22 June
1899 A.F. Dickson, a young man from Tennessee,
complained at police headquarters last evening that he had been robbed of $15
by two tramps near Albany Hotel. He came here he said but a few days ago and
yesterday received a check of $15 from his parents. He met the two men who
invited him to a vacant lot and they had several drinks together. Then life
became a blank for a short time, and when he awoke his pockets had been rifled
but the two new acquaintances were kind enough to leave a couple or three
dollars in his clothes. (Daily SL Tribune pg 5) [The Albany Hotel was once a 2
story hotel on the corner of 2nd South and 600 West where Club Sound is now
located in the historic Greek Town area of Salt Lake City]
1906- Farmington Fractions- Two transients were recently
arrested at Lagoon, one for drunkenness and the other for sodomy, the former
was tried before justice Richards found guilty and sentenced to ten days in the
county jail and the latter was bound over to the district court under bail of
$3000. [Davis County Clipper]
1965 Two 26 year old men, Leon Dyer and Gary
Horning, were sentenced to 1 to 10 years in prison for a voluntary manslaughter
charge for the murder of George Moriarty and received Judge Parley E. Norseth’s scorching vow that they would
never receive his recommendation for leniency. Judge Norseth of the 2nd District
Court said, “You have won a legal victory but not a moral one.”
1965 Salt Lake Police Monday at 10:30 p.m. broke up a
disturbance of 100 persons near the intersection of 7th South and 4th East
using 8 police cruisers, two from the canine unit, after Office Dale B. Bullock
called for back up. Bullock stopped a 20 year old motorist and arrested him for
using foul and abusive language, failure to comply and resisting arrest. The
police’s actions incited the crowd. (06/22/65 Page 15 col.8 SLTribune)
1969- Judy Garland died of an overdose of sleeping
pills. Judy Garland, died in the Chelsea
section of London, England setting a time of mourning
in the homosexual communities. “Judy Garland who paid a tragic price for the
life of a show business super star died in London, Sunday. She was 47. It was a quiet end to a stormy
career. Although she had tried suicide countless times, Scotland Yard said her
death was due to natural causes. She
suffered from hepatitis, exhaustion, kidney ailments, nervous break downs, near
fatal drug reactions, over weight, under weight, and injuries suffered in
falls. She was Hollywood’s queen of the comebacks. (06/23/69
SLTribune Page 6)
1977 “After the Dade County Defeat:
What Now?” is the topic to be presented at a public meeting Thursday at 7:30
p.m. at the Metropolitan
Community Church,
870 West 400 South. Described as a “Public Forum” the subject is in regard to
the rejection by voters of anti discrimination laws for homosexuals in Dade County, Florida.
Speakers scheduled include Joyceen Boyle of Salt Lake City National
Organization For Women, Roberta Frick of Salt Lake City Socialist Workers
Party, Ken Kline of Gay Student Union, University of Utah, Shirley Pedler Utah
Chapter of ACLU, and Bob Waldrop, Worship coordinator for Metropolitan
Community Church. 06/22/77 SLTribune page C8)
1978-The Gay Service Coalition and the University of Utah’s Gay Student Union encouraged all Gay people to wear green on
Gentle Thursday as part of Gay Pride Week
 |
| Johnny Mathis |
1982-Singer
Johnny Mathis came out as Gay in an interview with Us magazine. Mathis was quoted in a 1982 Us Magazine
article, stating "Homosexuality is a way of life that I've grown
accustomed to." However, he made no further comments on this, and Us
Magazine later retracted the statement. In 2006, Mathis revealed that his silence
had been because of death threats he received as a result of that 1982 article.
On April 13, 2006, Mathis granted a podcast interview with The Strip in which
he talked about the subject once again, and how some of his reluctance to speak
on the subject was partially generational. During an interview with CBS News
Sunday Morning on May 14, 2017, Mathis discussed the Us Magazine article and
confirmed he is gay. "I come from San Francisco. It's not unusual to be
gay in San Francisco. I've had some girlfriends, some boyfriends, just like
most people. But I never got married, for instance. I knew that I was
gay." Johnny spoke to many news sources, including CBS about his sexuality
and his story about coming out.
 |
| Russ Lane |
1988 I went to Steve Breckenbury’s Farewell
Party. He was the director of Gay Fathers. He lives at the Ben Albert apartment on 5th East and there
was a mix of Gay and non Gay people there. John Reeves was there as was Mike
Anderson who I hadn’t seen in months.
