This Day In Gay Utah History May 8

8 May

1890 The grand jury came into court and reported two indictments under the United States laws and two indictments under territorial laws. They also reported that the case against Thomas Hanrahan charged with sodomy had been Ignored. Salt Lake Herald

1967 America’s changing attitudes towards illicit sex, gambling, drinking, and abortion require less strict criminal laws, says President’s Crime Commission. Numerous so called sin laws tie up police who could otherwise concentrate on matter’s threatening public safety the commission said. Although strong laws should be enforced in cases of rape, child molestation, and organized vice, “the situation is less clear “ regarding acts between consenting adults including fornication, adultery, sodomy, and homosexuality,” the commission said. Ogden Standard Examiner

1967 The country’s first Gay student organization was formed at Columbia University in New York. It was called the Student Homophile League.

1968 Wednesday Salt Lake City’s perennial counter culture activist Charles E. Artman “Charlie Brown”, dressed in a bat man cape and wearing a cross, appeared before SLC Council to  make an application to hold a HAPPENING-LOVE-IN at Liberty Park. He invited the council to come “Fly kites, blow bubbles, and listen to rock bands with the barefoot youths”. (05/08/68 SLTribune page 39)

Ken Kline 

1977-Sunday The Gay Student Union at the university of Utah organized from Paul Larson’s Gay Conscious Raising Group sponsored a kegger up Parley Canyon. Ken Kline is first President of Gay Student Union

Nikki Boyer

1984- Women Aware met at Nikki Boyer’s home to determine if Women Aware would continue as a group or dissolve.

1991 The U. Academic Senate approved policy changes ensuring that students are not harassed because of their sexual orientation. The hiring and promotion of faculty and staff also would have to be done without regard for sexual preference. The changes were developed following campus incidences where Gay and lesbian students and faculty were discriminated against and verbally and physically harassed, said Rocky O'Donovan, a U. student and

Connell O'Donovan

member of ALGEBRA - Alliance of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Rights Advocates.

1993 Shain K. Ricketts, age 30, passed away of Kaposiis Sarcoma. Survived by very special friend, Kevin Little. He enjoyed camping and hiking and had great respect for all living things. Shain was a warm, loving, caring and gentle person who touched the lives of many and will continue to live in the hearts of us all.

1997  Legislature was anti-gay, group says  Action on one bill was enough to put it in that category, panel adds.  By Bob Bernick Jr., Staff Writer A national gay and lesbian group says the Utah Legislature can be considered "anti-gay" for its 1997 work. Actually, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force rated as "anti-gay" the action on only one bill in Utah's 1997 session. More than 700 bills and resolutions were introduced in the session. But action on that one bill was enough to put Utah in the anti-gay category of the 50 state legislatures reviewed, the group said.  The group found no bills or actions in the Utah session that it characterized as "pro-gay."  The task force says it is the leading group monitoring various legislatures on "gay-related" laws. The group, based in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1973.  While the Utah bill is not listed by name in the NGLTF report, it is likely

David Ure

Rep. David Ure's HB134. During the session, Ure, R-Kamas, said he introduced the bill at the request of the Utah Statewide Association of Prosecutors. The bill's main purpose was to increase the penalty for forcible sodomy against a victim younger than 16 years. But it also would have removed the criminal penalty, a Class B misdemeanor, for the act of sodomy between consenting married adults. Homosexual acts are defined in other state statutes as acts of sodomy. Ure's bill failed, thus keeping sodomy a crime between unmarried, as well as married, consenting adults regardless of their gender. The bill never had a hearing; it was never sent to a House standing committee.  Having only one "anti-gay" action in the Utah Legislature, and it being the rather mild HB134, could be seen by some as a good year for gay-rights advocates in Utah. In the 1996 Legislature, the Senate held an illegal meeting to discuss a perceived "pro-gay" agenda in public schools. And the Legislature as a whole passed a bill aimed at banning support clubs

