This Day In Utah Gay History March 21st

21 March 

1888 The Mullett Case- The police last evening arrested Joseph Mullett on the charge of having committed the ““Crime Against Nature””; the circumstances connected with the offense are said to be most revolting. The defendant was arraigned before Justice Pyper this morning and pleaded not guilty. His bail was fixed at $1000 and the preliminary examination is to be held tomorrow afternoon. Failing to find securities the defendant was committed to jail. That he should have been guilty of such a crime seems almost incredible but the prosecutors allege that they have ample proof. Mr Mullett is a married man and his family are highly respectable.  Deseret News [ Mullett born 29 November 1838 in Charlton, Somerset, England. Came to Utah in 1868, married and had five children before 1880. He was sent on a mission in 1881 to New Jersey. LDs Records show that he died 13 Dec 1922 in SLC UT]

1890 The Case against Thomas Hanrahan charged with the ““Crime Against Nature”” was continued until this morning Salt Lake Herald 

• 1890 Ogden Standard Examiner Notes from Salt Lake page 6 Thomas Haurahan, arrested for a “Crime Against Nature” will have his case investigated by the grand jury. It is claimed that Otto Venson the other party arrested was so drunk that he could not defend himself against the attack when Haurahan assaulted him (1880 Census of Denver Colorado says Thomas Haurahan was 45 and single.)

1931-The Baltimore Afro-American reported "1931 Debutantes Bow at Local Pansy Ball."

1942-Nazi official R. Heydrich released an edict that the prevention of homosexuality and abortion were essential for maintaining racial purity.

1971- -In a private home in Bountiful, Utah a few Gay and Lesbians gathered to begin a Salt Lake City outreach of the Metropolitan Community Church of Los Angles  In attendance was John Leigh. (The Best Source Vol. 1 Issue 5 June 1985)

1974-Cross-dressing actor Candy Darling died at age 26 of pneumonia and cancer.

1980-Fundamental Christian Bob Jones condemned President Carter for his permissiveness toward homosexuals. He also claimed that homosexuals  cannot be Christians.

Russ Lane

1986- “I called Russ Lane and asked if he could meet me tomorrow having felt the necessity of keeping him in Salt Lake City to enrich the lives of thousands of Gay Latter Day Saints.” (Journal of Ben Williams)

1987 - Ken Francis won the Calendar Boy Contest at Backstreet (Journal of Ben Williams)

1988 - I hosted another AIDS Quilt meeting and we filled out the forms for the IRS tax exempt status. Only Rocky O’Donavan, Bruce Harmon, Ben Barr, and I showed up.

We are pissed to learn that AIDS Project Utah used our name in support of an AIDS grant they applied for without consulting us first. (Journal of Ben Williams)

1988-- I went to LGSU with Eric Christensen. Dismal showing but of course school is out for Spring break now.

1990  GAY BASHING POLICE ACCUSED OF FAILING TO AID GAY CRIME VICTIMS [Deseret News] The Salt Lake City Police Department is failing to respond to hate crimes against gays and is telling homosexuals they bring the crimes upon themselves "because of who we are," a gay man told the City Council Tuesday. But Police Chief Michael Chabries said the incident was an isolated occurrence that the department was already investigating and to paint the entire department as anti-gay because of a single assault is unfair.  On March 9, six gay men were assaulted on Main Street by a 13 assailants, one of whom struck one gay man with a baseball bat, Dennis Morrow, 21, told the council. Morrow said the incident was reported to police, who responded. But a female officer who Morrow could not identify told the group of gays they could expect little police assistance.  "I was told by the police officer that we were not victims, we were bringing it on ourselves because of who we are," Morrow said. "That's basically like saying that if the blacks were willing to go back to Africa that the Klu Klux Klan would not burn crosses on their front lawns," Morrow said. Morrow, who said he was not representing an organized homosexual group, asked the council and Mayor Palmer DePaulis to pressure the police department into responding more appropriately to hate crimes. "We'd like to count on the Salt Lake Police Department's support . . but if we can't, we'll fight back anyway we can," he said. "Yes, it's a tough issue. It's an issue that's got a lot of taboos surrounding it. But we're asking you to put ethics and justice before that," he said. Chabries said he was aware of the incident and it was under investigation. However, no formal complaint has been lodged against the officer whom Morrow quoted, and therefore he was not aware of her comments.  "All we have to have is a complaint of misconduct (by an officer) and we'll look into it," Chabries said. While Morrow said he was aware of other hate crimes against gays, Chabries said "that's easy for him to say at a City Council meeting." No one has reported similar incidents to the department. "I've been chief now for almost two years, and this is the first time that complaint's been raised, and he didn't take it to me, he took it to the City Council," Chabries said.  © 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.

