17 March
1886-A 21-year
old man identified only as J.M. was admitted to the Insane Department of the
Philadelphia Hospital. Dr. Philip Leidy later wrote of the case as an example
of sexual perversion because J.M. claimed his name was Jane and he was a girl,
and he spoke in an effeminate voice, masturbated, and liked to fondle men with
both his mouth and hands.
1964- The 2nd Annual Seminar on Sex Crimes and Sexual Criminals was
held at the Prudential Auditorium on 21st South and State Street. Seminar
sponsored by Utah Peace Officers Association. 03/17/64 page 17 col. 7
SLTribune)
1976-Gay Italian director Luchino Visconti died, age 69. It was not until The Damn (1969) that Visconti received a nomination for an Academy Award , for "Best Screenplay". The film, one of Visconti's best-known works, concerns a German industrialist's family which slowly begins to disintegrate during the Nazi consolidation of power in the 30s. Its decadence and lavish beauty are characteristic of Visconti's aesthetic.
1976 Police Nab Toe Tappers Pleasant Grove (AP) Toe tapping
policemen in Utah County made a series of arrests that resulted in eight men
being arraigned on charges of sodomy and lewdness at highway reststops. One of
those arrested only identified as a 54 year old Salt Lake County man committed
suicide two days after his arrest, said state medical examiner, Serge Moore.
“I’m sure there will be people who will think that we must have
1977 Elbert L. “Bud” Willoughby [1930-2004] police chief of Pueblo, Colorado,
became the new Chief of Police of Salt Lake City. And was Salt Lake City's longest-
serving police chief, from 1977 to 1988. When he retired, the Deseret News
described Chief Willoughby as colorful and tough but a likable and fair leader.
1995 -
Rocky Mountain Dragons The Rocky
Mountain Dragons was founded March 17, 1995 by Troy, Jim, Casey, Bill, Dusty,
Harold [Jones], and Paul. They created the group because they believed that
there was a need for a leather social group that didn't revolve around sex.
Their mission statement was "Unity through Service." They met at
member's homes and then at the Utah Stonewall Center before it closed. They
helped the aid's food bank for several years by providing food baskets. A
fundraiser for the Mr. Ms Utah Leather contest was held at the Sun called
"Dungeons and Dragons." Some of the scenes included a mummification scene,
a wax scene, and a musical number performed by the Rocky Mountain Dragons. The
Rocky Mountain Dragons and The Wasatch Leathermen MC joined together to produce
the first Leather Weekend in Salt Lake City. It was held on May 4th at King's,
a private club, and it produced Utah's first leather titleholders. This group
disbanded in January of 1999.
1995-Utah Legislature passes law refusing to recognize same sex
marriages from other states. Utah’s LDS
governor Michael Leavitt signs the country’s first Defense of Marriage Act
legislation which indicated that the state of Utah recognizes only marriages between
persons of different sex, including those that might be performed in other
states.
- Deseret News Most oppose legalizing gay marriages By Bob Bernick Jr., Political Editor Sixty-eight percent of Utahns think the state should deny recognition of same-sex marriages, and Gov. Mike Leavitt agrees. This week, Leavitt signed into law a bill, passed the last hour of the 1995 Legislature, that would change the way Utah accepts marriages made in other states. In effect, the new law would deny homosexuals legally married in another U.S. state a legal marriage in Utah. The Deseret News and KSL recently asked Utahns whether or not so-called same-sex marriages should be prohibited in Utah. Pollster Dan Jones & Associates found that 68 percent definitely or probably believe such marriages should be banned in Utah, 27 percent think they should be allowed and 5 percent didn't know. Leavitt said in a press conference just after the 1995 Legislature adjourned at midnight March 1 that he supported the bill sponsored by Rep. Norm Nielsen, R-Orem. Nielsen's bill had languished in the House until the final hours of the session. Leavitt admitted he took a personal interest in the bill the final two days, held some meetings with Attorney General Jan Graham and "outside legal experts" and then decided the bill was a good idea. The governor said that night he'd sign the bill. And Tuesday, even though lobbied by various gay groups to veto it, he did sign it. The bill becomes law May 1. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken a public stand against same-sex marriages. Lynn Wardle, a law professor from Brigham Young University, owned by the LDS Church, helped Nielsen draft the bill, but Nielsen and Wardle say they were never asked by LDS Church officials to sponsor or push the measure. The LDS Church has filed a friend of the court brief in a Hawaii legal battle over same-sex marriages. The church owns a college, a cultural center and has members in Hawaii. Nielsen says Utah law already prohibits same-sex marriages. But another part of the code says that marriages legally performed in other states will be recognized as legal in Utah. No state currently allows same-sex marriages. But should Hawaiian courts rule same-sex marriages are legal there, Nielsen says Utah homosexual couples "will be on the next plane, getting married and returning and claiming their marriages are legal here." David Nelson of Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats agrees with Nielsen there. He says he knows of a number of gay and lesbian couples who would get legally married in Hawaii, if that were possible. Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats and their GOP counterparts, Utah Log Cabins Club, promise to sue the state if Nielsen's bill becomes law and Hawaii subsequently allows homosexual marriages. They say Nielsen's bill is discriminatory. GLUD also has started a public campaign to convince the International Olympic Committee to deny the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City, arguing the new Utah law would officially discriminate against gays. Utah Olympic organizers say GLUD's efforts will have little or no impact on the IOC's decision, scheduled for this June. Republican Log Cabin Club leaders strongly oppose GLUD's Olympic boycott effort. Pollster Dan Jones found that no usual group or category of Utahns supports same-sex marriage. Members of the LDS faith oppose them, 76-19 percent. Catholics oppose them, 58-37 percent. Republicans oppose them, 82-15 percent. Democrats oppose them, 49-43 percent. Men oppose them, 71-24 percent. And women oppose them, 63-30 percent. Additional information-- Deseret News/KSL poll In your opinion, should Utah prohibit same-sex marriages? Definitely Prohibit 59% Probably Prohibit 9% Probably Not Prohibit 9% Definitely Not Prohibit 18% Don't Know 5% Poll conducted March 7-8, 1995. Margin of error + or - 4% in interviews of 603 registered voters. Conducted by Dan Jones & Associates. Copyright 1995 Deseret News.