Lane Beattie

for gay and lesbian students in public junior and senior high schools. By comparison, the NGLTF said the Mississippi Legislature had 12 "anti-gay" bills or actions with no "pro-gay" bills or actions. The Rhode Island Legislature had 11 "pro-gay" pieces of legislation with only two "anti-gay" actions. Utah Senate President Lane Beattie, R-West Bountiful, says the Utah Legislature is "pro-heterosexual," not anti-gay, and that is an appropriate posture "based on the makeup of the state's population."   "I don't believe we discriminate against anyone," said Beattie. "But I can say that (the Legislature as a whole) will do everything in its power to make sure that the homo-sexual/lesbian lifestyle is not taught or condoned in any way in our public education system. I'd say that the majority of the state believes that the homosexual lifestyle is not a lifestyle that can be recommended. "But I add that we also believe that their (homosexuals') civil rights shouldn't be violated, either," Beattie said.

1997 The Salt Lake Tribune Utah's State Bird Comes Out of Closet By Lee Siegel In a state where the gay rights debate is contentious, here's a surprise: Utah's state bird -- the California gull -- sometimes is homosexual, according to a Utah State University researcher. During two decades of research, Michael Conover found that when males are scarce, up to 2 percent of female California gulls get inseminated by males who already have mates, then court females to share nests and raise chicks. Scientific papers call them "homosexual" pairs. The gull's same-sex pairing is ironic because many Utahns, invoking biblical injunctions, call homosexuality an "abomination." Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Eagle Forum, said: "Two birds living together who help each other baby-sit their children -- like two single mothers living together -- doesn't constitute gay." Told that female gulls mount each other, Ruzicka said: "My question is, who has been doing all this bird-watching?" Utah gay activist David Nelson predicted: "We may see an increase in seagull-bashing." If so, the American Civil Liberties Union won't help. "We don't do birds," said director Carol Gnade.

Richard Teerlink

1999 Richard Teerlink wrote to the SL Tribune: I am writing in support of the actions of Kay Peterson, the principal of East High School. I am a retired AP Biology teacher. I taught at Kearns High School for 30 years. My children attend schools in Salt Lake City School District and both graduated from Highland High School. My children and I experienced in the schools, on an almost daily basis, the intense, irrational hatred of homosexuals. The worst epithet that a student can hurl is "faggot" and "dyke." I heard it all the time and rarely do teachers or students try to stop this behavior.    My claim that it is irrational is based on the evidence from modern biology and psychology that homosexuality is not chosen. It is simply one of the endless ways that all of humanity is diverse. The hatred has its roots in Christianity and Mormonism in our particular community. I see a parallel here with Nazi Germany. If it were not for the anti-Semitism of the Catholic and Lutheran Churches in Germany, Hitler's virulent anti-Semitism would never have taken root. Just as Germany, and much of the world, was blind to their own irrational hatred of Jews, so is this community blind to the hatred of homosexuals. The hatred is wrong and unjust.     I am very proud of the way that Kay Peterson, his choices and policy, took a stand against irrational hatred. I see Salt Lake City School District as being frightened to stand against this irrational hatred. That Kay Peterson received no support for his decision to allow a six-minute presentation about the discrimination against homosexuals at an assembly at East High School is appalling.     It sends a chilling message to teachers and administrators that if you take a stand against the irrational hatred of homosexuals you will be abandoned to face on your own the hateful judgments that Kay Peterson received. Kay Peterson's courage to stand against irrational hatred is rare in this community.  RICHARD B. TEERLINK  Salt Lake City

 1999THE DESERET NEWS Gay group disrespectful Concerning the controversy surrounding the Gay/Straight Alliance presentation at East High recently, some people have cried that those who opposed the presentation are being intolerant. Tolerance is a word that is often used to elicit an emotional response. But those supporting the presentation don't really believe in tolerance. They believe in forwarding an agenda. If these people really believed in tolerance and respect, they would have tolerance for others' religious beliefs. The Gay/Straight Alliance knows very well that many parents of Utah high school students believe homosexuality to be morally wrong, yet in their intolerant and disrespectful way chose to parade their agenda across the stage at East High to a captive audience. If that is not a blatant disregard for the feelings of others, I don't know what is. For many in this community, this is not a cultural issue, it is a religious one. Don't wave the word "tolerance" in front of the parents who are only trying to protect their children according to their religious beliefs. Jennifer Beckstrand Centerville

