend and therapist, Mark, and his good friends Lanny, Dell, Trevor, Dee, J.J., Connie, Mary and to shopper extraordinaire, Mrs. J. To his other friends, too numerous to mention: Joe loved you all...but you knew that already! In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made for the funeral expenses of Joe. They should be sent to the Salt Lake Memorial Mausoleum and Mortuary, 1001 East 11th Avenue. Cryptside services will be held there at 12 noon on February 23rd. Plant a flower in your garden at home to remember Joe.

• Ron Johnson wrote: Ben- Don't know if you're keeping records of everyone who died of AIDS in Utah.  I noticed that you listed "Notable fatalities:" for each year. My life-partner, Joe Panek, died of an AIDS related brain tumor on February 19, 1995. He was an active member (and board member) in the UGRA for years and together we had co-founded the country line-dance group "The LakeLiners" early in 1993 (it was the successor dance group to the UGRA's "Golden Spurs"). The LakeLiners survived for another two years after his passing and even performed at his funeral. Quite an unusual (and beautiful) tribute.  Thanks again for all you do. You've become a "gem" in our community! Ron 
• Ben Williams Wrote:Yes I am trying to keep a record of those we have lost in our community. Thank you for informing me. Ben

1996-Conservative commentator Pat Buchanan announced that if he were elected president he would not hire openly Gay people.

Laura M Gray

1999 Daily Utah Chronicle Gay Rights Are Civil Liberties, According to  Speakers at U Jacob Parkinson Chronicle News Writer The third wave of  the civil rights movement is here. This was the message Utah State Bar's Alternative Dispute Resolution Chair Laura Milliken Gray and Gay Utah Democratic Leader David Nelson presented at the Hinckley Institute of Politics Thursday. Nearly 50 students attended the discussion titled "Gay and Lesbian Rights." At the turn of

David Nelson 

the century, women fought for  their civil liberties. African Americans, along with other minorities  ,were the second civil rights wave in the sixties. Is it safe to refer to  this as the third wave? director of the Hinckley Institute Ted Wilson asked. "Yes, that is exactly the way I see it, and it is a movement  that is gaining speed," Gray said. Gray is a graduate of the University of Utah, where she earned a bachelor's and law degrees. It was during her college years that she came out of the closet. After she received her law degree, she decided she would fight for gay rights. Gray has spent hours and out of the courtroom fighting for equal and fair treatment. "The gay community is deprived of rights everyone else in this community has," Gray said. Gray has fought for equal rights on insurance, marriage, work opportunity, family adoption, custody and harassment. "Finding a job after college was difficult. Many law firms wouldn't hire me because I was a lesbian. Now that I am my own boss it doesn't matter," Gray said. She is one of a team of lawyers across the nation working with the East High Gay-Straight Alliance in a lawsuit against the Salt Lake City School Board. Because of Gay-Straight Alliance, the school board made a decision to eliminate all non-academic clubs in the school district. "These kids are very courageous. I didn't know I was gay in high school, but I think if I did I wouldn't have been open about it. It is a tough time. Many teenagers contemplate suicide, without the added stress of being a social outcast," Gray said. "The Matthew Shepard death is an example of how much hate some people have," Gray said. Shepard is the University of Wyoming student who was beaten and left to die because of his sexual orientation. "Males, and to a lesser extent females, live in fear for things like holding their partner's hand in public," Gray said. To protect gay and lesbian people, Gray wants to "use existing laws and add the clause ‘sexual orientation' to the end of it," Gray said. This would change laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin to include sexual orientation. Similar laws that prohibit discrimination because of age or disability would also have the clause ‘sexual orientation' added in them, Gray said. Nelson focused on the statistics of gay voters. The population of gay people who vote is larger than the Latino, Jewish and Asian American vote, Nelson said. "This data has helped to change the way  candidates try to attract the gay vote," Nelson said. "Overall, the number of gay voters is growing. The growth is mostly concentrated in areas like Salt Lake City. My belief is that these merging demographics will change the way politics are in Utah," Nelson said. Nelson was a key figure in support of the hate crime legislation that was defeated at the state capitol earlier this month. Openly gay Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake, was scheduled to speak at the discussion but was unable to because of her work at the Legislature. "We are always going to have prejudice. Maybe in five to 10 years we can better the situation. I'm happy to be a small part of it," Gray said. "Speaking publicly to get the word out that we are normal people: That's the only path to affectively change the way gay people are seen."