.jpg)
1988- Leonard Matlovich, one of the earliest to challenge
the US military's exclusion of homosexuals, died at age 44 of complications
from AIDS.
1990- In
honor of Gay Pride Week the Empire State Building in New York was lit up with
lavender lights.
1990 The
Sacred Faeries held our Summer Solstice Gathering tonight up Hughes Canyon
where we initiated Devorah (Debbie Rosenberg) as our Faerie Queen and
Priestess. There are five pillars now. Gayflower, Sky Bear, Puck, Gillian, and
Devorah. We met first at my apartment all decked out in floral wreaths and
bells, and brightly colored scarves and drove up in my van so it was quite
crowded with Puck, Sky Bear, Gillian, Ariel, Devorah, Winged Lynx, Mr. Tree and
Joe and scrunched up inside. Joe was
Chris Brown who was back in Salt Lake City
visiting from New York City . Mr. Tree was a friend of John
Crapo. We were
the festive little band of Faeries in our tie dye and Faerie drag, wreaths of
morning glories, grapevines, and carnations.
We were so beautiful. Up in the canyon we built a bonfire, well actually
Devorah did since none of the guys could get one going, and drew a Faerie
circle. We constructed the altar with it facing the South, the direction of
Summer. We had a great experience at our
little gathering even though because of Devorah we didn't all go sky clad which
I think affected just slightly the shedding of our egos with us choosing to become
less vulnerable. We were up in the woods until midnight, eating fruit and
bread, and drinking wine to honor the Goddess and the Sun. On the way down to the city we became really
silly and Rocky remained sky clad all the way home. He would hang out the window as we cruised
the Gay youth gathered at 1 in the morning on the corner of Broadway and Main,
waving his silver-glitter Faerie wand at them while exclaiming, "Bless You
My Daughters!"
1991 The University of Utah Board of Trustees delayed action on an anti discrimination proposal until July 15 because four of its 10 members were absent. The proposal amends U. policies to prohibit discrimination based on "sexual and affectional discrimination." U. President Chase N. Peterson said the amendments fall into three categories. They would: - Generally prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation against students, staff and faculty. - Add sexual orientation to a list of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, gender and national origin in the U.'s affirmative action policies. - Prohibit U. assistance to or recognition of student or outside groups which discriminate based on sexual orientation. In urging the proposal's adoption in all three categories, staff member Rocky O'Donovan said the proposal is symbolic yet would change inconsistent and hypocritical U. policies. "Here I am, totally disenfranchised from this system because I'm gay, because my sexual and affectional orientation differs from that of the majority." He said for the U. to remain silent on the issue would be unconscionable. Staff member/student Nancy Perez, who identified herself as a lesbian, said she has experienced anti-gay comments in math class and has seen friends fired when their sexual orientation became known.
 |
| Connell O'Donovan |
1991 The University of Utah Board of Trustees delayed action on an anti discrimination proposal until July 15 because four of its 10 members were absent. The proposal amends U. policies to prohibit discrimination based on "sexual and affectional discrimination." U. President Chase N. Peterson said the amendments fall into three categories. They would: - Generally prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation against students, staff and faculty. - Add sexual orientation to a list of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, gender and national origin in the U.'s affirmative action policies. - Prohibit U. assistance to or recognition of student or outside groups which discriminate based on sexual orientation. In urging the proposal's adoption in all three categories, staff member Rocky O'Donovan said the proposal is symbolic yet would change inconsistent and hypocritical U. policies. "Here I am, totally disenfranchised from this system because I'm gay, because my sexual and affectional orientation differs from that of the majority." He said for the U. to remain silent on the issue would be unconscionable. Staff member/student Nancy Perez, who identified herself as a lesbian, said she has experienced anti-gay comments in math class and has seen friends fired when their sexual orientation became known.
1991 Edward “Ted” G. McCallison age 33 died in Salt Lake City. Professor of
Music at USU and served as director of the USU Youth Music Consrvatory
1992 UTAH'S GAYS AND LESBIANS GATHER IN MURRAY TO CELEBRATE
GAINS Associated Press- Organizers said Sunday's celebration of Gay &
Lesbian Pride Day was meant to be both a friendly and political gathering.
Antonia de la Guerra said participants could "have a good time, enjoy what
freedoms we have, show our numbers and strength, and display our unity and
diversity." "Pride Equals
Power" was the theme of the gathering, the first since the gay and
lesbian communities figured prominently in Utah's political power struggles.
