This Day In Gay Utah History June 8th

8 June

Brigham Young

1899- J.W .Bonner Case No. 465 Third Judicial District Court: J. W. Bonner, 35 year of age, was charged with “Crime Against Nature” for raping the 7 year old grandson of Brigham Young. Police Officer Dillon arrested J.W. Bonner on June 8th 1899 at 12:30 p.m. In the only article in the 9 June 1899 edition of the Daily Salt Lake Tribune on page 5, Bonner’s name was misspelled as Bollee. “J.W. Bollee is in the city jail charged with a “Crime Against Nature” and will have a hearing today.” Further information is nowhere to be found on this case, which because of the prominence of the family and the age of the boy, it was not reported further in the paper. Bonner was charged on 9 June 1899 for having assaulted Henry Free Young the son of Alonzo Young (1858-1918) after the father filed a complaint. The family lived at 117 C Street in 1900.  On 5 June 1899, Bonner had sexually assaulted the boy who was born 6 April 1892 and was seven years old at the time of the assault but in the case was stated as age six. Bail was set at $2,500 and Bonner was found guilty.  Bonner was not found in 1910 Census of Utah. Henry F. Young died 9 September 1986 in Salt Lake City age 94 years old. His obituary stated that he was one of the last of Brigham Young’s grandsons. He had graduated with honors from the University of Utah where he was an instructor in the school of business. He was also a World War I veteran. In college Young joined several fraternities including Theta Alpha Phi, a dramatic fraternity. He became a manager of the University’s plays performed at the old Salt Lake Theater and Kingsbury Hall. He was married and had two children. This is the only case of a man being charged with “Crime Against Nature” who was what we would call today pedophilia or child molestation. As to why he was charged with Sodomy rather then rape or having carnal knowledge is unclear unless Sodomy carried a harsher penalty and of course the stigma of was much greater to be branded a person who commits crimes against nature. Normally I would not have included a child molestation case among Gay History but since Bonner was charged with "“Crime Against Nature”", later researchers will not have to look up the actual record. Actually what made this case so different from Carnal Knowledge was probably the fact that the Youngs were among the Mormon Elite. Bonner is not located in any census record and may have been a transient. The Young family lived on 4th Avenue On the same page that J.W. Bonner’s arrest for “Crime Against Nature” was mentioned in the Daily Salt Lake Tribune, the following sex crime was recorded but was dismissed in city court rather then being sent to the District Court. And if someone infers from this that Gays are child molesters, in the court records over 101 cases of carnal knowledge were reported between 1898 and 1916 in Salt Lake County the vast majority being heterosexual men charged with sexually molesting young women and little girls. “Thomas Edgar, a man with a family, was arrested yesterday for indecent exposure in the old high school building on South Temple Street. He desired to consult and attorney and his hearing went over until today.” (9 June 1899 SL Tribune pg 5) “Thomas Edgar charged with indecent exposure was discharged, the evidence showing that his services as bread winner were badly needed at his home.”  (10 June 1899 SL Tribune pg 5)

1903 J [John] R Matson, a State Street photographer was committed to the state mental hospital. Matson is considered a moral pervert. This is his second examination for insanity. The first one resulting in him being discharged. Deseret News Notes The 1900 Census show that JR Matson was a Norwegian born 1868 and married in 1893 with a wife and 3 children.

J Reuben Clark

1941 - First counselor J. Reuben Clark tells annual conference of youth and their leaders: "When I was a boy it was preached from the stand, and my father and mother repeated the principle to me time and time again. They said, 'Reuben, we had rather bury you than to have you become unchaste.' and that is the law of this Church." This doctrine continues in the church and is included in all editions of Bruce R. McConkie's great work Mormon Doctrine under the heading "Chastity." 

1956-The case of Clackum v United States was brought before the U.S. Court of Appeals. Fannie Mae Clackum served as an US Air Force Reservist in the late 1940s and early 1950s. When the Air Force suspected her and Grace Garner of being lesbians, it arranged for a four-person overnight trip and motel stay. The U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations used those events as the basis of a series of interrogations in April 1951 when the pair was accused of being lesbians. They refused to accept the dishonorable discharges the Air Force offered them and demanded a court-martial. They were demoted from corporal to private, discharged in early 1952 and lived together in Marietta, Georgia. They spent eight years fighting their discharges in the US Court of Claims claiming denial of due process when denied courts-martial and discharged administratively. They prevailed in 1960 when the court invalidated the discharges and awarded them their back military pay for the remainder of their enlistment periods. The court, after recounting the Air Force's account of its investigation, said: "One's reaction to the foregoing narrative is 'What's going on here?'" The court found it "unthinkable" that the Air Force would burden them with undesirable discharges "without respect for even the most elementary notions of due process of law". Theirs is the earliest known case of the successful appeal of a discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces on grounds of homosexuality, though the case turned on due process claims, not homosexuality as the basis for their exclusion from military service. Lillian Faderman states that Clackum's victory "suggests that in somewhat saner times  an objective court could understand how outrageous the military's tactics were."

