This Day In Gay Utah History February 26th

26 February 26-

1897 An all-male house of prostitution is raided in Eureka, Utah. The owner and three prostitutes are arrested.

1969 Brigham Young University ended the confidentiality of confessions to LDS leaders when BYU's president instructed all bishops and stake presidents to report to campus authorities any student who confessed "unacceptable conduct." This was a way of "eliminating students who do not fit into the culture of BYU so those who would fit into it might be admitted to the institution." The Board of Trustees ruled that homosexual students "would not be admitted or retained at BYU without approval from the General Authorities"

Marshall Brunner 

1985 Howard Johnson, Nikki Boyer, and Marshall Brunner, Royal Court Members ,incorporated Gay Pride Corporation to produce a Gay Pride Day in Salt Lake City. Additionally incorporators were Beau Chaine and Dean Walton of the Community Center.

1986 Five new cases of AIDS have been  reported in Utah this year all within the Wasatch Front.  The reports brings the total number of Utah victims to 35 since 1980.  Roughly ½ of those patients and 2 who reported disease since January 1 have died.  Of the five new 1986 cases all the patients are male and members of high risk group. Those afflicted with AIDS in Utah include 3 females and 2 children, who were male have died as have two of the 3 women. (Salt Lake Tribune C-8) 

• 1986- -In Fealty and homage Gay royalty from all over the western United States and Canada convened in San Francisco over a weekend in late February for the Last Walk of The Imperial Butterfly Galactica Court of Empress Sissy Spaceout and the coronation of their successors. The Third International Court Conference of the Americas was held in conjunction with the coronation.

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1989 -Rocky [Connell] O’Donavan spoke at the SLC Quaker Meeting about making a panel for the AIDS Quilt.

1989-At Wasatch Affirmation in SLC UT, officer Neil Hoyt led the meeting on "Touching and Getting In Touch". Tony Feliz was also at the meeting, promoting his book "Out Of The Bishop Closet." At Affirmation I spoke and said “The other day at work I over heard someone say ‘I’m so sick of

Neil Hoyt 

hearing about AIDS’;  When I think of friends dying of this disease and another one calling me yesterday saying that he was in the hospital with a low white cell count. I’m sick of hearing about AIDS too.” At Affirmation Tony Feliz was in town promoting his book Out Of The Bishop Closet. Neil Hoyt led the meeting on “Touching and Getting In Touch”. He had us hold hands with someone who was a stranger to us and ;later taught us touch techniques. It was a really good meeting and just what Affirmation needed to break down some real attitude problems [1989 Journal of Ben Williams]

1990 Monday - I [Ben Williams] went up to Lesbian and Gay Student Union at the University of Utah where I had fun arguing Radical Faerie politics.  I made this one reactionary homosexual mad by saying that those who are not pro-Gay and actively working towards the recognition of our rights as part of the human family are not themselves committed to being Gay.  I said Gayness to those people is something a part from them.  Something they think they can put on and take off.

1991-The Advocate reported on evidence that discharges of Gay and lesbian personnel from the US military were being suspended until after the Persian Gulf war.

1992 Utah’s homophobic lawmakers passed into law two bills to deter hate crimes based upon a person's religion or race but devoid of any reference to sexual preference. HB111 and HB112 made it a third-degree felony to intimidate or terrorize a person in violation of their civil rights. The bill passed the Senate Tuesday by a 28-0 vote.