• 1999 Deseret News Education may be best way to protect gays, lawyer says S.L.  attorney working to change minds By Marjorie Cortez Deseret News staff writer The fight for gay and lesbian rights in Utah is gaining momentum in public policy and court challenges, but educating people about homosexuality may be more important, a Salt Lake attorney says. The comments came from Salt Lake attorney Laura M. Gray, who spoke Thursday at the Hinckley Institute of Politics. Speaking in public helps break down stereotypes and misconceptions about gays and lesbians, Gray said. Likewise, getting to know people as people can help erase fears or misunderstandings about homosexuality. Gray's lesbian partner comes from a large, devout Mormon family. When they recently took a family portrait, Gray and her partner were smack dab in the middle of the photograph. "To me, that's educating people. They know me. They love me and I love them, too. "That's probably more important than changing a law," Gray said. Gray is among a team of attorneys representing high school students Ivy Fox and Keisha Barnes, who seek to reinstate all clubs in the Salt Lake City School District. In 1996, the school board voted to eliminate all clubs not tied to the school curriculum, including the East High School  Gay-Straight Alliance, cultural and political clubs. The lawsuit is pending in federal court. The plaintiffs and other members of the gay-straight alliance are "amazingly courageous. These kids are being harassed on a daily basis." The fight for gay rights has been played out in a number of Utah venues in recent years. In January, the Board of Child and Family Services approved a policy limiting the adoptions of children in state custody to legally married couples and single parents. Most recently, a legislative committee killed a "hate crimes" bill. Opponents argued that the proposed law would extend special protections to gays and lesbians. David Nelson, a gay Utah Democrat, said the law now includes enhanced criminal penalties for people who commit crimes against law enforcement and in some circumstances, children. "We ought to do it for hate crimes because the ordinary penalties are not working," he said.

19 Feb 2000    Page: A1 Amendments To Adoption Bills Axed; Without them, unmarried couples not allowed to adopt Amendments To Adoption Bills Get Axed BY HILARY GROUTAGE   THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Discussion over what makes a couple fit to adopt children in Utah raged in dual debate Friday before lawmakers concluded that the answer is a married man and woman. In a House committee and on the Senate floor, Rep. Nora Stephens and Sen. Howard Nielson sold their fellow legislators versions of two bills that exclude unmarried, single adults who live together from adopting -- despite earlier agreeing to make a provision for them in the law. "Adopting a child is not a right," said Stephens, R-Sunset. "The state has compelling interest and responsibilities to protect children. The issue is not what adults want.''  Debate over the adoption bills started even before they were drafted. After hearing rumblings about them, Rep. Mary Carlson, D-Salt Lake City, held a news conference in January to voice opposition. Sponsors Stephens and Nielson, R-Provo, seemed willing to compromise earlier this week. They met with House leadership, attorneys and the state's only openly Gay lawmaker and agreed to amend the nearly identical bills, Senate Bill 63 and House Bill 103. The amendments would have allowed single, unrelated adults who cohabitate to adopt children under two circumstances: if the child was a grandchild, niece or nephew, and if there were "clear and convincing" evidence of a previous relationship between the adopting adult and the child. Single adults who live alone still are allowed to adopt. Nielson's bill glided unanimously, amendments intact, through the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. But on Friday, the amendments were gone when the bill passed out of the Senate 23-4. Nielson said he sent the bill to the Senate without the amendments because"neither party was happy" about them. He also said he found convincing a legal argument that homosexuals would use the provisions to argue for the right to marry, as happened in Vermont. "We want to make it clear that we do not approve of homosexual marriage in this state," said Nielson during debate Friday. Stephens' bill appeared minus the amendments on Thursday in the House Judiciary Committee; it passed in that form on Friday, 8 to 2. "We had a tentative agreement, but we were not fully informed about the implications of the amendments,'' Stephens said. If both measures receive final approval by the House and Senate, the governor still must sign them into law. The bills are designed to codify an adoption rule already approved by the Board of Trustees of the state Division of Child and Family Services. The rule, which applies only to children in state custody, prompted a lawsuit from the Utah Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the child advocacy group Utah Children. The legislative action goes even further and extends the restrictions to private adoptions. After Friday's events, ACLU Executive Director Carol Gnade said the "unnecessary and mean-spirited legislation will likely draw legal challenges for years to come.'' Attorney Laura Milliken Gray, who testified in favor of the amendments and against the bill on Friday, said Utah's Constitution is different from Vermont's and Gays would never be allowed to marry under Utah law. "The chances of that occurring here are slim to none. And none just left town,'' Milliken Gray told lawmakers and onlookers in the packed committee room. Rather, Milliken Gray said, the amendments would give children the right to a parent's partner's insurance benefits and assets, just as other children have. Milliken Gray said she has completed several adoptions for same-sex couples so that in the event of a parent's death, the children would not become orphans. One family, the Jensen-Wysingers, attended all the committee hearings. On Wednesday, 9-year-old Makenlie told lawmakers all about her two-mother family, her baby brother Noah and how much she loved them.    "These children are going to stay in these homes whether you like it or not,'' Milliken Gray said Friday. "Why do you want to hurt Makenlie? Why do you want to hurt Noah?'' In the same meeting, Heidi Morrison of Springville spoke in favor of the restrictive bill and told lawmakers growing up with a lesbian mother left her with issues that lingered into adulthood.  "I'm the poster child for this bill. I don't affiliate myself with any group, I just feel obligated to speak,'' she said. At 25, married with three children, she said she is well-adjusted, but for years she felt that she and her sister were keeping their mother's sexuality "a dirty little secret.''  Stephens said she did not ask Morrison to testify. In fact, Morrison contacted her and the two had never met until moments before the committee meeting.  "What she said verifies what the bill tries to do,'' Stephens said, which is to place children in traditional, two-parent homes when possible.  Stephens said she has received an unprecedented amount of hateful mail and telephone calls regarding the bill. "I expected a lot of letters, but I've been appalled at the venomous and abusive nature of the letters I have received,'' Stephens said. Serena Carlson contributed to this story.