George Moriarty

1965 Tuesday-The jury trial started in Ogden of Leon Dyer and Gary Horning for the murder of George Moriarty, a Gay Man. An all male jury was chosen with an alternate juror being a woman. Defense attorneys are Richard Richards and L.G. Bingham. Representing the state is district attorney Roland Anderson. (06/09/65 SLTribune)  The Murder of George Moriarty

1965 The Imperial Court System founded by Jose Saria1965- The tradition

Widow Norton

of the Royal Courts in the Gay community was started when Jose Sarria put a crown on his head and proclaimed himself by his own powers Dowager Widow of the Emperor Norton, Empress of San Francisco and Protectress of Mexico. Jose Sarria had entertained in drag at the North Beach Gay café called the Black Cat in the 1950’s.  At the end of each performance the audience joined Jose Sarria in a rousing rendition of “God Save Us Nelly Queens” Four years earlier he ran as the first openly Gay person to run for office in San Francisco and received 6,000 votes.  All Royal Courts received their charters from organizations authorized by Jose Sarria.

1969 Sunday Michael Kotis President of the Mattachine Society of New York (MSNY) said members  dispersed leaflets that denounced the renewed harassments of homosexuals by New York City police especially the arrests at the East River pier where Gay men were beaten by the cops- a strong “call to action as well as a protest was called for by MSNY which  did fan the flames of discontent in New York City. Mattachine was in effect “”predicting retribution by the Gay Community.

1972-Camille Mitchell of San Jose, California became the first openly lesbian mother to be granted custody of her children in a divorce proceeding. The judge ordered her not to live with her lover and only see her lover during times when her children were at school or visiting their father.

1974-Lambda Rising bookstore opened in Washington DC. Founded by Deacon Maccubbin with 250 titles, it was known for its wide selection of books, ranging from queer theory and religion to erotica, as well as DVDs, music CDs and gifts. MacCubbin stated "When we set out to establish Lambda Rising in 1974, it was intended as a demonstration of the demand for gay and lesbian literature. We thought... we could encourage the writing and publishing of LGBT books, and sooner or later other bookstores would put those books on their own shelves and there would be less need for a specifically gay and lesbian bookstore. Today, 35 years later, nearly every general bookstore carries LGBT books." "We said when we opened it: Our goal is to show there’s a market for LGBT literature, to show authors they should be writing this literature, to show publishers they should be publishing it, and bookstores they should be carrying it. And if we’re successful, there will no longer be a need for a specialty gay and lesbian book store because every bookstore will be carrying them. And 35 years later, that’s what happened. We call that mission accomplished." Facing competition with online book stores, the store closed its doors on December 31, 2010.  It was part of a spate of LGBT brick and mortar bookstores closures in the early 21st century, including the Oscar Wilde Bookshop in New York and A Different Light in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

1977-10,000 demonstrators marched in NYC to protest the repeal of the Gay rights ordinance in Miami the day before. Composer Paul Williams and his wife took out a full-page ad in Variety supporting a boycott of Florida orange juice, the product for which Anita Bryant did commercials.

• -Florida governor Reubin Askew signed into law a bill forbidding same-sex marriage and the adoption of children by homosexuals.

1977 The Hotel Utah canceled reservations for a Human Rights Convention  to celebrate Gay Freedom Day at the hotel which was to have featured acknowledged homosexuals, former Air Force Sergeant Leonard Matlovich and ex-professional football player Dave Kopay. Ken Kline, organizer of the conference sponsored by the Salt Lake Coalition for Human Rights said the hotel canceled the use of the Royal Ballroom and other facilities.  The convention was to be held at the hotel Friday and Saturday. Mr. Kline said late Wednesday that his group was still negotiating with the hotel for the use of its facilities but a spokesman for the hotel repeated that the group’s reservations remain canceled. Mr. Kline said cancellation notice came in the form of a letter signed by hotel president, Victor L.