1999 Seminar set in Ogden on hate crimes OGDEN -- A two-day National Hate Crimes Symposium next week will feature federal prosecutors, judges, the director of the National Task Force Against Hate and church leaders. All are participating in "The Changing Face of Hate in Utah," a comprehensive symposium that will examine the anatomy of hate crimes, hate groups and hate on the Internet.The U.S. Attorney's Office in Salt Lake City announced on Thursday the two-day event, which is being held at the David Eccles Conference Center and Peery's Egyptian Theater, 2415 Washington Blvd. Co-sponsored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international human rights organization, the conference is May 18-19. The keynote speaker is Bill Lann Lee, acting assistant attorney general for civil rights at

Bill Lann Lee

the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and Sen. Pete Suazo, D-Salt Lake. , who sponsored a failed hate crimes bill during the last legislative session. Lee will be speaking May 18 at noon in the conference center's Ballroom A. Suazo, elected to Utah Senate in 1996, is a member of the judiciary standing criminal justice

Pete Suazo

appropriations committees. Suazo, who said he has not given up on getting improved hate crimes legislation passed, will speak at 9 a.m. May 19 in the Egyptian Theater.A community roundtable at 10 a.m., May 19, will feature multiple participants, including Steven Clark of the American Civil Liberties Union, Salt Lake Police Chief Ruben Ortega, and Robert Gallacher of the FBI. During the conference, a document called "The Voice of the People" will be drafted. The paper is aimed at influencing the passage of more comprehensive hate crimes legislation in Utah.

2004 SATURDAY May 08, 2004 Protest planned Gay and Lesbian Democrats and their supporters plan to protest during U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson's speech at the State Democratic Convention today. The Stonewall Democrats voted nearly unanimously in a caucus Friday night to stand up and turn their backs to Utah's lone Democrat in Congress because he says he will vote for the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. The move was prompted by University of Utah Lesbian and Gay Student Union President Evan Done, who said Matheson had turned his back on gay supporters. Caucus Chairman Mike Picardi abstained from the vote because he questioned its purpose. "He knows we're pissed already," Picardi said. Matheson said Friday night that he has always believed marriage is between a man and a woman, but still respects the Stonewall Democrats viewpoint. "I respect the fact that we disagree on this," he said. Thomas Burr Salt Lake Tribune

2005 Gay Muslims Gay Lebanese U of U fears deportment  USHS Note: In 2000 a Jordanian Lesbian was kidnapped by her family in SLC to return her to Jordan to face punishment. She escaped and family was punished in Utah criminal courts. In the Middle East 1000's of homosexuals have been imprisoned as well as executed. This student's fears are legitimate. Are there any fundraising groups that could help?

• U OF U STUDENT IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE Dear LGBT community and allies,I am the new coordinator at the LGBT Resource Center and am working with a gay international student who is having immigration issues right now. This student is here on a student visa from Lebanon. His father found out he was Gay and cut off financial support. He didn't enroll in classes last semester because of these money issues. Now he finds he is "out of status" and needs to return to Lebanon. He is afraid for his health, well- being, and safety if he were to return to Lebanon. He believes he will be killed, by family or strangers for being Gay were he sent back. His father is requiring him to return home after this semester -approx. May 8th. the time crunch is problematic. The hope is that an asylum case could be in process at that time and he could stay, perhaps get a work permit, and put school on the back burner until the case is decided. Unfortunately financial resources are a problem for him. I am hoping various people within our communities who do have the res    ources to help, could step up and assist financially. I realize not everybody is in the position to be able to do this, and respect that. I am asking for your financial assistance in getting this person a lawyer. We have found a lawyer who will, for a $2,500 retainer, represent him in an asylum case. If you would like to donate, please contact me at the LGBT Resource