They fought hard in the Legislature for a bill that would penalize perpetrators
of "hate crimes" but lost
out when references to sexual orientation were omitted. Then the Gay &
Lesbian Utah Democrats succeeded in getting a plank recognizing homosexual
rights into the Salt Lake County Democratic Party platform. But it was diluted
at the state Democratic Party Convention. "As more people come out of the
closet and more people realize they have loved ones who are gay, they become
more accepting - if their religion permits it," de la Guerra said.
"Some people still do not want to acknowledge we need a hate-crimes bill,
and people believe we don't deserve the rights of other people." © 1998
Deseret News Publishing Co.
1995 [SOCIAL] At the monthly general meeting of PFLAG (Parents,
Families and Friends of Lesbians Becky Moss, producer of the program
``Concerning Gays and Lesbians'' on radio station KRCL was guest speaker.
1996 [CRIME] Jury Finds Suspect Innocent in Firebombing Only One
Person Serving Prison Term for Arson That Burned Down Wrong House Date: June
22, 1996- Four men and a woman planned and then carried out the firebombing of
a South Salt Lake widow's home last July, police say. But only one man is
behind bars -- and that is because he pleaded guilty to the crime. Two other
men have been acquitted by 3rd District Court juries. Another man traded
information to police for immunity. And the woman suspected of planning the
firebombing -- reportedly to punish a man who cheated her on a drug deal -- was
never charged. Author: STEPHEN HUNT THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The Salt Lake
Tribune Page: B3
[Chyna Cartier Princess Royale of
the RCGSE was involved in the crime.]
1996 Salt Lake Tribune 06/23/96 Page: B7 Kelly K. Robinson, 37,
died June 22,1996 in Salt Lake City ,
Utah
1997 -Zane Richard Sentker died June 22, 1997 in Rockville , Utah Salt
Lake City , Ut. Zion that he loved so much, after a gallant
battle against AIDS. Zane graduated from Hurricane High School University
of Utah
1998-British Columbia passed legislation granting same-sex
couples access to pension benefit rights equal to those to which straight
married couples are entitled.
2003 Section: Utah Page: B5 Salt Lake Tribune Panel aims to
define minority The University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics and the
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center will sponsor a panel
discussion titled "Defining Minority: A Process of Inclusion?" on
Wednesday, from noon until 1 p.m. The forum will be held in Room 253 of Orson
Spencer Hall, 260 S. Central Campus Drive. The event is free and open to the public.
The panel, moderated by the Hinckley Institute of Politics' Tim Chambless, will
feature Blythe Nobleman, minority affairs and communications coordinator for
Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's office; William Smith, U. assistant
professor of education, culture and society; Anna Archuleta, probation officer
and community activist; Brenda Lyshaug, U. assistant professor of political
science and gender studies; and Tony Yapias, director of the state Office of
Hispanic Affairs. The panel discussion is designed to educate, foster dialogue
and raise issues facing Salt Lake City's and the University of Utah's minority
communities, said Charles Milne of the U.'s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender Resource Center. Students
and faculty will hear from a group of community leaders, government workers and
university professors regarding nontraditional minorities in the community and
their unexplored relationship to ethnic minorities, he said.
2003 Section: Nation/World
Page: A1 Salt Lake Tribune Photo Caption: Rocky Anderson; Frank
Pignanelli; Jump Page A8: Ryan Galbraith/Tribune file photo Rocky Anderson, left, Frank Pignanelli,
center, and Molonai Hola, seen here in a debate in May, are running for Salt
Lake City mayor. But if the race narrows to Anderson and Pignanelli as
expected, the choice may be more about personality and management style than
how they stand on the issues. Questions of style over substance Rocky Anderson
for mayor: He maintains that "we need a mayor who's going to keep standing
up and adding a different voice in the state of Utah"; Frank Pignanelli
for mayor: Described as a "people person" who admires the approach of
former Mayor DePaulis, he says he will work better with lawmakers; Mayoral race puts focus on personality By
Heather May The Salt Lake Tribune
Rocky Anderson regrets not picking up the phone. When he joined the lawsuit
against Legacy Highway
in 2001, he didn't call Davis
County Anderson calls such talk
"negative" and says it means Pignanelli doesn't have much to run on.