Ken Kline

Brown, who is also Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church in charge of its business dealings. Stuart Cross, hotel manager said the decision was made by the hotels’ board of directors after it was discovered that the

Bob Waldrop

convention was being sponsored by homosexuals. Bob Waldrop, a member of the Metropolitan Community Church, 870 West 400 South said his church comprised of homosexual members is also supporting the convention. Mr. Kline said the convention will go on “even if its in the streets” He said that a press conference will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at the United Airline Terminal at the Salt Lake International Airport to discuss the convention and the issues of homosexual rights . Mr. Waldrop said the contracts had been signed with the hotel and that no attempt was made to disguise the nature of the event nor its participants. “We told them there would be “same sex” dancing at the dance and they said fine,” Mr. Waldrop said. (06/09/77 SLTribune A13)

1982- Tom Carlin Artistic Director for Theater 138 shared his life-long experiences with theater people with the Salt Lake Chapter of  Affirmation. His talk was entitled: “Brigham Young to Elizabeth Taylor: Theater personalities I’ve known.”

1990 Friday- I went to the Lynn Lavner Concert at Bryant Elementary with Bobbie Smith tonight.  There was a good turn out from the Gay and Lesbian activists but not from much else in the community. The concert was fun and energetic and it was great as always being with so many of the creme le' creme Gays and Lesbians of Utah. After the concert, Rocky O’Donovan, Bobbie Smith, John Crapeau, and I went to Hughes Canyon at about 54th and Wasatch Blvd. to have a Sacred Faerie gathering. It was a beautiful full moon and we climbed the side of the hill near the stream with all our Faerie paraphernalia, candles, altar ornaments, beads and bells.  The first thing we did was set up the altar, lit the candles, and then drew a Faerie Circle. We did some chanting, singing, (including Somewhere Over the Rainbow), some bonding rituals, prayers to the Goddess, and a power ritual. We could literal feel energy and power surge through the circle.  The Faerie Gathering ended about 2 a.m.  We walked down the darken, moon lit path and piled back into my van when then I took every one home. (Journal of Ben Williams)

John Lorenzini

1991 At home I had a message on my machine from Randy Burt from Affirmation saying thanks for being their “knight in shinning armor”. It’s good to be validated that I did the right thing. In the evening I went to the Deerhunter and ran into Richard Rodriguez [former member of LGSU] who was back in town to receive his PhD in Psychology. He told me that John Lorinzini [AIDS activist]  had died last July. I didn’t know. Where have all the young men gone, gone to flowers everyone. 
It was nice being out and it was a nice night. It was good to be out of the house but I wish sometimes I could just be a “regular guy” and drink beer and talk to guys about nothing. I think too much, feel too much, have too many needs, and have too much to do. [Journal of Ben Williams]

1997 SUNDAY 06/05/97Page: D2 Celebrate Pride Day With Weekend Activities Byline: BY STEVEN M. BROPHY THE SALTLAKE TRIBUNE   The Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah will celebrate Utah Pride Day 1997 this weekend with a full slate of activities, including a keynote address by Human Rights Campaign spokeswoman Candace

Candace Gringrich

Gingrich.   This year's theme of Gay Pride Day is ``Equality Through Visibility.''   ``For one day, for all of us to show up and beproud and to show people that we're here, isimportant,'' said Carrie Gayler, co-chairwoman of the event. ``There are many of us here and we're not a group to be ignored. There are a lot of gays and lesbians in Utah and this is a great way to celebrate who we are.''  But you don't have to be gay or lesbian to attend, say organizers. ``We're actually getting more participation from straight people,'' said Jeff Freedman, co-chair of the event. Organizers estimated that 8,000 attended last year's event.   The festivities begin Friday at 8:30 p.m. at The Sun Tavern, 200 S. 700 West, Salt Lake City, with the Gay Pride Pageant. Admission is $5. The Sun Tavern is a private club. The pageant is sponsored by the Royal Court of the Golden Spike

Jeff Freedman

Empire, a social-service organization dedicated to raising funds for Utah's gay and lesbian community. Saturday's events include a picnic at Sugar House Park at noon. Beverages and desserts will be provided. Entertainment and volleyball are on the bill. The picnic is followed by a Pride Dance at the Gallivan Center, 50 E. 100 South, Salt Lake City, from 6-9:30 p.m.   Sunday's activities start with the parade that begins in the east parking lot of the State

Carrie Gayler

Capitol at 10:30 a.m.   Participants will walk south on State Street to 400 South and the City and County Building. The parade's grand marshal, Gingrich, will deliver her keynote speech at 12:05 p.m.   Gingrich came to the forefront of gay-rights activism when her brother Newt Gingrich was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.   Candace Gingrich, a lesbian, has lobbied Congress about the problems of discrimination and lack of equal rights for lesbians and gays. In1996, she published her autobiography, The Accidental Activist.   Presentation of the Dr. Kristen M. Ries Community Service Awards for 1997 will be Sunday at 1 p.m.   All events, with the exception of the Gay Pride Pageant, are free to

Maggie Snyder

the public. [-Pride Day held at Washington Square. Candace Gingrich, sister of Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia key note speaker and grand marshall of the Pride Day Parade. Jeff Freedman and Carrie Gaylor co-chairs of Pride Day and Bruce Harmon and Bruce Barton co-chairs of Pride Parade. Bruce Barton speared headed the creation of a 300 foot rainbow flag that was carried down State Street.  Kristen Ries Community Service Award recipients were Barb Barnhart, Jeff Freedman, Kelly Byrnes and Maggie Snyder.]