Carol Gnade 

1996  What motivates Sen. Craig Taylor? ``Evil vs. right for the betterment of the human soul,'' says his wife. What's the State of Morality in Utah? kaysville Lawmaker Is On a Crusade vs. Evil  Taylor Takes His Crusade to Hill Byline: By Kimberley Murphy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sen. Craig Taylor awakes about four each morning so he can get to the shower before his seven girls do. His day concludes at midnight after reading over the next day's bills while treading an exercise machine.  The first-term Republican and ultraconservative moral conscience of the Utah Legislature seldom sleeps. Matters of good and evil require vigilance. ``What's motivating him is evil vs. right for the betterment of the human soul,'' said Taylor's wife, Reva. Many of his colleagues admire his zeal. But others have found Taylor's crusade breathtakingly self-righteous.  ``He's kind of carrying the flag for right-wing extremists in Utah and that's about all you can say about Craig Taylor,'' said Carol Gnade, executive director of the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. ``Every single one of his bills is heavy on moral conduct and light on meaningful legislation.'' In fact, Taylor is carrying 30 pieces of legislation, more than any of his Senate colleagues. The topics are disparate -- from adoption to drug crimes -- but all are taken on with an intensity that borders on moral certainty. Taylor acknowledges his abiding belief in Mormon Church teachings shapes his world view and his legislation. And when he feels strongly about an issue, he acts. A sweeping reform of Utah's adoption laws -- which possibly would have a side effect of reducing abortions – took him just 15 minutes to write. His wife believes Taylor relies on divine inspiration, but he hesitates to make that claim.   ``You can call it what you want,'' he said. Taylor graduated from Brigham Young University with a law degree and master's of business administration. He also served a two-year church mission to Australia and works as a young men's leader in his LDS ward.  ``Anything he does, he gives it his all with his heart and his soul and anything he can fervor up,'' Reva Taylor said. The couple grew up in Kaysville, where they now live and the senator runs his law practice. Reva Taylor remembers how her husband, as a boy, would catch pails full of tadpoles. Young people then could walk to a movie or play in the town's gullies. The Taylors want their daughters to enjoy the same opportunities. He says that is the main reason he is determined to root out the moral decay he sees all around him.  That includes homosexuality. ``I have strong feelings about ultimately the gay and lesbian agenda,'' said Taylor, a former Kaysville city councilman. `They are promoters and have come right out and said we will seduce and sodomize your children.'' Taylor, 40, drafted legislation addressing the formation of gay clubs in public high schools after a closed Jan. 30 meeting by Utah senators who met secretly in violation of the Utah Open Meetings Act.    One of Taylor's bills would require parental signatures for club participation. The other would prevent teachers and club sponsors from promoting any illegal activity, such as sodomy. David Nelson of the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats is not surprised Taylor is carrying most of the Legislature's more controversial bills since -- unlike many of his colleagues -- he does not face re-election this year. Senators serve four-year terms and Taylor was elected in 1994. ``By virtue of the office that he holds, he is given a lot of credibility,'' Nelson said. ``But that needs to be tempered with their own humility. They need to understand their own limitations.'' In Taylor's view, homosexuality is a sickness and an abomination. He believes sexual identity is not determined at birth, but acquired, and that gays and lesbians can change if they so choose. Such beliefs inform his opposition to high school clubs as the best support system for gay and lesbian students.``If somebody is an alcoholic, you don't get a group of alcoholics together and take them out to the bar,'' he said. ``I'm all in favor of doing all that can be done to help them correct that behavior, but not to support it.'' Taylor acknowledges that if one of his own daughters said she was gay, ``it would be really hard,'' but he still would strongly discourage her participation in a gay and lesbian club.  It is only in the current legislative session that Taylor has emerged as a force in the Capitol. His first session in 1994 was a quiet one, but he quickly learned how things work. Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, a fellow attorney, said Taylor has gone above and beyond his duty, particularly in soliciting judges' opinions on pieces of legislation.``Sen. Taylor's strength is that he cares,'' Hillyard said. But Gnade finds it disconcerting that one person is carrying most of this session's legislation dealing with moral issues. ``I just wish we had someone to balance it out,'' she said. In fashioning his adoption bills, Taylor acted on his belief that a lack of morality costs money. Thus, adoption is preferable to a system that encourages unwed mothers to keep their children. They often do not have the tools, resources or education to care for their children, he said. As a result, taxpayers are spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year in welfare, medical assistance to the poor, food stamps, substance abuse counseling and crime prevention. ``There is more than a money crisis,'' Taylor said. ``We have a moral crisis. We could take care of a lot of our money problems if we can develop a morally responsible people.'' Other morality legislation he's sponsoring would prohibit companies that provide pornographic telephone messages and talk-lines from collecting their debts in Utah. Another bill would let the families of drug addicts and others hurt by the trade of illegal narcotics sue the drug dealer. A resolution of his would seek an amendment to the Utah Constitution to prevent limitations on expression and religion that are stricter than the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He also proposed a measure at the request of Citizens for Positive Community Values to restrict public nudity and nude dancing.    Taylor, who believes the bills reflect the views of Utah's majority, said his only goal is to make a difference for his children and his community. ``If the day comes that I have to balance my decisions against political expediency,'' he said, ``then it's time to move on and let somebody else do this.''