  

  Ruth Hackford-Peer

  Center with the amount you can give or e-mail me at rhackford-peer@sa.utah.edu. If we raise more money than needed, please specify if you want the money returned or if you wish for it to remain in a sort of "emergency" fund for situations like this. If you wish for this to be tax-deductible, let me know and I will work through the development office to try to do so. Feel free to pass this message along to other locals who may be interested in helping. Thank you, Ruth Hackford-Peer Coordinator LGBT Resource Center200 S. Central Campus Drive #317Salt Lake City, UT 84112(801) 587-7973

2014 Mormons Building Bridges won’t be in Days of ’47 Parade Organizers reject application, say the group is too controversial.BY LINDSAY WHITEHURSTTHE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Days of ’47 Parade organizers have denied a float application from Mormons Building Bridges, saying an entry from the group founded to improve relationships between Latter-day Saints and the gay community would be too controversial. “The parade is very specific in its requirement that no float can enter that will create controversy,” Executive Vice President Greg James said Tuesday. “We wouldn’t have the Mormons Building Bridges float in there any more than we’d have the NRA [National Rifle Association] or something else that might turn people off.” The July 24 event, which celebrates the Mormon pioneers’ 1847 arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, is Utah’s biggest parade. “We’re nonpartisan. We don’t take a position on any issue,” James said. “One of the problems in the country right now is everyone is too polarized. We’re just trying to stay as neutral as we can.”  Mormons Building Bridges, founded in 2012, has won cheers for two straight years when marching by the hundreds in Utah’s second-largest parade, which takes place during the Utah Pride Festival and celebrates the state’s LGBT residents. For its first Days of ’47 appearance, Bridges proposed a convertible car with eight people on board from Utah arts, business and nonprofit organizations, explained group co-founder Kendall Wilcox. Those on board would be Mormon or have LDS heritage and also be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. “We felt we were shying away completely from any sort of politics. ... We worked hard to stay within their guidelines,” Wilcox said, adding that he thought the 2014 Days of ’47 theme, “Pioneers Pushing Toward Our Future,” matched the group’s mission. “Members of the LGBT community are part of the Utah community,” he said. “ ... They really are pioneers today leading to a better Utah, so why not celebrate them?” Other LGBT groups, including Utah Pride, Equality Utah and PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), have also seen applications rejected, Wilcox said. Mormons Building Bridges organizers tried to appeal by meeting with Days of ’47 organizers but were denied, he added. The group plans to apply again and may attend the parade this year in Mormons Building Bridges T-shirts. James said Bridges was also rejected a few weeks ago because its application was late, incomplete and the group wanted to pass out pamphlets. Wilcox disputed that, saying the group wasn’t told about problems with the application and didn’t ask to distribute fliers. Organizers believed their decision was justified when Mormons Building Bridges mentioned making the rejection public, James said. Bridges announced the denial on its website Tuesday. Mormons Building Bridges wasn’t the only organization whose application was denied, James noted. The parade also doesn’t allow political candidates, for example, though it does welcome officeholders. Most years, about a dozen applications are denied. More than 100 end up part of the parade, which attracts some 250,000 onlookers and a roughly equivalent TV audience. Typically held on the state’s July 24 Pioneer Day holiday and sometimes dubbed the “Mormon Mardi Gras,” the event is run by a private nonprofit organization, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a large sponsor. Leaders, including LDS Church presidents, are often part of the parade. The LDS Church has never publicly commented on Mormons Building Bridges, which Wilcox says seeks to “convey a message of love and acceptance” in the historically strained relationships between LDS and LGBT groups. Growing by up to 200 members a month on its Facebook group, the group convenes monthly “community conversations” at libraries, participates in a suicide-prevention walk and helps outreach centers for homeless youths. The organization seeks to sidestep political conversations, Wilcox said. Bridges allies, for example, are asked not to campaign for or debate same-sex marriage on the group’s Facebook page.