• The theme of Gay Pride Day 1997 was ``Equality Through Visibility'' and was held June 8 at the City-County Building at Washington Square Park. Carrie Gaylor and Jeff Freedman served as co-chairs of the event with Candace

  

  Kelly Byrnes

  Gingrich this year’s Pride Parade's grand marshal. Gingrich is the Lesbian sister of Newt Gingrich former Speaker of the House of Representatives and gave a keynote address by Human Rights Campaign spokeswoman.  Local Political keynote addresses which were due to the influence of Carrie Gaylor were absent. After she stepped down that part of Gay Pride Day went into abeyance. For the first time ever four individuals were given the Dr. Kristen Ries Award including Barb Barnhart, Reverend Kelly Byrnes, Maggie Snyder PA-C, and Jeff Freedman. Freedman election was somewhat controversial having been on the nomination committee. Barnhart was honored for her AIDS Education Activism, Rev. Byrnes as pastor of Bridgerland Metropolitan Community Church of Logan, Freeman, for his charity work, and Snyder for her devotion to the care of People With AIDS.
• ``For one day, for all of us to show up and be proud and to show people that we're here, is important. There are many of us here and we're not a group to be ignored. There are a lot of gays and lesbians in Utah and this is a great way to celebrate who we are.''.-Carrie Gaylor
• ``We're actually getting more participation from straight people,'' -Jeff Freedman,

1997 Page: Paul Kelly/The Salt Lake Tribune   Gay Pride marchers in Salt Lake City headdown State Street with a massive flag that organizers sewed as a ``tremendous symbol of pride and unity.'' S.L. Gay Parade Boasts Usual Fun, But Pride Presides; Gay Parade: Pride, Unity Themes of Day Byline: BY KATHERINE KAPOS THE SALTLAKE TRIBUNE   Sunday's Gay Pride parade was filled with the usual stereotypes -- men dressed as women and women dressed as men. Some wore leather, a few wore almost nothing at all.   But the true symbol of the day was a flag made from the colors of the rainbow that stretched the length of a football field. It took more than 100 people -- dressed in everyday

Rev. Bruce Barton

clothes -- to carry it.   ``It's a tremendous symbol of pride and unity,'' said the Rev. Bruce Barton, a staff clergyman at the Metropolitan Community Church in Ogden. Barton and a dozen friends spent the past two weeks bent over the small sewing machine in his dining room, sewing the strips of lightweight material together. In all, the flag took more than 35 bolts of material and more than 80 hours of work, Barton said.   It was completed at 4:15 Sunday morning, just before the parade began.   ``I'm so jazzed I can hardly stand it,'' Barton said before the parade started. It was the third, and largest, Gay Pride Parade that Utah's gay and lesbian community has staged. It included some 50 entries and involved close to 1,000 people.   About the same number of people lined State Street to watch the parade as it made its way from the state Capitol to the City-County Building at 400 South. It was a big change from15 years ago when about 50 gays and lesbians held their first pride march.   ``It's exciting to see this in the Land of Zion,'' said Mike Picardi, a parade spectator.  ``It's nice to see so many people happy. That's what the parade is all about, living life and being happy and not being critical of other people,'' he said.  This year's parade grand marshal was Candice Gingrich, sister of U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. In a speech after the parade, Gingrich praised homosexuals for participating in Gay Pride activities and for ``coming out'' to their family and friends.   ``When we come out we help dispel myths and educate people,'' she said.   But still more needs to be done. Gingrich encouraged everyone -- gay and straight --to write letters to elected leaders and participate in local and national organizations.   Only in that way will they be able to prevent workplace discrimination and hate crimes, she said.  Gay Pride marches are held across the country every June to commemorate the Stonewall riots that occurred on June 27, 1969, in New York City. In just about every city, the rainbow has become a symbol of hope against future violence and equal treatment of homosexuals.   As much as the Salt Lake City parade was for gays, lesbians and bisexuals, it also was a time for straight family and friends to show support. PFLAG -- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays -- marched and carried banners. So did one group of in-line skaters who dubbed themselves ``Straights on Skates.''   Of course, the day belonged to those who were proud to be homosexual. From the QUACs -- Queer Utah Aquatic Club – that performed with float boards -- to the Utah Gay Rodeo Association in their cowboy hats and boots there were no skrinking violets.   ``It's like Christmas,'' said Mike Mecham, with the Gay Student Union at the University of Utah. ``It's better than Christmas,'' piped in his friend Jeremy Webb.  The parade also gives gays a chance to poke fun at those who often condemn their sexuality. Like the man who dressed as ``Sheemayle Ruzicka,'' a jab at Conservative Eagle Forum leader Gayle Ruzicka.   Or how about the couple dressed as Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie who carried a ``Just Married'' sign.   The event also gives some people a chance to be completely outrageous.   That was what Juan Carlos Claudio and Javier Cordoba had in mind when they painted their bodies gold and marched in the parade in high heels and tiny bikinis.   ``We just do it so people will open their minds and accept all people,'' said Claudio.