But the first-term mayor doesn't miss a chance to criticize his opponent's
style, either. In the Legislature, Anderson
says, Pignanelli was "extremely bombastic, very partisan, very
unrestrained oftentimes in his personal insults toward others." Brack's back: If Anderson
mirrors anyone, it may be J. Bracken Lee, Utah 's
governor from 1949 to 1957 and Salt
Lake City 's mayor from 1960 to 1972. In fact, Anderson replaced a
portrait of former Mayor Deedee Corradini that hung in the hallway outside his
office with one of Lee. Known as a maverick, the Republican Lee was a
controversial enemy-maker, admired for his candor and known for confrontation.
"There isn't this mealy-mouth,
I-don't-know-let-me-go-home-and-think-about-it-for-a-while," says Deeda
Seed of Anderson, her former boss. "He's not smooth. He offends people
frequently and then tries to make amends for it later. Sometimes you have to be
provocative. You have to offend people. That's leadership in a sense." To
wit: Most City Council members oppose Anderson's re-election. Groups outside
the city are targeting him to be ousted. He is so unpopular among state
lawmakers that two freshmen had the power during the past legislative session
to withhold millions from the city because they were angry about the Legacy Highway and
Anderson's record on the west side. (The parties eventually reached a deal and
the city got the money.) Anderson almost relishes the alienation. At a Utah
Pride Day event earlier this month, he practically bragged he doesn't get along
with the Legislature. "We need a mayor who's going to keep standing up and
adding a different voice in the state of Utah," he told the crowd. The
mayor says he helps bring about change by being confrontational, sparking a
dialogue about urban sprawl by suing over Legacy, for example. He lashed out at
the council over members' religion during the Main Street Plaza saga, but
supporters say, while offensive, it helped get people talking about
church-state issues. Fans love him for it.
"I like his high energy and willingness to step out on unpopular
issues," says Tony Weller, owner of Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore, referring
mainly to Anderson's executive order protecting gay city employees from
discrimination. "I saw that as an example of a man who's not playing
political cards. He said, 'Dammit, that's the right thing to do, and I'm going
to do it,' " But Anderson -- like any mayor -- needs the Legislature. In
the same conversation where he accuses lawmakers of "horse-trading,"
he mentions he wants them to allow cities to increase the sales tax for transit
projects. The capital city may also need Capitol support to keep Hogle Zoo.
"I don't know Frank [Pignanelli] that well, but would very much welcome
someone who would sit down and negotiate and acknowledge our existence,"
says Rep. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, one of the freshmen who fought Anderson over Legacy. At
the same time, he credits the mayor with bringing environmentalists to the
table to work out issues relating to the stalled highway project. Councilman
Eric Jergensen, a Pignanelli backer, believes his candidate would have a better
chance of getting things through the council. Feuding between the branches may
have cost the city Olympic money for a downtown 2002 Games legacy. The council
balked at the mayor's grand plans for youth programs and may try to cut them.
They question some of his board appointments, but eventually approve them. Seen
as leading like the lawyer he is -- staking out a position then arguing his
case -- Anderson insists he builds consensus. Former council members credit him
with persuading them to approve light rail to the University of Utah Anderson 's
style is exhausting. "Why does each situation like this [Main Street
Plaza Anderson took office in
2000. Anderson
hired 16 of them himself, including three spokespeople, three chiefs of staff
and two Olympic organizers. Corradini had a similar turnover figure, but her 46
separations were spread over eight years. Salt Lake County Councilman Joe
Hatch, a former head of the county Democratic Party who is leaning toward
endorsing the mayor, says he has a Top 10 list of reasons why it's difficult to
be a liberal in Utah: Explaining Anderson's management style is one of them.
While an employee union of clerical and technical workers is endorsing the
mayor, morale is low among some. Anderson explains the firings as getting rid
of people who don't meet his expectations. He says he doesn't plan to fire any
more. "City government is very stable. I'm a good manager." He says
he occasionally reads books on leadership style and knows there is room for improvement.
He is a workhorse, and he expects the same from employees. "What he
doesn't want to hear is nothing's happening," chief of staff Dave Nimkin
says. "He can be intense. He can be abrupt at times. There are levels of
frustration he exhibits -- just being impatient."But, Nimkin adds, he also
is funny, charming, passionate and benevolent.
Yes, the mayor micromanages, editing employees' memos, giving legal
interpretations of ordinances like a city attorney, remembering minute details
-- such as whether a pile of dirt a resident complained about was removed.