- The Salt Lake Tribune Utah May Ignore Gay Unions Groups Threaten Lawsuits After Governor Signs Bill Homosexual Marriages To Be Ignored By Utah By Dan Harrie Gov. Mike Leavitt signed, as promised, a bill that would prevent Utah from being forced to legally recognize homosexual marriages performed in other states. Leavitt's quiet endorsement of the bill Tuesday gave final approval of the measure passed the last night of the 1995 Legislature on March 1. But the law has more symbolic than practical effect in the short run. No state recognizes legal marriages between members of the same sex. But Hawaii could be on the brink of becoming the first. A recent ruling by the Hawaii Supreme Court indicated the justices would wipe out the state's ban on same-sex marriage unless its constitutionality could be proved. A trial to decide the issue is scheduled for next fall, with appeals expected whatever the outcome. Utah law for years has banned homosexual marriages. But Lynn Wardle, a law professor at Mormon Church-owned Brigham Young University, has argued that another, contradictory section of the law could be used to force recognition of homosexual marriages performed outside Utah. Wardle denied acting at behest of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the First Presidency of which issued a statement a year ago opposing any move toward legalized homosexual marriage. Gay groups that lobbied unsuccessfully against Utah's bill strengthening the ban on same-sex marriages threatened during the legislative session to sue if the measure passed. The threat is still alive, but won't be acted on until the Hawaii case is decided, say representatives of Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats [GLUD] and the Utah Log Cabin Club, a Republican homosexual group. "We have plaintiffs lining up waiting to fly to Hawaii to get married literally minutes after it is legalized there," GLUD's David Nelson said Thursday. "Unfortunately, the taxpayers will have to pay for another frivolous law that the state will lose on in court," said Log Cabin leader Chris Ryan. Opponents will challenge Utah House Bill 366 on grounds that it violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection, right to interstate travel and a clause requiring states to recognize all "acts, records and judicial proceedings" of other states. American Civil Liberties Union of Utah Director Carol Gnade said she expects the civil-rights organization to be involved in the suit. The Legislature's own attorneys have warned the bill may have flaws. "[There are] possible due process issues since marriage is a fundamental constitutional right," legislative attorney Janetha Hancock wrote in a legal assessment of the bill. "But there are strong arguments that the state's interest outweighs any infringement." Nelson said he also wants to challenge the bill based on evidence it passed after the legal deadline of midnight on the final night of the legislative session. The Legislature's attorney ruled in favor of lawmakers, stating they basically could determine which clock to go by. Atty. Gen. Jan Graham refused the gay group's request to issue a legal opinion on the dispute. Nelson said they will wait to press all the challenges at once, with the time controversy held as a "trump card." "We're going to play it after we know it will do some good," Nelson said.
1995 FridayCopyright 1995 Deseret News MOST OPPOSE LEGALIZING GAY
MARRIAGES By Bob Bernick Jr., Political
Editor Sixty-eight percent of Utahns think the state should deny recognition of
same-sex marriages, and Gov. Mike Leavitt agrees. This week, Leavitt signed
into law a bill, passed the last hour of the 1995 Legislature, that would
change the way Utah
accepts marriages made in other states. In effect, the new law would deny
homosexuals legally married in another U.S.
state a legal marriage in Utah .
The Deseret News and KSL recently asked Utahns whether or not so-called
same-sex marriages should be prohibited in Utah . Pollster Dan Jones & Associates
found that 68 percent definitely or probably believe such marriages should be
banned in Utah ,
27 percent think they should be allowed and 5 percent didn't know. Leavitt said
in a press conference just after the 1995 Legislature adjourned at midnight
March 1 that he supported the bill sponsored by Rep. Norm Nielsen, R-Orem.