1991- The National Association of People With  AIDS has decided to hold its annual general membership and board meeting in Washington, D.C., instead of Salt Lake City, partly because of a  "power struggle" between local AIDS programs here.   "We felt that when we hold NAPWA board meetings we have to do the business of a board meeting," said Earl Thomas, president of NAPWA.   "If the political climate is stormy in the site wechoose, that makes it more difficult to get our work done." It's uncertain how many NAPWA members would have attended the meeting. NAPWA executive director Mike Merdian said the group has 114 chapters with membership ranging from200 to 3,000 members each. Dick Gilliland, vice president of marketing for the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he wasn't aware of the controversy and that his agency wasn't involved in the event. "We don't get involved in social issues or politics," he said. Another reason NAPWA decided to hold its meeting in Washington was because it recently relocated there and wanted board members to see the new office, Mr. Thomas said.  Mr. Merdian said the group [Response to Stuart McDonald’s Letter]

1991-The Minneapolis Star Tribune became the first major newspaper to print same-sex union announcements.

1997 the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Teachers Network (GLSTN) held its first national conference in Salt Lake City at the Downtown Holiday Inn.  Keynote address at the 3 day event was by Urvashi Vaid author of “Virtual Equality”. According to Kevin Jennings, GLSTN's national executive director, Utah was chosen  to host the conference due to the 1996 legislature furor over the Gay/Straight alliance clubs in High Schools in Utah. 277 participants came to the conference from 31 states and Canada.

1997-Who Will Win (and WhoShould Win) Oscars; Some Taking a Shine To Rush, But Don't Count Out Billy Bob Byline: BY SEAN P. MEANS THE SALTLAKE TRIBUNE AIDS Foundation Oscar Night  In what is becoming an Oscar tradition, the Utah AIDS Foundation will honor volunteers at its annual Oscar Night Gala on Monday. About 2,000 partygoers are expected to attend the sixth annual gala, with the theme ``Cirque de Vie (Circus of Life),'' starting at 6p.m. Monday at the Grand and Horticulture buildings at the Utah State Fairpark.   At the party, one of 23 nationwide sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, revelers will watch the Oscar telecast on large screens. They also will enjoy live circus entertainment, a catered dinner, a silent auction, a raffle drawing and dancing.  ``Academy of Friends Awards'' will be presented to people who have worked to help people living with AIDS and HIV in Utah and who have fought the spread of the virus. Those volunteers are Glen Dimond, Sue Foster, Brenda Burton, Lou Arnold, Helen Forsberg and Kathy Lynch.   Tickets for the gala are $45 a person for reserved table seating, $360 for a table of eight, or $1,000 for a corporate table of 10. Ticketsare available at Smith's Tix, or by calling theUtah AIDS Foundation at 487-2323. 03/21/97Page: E7

1999   Wasatch Affirmation held 5pm at Metropolitan Community Church and showed  video and held discussion on  "All God's Children"

1999 Gala Oscar Night Party UAF fundraiser at the Doubletree Hotel SLC The 8th Annual Gala Oscar Night Party for the Utah AIDS Foundation held at the Doubletree Hotel SLC. The Utah AIDS Foundation surpassed its goal of raising $110,000. 

1999 Utah Gay Latino Association held a  dance at Brick's Club 

2003 Dear Community; Before the rumor mill starts and get out of control, I just wanted you to know I was recently told to step down by Paul Cunato as a member of the Board of UGRA for voicing my opinion that The UGRA Board needs to address the problems of the Association, make right the problems created by the cancellation of 2003, get business plans in line, lay out time lines and procedures to have a rodeo, develop a program to get contestants from here and afar to come to our Rodeo, before it gets more hopes up and starts planning a 2004 Rodeo.  Yes we all want it, but UGRA's problems are not in the lack of funding for a rodeo, but in the fact it is a dying organization.  While I commend them for the courage to cancel, it was perhaps only thought out on personal levels and not though a process which embraced the community support that was waiting for them.  The current board is a very busy group of people, and the time to do this was perhaps a big factor in their own personal decisions, aside from the finances.  An Event of this magnitude start on the shoulders of the few, and as the energy develops so does the help.  The problem isnt in the Rodeo, but the current state of the organization. My opinion of course, as always, did not set well.  They were set that they could just start 2004 and all the support in the world would be there, overlooking the problems that were created with the state in the cancellation.   If you only have 30 members and half those are from out of state then it still will fall to a small group to carry the burden. An organization that I care deeply about UGRA, is wounded.  I have watched as its life has slowly been drained from it.  Poor decision, back room deals, and it inability to be an active and positive influence in the community for the last few years have all contributed to its present day decay.  It has functioned for years below its own standards, and has become greatly dysfunctional.  I felt I had to say what needed to be done in a last ditch effort to save one of Utahns Last original organizations. Time and time again I have sacrificed health, boyfriends, and financial stability to build up different groups in Salt Lake, especially UGRA.  What do I have to show for it?  Years of therapy, broken relationships and a bankruptcy.  Emotionally I am drained on UGRA and it is sucking the very creativity of which I thrive out of me for the benefit and praise for a few. The RCGSE will always be something I care about because even with all the drama at the time, it still cares about its people and finds in its own way and in due time a great show of appreciation.  Groups like the Forum, Guild and USHS are things I helped create, and will continue with them making sure that they are lasting legacies for the our community.  I will continue to create and live in the visions that the universe graciously grants to me to make everyone’s lives better, more fulfilling, and exciting, for those who have learned the value of the human heart and community.   Lesson have been learned, and its time to look at the other possibilities that my creativity, energy, and heart can make a greater difference.  Hind sight they say is 20/20 vision.  After what the UGRA did the last time I should have never looked back. The Pig fund will be given out as indicated on Saturday $100.00 to 4-H, RCGSE Cancer Fund, and Bad Dog Rediscovers America.  $200.00 to Memory Grove for Plants and Trees, and $300.00 to the Utah Stonewall Historical Society.  Harriet the decorated Pig will be actioned off and the $97.00 in the fund will be paired together and given to Wasatch Community Gardens.  All programs that meet the mission of the UGRA.  Each are outstanding and embrace the diversity and acceptance we strive for.  Best and Warmest Regards, Chad Keller