19 Feb 2003 The Utah Stonewall Historical Society met February 19 at Angles Cafe. Point of Business: The new Salt Lake Library approached Chad Kellar inquiring if the society would like to use one of their new rooms for meeting space.  Those in attendant agreed to have Chad contact the library about moving there for our March meeting. It was discussed whether to host a Lambda historical exhibit at the  library in conjunction with Gay Pride Month in June. Toni Palmer brought a collection of photo albums from the period 1990-1994 containing Queer Nation actions, Pride Day pictures, 1990's  first Pride Day March/Parade, Photo's from 1991 hate crime bill legislation etc. She has agreed to let these pictures be scanned and added to the archives. Ben Williams gave a presentation on Queer music from the Pansy Movement of the 1920's and 1930's. He printed the lyrics of the words as the songs were played. Songs included BD Women, Prove It On Me, Oh Joe Please Don't Go, Gay Love and more. Our Next meeting will be held March 19th at 7 p.m. Location TBA

2003 Hate-crimes legislation clears House committee    A hate-crimes bill six years in the making cleared its first legislative hurdle Tuesday, passing the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee 8-3.     House Bill 85 would modify the criminal code to enhance the penalty for crimes motivated by bias or prejudice. Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, sponsored the bill, which largely reflects failed legislation pushed by the late state Sen. Pete Suazo. The new bill clarifies the definition of "protected groups" to mean "race, color, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, or gender of any individual or group of persons." It also explicitly states that it "does not create any special rights or legal status for a particular group," said Litvack.  Opponents argued giving certain groups preferential judicial treatment flies in the face of the "all men are created equal" clause in the Declaration of Independence and that existing state law provides for enhanced penalties for crimes of malice.