Nielsen's bill had languished in the House until the final hours of the
session. Leavitt admitted he took a personal interest in the bill the final two
days, held some meetings with Attorney General Jan Graham and "outside
legal experts" and then decided the bill was a good idea.The governor said
that night he'd sign the bill. And Tuesday, even though lobbied by various gay
groups to veto it, he did sign it. The bill becomes law May 1. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints has taken a public stand against same-sex marriages. Lynn Wardle, a law
professor from Brigham Young University ,
owned by the LDS Church , helped Nielsen draft the bill.
But Nielsen and Wardle say they were never asked by LDS Church
officials to sponsor or push the measure. The LDS
Church has filed a friend of the court
brief in a Hawaii
legal battle over same-sex marriages. The church owns a college, a cultural
center and has members in Hawaii .
Nielsen says Utah
law already prohibits same-sex marriages. But another part of the code says
that marriages legally performed in other U.S.
states will be recognized as legal in Utah .
No state currently allows same-sex marriages. But should Hawaiian courts rule
same-sex marriages are legal there, Nielsen says Utah homosexual couples "will be on the
next plane, getting married and returning and claiming their marriages are
legal here." David Nelson of Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats agrees with
Nielsen there. He says he knows of a number of gay and Lesbian couples who
would get legally married in Hawaii ,
if that were possible. Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats and their GOP
counterparts, Utah Log Cabin Club, promise to sue the state if Nielsen's bill
becomes law and Hawaii
subsequently allows homosexual marriages. They say Nielsen's bill is
discriminatory. GLUD also has started a public campaign to convince the
International Olympic Committee to deny the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City , arguing the new Utah law would officially discriminate
against gays. Utah
Olympic organizers say GLUD's efforts will have little or no impact on the
IOC's decision, scheduled for this June. Republican Log Cabin Club leaders
strongly oppose GLUD's Olympic boycott effort. Pollster Jones found that no
usual group or category of Utahns supports same-sex marriages. Members of the
LDS faith oppose them, 76-19 percent. Catholics oppose them, 58-37 percent.
Republicans oppose them, 82-15 percent. Democrats oppose them, 49-43 percent.
Men oppose them, 71-24 percent. And women oppose them, 63-30 percent. ***** Additional Information Deseret News/KSL
poll In your opinion, should Utah
prohibit same-sex marriages? Definitely Prohibit 59% Probably Prohibit 9%
Probably not prohibit 9% Definitely not prohibit 18% Don't Know 5% Poll
conducted March 7-8, 1995. Margin of error + or - 4% on inerviews of 603
registered voters. Conducted by Dan Jones & Associates. Copyright 1995
Deseret News © 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.
1999 Parents and
Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-Flag) 7pm upstairs at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center
 |
| Wendy Weaver |
1999 GAY RIGHTS WENDY WEAVER GAY TEACHERS UTAH WEAVER LAWSUIT WHITTLED DOWN Deseret News,
By Jeffrey P. Haney, PROVO – A 4th District
Court lawsuit filed by a citizens group that wants gay teacher Wendy Weaver
dismissed from her post at a Utah
County high school was
whittled down considerably in a ruling issued late Tuesday. Although the
majority of complaints by the Citizens for Nebo
School District for Moral and Legal
Values were dismissed, Judge Ray Harding Jr. left intact claims that Weaver
violated religious and personal rights of some students while working at Spanish Fork High School.
Harding felt the group provided sufficient evidence to proceed to trial with
two claims. The plaintiffs say that
Weaver criticized the LDS
Church in class and that
her access to the girls locker room violated one student's religious rights
because of her beliefs on homosexuality. Dismissed complaints in the 48-page
ruling include allegations that Weaver endorsed specific religious viewpoints,
violated rights given to parents by the Utah Constitution, overstepped a state
law that prohibits the use of psychological tests in schools without written
consent from parents or guardians and broke rules governing the Psychological
Licensing Act. Harding also dismissed the claim that Weaver's teaching
certificate should be taken away because her marital-like relationship with a
woman may violate the state's sodomy laws. "The important thing is that
Wendy was vindicated in almost every respect," said Stephen Clark, an
attorney for the Utah ACLU who is working in Weaver's defense in tandem with Salt Lake
attorney Richard Van Wagoner. However, Clark
said the legal team will request a clarification on the two counts Harding
allowed to remain in the suit, particularly the assertion that Weaver's
presence in a locker room may violate a student's rights. Jeana Barney, a
former student at Spanish Fork High, was offended by Weaver's presence in the
locker room. Barney said she had
undressed in Weaver's presence but would not have had she known Weaver was a
lesbian. Shesaid the state should
protect students like her from individuals whose beliefs or lifestyles differ
from theirs. "She doesn't prowl around in the locker room," Clark said.
"She didn't do anything. The
claim is that because Wendy simply had access, her rights were infringed."