2003   CALENDAR--UTAH STONEWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY Ben, I am working on a project and need some information that you may have. I am looking for the names (and dates if poss) of any gay person who  has been killed in Salt Lake City, esp. those that have not been solved. Off the top of my head, I can think of Heather Uliberri, Tony Adams, Jerry Campbell. I know there are others but I haven't sat down to do the research yet. If you can be of any help, it would be greatly appreciated. I prefer to keep this very quiet, as my tactics of what I will do with this  information won't please some. Thanks in advance. -Michael p.s. Have I told you how much I appreciate and love the work you are  doing? Well I do. Club blue has been sold....would you be willing to talk to Mike web about retreiving the WLMC colors that are hanging at the club before they are lost forever. He and I have a love hate relationshiop.  And he might just not do it to piss me off.....Just an update...I got a call from Ronnie at the Library who handles lectures and what not.  She is interested in see how the library can participate in October.   She says it would not be much but would be interested. Also she wondered what we might be able to team up with on Pride....they thought June covered it all for us......Explained October is better for history as people are then listening not partying....

2006 posted by Mike Picardi LINK TO HEAR SEN. McCOY'S SENATE SPEECH If you haven't heard it you MUST. Goto Utah State Senator Scott McCoy made history on the floor of the Utah Senate on Wednesday. After listening to some of the most shameful testimony by Senator Buttars and others, Scott got up unprepared and delivered an absolutely powerful, brilliant speech. Clifford Lyon Board Member

2006 The Utah Gay community has a lot to be thankful for with Sara and Kathy being such stalwart members of our community-family. I remember seeing Kathy and Sara many a time down at the old Utah Stonewall Center with cleaning supplies. They took ownership without having to be asked or paid. Little things like this and much bigger issues are why they should both be honored. [Ben Williams]