  2004 LATEST ABOUT THE UTAH LEGISLATURE Subj: Stop Constitutional

Adam Bass

Discrimination! We need your help more than ever!  If you do only ONE thing during this whole year for LGBT equality then please pay attention and act on this email! The Utah State Legislature is considering amending the Utah State Constitution to discriminate against LGBT people! Despite the overwhelming opposition, we are within reach of defeating this dangerously offensive amendment. To stop it though, we will need the support of you and everyone you know!  1- Below is a list of legislators who are considered "moderate" or "fair minded" on this issue. Please look over the list. If you know one of these people - if they are close to you (i.e.: aunt, great uncle, neighbor, co-worker, friend, old boy scout leader, coach, teacher, bishop, etc.) then PLEASE contact Adam Bass  We need your help! 2 - The next thing you can do is to forward this email to EVERYONE you know. This isn't just a "gay issue" any more. We are talking about amending the Utah State Constitution. This isn't a gay issue - this is an issue of amending a part of the constitution entitled "The Declaration of Rights" to discriminate. Fair-minded individuals state-wide are against amending the constitution to specifically deny any group of people equal access to government. The legislature has already passed an anti-gay marriage bill this year (passed the Senate 1/30/04 and the House 2/18/04). To pass a constitutional amendment this session too is just showing that they are out of control and acting in fear of a non-existent problem. It is also interesting to note that Utah Law prohibits gay marriage in about three or four places - in addition to the bill they passed this session. I'm sending this to my mom who's not interested in "gay politics," so I'm not asking you to do anything I'm not doing myself.  3 - Plan to come to the capitol for part of the day when this bill is being voted on. Usually we can have about 24 hours notice on when a bill will be presented for a floor vote, and so we'll send word as soon as we know when this vote will occur. However, we need to fill the capitol to capacity to let legislators know about the many citizens this effects. This means all the gay community – including our parents, friends, families, co-workers, etc. We need EVERYONE at the capitol for this vote. There is TONS to do. Please email Adam Bass  with any questions or if you can help in any way. Thank you for all of your help. Please let us know if you have a personal or professional relationships with any of these people: Eli Anderson (Tremonton) Craig Buttars (Lewiston) Loraine Pace (Cache County) Curt Webb (Cache County) Sheryl Allen (Davis County) James Gowans (Tooele) Neal Hendrickson (Magna) Kory Holdaway (Salt Lake County) Susan Lawrence (Holladay) Peggy Wallace (West Jordan) Morgan Philpot (Midvale) Karen Morgan (Sandy) Steven Mascaro (South Jordan) Gregory Hughes (Sandy/Draper) David Hogue (Riverton/Bluffdale) Jack Seitz (Vernal) Craig Frank (Pleasant Grove) Calvin Bird (Springville) Micheal Styler (Delta) Bradley Johnson (Emery, Sevier and Sanpete Counties) Bud Bowman (Cedar City) James Evans (Rosepark/Salt Lake City) Carlene Walker (Sandy and eastward to both Cottonwood Canyons) Al Mansell (Sandy) Peter Knudson (Box Elder, Cache, Tooele Counties)  David Gladwell (Morgan, Summit, Weber Counties) Lyle Hillyard (Cache and Rich Counties) Beverly Evans (Wasatch, Daggett, Uintah, Summitt, and Duchesne Counties)

  

2004 The Herald-Journal, Logan Utah Marital discord By Arrin Brunson Students clash over marriage during rally It wasn't true love that spurred a couple, dressed in a wedding gown and tuxedo, to serve wedding cake on the Taggart Student Center patio at Utah State University on Wednesday. Instead, it was principle that caused two members of the USU College Republicans student club to lobby for support of what they call a "traditional wedding" between a man and a woman. They gave away 280 pieces of wedding cake to the first of more than 1,000 students who signed a petition opposing same-sex marriage. Tom Robins, state chairman of the Utah College Republicans and a USU student, called the event "a creative way" to gather signatures for the petition that will be sent to Utah Gov. Olene Walker. Robins dressed as the groom and Beckie Kimber, a USU political science and economics major and club member, dressed as a bride in a long, white gown. As it turns out, the idea was not only creative, it was downright controversial. Five police officers, including three in plain-clothes, were dispersed throughout the crowd. Although USU Police Lt. Steve Milne said the students on both sides of the issue stayed "under control" during the three-hour rally, tempers flared at times and some participants raised their voices and yelled curse words. "During the class change we had hundreds of people here and they mobbed the table to be able to sign the petition when they were offered the opportunity," Robins said. "People are excited to be able to support the traditional bedrock of marriage." While several individuals squared off to argue with each other in the crowd, at least one male couple responded to the controversy by kissing each other. Excitement at the outdoor event peaked, though, when supporters of same-sex marriage unplugged the sound system that was being used exclusively by the USU College Republicans. "They cut off our microphones and we started chanting 'Why squash free speech,'" Robins said. "Liberals