Matt Hilton, legal counsel for the Nebo group, said he was pleased that some of
the claims were allowed to go forward but objected to Harding's removal of
Attorney General Jan Graham from the suit as a defendant. Craig Jackson,
director of Utah's
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, also was dismissed as a
defendant. Four plaintiffs were also
dismissed because they could not show they had been directly harmed by Weaver's
continued employment at the district. Tuesday's decision is the latest in a
string of legal decisions that have favored Weaver, who told Nebo School District
administrators in 1997about her sexual orientation. In November, U.S. District
Judge Bruce Jenkins ruled for Weaver in a federal civil-rights suit that
claimed she was illegally refused a job as a volleyball coach and was told she
could not discuss her sexual orientation with students or staff at the
school. Nebo officials, ordered by
Jenkins to remove letters from Weaver's personnel file and offer her a job as
volleyball coach, opted not to appeal the decision. Weaver continues to teach at Spanish Fork High School,
instructing psychology and co-ed volleyball courses. She has decided to decline the offer to coach
the school's team next year.
- UTAH JUDGE ELIMINATES MOST COUNTS IN CIVIL LAWSUIT AGAINST SPANISH FORKTEACHER WENDY WEAVER Salt Lake Tribune, BY HILARY GROUTAGE, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE A lawsuit filed by a group of Utah County residents seeking to oust lesbian teacher Wendy Weaver was pared significantly Tuesday by 4th District Judge Ray Harding Jr., but he left intact claims that Weaver violated students' religious and personal liberties. Harding said the suit could proceed on claims that Weaver, a Spanish Fork High School psychology teacher, made derogatory statements about the LDS Church and that her presence in a girls locker room offended one student's religious beliefs about homosexuality. Nevertheless, said Weaver's attorney, Rick Van Wagoner, "Judge Harding's decision vindicates Wendy Weaver on almost every score." But plaintiffs' attorney Matt Hilton said the ruling raised serious questions about whether parents can turn to the courts for relief when issues such as those involving Weaver's fitness to teach arise. Two of nine counts in the complaint, filed by Citizens for Moral and Legal Values in Nebo School District, were left in place in the 48-pageruling. Earlier, Hilton agreed to withdraw a claim that Weaver had inappropriate contact with female students. The lawsuit is the second in as many years for Weaver, who publicly acknowledged in 1997 that she is a lesbian. That year, she filed a federal civil-rights suit against the Nebo School District after officials told her she could not coach the girl's volleyball team or discuss her sexual orientation with students. Late last year, U.S. District Judge Bruce Jenkins ruled in Weaver's favor. In his Tuesday ruling, Harding dismissed claims that: • Weaver violated the Utah Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which prohibits administration of psychological tests without written consent of student's parents or guardian. • Weaver violated the Psychologist Licensing Act. • Weaver violated parental rights protected by the Utah Constitution. • She violated the Constitutional Freedoms in the Schools Act, which states that school officials and employees may not use their positions to endorse, promote or disparage a particular religious viewpoint. • Weaver's lesbianism violated Utah's teacher certification requirements because she may be in violation of the state's sodomy law by living with her partner. Three of the counts involved that issue. The two remaining counts deal with the Utah Constitution's provisions on religious liberties, privacy rights and equal protection under the law. Count V claims that Joshua Lee, a student in Weaver's advanced-placement psychology class, said his rights were violated when Weaver made disparaging remarks about the Mormon Church during class. Weaver said Tuesday she does not recall what those remarks were. Count VII claims Jeana Barney, a former student at Spanish Fork High, was offended by Weaver's presence in the women's locker room. Barney said she had undressed in Weaver's presence before Weaver came out as a lesbian. Barney claimed that had she known Weaver was a lesbian, she would not have changed in her presence. She also claimed Weaver violated her right to privacy, and that the state should protect students like her from individuals whose beliefs or lifestyles differ from theirs. Weaver said Barney never was her student and she does not recall ever seeing her in the locker room. "In 19 years of teaching, I've never had a girl even use the shower, "Weaver said. "Girls would much rather shower at home." Attorney Van Wagoner said he is preparing a request for clarification on the remaining two counts and is particularly troubled about Barney's complaint. "Are we going to have to create separate facilities for everybody? The people who are offended go here and the ones who are not offended go there? How can someone's status, be it black, gay or lesbian, violate someone's civil rights?" Hilton, the plaintiffs' attorney, took particular issue with Hardings' ruling that the Utah state Board of Education and the state Division of Professional Licensing were the proper forum for questions about whether Weaver improperly administered a psychology test to students. He also objected to Harding's decision to remove Utah Atty. Gen. Jan Graham as a plaintiff. "This raises a significant question about disenfranchising parents" from the ability to turn to the courts for relief, Hilton said. Weaver has said she had proper parental permission to administer the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, MMPI, and that her former husband, Gary, a licensed psychologist who works for the Nebo School District, interpreted the results. Meantime, Weaver remains a popular advanced-placement psychology teacher at Spanish Fork High School. She also teaches a coed volleyball class, but has decided against coaching the girl's volleyball team next year, even though the federal court decision in her favor forced the school to offer her the job. (17 March 1999 Wednesday 03/17/1999 Page: A1 )
17 March 2000 The Salt Lake Tribune Page: C6 Adoption Law
Faces Legal Tests Lawsuits likely on statute limiting placement with unmarried
adults BY KATHERINE KAPOS and HEATHER MAY
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE With his