Supporters like his hands-on, bulldog style. Others wonder if it prevents
momentum. "He doesn't delegate very well," says Tim Funk, a
low-income housing advocate. "If he has a personal interest in something,
he'll follow it through day and night. If he doesn't . . . you're mostly caught
in suspension." Anderson is accessible to the public and the
media, with his one-on-one and group meetings with constituents and habitual
news conferences. The public often sees the mayor in every stage of his
decision-making process, which leads to complaints of flip-flops. Residents
watched him agonize over the Main Street Plaza controversy, offering and
stridently defending three positions. "He puts himself into hard-and-fast
decisions and then backs away from them," says Helen Peters, a Sugar House
community activist. "It's kind of hard to know when to trust him."
Anderson explains his shifts as compromises. Fans like him for being out there.
Backtracking, Weller says, "isn't nearly as important to me as the
earnesty of the man. I think he's earnest." Frank talk: If Anderson is
like Lee, Pignanelli wants to be Palmer DePaulis, Salt Lake City's mayor from
1985 to 1992 who evokes warm fuzzies. DePaulis, now a state tax commissioner,
was known as a listener, a believer in the public process and a uniter, though
that doesn't mean he always got his way. He dueled with members of a hostile
legislative branch known as the "gang of four." "I've been in
the grocery store with Frank and he can't get his grocery shopping done in two
hours -- he just stops and talks to everyone," said Councilwoman Jill
Remington Love, who supports Pignanelli. "He finds human beings
interesting. That's different than Rocky's style. Frank is just really a people
person." Maybe it's the lobbyist in him. Pignanelli, who also is an
attorney, says he will work better with lawmakers. He has been one, and he
schmoozes them during the Legislature. But he says he's no pushover. According
to news reports, Pignanelli called Republicans "those right-wing extremist
wackos," claiming they were on a "witch hunt" against teachers
and were "irresponsible" with the budget. The difference, Pignanelli
says, is that he doesn't personally attack lawmakers. However, in 1992, Pignanelli
was criticized for questioning another lawmaker's integrity during one
particularly heated debate. During the 1999 mayoral chase between Anderson and
Stuart Reid, Pignanelli helped supply information for a controversial mailer
that labeled Anderson soft on sex predators. Pignanelli says he didn't see the
flier in advance and objected to its use. "Frank's more of a go-along,
get-along type of a person," recalls former GOP House Majority Leader
Craig Moody. "We would give him latitude." Pignanelli credits his
negotiating skills with passage of the state's first hate-crimes bill (though
the courts later struck it down), and with helping expand the Salt Palace
Convention Center and construct the Matheson Courthouse. "Frank is a
consensus builder. He's an excellent listener -- sometimes he takes in too much
information," says Kelly Atkinson, who was the Democrats' minority whip
under Pignanelli. "He's always trying to gain more information prior to
making a decision." Liberals could view Pignanelli as too compromising in
his attempts to pull the Democratic Party to the center. In 1996, he wanted to
set up a political action committee to raise funds for moderate and
conservative Democrats who would not be beholden to abortion and gay-rights
issues. The same year he was part of a group that tried to distance the party
from the now-defunct Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats, asking the group to drop
the party label. Randy Horiuchi -- a Salt Lake County Councilman, lobbyist and
Anderson supporter -- says Pignanelli may be too smooth, too political.
"He will excel at working deals, cutting deals. A mayor's job, it's a lot
of administrative, executive functions that I don't think political guys like
me and Frank Pignanelli are well-suited to do." Pignanelli has enemies, too.
"I found his style of leadership was not inclusive," adds Anderson supporter Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake
City Anderson supporter.
22 June 2003 Royal Court of the
Golden Spike Empire Reign XXVIII HMIM Emperor Mark & HMIM Empress
Heidi The Realm of Composure and Camaraderie proudly presents INVESTITURES XXVIII The
Hanging Gardens of Babylon On the
Waterfall Patio of Club Splash* Sunday, June 22 - 7:00 PM $5 - Dinner & Showette Included Proceeds Benefit the General Fund *Club Splash
is a Private Club for Members.
2003 Ben Williams to Chad Keller
Here's my letter that was published in SLCWeekly that was edited to death too.