Cy Martz

only want free speech when they have the microphone."Cy Martz, a public relations major at USU and supporter of same-sex marriage and other gay rights, agreed that some of the actions by supporters of same-sex marriage at the rally were "inappropriate." "I don't think their mike should have been unplugged because they did reserve the space, they reserved the microphone and it is their right to protest," Martz said. "However, the homosexual community has been attacked today, and I think it would have been a sad day if we were just to sit down and be a silent minority." In spite of any objectionable behavior, Martz was supportive of the rally. "It gets us press coverage. It gets people thinking about the issue," he said. "I think it's important for protests like this to go on and anti-protests like this to go on, because if you're having to confront this issue, you might be able to come to an understanding with each other." Martz explained that the goals of the two groups aren't so far apart. "They're screaming that they're for the traditional marriage, for traditional families and I think that we're for traditional marriage as well," he said. "But I think that we should be for all types of families and all types of relationships and I think we should be supportive of those." The definition of marriage is a "hot button issue" for several reasons, including the fact that some straight people don't have the opportunity to know gay people and others won't open their minds enough to try to understand gay issues, Martz said. People are fearful of change and they're not sure what is going to happen next, he said.The debate is fueled throughout the United States by recent gay-lesbian activities including more than 2,636 same-sex marriages in the last week in San Francisco. Two judges refused Tuesday to put an immediate halt to the parade of same-sex weddings at San Francisco City Hall, ensuring that gay and lesbian couples will be able to wed until at least the end of the week, according to a front-page story in Wednesday's edition of the San Francisco Chronicle. Robins said this trend is disturbing and any impression that most people support same-sex marriage is incorrect. Californians supported traditional marriage in 2000 when they approved Proposition 22, the initiative that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. "The silent majority can be silent no longer. We need to stand up for traditional families before a court decides to dismantle what that definition is and we're just sitting on the fence," Robins said. Robins said it is important for Cache Valley residents to be aware of the programs supported by their tax dollars, referring to the activities of the USU Gay Pride Alliance club. "I believe the vast majority of students in Utah support the traditional family. However, at taxpayer-funded Utah State University, departments at the school have helped to promote and advertise the showing of such films on campus as 'Dildo Diaries,' 'Monogamous Slut' and 'Mormon Erotica,'" Robins said. The rally consisted of dialogue by members of the USU Republican club over the loudspeaker with audience members often responding with cheers or jeers. "They do not have the right to marry under their circumstances, and that's OK," USU student Mike Robins said to the audience members, many of whom stopped by on their way to class. USU student Colton Christensen paused with a group of friends to listen. Christensen said he was glad the conservative students were organized and were taking a stand for their beliefs. It irritated him when the Gay Pride Alliance celebrated last week by declaring it a sign of support by those who wore blue jeans. "If you're wearing blue jeans, it doesn't mean you're supporting anything," Christensen said. "It means you like blue jeans." Stefanie Snow, a liberal arts and sciences major at USU, also stopped to find out what the commotion was about. Snow said she supports the discussion of gay rights, but she wasn't in favor of this format. Sometimes people get a little too involved while standing on a soapbox and saying things to shock people," Snow said. "I like organized debate ... minus the passion, minus the emotion of the moment -- where people talk about the problems with logic rather than trying to impress or shock people." Juan Franco, vice president for Student Services at USU, granted the permit for the USU College Republicans to rally through the standard USU free speech policy, but said he also prefers formal debates. "But certainly it is within their right to express their opinions and the other side has the right to express their opinions," Franco said. "As long as we keep it at a professional level I think it's fine."

2005 Hate-crimes bill shot down again Republican says: "There's only one crime committed out of love, and that's mercy killing. All other crime is motivated by hate" By Rebecca Walsh The Salt Lake Tribune A crammed committee room, a barrage of e-mail and phone calls and the pleas of the man in charge of enforcing prison terms. None of it did any good. For the second time this session, conservative lawmakers have rejected legislation to enhance penalties for crimes motivated by hate. The House Law Enforcement Committee split 7-4, largely along party lines Friday, to kill House Bill 50. HB50 would repeal Utah's ineffectual 1991 hate-crimes statute and enhance penalties for crimes motivated by bias or prejudice against Utahns because of their "race, color, disability, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age or gender." The draft law also states, "this section does not create any legal status or right not already in existence in statute or common law." Disputing the recycled arguments that have killed the legislation in the past, sponsoring Rep. David

David Litvack 

Litvack, D-Salt Lake City, tried to appeal to his colleagues' sense of logic. "This bill does not punish thought. It does not punish speech. It does not create any type of new right or enhanced status of any group," Litvack said. "There's not one person in this room who is not covered." Greg Zenger argued that's not the case. He held up pro-Amendment 3 signs he posted during the 2004 election campaign that were spray- painted with swastikas. "Where is my protection?" he asked. But Board of Pardons Chairman Mike Sibbett said lawmakers have abdicated responsibility for enhancing penalties for heinous crimes to the group of people who review inmates' sentences as they come up for review. Sibbett said he has been sued for refusing to release criminals whose crimes were motivated by hate. "I've sat in judgment of those that have violated the laws this legislative body passes. Some would suggest that murder is murder. That's not so," Sibbett said. "It is beyond my comprehension why there has been such reluctance of this body over the years to pass hate-crimes legislation." Republican lawmakers rejected Sibbett's argument that all crimes are not created equal. "There's only one crime committed out of love, and that's mercy killing. All other crime is motivated by hate," said Rep. Curtis Oda, R-Clearfield. "A crime is a crime is a crime." Cedar City Rep. DeMar "Bud" Bowman was the only Republican on the panel to vote in favor of the bill. Similar legislation failed in a Senate committee last week.