1998 Monday The next General Membership meeting of The Utah Bears is this Friday, June 12th. It will be at Liberty Park in the North East pavilion at 7:30 pm. We will have sodas and chips. We have a few things to discuss regarding Pride Day. We will be having visitors from Bears of Idaho, some of whom will need places to stay. Most ofthem will not arrive until between ten and midnight on Friday. Please let Todd [Bennett], Ron [Hunt], Peter [Crane], Blair [Lewis], Jim or Clint know if you can host a Bear or two.Then on Saturday the 13th, we will be assembling the float for the march thenext day.

2003 The 2nd Annual Steven Holbrook Visionary Awards dinner

Becky Moss

will be held on Sunday, June 8th. This year, KRCL will be honoring Norma Matheson and Becky Moss. Congratulations to these fine women for their enormous contribution to the community. If you would like to attend the awards dinner at the Memorial House in Memory Grove (Salt Lake City) please contact the station at 363-1818.

Kate Kendall

2003 Kate Kendall was Grand Marshal of the Pride Parade and Doug Wortham was the recipient of the Dr. Kristen Ries Award. The Theme was Be Yourself Out Loud SLC PRIDE POLITICAL STAGE, in Library Square Sunday June 8, 2003  PRIDE DAY Political Stage Schedule 11:30 Rep. Jackie Biskupski (D-SLC) Michael Picardi (Stonewall Democrats) Kevin Cromer (Log Cabin Republicans) Deanna Taylor (Utah Green Party) Doug Wortham (Utah Democratic Party Exec. Committee) 12:00 Debate: Barbara Nash (Gun Violence Prevention Center) & David Nelson (Pink Pistols) 12:30 SLC Mayoral Candidate Frank Pignanelli 12:45 SLC Mayoral Candidate Molonai Hola 1:00 SLC Mayor Rocky Anderson 1:15 Utah Pride Grand Marshall Kate Kendall Executive Director / National Center for Lesbian Rights 1:30 Singer / Songwriter Gigi Love 2:00 Sgt. Kyle Jones  LGBT Liason / Salt Lake City Police Department 2:15 Spoken Word Artist Michelle Tea, Lambda Literary Award Winner 2:30 Live trance / electronica artists FT 3:00 Michelle Tea, pt. II 3:15 Author / Activist Patricia Nell Warren “The Front Runner” 3:30 Acoustic Artist Mary Tebbs

• 2003 Pride Day Sees 35,000; 120 from U By Sheena McFarland A record number of U students marched in Sunday's Pride Day Parade, highlighting the growing support of the gay community on campus, participants say. About 120 students-more than any year before-rode on the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center float or marched behind a Lesbian & Gay Student Union banner through downtown, according to Charles Milne, director of the LGBT Resource Center. "Today is such a wonderful expression of community, and the U is very pleased to have students, faculty and staff joining together in support," said Kay Harward, associate vice president for enrollment, who marched with LGSU in the parade. Lauren Littlefield, co-president of LGSU, was "amazed" at the turnout. "There were 35,000 people at Pride Day, and probably 95 percent of them stopped by our booth to donate, say hi or just say that they support us

  

  Lauren Littlefield

  ," Littlefield said. Littlefield wanted to let people know about the student group, which has been on campus since 1975. "LGSU is a very upstanding part of Utah's gay community. We're going on 30 years, and we wanted to make sure everyone knew we were still here," Littlefield said, commenting on the reason LGSU participated in the parade. Along with LGSU's booth, the LGBT Resource Center set up a booth where passersby could purchase stress balls and Mardi Gras beads to help raise funds for the center. Clint Hayward, a staff member in the Student Services Building, was one of the volunteers manning the booth. "We're here to get information out and let people know we're an on-campus resource, and we can arrange talks in classes and provide more background about the LGBT community," he said. Many of the people who visited the booth were students from other schools, such as Westminster College, and prospective U students wanting more information about support for LGBT students at the U, Hayward said. That is what organizers had hoped for. "Potential students often see the U as an intimidating place, and if we can get the word out that there is a place like this center that accepts them as individuals, they are more confident coming," Milne said in an earlier interview. Participants in Sunday's parade said they wished more of the acceptance they felt at Pride Day could be transferred to the U. "A lot of people I talk to describe Pride Day as 'gay Christmas' because they don't have to worry about anyone or anything, and that would be nice for the LGBT community to have that same feeling on campus," Milne said. Harward said the campus is more accepting of the LGBT community than the past, but there is still room to grow. "I'm pleased that the U is moving toward acceptance of differences," he said. "But I hope there is a better embracing of minorities and that we all realize we are all after the same goal: the love, tolerance and acceptance of all peoples."