signature on a controversial new law preventing cohabiting adults from adopting
children or becoming foster parents in Utah, Gov. Mike Leavitt likely has moved
a bitter legal battle onto the state's agenda. On Tuesday, Leavitt signed House
Bill 103, which prevents placement of children in homes where unmarried adults
are living together in an intimate relationship. The new law mirrors a rule
adopted last summer by the board of trustees of the Division of Child and
Family Services, which almost immediately was hit with a federal civil rights
lawsuit. The governor recognizes the potential for a lawsuit, as with any new
legislation, but he is "confident that it's good legislation and is
prepared that we may face legal challenges,'' his spokeswoman, Vicki Varela,
said Thursday. Leavitt's action
"shows that the board's values are consistent with those of the
state," said Scott Clark, head of the DCFS board of trustees. "It may
not meet the agendas of adults, but it is in the best interest of
children." The DCFS rule will be modified to be in line with the state
law, thus putting any future legal challenge on the state's shoulders, Clark said. The state law is slightly different than the
DCFS administrative rule because it more clearly targets Gay and lesbian partners
and requires DCFS case workers to determine if applicants have a sexual
relationship outside of marriage. After the DCFS board passed its rule, the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, a Gay
couple and a woman filed a lawsuit claiming the rule violates equal protection
guarantees of the Utah National
Center for Youth Law and the National Center
simply because of the status of the adults in the home.
That's going to present a compelling case," Stephen Clark said. "I'm
very disappointed," added Roz McGee, executive director of Utah Children.
"The governor has been subjected
to the same pressure that legislators were subjected to. He
has not had the opportunity to have a full review of the implications of
it."
2003 Dear Craig
[Miller], I read your article in March’s Pillar and want to thank you for it.
It was very useful as a record of Pride Day 2002 for my collection of notes on
the “evolution” Utah’s Pride Days. I
would like to meet with you and Sherry Booth at your convenience for an
interview for an article I am writing for the Utah Stonewall Historical
Society. I am extremely interested in three areas and hope that you both can
help me. First-When did fiduciary malfeasance on the part of Kim Russo first
appear? Who had access to the financial records? Who actually blew the whistle?
When was she removed from her position and how? Second – Do you still have a copy
of the by-laws, mission statements, and 5013c
forms, and record of membership of the Board of Directors from 2000-2003
(until the new Pride Day arrangement with GLCCU was put in place in February)?
Third- I would like a copy of past Pride Day budgets from 2000-2003. Are they
available and itemized? This
information would help me fill in the gaps in my data file since I stopped
gathering materials in 1999. I was told the world was coming to an end in 2000.
I must have been misinformed. I know Sherry and you will be swamped soon so
could we meet sometime in the next two weeks? That should give you time to
acquire material solicited and I am more than willing to reimburse any
Xeroxing expenses. Again I want to thank you in advance.
Sincerely Ben Williams PS Do you mind if I bring a tape recorder? I find it
helpful in my old age when I can’t read my notes. [Sherry Booth and Craig Miler
never responded to my request]
- 2003 Subject Ben Williams to Chad Keller :Pride Day 2002 It took me three days but here is all your emails condensed to 75 pages, spelled checked, and put in chronological order as well as I could. Go through it and delete non pertinent items and take out what you don't want because I want to have it as a historical document...PS Did youth group ever get its money? Was the $106,000 budget ever itemized? Was there a monetary deficiency? Have they made a budget for this year and does it include salaries? Who is on the current 2003 Pride Board and EC? As a 501(3c) are they required to let the public see their expenditures? Ben
- Chad Keller Thanks! We forgot to do lunch yesterday....I’ll see you Wednesday...if I or you asked they would probably not give us any info that would be helpful. They have meetings at 1:00 pm each month...what a convenient time to seek the community’s input....the answers to your questions-no they didn’t get their money, The bugdet was never itemized Darien Hobbs did all he could to make it appear that there was a deficiency. I’m sure they have a budget but they would never say the Center Board of director, and Jerry Rapier, director of the Plan B theatre is the Paid Event Coordinator. and daily accounts to the Lord Majesty. They will let you see stuff, but you have to request a meeting 30 days prior and there are stipulations, and they usually have only an overview as typical with the center. [I] just got a call from Eric Marcus. He would love to come to Utah and has been through here on several occasions. He is availabe the weekend of October 17 & 18 As we are going through him and not his agent he will come for 1500.00 to 2000.00 (we get to pick where in that range we feel comfortable.) then we also have to cover expenses. (hotel, airfare, food, hospitality, and what not) I know that we can get the Globe to do a small dinner party to raise funds.....I have talked to my contact at the Monaco and they would be happy to sponsor a room for him. We probably should look at the grant with the Humanities Council and also see about bringing them on as a partner...I loath even having to think about consider begging the DeathStar for help, or partnering. After thinking and being inspired by the meeting on Saturday, we need to find a diplomatic way to invite people to participate
2005 A healthy way to spend St. Paddy’s Day! Health Expo at the
Center – in conjunction with National GLBT Health Awareness Week: What a night
it will be! Come watch Melissa Etheridge
perform – bald & beautiful – at the 2005 Grammies on the big screen. Get a free massage, as well as free
screenings for your blood pressure & antioxidant levels. There will also be a wealth of information on
community resources and health issues that affect the GLBT community, such as
tobacco, cancer, Crystal Meth & HIV, safer sex, domestic violence, trans
issues, mental health and more!