•  I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who helped in the fight to pass House Bill 50. Many of you sent e-mails, called your legislator and attended the hearings on the Hill. Unfortunately, the bigots, racists and homo phobics won again this year and the bill was killed in committee. There are members on the hill that must be voted out of office if this is ever to be a reality. First and foremost is Rebecca Lockhart, who as chair of the Rules committee, sent the bill to it's certain defeat by sending it to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice committee. A committee many believe was set up just to defeat bills such as the Hate Crimes stature. There is some hope in the fact that it may be brought up in interim sessions to work the language and try again next year. But for now, the bill is dead. Again , I want to thank you all for all you did to try and make this bill succeed. Mike Picardi
• What more can be said? Utah is a backwater theocracy. When every other state has past a bill then and only then will Utah just like they did with MLK Day. And then- only when not having one has a negative impact of the state economy will one pass Ben Williams 

19 February 2005 Also, don't forget the sWerve's "Party Gras" event, Saturday the 19th,  8:00 PM - 12:00 PM at the Rose Wagner Black Box Theatre. $15.00 sliding scale pay at the door.

  

2005 Salt Lake Tribune In response to Stephen Drabner's letter (Forum, Feb. 17) regarding his friend's inner turmoils with being gay, I suggest that they rest solely on the sentence, "His church and family don't want him to be gay." Perhaps if his friend could resolve the conflict that God made him that way, with societal hatred of the homosexual, he could be happy. The only problems homosexuals have are the prejudices of bigoted heterosexuals. Perhaps this friend of his will come to learn that being gay is a blessing and not any more a curse than being heterosexual. If any religious organization tells you that you are wrong for being who you are, find one that is more enlightened. If your family cannot love you as you are, create a new loving family. Ben Williams Director, Utah Stonewall Historical Society for Gay and Lesbian Studies Salt Lake City

  