Worthington & Hamblin

Sara Hamblin 1954 ~ 2006 Sara Hamblin was born in Kanab, Utah on Oct. 15, 1954 to Walter LeGrand (Huck) and Wilda (Billie) Hamblin. She died at her home in Taylorsville on February 21, 2006. Sara led an interesting and happy life. She could be pretty quiet, but she always seemed to be able to make people laugh. Sara was a capable writer and put her humor and experiences into columns for a newspaper in high school and later for two women’s publications in Salt Lake. During her years in Kanab, Sara had many friends. She loved dragging Main Street with a carload of friends. A talented musician, she played organ, piano and saxophone in school, at church and in the community. In her teen years she sometimes played in a band at a bar in Fredonia  and she got a kick out of the fact that some of the same people who were at the bar on Saturday would also be at the local Mormon (‘LDS’) church on Sunday morning. After high school Sara dabbled in education at USU in Logan and at the ‘trade tech’ in Orem, but mostly she found joy in life by having fun with her friends. In 1977 she moved to Salt Lake and got a position at USF&G insurance, where she worked for the next 17 years. Sara enjoyed the job and her coworkers, some of whom became lifelong friends. Around 1990 Sara discovered that the reason she had never found the right man was because she should have been looking for the right woman. She’d had several special friendships with women, but it took her quite a while to figure out just what it meant. In 1992 Sara went looking for friends in the gay community and found Kathy Worthington, with whom she would spend the next 14 years. She also found a new life that was exciting and rewarding in ways she had never even imagined. She had adventures that included a women’s festival, two marches in Washington D.C., and similar events in New York and San Francisco. She and Kathy spent many hours volunteering for a variety of organizations and activities. They worked on a few political campaigns and enjoyed spending election nights at Democratic parties. For several years they published the “Womyn’s Community News”. Later they got involved in Salt Lake’s exmormon community. Along the way they made many friends. Sara traveled widely, visiting 14 countries and much of the U.S. She went on a cruise to the southern Caribbean and made trips to Mexico and Europe. She went for rides in a hot air balloon and a helicopter. Long drives in a convertible through France or Italy were pure joy. Even after three trips to Mexico and two to Italy, Sara still dreamed of returning. Sara and Kathy appeared numerous times in Utah news stories. In April 1993 they went to a huge march in Washington and participated in a union ceremony and a reception while they were there. Sara came ‘out’ to her family and coworkers by being featured in news stories about the march and the ‘wedding’. In 2003 the couple got married in Canada. They dreamed of having their wedding legally recognized in the U.S., but unfortunately Sara didn’t live long enough to see that happen. After USF&G downsized and laid off most of their employees in Salt Lake, Sara worked at Unibase and at the Remote Encoding Center, a postal facility in Salt Lake. Sara always loved cars and driving, something she learned from her beloved father. When she started work as a bus operator at UTA in 1998, she discovered it was the kind of work she should have been doing all her life. She loved being out and about on the roads and she loved being behind the wheel of a bus. To the folks at UTA, Sara sends a message: “It was a great ride.” Sara touched many people’s lives in her 51 years, including many she met and got to know after her diagnosis with breast cancer in 1995. In 1996 the disease spread to her lungs and Sara spent much of the next nine and a half years putting off what she knew was inevitable. She had excellent help from many health professionals over the years, including the wonderful people at Utah Cancer Specialists. She also had help and support from an email group at bcmets.org, which was an important resource over the years. Even while moving from one treatment to another, Sara was able to lead a full and rewarding life. Sara loved cats, had many of them in her life, and she thought that the afterlife will include her cats, especially Chiffy, who she looked forward to seeing again. Sara is survived by her partner Kathy, her step daughters Lucy and Cristy Juarez, her sister Sherrie, of St. George, and brothers Walt (Connie) of California, and Robert, of Texas. She was preceded in death by her mother and father and by her childhood friend Becky. Renae and Chyrl are two friends who were like sisters to Sara. Kay Jean was a dear friend from Kanab and college days. Special friends and cousins: Joelyn, Donell, and Holly. Sara was thrilled to talk to and see Mike G. just when it seemed she would never see him again. Thank you, Mike, for hopping on that plane. Dianna and Jude know what good friends they have been, so do Annette and Kathy. Mandy, Margie, and Misty: thank you. Many other friends and family were all remembered fondly by Sara. Our appreciation to the many people; coworkers, friends and relatives, who let her know that you cared about her. Thank you to all of you who took the time to visit her during her final weeks. She really enjoyed learning that she’d touched so many lives. A special thank you to Karen Heath, manager of the Remote Encoding Center, who knows why she deserves our appreciation. Sara wanted a simple cremation and there will only be a very small, very private service. Her ashes will be scattered in one of the places that she loved so much.