2006 As long as Larry Miller has money he will be a
"God" in Utah. Utah
is and always has been one of the most materialistic, mammon worshipping, money
grubbing, get rich-pyramid scheming place that ever existed. One's wealth is
physical proof of spiritual greatness. Isn't it? The poor are poor because of
sin, idleness, and disobedience; the rich are rich because blessings are
predicated on hard work and obedience to the principles of the Gospel. Wealth
is a virtue. Poverty is a sign of vice. Studying the state's history it is easy
to see that Utah
was founded as a Ponci or pyramid scheme. Those at the top (Brigham Young)were
amassing fortunes by keeping the recruits coming in poor with promises of riches
if not in this life then perhaps a latter one. At BYU I remember a kid telling
me he wanted to become rich because he wanted to be a General Authority and you
have to be rich to be a GA. He said that there was nothing wrong with being
rich because all the GA's are. Here tithing is kind of a "wealth"
insurance. When I first investigated the LDS church, when I was 21 years old in
California, I remember how odd it was that people would bear their testimonies
on getting new cars, new jobs, or some financial reward for having paid
tithing. Kind of a Spirtual Lottery; to win you got to play. Larry Miller and
the other Utah millionaires that run this
fiefdom we call Utah
will always be held up as the shining example of how Jesus the Capitalist
rewards his faithful tithe payers. But you better pay, because he is also an
extortionist and will plague your house if you don't pay up. So here's to a
"Life Elevated", Larry Miller, the philanthropist, a true lover of
mankind, but not in any sort of sissy boy queer way. (As for me, I say bring on
the eyes of the needles. Lets see if Larry fits.) [Ben Williams]
2006 - "Pot of Gold" Solid Gold 70's show at Heads Up 9pm
2007 From: "Ben Williams" To: "Stuart Merrill"
No one but you made that assumption Stuart that you weren't doing anything
years ago, but on the other hand just because your experience is different then
some of ours- don't assume that someone else's views are
"barbaric". That name calling
is what set people off -not you wanting people to "speculate less and
pray" more. I agree with praying
for your enemies but I don't agree with disparaging our friends either. I am
sorry that your experience with some of the "leaders" of the Gay
community weren't positive when you first arrived but then again these
"self appointed" people were not responsive to us either. Times change. People come here to Salt Lake City with a
personal agenda, build a resume and then they are out of here. I can't tell you how many times I have seen
that. Those were probably some of the people you dealt with. It's a new world of Gay professionalism and
perhaps that is a good thing but those who spent years without any thought of
remuneration have a whole different attitude -that is that Gay activism is more
the a paycheck. Those people courting
the money machine then had their agenda and I suppose AIDS was not among them.
I am glad that Gayle Ruzicka had the clout to help you on a "health" issue
but pardon those of us who are still dealing with the fallout of her political agenda. I am glad to know that Gayle has some
decency. But it reminds me of Clair Harwood, dying of AIDS, excommunicated from
his church, and only when national outrage hits the church, their PR spin was
that they were feeding him from the welfare system. He didn't go to his Bishop for food- he went
for spiritual solace in the face of his impending death. The mind set that a little charity covers a
multitude of hate is very prevalent here. I am glad that Gayle has the decency to care
for the sick and perhaps it will be a little solace to her come judgment day.
You remind me a lot of my friend David Sharpton, who like you, fought against a
tidal wave of homophobia and ignorance when he came here from Texas to set Utah Mormons and Gays
straight. He like you was a dynamo and
where his energy came from I have no idea. Perhaps he knew he had a lot to
accomplish before the end. He died
before there were any cocktails or inhibitors just AZT which he was only able
to get because of Dr. Ries and his celebrity status. He like you was at the
state legislature every year trying to control the damage that Joy Beech,
Gayle's predecessor, was doing up on the hill and after her death, he had to
fight Gayle. Towards the end his anger was the only thing that was sustaining
him, alienating his friends, lover, and his colleagues at the PWAC. But I respected his anger because it kept him
alive and when his anger was gone so was he.
However it was his anger that people remembered towards the end and not
all his good works. I am just passing
through like you, and trying to keep alive the memories of some incredible
people, if I have offended you I am sorry, but to take offense when none was
intended, I don't know how to fix that. I have never attacked or criticized
your integrity nor your devotion to this community nor would I - but I feel an
obligation to speak out when I feel people I had grown to love and respect are
cast in an unfair light. Take care of your self. Ben
- Stuart Merrill wrote: Ben, I do take issue
with one thing you said. It is true that Mr.