2006  Ben Williams This bill may also help Gay Youth, who are kicked out of their homes, seeking emanicipation a bit easier.  State officials seek best ways to help Lost Boys find way Polygamists' castoffs: Lawmakers and the attorney general weigh tactics By Brooke Adams The Salt Lake Tribune The letter to Ianthus Barlow's parents is straightforward. Written by an attorney, it asks his father and mother, members of a polygamous community at the Utah/Arizona border, to help support their boy. Ianthus, 15, left home over a year ago and became part of a growing tribe of so-called Lost Boys, teens who have fled or been kicked out of their homes in Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., the base of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In that December letter, attorney Roger Hoole wrote that Ianthus' parents are obligated to provide for their son, who has settled into a life of school and dates and Friday night football games. So far there has been no response to the letter, the first Hoole has sent on behalf of a Lost Boy. The question of parental responsibility arises often in regard to the Lost Boys, most recently during debate in the state Legislature on a bill that would allow teens in certain situations to seek emancipation. Referred to as the Lost Boy measure, HB30 allows teens 16 or older to petition a juvenile judge for independence based on the ability to manage their own affairs. The bill passed the House and Senate, then was returned to the House for its concurrence on an amendment. A final vote could come Monday. The bill would make it easier for abandoned, runaway or homeless teens to enroll in school, get medical care, sign an apartment lease or even stay more than eight hours in a shelter, which now requires parental consent. Juvenile judges already can make such determinations, but the statute would make that option more widely known and spell out how to go about it, said Kristin Brewer, director of the Guardian ad Litem's office. Twenty-nine states have similar laws. No one expects there to be a deluge of kids seeking emancipation. For one thing, proving self-sufficiency is a high hurdle for most teens. "It is really going to be those kids who can meet the test and are in a gap situation, like the Lost Boys," Brewer said. Rep. Lorie D. Fowlke, R-Orem and a family law attorney, said she has had just one inquiry about emancipation of a minor in the 12 years she's been in practice. Work experience: The Lost Boys, though, may be better equipped than many teens to make a go of it. Most were put to work at an early age, typically in construction trades. Many boys say their education ended, often by their own choice, around fifth grade, yet some are now doing well in public school. Estimates on the number of Lost Boys varies widely, from 400 to as many as 750 - the number state officials currently use. That count covers a decade, maybe more, and includes boys ranging in age from 13 to their early 20s. The teens end up on their own for a variety of reasons: Some were kicked out when they started watching R-rated movies, hanging out with girls, smoking cigarettes or using drugs; others left because they wanted to do those things. Some lost faith in the FLDS religion and wanted out of its restrictive lifestyle. Some claim they are being driven away to lessen competition for plural wives. The outflow has escalated in recent years as FLDS leader Warren Jeffs has cleansed his flock by expelling men he views as unworthy, then reassigned their wives and children to other men. Many teens clump together in southern Utah and Wasatch Front cities, crowding in with older brothers or acquaintances who've also left the FLDS. A few have been taken in by LDS families. Many have made their way to Dan Fischer, of Sandy, a dentist and entrepreneur who left the FLDS faith years ago. Fischer has employed the teens at his dental supply company, Ultradent Inc., and uses a nonprofit he created to help them out. Dave Bills, coordinator for Fischer's Diversity Foundation, said he has 367 "bona fide" names of Lost Boys and that the foundation has given help in one form or another to about 100 kids. He said Diversity has helped 31 teens restart their educations, either at the high school, GED or college level. Five boys and young men, including Ianthus, live with Fischer. The oldest is 22. Fischer said he's spent about $30,000 of his own money, while his company and donations to the foundation have contributed more than $2 million to the cause. "It gets exasperating for me that the state won't step in with at least any money," Bills said, adding that most of the boys don't qualify for existing state programs or services. Which is why Bills and Fischer joined with Hoole on the emancipation bill, which the attorney describes as one "bookend" needed to help these teens. Hoole also represents six boys who have sued the FLDS church and its leaders for allegedly driving them from their homes and families. "The emancipation bill is necessary because kids are getting kicked out and government is not enforcing existing laws to get them the support they need. Why? I don't know," Hoole said. "It would certainly be helpful to many of these young men if their parents would at least provide some basic support and help them get into public schools." Bills said the state is "at fault because it is not enforcing the laws against polygamy. If we made all the parents there who kicked kids out or made them run away pay $200 to $300 a month in child support, it would stop the problem." Added Fischer, "It puts a burden on surrounding societies." Unwilling to testify: Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has a ready response as to why the state doesn't go after the boys' parents for abandonment or neglect. "Bring us a victim who would testify," Shurtleff said. "We've asked over and over, 'Bring me a boy who wants to go after his parents.' " The teens, he said, don't blame their parents for their predicament and fear going after them would destroy whatever relationships they still have. Worse, it could have repercussions for their families or siblings. Ianthus, for example, is willing to go only so far in seeking his parents' help. "If they have it [money] they should give it to Diversity instead of Warren Jeffs," he said. Jeffs has required followers to pay hefty tithes, said to be as much as $1,000 a month, to fund the church's operations. But going to court? No way. "I wouldn't take money from him because he's already scraping bottom," Ianthus said of his father. There also are practical considerations, Shurtleff said, just as there are with taking on polygamy itself. "If I charge one, do I charge 800? Do I have the resources?" Instead, Shurtleff said, the teens want him to go after Jeffs, whom they see as responsible for the turmoil in their lives. As for the teens' parents, Shurtleff said, "It's not that they don't love them. They do it because their leader told them to do it. And if they are willing to do that, they are probably going to be willing to go to jail for that." There's this, too: It may be that many parents would love for their sons to come home - provided they got back in line with the FLDS faith. Many boys talk about their heartbreak and especially that of their mothers. Gary Engels, an investigator with the Mohave County (Ariz.) Attorney's office, has had little luck finding victims who are willing to testify. Even so, he said, "Most of the things we are doing here are because it's the right thing to do, not necessarily because we have someone who is going to come forward and testify. It's a Catch-22." Meantime, Hoole is pressing forward with the other "bookend," a bill that would create penalties for engaging in or fostering acts of bigamy that result in a child being alienated from his or her natural parents or disrupt the relationship between that child's parents. Many Lost Boys, for example, fled home after Jeffs banished their biological fathers, then reassigned their mothers to other men. Hoole said it should be illegal "for anybody to kick out their children or split families up to further and aid the unlawful practice of polygamy." He has talked to several lawmakers and even drafted legislation. "We didn't get it going in this Legislature," he said, but he expects to next year. One key provision is that the boys wouldn't have to bear witness against their parents. "Who would have ever thought we needed a law to punish someone for destroying a family?" Fischer asked.