Logan Brueck

2006 Can you toss a triple? Can you butterfly a Silk? Would you like to learn how? We have right now about 6 or 7 people interested in the Drill team, both men and women, gay and straight and all ages. This is going to be GREAT! The first meeting is Feb 26th at 2 PM (call or Email for location) We're looking to get a group of people, male and female, ages 21 and up to form The Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps (ROTC) of Salt Lake City. For the purpose of providing entertainment to Salt Lake City Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender community, during the annual Pride parade and other local and statewide events and as a social organization involved in the twirling/pageantry forum with rifles and flags. Our performance would consist of a precision, military-style warm-up routine, and traditional routines to dance or disco music. Our performance can be suited to either marching or standstill situations If this sounds like something you would like to do email us at rotcslc@... or call 801 654-2849 and leave an message with your name and phone number. Thanks Logan Brueck Kaye Christensen

• Logan Brueck has helped coordinate Utah’s Pride Parade as it has grown by leaps and bounds each year. He’s also involved with the Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps. For more information, go to rotcslc.com. The ROTC is one of the most honored and visible LGBT-inclusive groups in the community. Why do you think it’s been popular? I’m not really sure why, but I’m not going to question it. I think that it’s due to the fact that we are such a different style of performance and such a diverse group being made up of straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer members. We also play hard and really work at getting ourselves out there. What are the biggest challenges facing a queer-inclusive social group in Utah? I have to say that it has to be breaking the stereotypes and being able to perform and fit in with all groups and events. Every performance we do is based on the event that we will be showcased in. We write two drills to each number, a PG-rated and an R-rated, so we can perform them depending on where the event is and to suit our audience.

2007 Dear Kathy’s List readers, friends and acquaintances,  We are writing to inform you all that Kathy Worthington passed away a few days ago.  Kathy’s life touched many, so many that we are already overwhelmed by the number of those who looked up to, appreciated, and loved her.  We know that many of you will want to join us for a memorial in Kathy’s name.  However, we are unable at this time to find an appropriate venue for this gathering – a gathering that we are assuming will require a large meeting center.  Perhaps some of you have suggestions where we all may meet to celebrate Kathy’s life.  If so, please email her daughter, Lucy, Once we figure out the details of the memorial service we will send another email. Thanks to you all,  Kathy’s family

2010 Jury finds man guilty of assault in mixed verdict Published on Standard-Examiner  Jury finds man guilty of assault in mixed verdict By cmayorga  In a mixed verdict Thursday, a jury found a defendant guilty of one apparent gay-bashing assault but innocent of another that occurred moments later. The five-woman, three-man panel deliberated an hour and a half after two days of testimony before 2nd District Judge Mark DeCaria. Sentencing of Christopher Vonnegut Allen is set for April 5. "I don't think the jury believed this was a gay-bashing at all," Allen's defense attorney, Brian Duncan, said immediately after the verdict was announced. "I think they believed he just overreacted." The jury acquitted Allen of burglary and assault charges regarding Wil Phillips, who is gay. During the trial, large color photos projected on a screen showed a knot on Phillips' head and an 8-inch bruise on his upper arm that clearly showed the pattern of the bottom of Allen's shoe. But the jury found Allen guilty of assault on Whitney Goich, a lesbian, who suffered a broken nose and crushed tear duct requiring surgery in the June 2 altercations. Both Phillips, 24, and Goich, 20, testified that Allen, 31, attacked them, yelling homophobic slurs, the latter of which Allen denied. On the stand, he admitted punching both victims, as well as kicking Phillips, but claimed Phillips set off the chain of events by biting him on the arm. That bit was his only injury. The prosecution had considered charging Allen under Utah's bias statute, which enhances an assault viewed as a hate crime from a class B misdemeanor to a class A misdemeanor. But the more serious crime of second-degree felony burglary was chosen, alleging Allen was trespassing with intent to assault Phillips in the scuffle in a friend's apartment. Goich was beaten moments later just outside the apartment. The actual assault of Phillips was charged as a class B misdemeanor and the assault of Goich a class A misdemeanor. Allen would have faced prison time of up to 15 years for the burglary charge, while a class A misdemeanor can bring at most a year in county jail. After the verdict came in, Allen said, "I hope they don't write I'm a gay-basher anymore," which he called his major concern with the case. "I would just like to say I don't hate gay people. Someone's lifestyle doesn't affect me." "I don't know what the verdict says about the case with Wil," said Deputy Weber County Attorney Branden Miles. "It's a mixed bag. I guess they (the jurors) had issues over whether he knew the defendant, and that somehow made it less serious to them. I just don't know." The jury apparently struggled, Miles said, with the fact Allen had been to the apartment before and socialized with the people there, and whether he was invited in that night and was forced to leave or if he fled. DeCaria left in place orders banning Allen from any contact with Phillips or Goich.