“It’s About Love What prompted me to write was David Richardson’s puerile claim
that “heterosexualism has the potential of bringing a person the greatest
possible joy and happiness and the greatest possible growth in knowledge,
wisdom, and understanding of which a person is capable” [“Heterosexuality is
the Ideal,” Letters, June 12, City Weekly]. Tell that to Plato, Michelangelo,
Alan Turing, Stephen Sondheim and countless others! Contrary to Richardson’s
narrow definition, life is more than simply the joys of procreation. St. Paul,
the founder of Christianity, even said it’s better to remain single, as he was,
than to marry. Jesus Christ, when asked who was his family, did not state his
pedigree, but rather said all who believed and followed him were his family.
Homosexuality is not about what is done with our genitals but rather all about
who we fall in love with. It’s about love. I cannot believe that anyone with
any intelligence would make the claim that gay people are more prone to
sadness, depression, loneliness and suicide than straights. Gay people are
nurturing, creative people and have an insight on the nature of romance. And as
for what is good for children, I personally feel, Mr. Richardson, that any
child is happiest when raised by someone who loves him or her. Ben Williams
Salt Lake City
2003 Ben Williams to Chad Keller
- Evidently David [Nelson] has ended the Gay Vote Group site. He told me at
Pride Day he was going to just concentrate on Pink Pistols
2003 Be True to Yourself:
WordPerfect Founder Bruce Bastian Tells His Story [Excerpts from Dennis
Romboy's "Bastian's profile low - in Utah, at least: But philanthropy
gives ex-WordPerfect whiz plenty of clout," Deseret Morning News, June 22,
2003] OREM - The Big Three at
WordPerfect - Alan Ashton, Pete Peterson and Bruce Bastian - were known,
respectively, as the good guy, the bad guy and the eccentric. After the rise and fall of the software
giant, Ashton sunk his millions into a sprawling resort called Thanksgiving Point,
Peterson wrote a behind-the-scenes book about the company and Bastian made
himself scarce, at least in Utah, where his sexual orientation, liberal
politics and social causes don't usually mesh with the majority. At one time
Bastian's net worth was estimated at $840 million, good enough to make the
Forbes list of the 400 wealthiest individuals in America. Now, nearly 10 years removed from
WordPerfect, Bastian, 55, continues to live off the fortune he amassed, dabble
in several business ventures and quietly practice philanthropy. He maintains a
$3.5 million gated mansion in Orem near the old WordPerfect campus, as well as
homes in Salt Lake City and London. Friends and associates talk about him
cautiously, even protectively. But chunks of the hundreds of millions of
dollars he earned as co-founder of the once wildly successful software company
turn up all over the place, revealing bits and pieces of the intensely private
man who until now has shunned the media. Bastian has kept a low profile in his
home state partly because he doesn't think people can accept him for who he is,
something he says he wasn't able to do himself until the past few years.
"People look at being gay as a deformity or a sickness or a choice. It's
none of those. It's part of who I am. I am not Bruce Bastian, the gay person. I
am Bruce Bastian, and by the way, yes, I happen to be gay." Though he has
been careful not to reveal much about himself, Bastian unpretentiously makes
symbolic, public statements with his checkbook.
The University of Utah and Brigham Young University have benefited from
his generosity. Ballet West, Utah Symphony and the other performing arts
troupes are on his give list. Environmental organizations, wildlife funds and
homeless shelters receive contributions. Democratic political committees and
candidates nationwide get some of his money, as do AIDS researchers and gay and
lesbian groups. Incognito in Utah, Bastian is well-recognized in Washington,
D.C., among powerful politicians and lobbyists. The Human Rights Campaign, the
nation's largest gay and lesbian political action committee, honored him last
fall for giving more than $1 million to its capital fund-raising project.