2003   Salt Lake Tribune Section: Utah Page: D1 Photo Caption: Tyler Dahlsrud of Salt Lake City and the Alternative Garden Club marches in the Utah Pride Day parade on Sunday. Pride Day drew more than 30,000 people to downtown Salt Lake City for the parade, food booths and entertainment. Politicians Court Gay Vote SLC mayoral hopefuls tout credentials at Utah Pride Day celebration;  Pride Day Brings Out Politicians By Sean P. Means    The Salt Lake Tribune Politics mixed with partying Sunday as candidates mingled

Mayor Anderson

with more than 30,000 gays, lesbians and sympathetic straight folk at the 20th Utah Pride Day in downtown Salt Lake City. Mayor Rocky Anderson, after carrying the American flag on horseback to open the festivities at Library and Washington squares, noted the "vast community support" for gays and lesbians  --  evidenced by the rainbow flag flying in front of the City-County Building. "We are building community here among us all, with greater respect and compassion," he said to the cheering crowd. "We should be damn proud of Salt Lake City." Anderson also was the star attraction at the Main  Library's outdoor amphitheater, where Utah Pride presented political discussions on issues ranging from gay rights to gun violence. Anderson's challengers in this year's election, former state legislator Frank Pignanelli and businessman Molonai Hola, also spoke and took questions, but Anderson was the crowd favorite. Pignanelli touted his advocacy for a hate-crimes bill during his years in the Utah Legislature, and urged today's lawmakers to, "for God's sake, pass the hate-crimes law  --  not only is it the smart thing to do, it's the decent thing to do." Pignanelli gave a split opinion, however, on the same-sex marriage issue  --  stressing support for legal protections for couples, but not wanting to alter the one-man/one-woman definition of marriage. "You open a Pandora's box to a lot of other people, beyond just the gay/lesbian issue," he said. Hola aimed to connect with the audience, citing the discrimination he has suffered as a Tongan native. "Having been viewed as different, I can empathize with where you're coming from," Hola said. But Hola, a moderate Republican, said he is flat-out opposed to same-sex marriages  --  a position unlikely to attract many gay voters.  Anderson has said he lost his 1996 congressional bid to Merrill Cook because of his support for legalizing same-sex marriage. On Sunday, the mayor played up the financial benefits of diversity. "Having some rock 'n' roll, having a strong gay and lesbian community, having a creative, artistic, culturally rich, diverse community is absolutely essential to economic development in the modern world," Anderson said. "That's what we're going to see happen in Salt Lake City."  The gay community's economic impact is well known, said Jerry Rapier, Pride event coordinator. Now, gays and lesbians are eager to show their political muscle, too. "Everybody wants the gay dollar," Rapier said, "but people need to recognize we're not just people with a lot of disposable income." Dani Hyden, a volunteer for the political action committee Unity Utah, said the repeated defeat of the hate-crimes bill over the past decade is mobilizing Utah gays. "We have to be able to convince [conservatives] that it protects them, too,"Hyden said. Ogden native and former American Civil Liberties Union of Utah staff attorney Kate Kendell, who was grand marshal of Sunday morning's Utah Pride parade, told the forum audience to be ready for "historic tectonic shifts" in the political landscape. Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, cited three pending cases: The U.S. Supreme Court's consideration of Texas' antisodomy law, a challenge to Massachusetts' ban on gay marriages, and a potential repeal of Florida's law barring gays from adopting.  Rapier said 1,000 people participated in Sunday's parade, including lawmakers, church groups, health-care workers, student organizations, employees from such companies as Wells Fargo and American Express, and people hoisting a 300-foot-long rainbow banner. Attendance for the post-parade festivities  --  with food booths, merchants, entertainment and children's activities  --  exceeded last year's estimated 30,000 participants, he said. What mattered to many was not politics, or the opportunity to be outlandish  --  drag queens and leather chaps were present, but not in abundance  --  or the dozen evangelical preachers shouting at the corner of Washington Square. What mattered was the chance to mix, free of stigma, with other gays and lesbians.     "In a lot of ways, it's the only day people feel comfortable being out in public," Rapier said. "It's their day to be themselves out loud."  