2014  A federal  judge ruled Texas' ban on same sex marriage unconstitutional

2014 Steve Urquhart and Jim Dabakis held a historic community conversation between 12 members of the Gay and Trans communities and Utah Governmental officials at the state capitol. Utah lawmakers hear tales of discrimination from LGBT crowd Meeting may not resurrect anti-bias bill, but organizer says it has warmed hearts. BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Senator Jim Dabakis (center) listens to the witness at the first-ever open, public conversation between the LGBTQ community and Utah State Leaders, sponsored by Senators Steve Urquhart (R-St George) and Jim Dabakis (D-SLC) Wednesday, February 26, 2014. In what Sen. Jim Dabakis called a “watershed moment” in the state’s LGBT history, lawmakers heard stories of gay Utahns who have been insulted, fired from their jobs and felt unable to make a life for themselves in Utah at a meeting Wednesday night. “It’s amazing — I’ve only been gone six years, and I come back and see legislators on the side of equality,” said native Justin Utley. He moved to New York after he was fired from a credit union when his boss figured out he was gay by monitoring his emails after the death of his partner. “Stories like mine are not few and far between.” About 300 people attended the meeting, filling two overflow rooms, and some 40 state legislators came to listen between town hall and caucus meetings. “I need to be here. The courage of people to come and share their stories and how difficult that is, the least I can do is give my time,” said Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox. “I think there’s a lot of soul searching going on among legislators and everyone in our community. People are asking hard questions.” They heard from 12 people, including Candice Metzler, who said she lost her job in the construction industry after coming out as transgender and ended up “sleeping on a park bench.” Clair Barrus of Draper, who called himself a “pretty typical Utahn,” said his nephew was fired from a bookstore because a co-worker didn’t feel comfortable working with a gay man. “This does not feel right to me,” he said. “When I grew up, I learned at church that you’re supposed to treat everyone fairly.” A high school student in American Fork said she’s worried about staying in Utah if she comes out. “I have to walk down the halls hearing people say things like, ‘fag, dyke,’ and know that they’re full of hate and they’re aimed at people like me,” she said. Neca Allgood, mother of a transgender 19-year-old man, said she’s worried her son won’t be able to make a life here. “I didn’t choose to have a transgender child, but I have chosen to love and support Grayson, and help him to be the best person he can be,” she said. “Please support legislation so he can live and work in our state.” Listening to their stories were lawmakers like Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, and Sen. Stuart Reid, R-Ogden, who proposed a bill similar to the much-criticized and vetoed Arizona measure that would have allowed people and businesses to refuse service to gay people. His bill wasn’t considered this session because legislative leaders decided to shelve all proposals related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues while the state is in the midst of a court battle to uphold its ban on gay marriage. That decision means the Legislature also won’t consider SB100, a bill that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity — something that likely won’t change with Wednesday’s meeting. Nevertheless, Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, said the event was part of a process. “Very few members of the Legislature, before tonight, had met a transgender person,” said Dabakis, the state’s only openly gay legislator. “I saw hearts warming tonight, and it goes both ways. This is the difference between us and Arizona.” The meeting was organized by Dabakis and Sen. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, who is sponsoring SB100. He called it “one of the most beautiful legislative experiences of my life,” and acknowleged a standing ovation when it was over. “This isn’t mine, this is yours, and we will claim the prize,” he said. “We are one people, we’re one Utah and tonight we shine awfully bright.”