Chris Buttars

2009 Sources say Buttars to lose Judiciary Committee spot- An anti-gay diatribe by Sen. Chris Buttars will cost him his spot on the Senate Judiciary Committee, The Tribune has learned. Senate Republicans, prompted by complaints from minority Democrats, held a frank discussion of Buttars' actions in a closed-door caucus Thursday. Afterward, senators would not discuss what action, if any, might be taken against the West Jordan Republican. Part of it, Senate leaders said, depends on what Buttars does. .Author:    Robert Gehrke The Salt Lake Tribune

2009 Gay-rights advocates, foes face off Gay-rights bills have been snuffed out for the 2009

Paul Mero 

legislative session, but the discussion burns on. Equality Utah, an advocacy group for gay and transgender Utahns, and the conservative Sutherland Institute faced off for a heated debate Thursday night at the University of Utah. "The gloves must come off," declared Sutherland director Paul Mero, in his opening remarks. Mero insisted the two sides operate in two different realities: Author:    Rosemary Winters The Salt Lake Tribune

2009 Buttarsaurus Less than a year after his racially charged "black baby" comments, Utah Senate bad boy Chris Buttars' battle with foot-in-mouth disease continues, with no cure in sight. Same-sex relationships are "abominations," the West Jordan Republican told an interviewer filming a documentary about the activism surrounding the LDS Church-backed Proposition 8, a gay-marriage ban that was approved by California voters last fall. Tribune Editorial

2009 Wilson's benefits push: A profile of persistence if not courage How hard could it be? she thought. In her mind, she wasn't asking for anything "radical." Democratic Councilwoman Jenny Wilson simply wanted to offer wider health benefits to Salt Lake County employees. But her colleagues warned about political pushback: "You won't get a Republican vote," Councilman Joe Hatch told her. The reason: This health plan would extend coverage to employees' gay and lesbian partners. Author:    Jeremiah Stettler The Salt Lake Tribune

2013 Mormons Building Bridges lobbies for protecting gays from bias LGBT • Proposal would help Utah’s gay community from facing discrimination in employment and housing. BY RAY PARKER THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Mormons Building Bridges on Tuesday announced its support for a statewide nondiscrimination policy for gay Utahns. The loosely formed group, which garnered media attention when members marched in last year’s Utah Pride Festival, has more than 2,364 members on the group’s Facebook page —one place where the organization posted its support for a nondiscrimination policy. “Mormons Building Bridges is an organization devoted to reaching out to the LGBT community and making our congregations safe and welcoming for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered [LGBT] people,” the group’s statement on Facebook reads. Currently, 17 Utah municipalities have a nondiscrimination LGBT policy in regards to employment and/or housing, according to Equality Utah, a non-profit devoted to civil rights issues. And for the past five years, LGBT advocates have tried to lobby for a similar policy to be passed in the state legislature. Despite strong support in public polls and endorsements from prominent business leaders, the effort died last year in a state Senate committee. Certain groups have endorsed the effort, such as the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, and business executives from Ancestry.com, 1-800-Contacts and eBay. Other conservative groups, including the Utah Eagle Forum, oppose the measure. Recently, attorneys for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been in quiet discussions with LGBT leaders, trying to hammer out language for a statewide ban on housing and employment discrimination that the church could support. The Church’s communication office did not comment Tuesday on the issue. In the past two years, Equality Utah has been working with cities and counties across the state to pass nondiscrimination ordinances that protect LGBT Utahns from employment and housing discrimination. “ We see the statement of support for statewide workplace and housing nondiscrimination amendments as a clear demonstration that these protections reflect the common values of most Utahns,” Brandie Balken, executive director of Equality

Brandi Balken 

Utah, said in a statement. Balken said the employment and housing nondiscrimination bill is expected to come up Friday or Monday, where it could be moved into a standing Senate committee the following week, and then to the full floor of the Senate. Afterward, it would move to the House, where the process would begin again. Nondiscrimination policies in place Cities: Salt Lake City Park City Taylorsville West Valley City Murray Midvale Moab Ogden Logan Alta Harrisville Springdale Counties: Salt Lake County Summit County Grand County