"Our plans are really to turn him into a national voice," HRC
executive director Elizabeth Birch said. Birch said she believes Bastian is
amenable to the idea, though "he needs to be persuaded of things. He's a
little bit of a philosopher king. He likes to reflect more than get the
attention." While a lawyer at Apple Computer Inc. in the late 1980s, Birch
heard through the "gay grapevine" that a founder of WordPerfect was
gay. About 10 years later as head of the HRC she sought Bastian out, gradually
wooing him to the organization. He is now on its board of directors. "He's
not one-dimensional. He's not just for gay rights. He's focused on making the
entire world a better place," she said. [...] Many aspects of his life
make him an uncomfortable fit in a county and a state that doesn't highly
regard his ideals. Take his being a Democrat, and then put the word gay in
front of it. "To be a gay person
among Democrats is not a big deal," Bastian said. "But to be a gay
Democrat among other people in Utah, not only are you stupid but you are
wicked, too."... [...] ...Bastian often is a forgotten man when
WordPerfect comes up nowadays. He's never invited to local entrepreneurial
forums or Rotary luncheons to share his business and computer acumen. The Utah
Information Technology Association didn't induct him into its hall of fame
until a year after it honored Ashton, which would be like Stockton going into
the pro basketball shrine without Malone or vice versa. "It sometimes hurts me that in Utah,
Alan is Mr. WordPerfect and he gets honors where I don't even get mentioned. He
gets articles written about him where I don't even get mentioned. And we really
did it together." Former WordPerfect executive and friend John Lewis says
the "muted" approach to Bastian stems from the community's
conservative nature. He made choices "that we don't know how to deal with
as a populace. I think we don't understand him. . . . It's just easier to avoid
it, to put a blanket over it." Whether perception or reality, Bastian has
long thought that people who don't know him despise him. Hateful e-mails from
anonymous workers used to cross his computer screen at WordPerfect. He said he
understands because he despised himself for many years. "Sometimes I think
it would be much easier to be a straight, Mormon Republican just doing what
everybody else thinks you should do. Life would be so much easier. I can't do
that." Bastian and his wife,
Melanie L. Bastian, divorced just before Christmas 1994, citing irreconcilable
differences. The couple had lived apart for at least five years prior to that.
A settlement agreement is sealed in 4th District Court in Provo. Melanie
Bastian did not respond to a written request for an interview. The Bastians'
oldest son also declined to be interviewed. Bastian grew up in Twin Falls,
Idaho, learning the value of hard work on the family farm. His parents were
musical and required all their children to take piano lessons. Bastian
eventually switched to the clarinet and became an accomplished player. His
father owned a grocery store. He had a huge heart and would buy food for people
who couldn't afford it. He also was free from prejudice. Some of the great
black jazz artists like Duke Ellington and Count Basie were refused service in
restaurants in the 1950s. The elder Bastian and his children brought dinner to
their bus when they played in Idaho. The Bastians were Republicans and members
of the LDS Church. Bastian did all the things Mormon boys do in moving up the
ranks in the church's priesthood. He went on a mission, married in the temple,
had a family and served in a ward bishopric. Peterson described him as a
"straight arrow." But the outward appearance belied the conflict and
confusion that churned in his soul for many years. It has been only the past
five years that Bastian has been at peace, said Lewis, who traveled extensively
in Europe with him for WordPerfect. Bastian, he said, always had his nose in a
book, often one about religion or reincarnation. The two had deep discussions
about life. Bastian explored all the different aspects and angles of humankind.
"His search was not superficial at all," said Lewis, now a Brigham
Young University associate vice president for alumni. Says Bastian, "I do not believe any human being can be
happy without being true to himself or herself. I think that's the first rule
of life. It's not easy and sometimes that goes against the grain."
 |
| Claudia Bradshaw |
2009 Petition urges LDS
Church to soften stance on gays Prop 8 » Group urges all sides to 'reconcile'
after bitter ballot battle. By Rosemary Winters The Salt Lake Tribune Salt
Lake California 's
Proposition 8, Janeen Thompson turned in her temple recommend, resigned from
most of her church positions and tacked a rainbow flag pin onto her Sunday
best. Now she is inviting her church to
"reconcile" with her and others who opposed the Golden State Santa Cruz County , Calif. LDS Church Washington
City Salt Lake City 's Pride
Parade earlier this month. But her stance has strained ties with her siblings
and stepchildren, who are devout Mormons. She also has watched her son's
husband -- the couple married in San
Francisco last year -- struggle to be accepted by his
LDS family. "I know that there are hundreds, thousands of families sitting
in Mormon congregations that have a gay kid or brother or sister, and they are
being torn apart inside," Stay said. "The church really does owe
these families a huge apology. At some point, they need to re-examine their
tactics in drawing that line in the sand and saying, 'Follow the prophet or
support your gay children.' “For Stay, the choice was simple: Her kids. rwinters@sltrib.com More on the Web » To learn more about the
Committee for Reconciliation, visit www.ldsapology.org.