David Nelson

2003 Utah Pride Celebration Firearms Debate  June 8 -- 12:00 noon to 12:30 p.m.    Salt Lake City Public Library Amphitheatre  210 East 400 South -- Salt Lake City Nelson serves as the founder of Pink Pistols of Utah. PPU is a group of gender- and sexual-minority firearm advocates and owners in the state, and supporters of the Pink Pistols idea that was described nationally in 2000 by writer Jonathan Rauch for the legal, safe and responsible use of firearms for their self defense and shooting-sport competition, including those of them who are gay and lesbian, and that of their families and friends. The group is the largest such group in the United States with more than 196 members. Nash serves as a representative of Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah. GVPC and its lobbying affiliate Gun Violence Prevention Campaign of Utah were founded in 2001 by a group of citizens who believe that people need to, and can, do far more to protect society from the misuse of guns. They also believe it is possible to accomplish this and still maintain the ability of citizens to own and possess guns for legitimate hunting, sporting and self-defense purposes. The group is the successor of Utahns Against Gun Violence. Both debaters are state Concealed Firearm Permit holders.

• Barbara Nash Comments: I was pleased to accept Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah Inc. DBA Utah Pride Inc. political-programming staffer Michael Mitchell's invitation to participate in a discussion with David Nelson about firearms and the LGBT community at the Pride celebration on June 8. You may have been alerted to this event through the press release from Nelson and Pink Pistols of Utah posted to this site several days ago. As a member of the board of directors of the Gun Violence Prevention  Center of Utah (GVPC), I wouldn't presume to summarize the mission or policie

  

  Barbara Nash

  s of Pink Pistols of Utah. On the other hand, I do take issue with Nelson's characterization of the GVPC. The GVPC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is "to end the violence and suffering  resulting from the misuse of firearms.” We engage in educational and legislative programs to further this mission. Nelson said in his press release that we "also believe it is possible to accomplish this [our mission] and still maintain the ability of citizens to own and possess guns for legitimate hunting, sporting and self-defense purposes.” In fact, GVPC has taken no formal position pro or con on hunting and  sporting use of firearms (specifically rifles and shotguns) other than supporting the continuation of the federal ban on military-style assault weapons. With the exception of professional law enforcement personnel, we are adamantly opposed to the carrying of handguns in public, concealed or otherwise. As Nelson's press release stated, I am a member of GVPC. It would have  been informative to also mention that I chair the advisory board of the  University of Utah Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center (on  which Nelson participated in 2002) and I serve on the center board of  directors. See you at PRIDE. (And do drop by the GVPC booth next to the political stage, and say hello). Barbara Nash

Jane and Tami Marquardt

2005 The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of Utah 355 North 300 West Salt Lake City, UT 84103 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Valerie Larabee gay community to honor award winners at utah pride grand marshal reception (June 8, 2005) Salt Lake City, UT - The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Community Center of Utah and organizers of Utah Pride 2005 today announced the recipients of five awards to recognize service and support of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer community. These awards will be presented at the Utah Pride Grand Marshal Reception honoring Senator Scott McCoy on Friday, June10 at 6:00 PM at the Salt Lake City Public Library. The awards are: The Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award, The Pete Suazo Political Action Award, The Organization of the Year Award, The Community Volunteer of the Year Award and a new Youth Leadership Award. Jane & Tami Marquardt are the 2005 recipients of The Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award. This award was established to recognize outstanding service to the greater gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in Utah. It was first presented to Dr. Kristen Ries for her humanitarian efforts in dealing with the AIDS crisis and the community service award was afterwards named in her honor. The Dr. Kristen Ries Community Service Award has been given annually since 1987. Recipients have all, in their own unique ways, dedicated years of service to build and support Utah's GLBT community. Jane & Tami are very much positive role models and like Dr. Kristen Ries they exemplify everything that the award has stood for: compassion, leadership and courage. Utah Attorney General Mark

Mark Shurtliff

Shurtleff is the recipient of The 2005 Pete Suazo Political Action Award, an award established in 2002. This award was created in tribute to Pete's great legislative work in attempting to pass Hate Crimes legislation and for his ability to gently remind his colleagues in the Utah State Legislature of the great diversity found in the State of Utah. This award is presented to an elected Utah official who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the equal rights of the LGBT community through legislation, policy or declaration. Attorney General Shurtleff is a leader who has shown great support for issues important to the GLBT community. The Salt Lake Metro Newspaper is the 2005 winner of The Organization of The Year Award. In May, The Metro staff celebrated the anniversary of their first year as a Gay Newspaper in Utah. Winner of The Organization of the Year Award, The Salt Lake Metro is an organization that has served the GLBT community and has made outstanding contributions to further diversity and acceptance in Utah. Congratulations to Michael Aaron (Publisher) and the entire Metro staff. Don