Moser and you have been "around" in Utah longer than me. But please know that 20 years ago when you guys were fighting in Utah I was fighting to bring the first ever education AIDS TV commercials to Eastern Europe. I was using my connections to get them broadcast to millions throughout the Eastern Block on Soviet TV and radio and on Radio Free Europe. I was telling literally hundreds of millions of people, for the first time ever, what they should do to protect themselves from AIDS, what they should do to help those who had AIDS. I was taking on the Reagan appointed US ambassador to the Soviet Union, trying to make him see we had to help educate people in Eastern Europe about AIDS. After that I was kicked out of the American Embassy in Moscow bleeding from my ear from an injury, not knowing if I was going to regain my hearing. The staff kicked the fag out of the embassy and refused to help me. I had a brilliant future and career and I put it all on the line to take on the Reagan administration not knowing if I would lose everything because I did the right thing. And in fact I did lose that career. The head of Radio Free Europe found an excuse to fire me. He said he "wanted to thin the radio out from all those damn fags". I had been the Deputy Director of the Russian Department. The larges radio audience in the world at that time. But I never hesitated to do the right thing no matter what it did to my career. I did not find another job after he fired me for FIVE years. I put everything I ever worked for my entire life on the line over and over again to help people with AIDS and this was long before I became infected myself. Just because I wasn’t working with you, please don’t assume I was doing nothing. Stuart
Stuart Merrill - From: "Stuart Merrill" To: Ben Williams I just sent the following email to Courtney Moser. I don't know him, but he sounds like a wonderful man. Mr. Moser, It was never my intent to call you barbaric. I meant the impulse of speculating in public is barbaric. I was upset and should have stated my sympathy more carefully. To be honest with myself I would in all likelihood had the same impulse, but as it turns out this strange woman became my friend due to an odd turn of events. I have worked in politics for decades with the likes President Carter, the last Prime Ministers of the Soviet Union (a real SOB) and many heads of state from around the world. I’ve played politics in the big leagues for a long time. I returned to Utah when I almost died of AIDS and my career was over. I wanted to be near my family. I chose to work with Gayle to get people like me access to HIV meds. President Bush was taking away our funding. I initially didn’t want to talk to her, but I knew she had the power to help us and I thought I had nothing to lose. I was trying to save lives. When I started this fight for getting money to pay for HIV meds from the state most of the leaders of the gay community would not even return my phone calls as I pleaded with them to help save the lives of gay men like me with HIV. The only exceptions being Scott and Jackie. Thank God our present community leaders are wonderfully supportive. However, the then head of Equality Utah actually said to me “people are tired of that issue”. The leaders of our community then did not lift a finger to help in our struggle until the work I was doing made the front page of the Salt Lake Trib. Then suddenly the work I was doing was worthy of their help. I was desperate. I was trying to save lives. I've been working in politics for decades and I’m a pragmatist and a realist. I knew there were only a hand full of people in Utah that had the power to get the Utah Leg to pay for HIV meds. I asked ALL of them to help, all of them, regardless of who they were. There were two power brokers in Utah who did not even hesitate to help me. One was Pamela Atkinson, God bless that woman I love her. The other was Gayle (Ruzicka), not 15 minutes after I asked for her help I heard her talking one of the leaders of the Utah Senate into helping people with HIV. I remember thinking how strange that my own community hesitated, but this woman did not. I’m a political pragmatic. I'll work with whom ever I have to to same lives of people with HIV. Too many of my friends have died. In the process I asked Gayle and she has worked hard to help us for years. In the process she became my friend. I would made friend with the devil to save lives. I hope you accept my apology and my explanation. It was never my intent to call you barbaric. I’m sorry. God bless you. Stuart Merrill
2007 Sponsored by the University of Utah College of Social Work ,
ASUU, the Obert C. and Grace A. Tanner Humanities Center , and the Marriott Center
for Dance. sWerve's St. Patrick's Day Dance Party! Saturday, March 17th @ 7PM Static Salon - 380
West Pierpont With REAL music you can dance to! Featuring a performance by the
Salt Lake City Kings (bring your tip money!). Suggested donation: $10 or 3 for
$25. Donations go to support a local charity. sWerve is an affiliate program of
the Utah Pride Center.