• Deseret News McKenzie Romero SALT LAKE CITY — When Joey Eccleston's son told him at 15 that he was gay, he said he was struck by "a lightning flash of fear." The Layton father's voice broke as he addressed Utah legislators Wednesday night in a meeting meant to share the experiences of gay, lesbian and transgender people from across the state. "The fear was not knowing if I would be able to protect my child from the intolerance of the outside world," Eccleston said, his wife and son at his side. "So many things raced through my head in that fraction of a second." Joey and Laurie Eccleston have loved and supported their son Conner for nearly two years, introducing him as an "A" student who loves math, physics and videogames. Being gay is only part of his story, his father says. But the Ecclestons now worry about the next step as Connor prepares for college. "Connor has asked if he can leave the state," Joey Eccleston said, in tears. He said he fears that the rights most people have, like holding a job and an apartment while in college, might elude him because of his sexual orientation. Joey Eccleston was one of a dozen people who spoke Wednesday, many of them accompanied family members, at a meeting organized by state senators Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, and Jim Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, and attended by a crowd of sympathetic legislators on both sides of the aisle. Met with rousing applause, Urquhart urged Connor to "Stay in Utah, we could use you here. Give us a chance to catch up to you and your parents, OK?" The meeting was a chance to learn and listen, a first-of-its-kind meeting between lawmakers and supporters of the LGBT community in search of tolerance, understanding and protected rights. Urquhart is the sponsor of SB100, an antidiscrimination bill that won't be heard this year. GOP senators decided earlier this month not to hear bills related to proposed antidiscrimination laws or religious liberty until they have a clearer direction after the state has completed its appeal on behalf of Amendment 3.The state's voter-approved definition of marriage, which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, was ruled unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court judge in December and has since been presented to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. But this night was not about same-sex marriage. It was a night to share stories of personal experience. Other presenters included Rachel Heller, an aerospace engineer who was born a man but lives as a woman and met great support and understanding from her coworkers at Hill Air Force Base; Merrie Smithson, an LDS mother speaking on behalf of her gay son who has moved from the state; and Justin Utley from West Valley City, who said he was fired after an employer found an email he sent about the death of his gay partner. Together, they called on Utah lawmakers to support antidiscrimination legislation to protect them and their loved ones. "Perhaps my greatest fear was that I would no longer be judged by the strength of my character or the evidence of my accomplishments, but that my life would be seen through a filter of my gender identity," Heller said. "I desire nothing more than to be able to live and work in the state I call home, to defend and support the country I love, and to do so knowing that who I am will not deny me the opportunities I have worked so hard to create." No votes were cast or action taken Wednesday. It was a chance to listen, Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox told the overflow crowd that filled three rooms. "This is how we come to love one another," Cox said. "Thank you for sharing your stories, thank you for being Utahns because we're all different, that's what makes Utah an incredibly great place to live, and it will hopefully be a great place to live for all of us for years to come." Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, thanked the speakers and audience saying that following Wednesday's meeting, he hopes the state can "have less prejudice, and have more understanding." "It's going to take patience, we're all going to have to have patience in this, and compassion and civility," Niederhauser said. "I hope those principles will win out in the discussions as we go forward."

2020 The February Public Oratory of the Utah Queer Historical Society featured Fran Pruyn We are honored to have Fran Pruyn give an Oratory for us in February. Fran has served as the Board Chair of the Utah Pride Center and has sat on the Boards of Directors of several other non-profit organizations in both the architecture and arts worlds, including the Performing Arts Coalition, the Utah Cultural Alliance, and KRCL-FM. Awards include the Dr. Kristin Ries Community Service Award, the SLC Mayor’s Artist Award (Performing Arts), and Marketer of the Year from SMPS. Fran has directed over 50 plays and produced scores more, including "The Passion of Sister Dottie S. Dixon," and has also taught Queer Theater at the U. Currently she is the Artistic Director of Pygmalion Productions, a theatre company that gives voice to women’s issues and performs at the Rose Wagner Theatre.