2017
Taylorsville, Utah — (KUTV)
Two woman are dead after an
apparent murder-suicide in a Taylorsville community.Around 6:30 a.m.,
Unified Police responded to reports of a shooting in the area of Dutch Draw
South and Hard Rock Drive West in Taylorsville. When police arrived, they found two
women dead, both with gun shot wounds. The victim is a 47-year-old woman and
the suspect is a 49-year-old woman. Unified Police told 2News the women were in
a relationship of some sort and this was possibly a "bad breakup." "These
are very volatile situations," said Lt. Lohrke with United Police.
"They're dangerous for not only the people involved but also for law-enforcement
to try to intervene." The victim was found dead inside a car, according to
Lt. Lohrke. The suspect, police say, was located approximately 100 yards away
laying on the ground with a gun by her side. Police say they have visited the
residence before for domestic violence. At some point, the victim had filed for
a protective order, but nothing official was in the court system police said. "We
do question, in these situations, 'Are we doing what we can to help or prevent
something like this?'" Lt. Lohrke said. Police say there was one else
involved and no one they're looking for. Investigations are on-going. No names
have been released.
 |
| Shelly Horsley |
2017 TAYLORSVILLE, Utah - Unified Police
say two women are dead after a shooting in Taylorsville Thursday morning, and
the incident is believed to be a murder-suicide. Police have identified the
deceased victim as 47-year-old Richelle Horsley. The suspect has been
identified as 49-year-old Fransiska Dastrup. According to officers, the women
may have been in a relationship. According to court documents, Horsley filed in
3rd District Court for a protective order against Dastrup on June 15.
That petition was scheduled to be heard in court July 5. Court documents
also indicate another individual filed for a temporary civil stalking
injunction against Dastrup June 19. Authorities are investigating near 2500 W.
Dutch Draw Drive, and police said they have been called to this home in the
past. Officials said the 911 call came in about 6:30 a.m.Police found one woman
dead inside a car and the other woman dead about 100 yards away. Authorities
are investigating the shooting as a murder-suicide. Fox News 13
2017 Two Utah women dead in possible
domestic violence-related murder-suicide in Taylorsville By Mariah noble The
Salt Lake Tribune Taylorsville • Police had responded to domestic violence
calls at the home previously. Two women were dead in Taylorsville in what
police believed to be a murder-suicide on Thursday morning. Police found
47-year-old Richelle Horsley dead of multiple gunshot wounds, and nearby they
found the body of 49-year-old Fransiska Dastrup, dead of what appeared to be a
self-inflicted gunshot wound, said Unified Police Lt. Brian Lohrke. Police
received multiple calls at 6:35 a.m., reporting gunshots at a complex near 2500
West and 4100 South, Lohrke said. When police arrived, they saw an SUV and a
sedan — still running — on a back road with access to the complex’s parking
garage. The cars were facing each other and touching each other, but didn’t
appear to have crashed, Lohrke said. Horsley’s body was in the driver seat of
the car. And about 100 yards west of where the vehicles were, police found
Dastrup’s body, according to Lohrke. The two women had been in a relationship
and lived together at the complex, but had recently broken up, said Lohrke,
adding that Dastrup was in the process of moving out. Lohrke said police also
had responded to the women’s apartment on June 15 on a call reporting domestic
violence. Police cited Dastrup for class B misdemeanor assault with a domestic
violence enhancement, Lohrke said. The
same day, Horsley applied for a protective order against Dastrup. Lohrke said
police had attempted to serve that protective order to Dastrup on three
occasions but were unable to locate her. Free, confidential resources are
available for victims of domestic violence through the Utah Domestic Violence
Hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). More information can be found at udvc.org.
- Jamie Turnbow- We lost an amazing person this morning. Violence, jealousy, and hatred is not the answer! I knew her well and we've shared some amazing times together. I am angered yet also saddened by this news. She was the type of person who taught me to look towards the positive in life. Over came cancer and I think during this learned a new appreciation towards life. She loved all who came into her life, she loved to laugh, and she loved to have fun. I will always remember my friend. May you finally get your life back so that you can rest in peace. Always remembered
- Deb Rosenberg I want to honor a beautiful and strong woman, one who fought and beat the demon of brain cancer, emerging stronger and more determined to live with love, acceptance, and integrity. Her life was taken this morning by a person to whom she had shared her heart. That person had demons too, and Shelly saw and loved her goodness, until it became a scary and dangerous situation. The result was loss of two lives. I am so sad for the loss in our community of friends, and my heart is hurting. I wish for us all to remember her infectious laugh, love of life, and let's make our next toast to Shelly, and to healing the hurt and blame.
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