2006 Dear Community Members: Last night, your hard work and continued efforts were rewarded. Governor Jon Huntsman vetoed Lavar Christensen's HB148 Parent And Child Amendment to terminate a Gay parental rights! Let's take a moment to call and/or email the Governor to thank him for his veto of HB148.

2006 Adolf's ideals in Utah Salt Lake Tribune Adolf Hitler had perfect ideals for a better world: a mom and dad, several children, all fair-haired with blue eyes. If it didn't meet his Nazi party definition of ideal, they were eventually put on lists for extermination, experimentation or family reassignment. We fought World War II partially to ensure that every family of every kind had the same rights as the family next door, no matter the structure. Groups like Sutherland Institute (author of the Natural Family Resolution) and Focus on the Family, and even the GOP, clearly show that Adolf's ideals are still alive and well here in Utah. Chad Keller Salt Lake City

2007 Join the Equality Riders at the Metropolitan Community Church in Salt Lake City (@ 823 South 600 East) for a presentation from the Riders. The presentation will begin at 7pm. After the program, please join the Riders to hear about their experiences at other colleges on the West Bus route and to learn more about their plans for the visit to BYU.  On Wednesday, March 21st, join the Equality Riders at UVSC for presentations in their Grand Ballroom. You can find the Grand Ballroom in the Student Center. The presentations will be running continuously from 10AM to 3PM. This is an academic setting. As such, please respect an environment of academic inclusion and freedom of inquiry. The presentations are open to UVSC and BYU students. Please come and bring your friends.  On Wednesday, March 21st, join the Equality Riders and LDS Family Fellowship for a Panel Presentation at the Provo City Library ( 550 N University Ave ). This is an opportunity to hear from the LGBT community at BYU, including current students, about their experiences with the BYU campus environment. Please feel free to bring friends and family. The presentation will begin at 7PM. Soul Force’s Equality Ride is making its stop at BYU this THURSDAY and has a peaceful walk planned that requires ALL of us to participate for maximum impact.  Lets let BYU and the larger community know that we CARE about GLBT students and GLBT rights by showing up en masse to this walk!!  The parameter of BYU is large, so to make a visual impact WE NEED YOU!  Come walk for an hour – or for the entire day!  Please see details below, as well as details on other related Equality Ride events:  On Thursday, March 22nd, join the Equality Riders and members of the Utah communities for a peaceful walk around BYU's campus. Like the Walls of Jericho in ancient times, BYU has walls that need to come down. We affirm that attitudes and actions motivated by fear, oppression, and misunderstanding towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people have no place at BYU or any other institution of higher learning. Come and join us—wearing RED clothing—to peacefully walk in solidarity as a testament to the LGBT students on campus that we are not sick and sinful, but loved and accepted children of a masterful, intentional Creator. The walk will begin at 10 AM and continue until 4 PM. Dress appropriately. Bring water, and good walking shoes. Feel free take a break, for food or to rest your weary legs. You will be able to reenter the walk at any time. When you arrive at BYU, please look for the nearest Equality Rider to direct you to a Staging Area with training, the route, and other instructions. Please join us after the walk at 5 PM in Kiwanis Park (820 North 1100 East / Provo , UT ) for a Community Rally. Help make BYU a safer place for LGBT people and a better place for all.