For more information on this event and sWerve,
2007 Please Join The RCGSE along with Empress 20 Shaneka Christie
and Empress 30 Krystyna Shaylee For:
"DIVAS LAS VEGAS" AN ALL
IMPERSONATION SHOW FEATURINGS SOME OF UTAHS PERFOMERS IMPERSONATING YOUR
FAVORATIVE STARS Saturday March 17th 9pm At the Trapp Door* $5 Donation to
benefit the RCGSE General Fund
2011 Pride Softball League celebrates 17 years by Brad Di Iorio Q Salt Lakw Preparing for its 17th season, the Pride Softball League, Salt Lake City’s gay and lesbian softball league, is now forming teams and taking player registration for the 2011 summer season. Team registration closes March 21, and individual player registration continues March 17, at Club Try-Angles, and March 20, at Bonwood Bowl. Potential players that miss these dates may register for a team up to the middle of the season. “Every year we have people contact us too late in the season to get on a team,” said Jarrod Ames, one of three league commissioners this year. “The cost to register a team is $465. Additionally, there is a $10 ‘player fee’ to make the team eligible for anything sponsored by Pride Softball League.” Most teams will be returning including some of the new teams that were formed by players last year. Again this year, plans include three divisions; the Olympus, or ‘A’ division, the Wasatch, or ‘B’ division, and the recreational ‘C’ division, or Oquirrh. Depending on how many players participate this year, each division will consist of four to five teams that will play each other and other teams in the league. Ames says that there are 15 teams signed up right now. “Individual players seeking a team to play with need to e-mail us with the following information: name, sex, contact information and positions they can play,” Ames said. “This information is placed on the Individual Player list and given to coaches who need to fill positions. There are generally enough individuals interested to form at least one [new] team to participate in the league.” Players are responsible for their own equipment, and attending practices leading up to their team’s games. Each team may also have team dues but each team is responsible for team uniform and hats. Opening day is tentatively April 10th, depending on weather. “The league has become so popular we no longer fit on Jordan Park’s single field,” Ames said. “This season we will be playing on the three fields at Sunnyside Park.” Sunnyside Park is located at 1600 E. 840 South, in Salt Lake City and games will be played on Sundays, as in the past. Everyone is welcome to play, regardless of ability and experience, gender and age. Teams will hold practices, and encourage and teach players the sport, if a potential player is new or hasn’t played softball in years. Team camaraderie and making new friends in a competitive or semi-competitive atmosphere are the benefits of joining the league and participating in summer league play, Ames said. This year, Pride Softball League will participate in the Utah Pride parade and a surprise celebrity guest is scheduled to make an appearance with their entry. A new event is in the works tentatively called ‘Gay Day with The Salt Lake Bees.’ Sponsors of teams or the league are still needed. “Pride Softball League is selling vouchers good for the best seat available at any Salt Lake Bees home games, other than fireworks nights,” Ames said. “These are $10 each and can be purchased by contacting psl@prideleague.com.” For more information, go to PrideLeague.com. The Pride League is a part of Salt Lake City Gay Athletic Association (SLCGAA) and checks need to be made out to this entity for team and player registration.
2011 Pride Softball League celebrates 17 years by Brad Di Iorio Q Salt Lakw Preparing for its 17th season, the Pride Softball League, Salt Lake City’s gay and lesbian softball league, is now forming teams and taking player registration for the 2011 summer season. Team registration closes March 21, and individual player registration continues March 17, at Club Try-Angles, and March 20, at Bonwood Bowl. Potential players that miss these dates may register for a team up to the middle of the season. “Every year we have people contact us too late in the season to get on a team,” said Jarrod Ames, one of three league commissioners this year. “The cost to register a team is $465. Additionally, there is a $10 ‘player fee’ to make the team eligible for anything sponsored by Pride Softball League.” Most teams will be returning including some of the new teams that were formed by players last year. Again this year, plans include three divisions; the Olympus, or ‘A’ division, the Wasatch, or ‘B’ division, and the recreational ‘C’ division, or Oquirrh. Depending on how many players participate this year, each division will consist of four to five teams that will play each other and other teams in the league. Ames says that there are 15 teams signed up right now. “Individual players seeking a team to play with need to e-mail us with the following information: name, sex, contact information and positions they can play,” Ames said. “This information is placed on the Individual Player list and given to coaches who need to fill positions. There are generally enough individuals interested to form at least one [new] team to participate in the league.” Players are responsible for their own equipment, and attending practices leading up to their team’s games. Each team may also have team dues but each team is responsible for team uniform and hats. Opening day is tentatively April 10th, depending on weather. “The league has become so popular we no longer fit on Jordan Park’s single field,” Ames said. “This season we will be playing on the three fields at Sunnyside Park.” Sunnyside Park is located at 1600 E. 840 South, in Salt Lake City and games will be played on Sundays, as in the past. Everyone is welcome to play, regardless of ability and experience, gender and age. Teams will hold practices, and encourage and teach players the sport, if a potential player is new or hasn’t played softball in years. Team camaraderie and making new friends in a competitive or semi-competitive atmosphere are the benefits of joining the league and participating in summer league play, Ames said. This year, Pride Softball League will participate in the Utah Pride parade and a surprise celebrity guest is scheduled to make an appearance with their entry. A new event is in the works tentatively called ‘Gay Day with The Salt Lake Bees.’ Sponsors of teams or the league are still needed. “Pride Softball League is selling vouchers good for the best seat available at any Salt Lake Bees home games, other than fireworks nights,” Ames said. “These are $10 each and can be purchased by contacting psl@prideleague.com.” For more information, go to PrideLeague.com. The Pride League is a part of Salt Lake City Gay Athletic Association (SLCGAA) and checks need to be made out to this entity for team and player registration.
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