Donald Steward

Steward is the 2005 Community Volunteer of the Year. This award is given to acknowledge an outstanding volunteer for service to the community. The continued growth and development of the Utah's LGBT community would not be possible without the dedication of thousands of volunteers who serve unselfishly in furthering the missions of nearly a hundred non-profit and community service organizations across the State of Utah. Don's volunteer service includes his work as co-chair of the GLBT Public Safety Committee, coordinator of the Utah Pride Parade, and a leadership role with the CyberSluts – a group well known for their far reaching support of GLBT organizations across the state. Lauren Bradley, a recent high school graduate and member of the GLBT Community Center Youth Action leadership team, is winner of the 2005 Youth Leadership Award. This is a new award this year being presented to a youth who has exemplified growth, spirit and leadership in work to support GLBT Youth in the schools and in the community. Lauren's is a role model for other GLBT youth and is paving the way for many other youth leaders in this community! The GLBT Community Center of Utah is a nonprofit corporation, founded in 1992 [correct date 1991], whose mission is to be a catalyst for personal growth, acceptance and equality for GLBT people in Utah.

• Jane Marquardt I nominate Jane A. Marquardt for the 2003 Kristen Ries Community Service Award.  Jane has been an activist, philanthropist, and volunteer for the LGBT community in Utah for over two decades. Jane's early contributions to Utah's LGBT community were certainly more private than her more recent ones.   Jane was first thrown into the public spotlight when a disgruntle former employee outed her in the Utah Bar Journal.  Initially, Jane was concerned that her reputation as an attorney and her ability to attract and retain clients would be jeopardized by the public attack.  To the contrary, some of the most prominent members of the Utah Bar offered Jane public support and clients continued to hire her.  Today, Jane is undisputedly and widely recognized as one of the most respected attorneys in Utah.  Jane could not possibly be more out than she is now.  In fact, Jane could not possibly be more authentic in the way she lives her public, personal, and professional life.   She would probably wear a giant L on the front of her sweaters if Penny Marshall had not already done so. For example, Jane and her partner, Tami, have entered into Vermont and California domestic partnerships.  Tami has taken Jane's last name, Marquardt. Their local commitment ceremony was featured in an article in the Salt Lake Tribune.  When the opportunity presented itself, Jane unabashedly  introduced Tami to Senator Orin Hatch as "my parnter, Tami."  When Jane and Tami met Governor Howard Dean of Vermont, they thanked him for the Vermont legislation creating Vermont domestic partnership. On a professional level,  Jane is one of the foremost authorities on Estate Planning for LGBT clients in the country.  She has been invited  to speak about LGBT legal issues by local and national organizations such as the Gill Foundation, the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, the University of Utah College of Law, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah, and the Utah State Bar.  Some of her professional awards and achievements include being named Outstanding Young Lawyer in Utah in 1984 and Outstanding Woman Lawyer in Utah in 1989; serving as President of the Utah Bar Foundation in 1996 and 1997; and serving as President of the Alumni Association for the University of Utah College of Law in 2002. Over the past two decades, Jane has generously donated her time to LGBT organizations.  At present, Jane is serving on boards and/or committees for Unity Utah, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Rainbow Board Foundation.  During the last Utah legislative session, Jane help Representative Jackie Biscupski with a bill which now enables gays and lesbians to control what is done with their own remains upon their death, rather than having those decisions made by blood relatives. Jane has been a major financial contributor to the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah, the Utah AIDS Foundation, Unity Utah, PFLAG, the Matthew Shepherd Scholarship Fund, University of Utah LGBT group, and other local and national LGBT organizations.   When Jane donates money to non-LGBT charities she makes it clear that a Lesbian donated the money.  When Jane contributes to a candidate's political campaign, regardless of the candidate's party affiliation, she engages the candidate in a discussion about LGBT issues.

2005 Utah Pride Film Festival Because you are a committed community member who cares about diversity,  the Salt Lake City Film Center would like to invite your participation  and support for the 2nd Annual DAMN THESE HEELS Pride Week Film  Festival June 8-10th. The SLC Film Center was founded with the vision of building community  through the power of film.  Last year we were asked by leaders in our  gay and lesbian community to curate a series of films during PRIDE WEEK  that reflected the best in gay and lesbian cinema. We were able to  provide provocative yet introspective film screenings to the community  at large that celebrated and illuminated LGBT issues and experiences.  Encouraged by an appreciative audience, this year the SLC Film Center  will present three days of award-winning films along side cast members  and community leaders. We will also program films that are being made  by local filmmakers that address issues such as the recent ban on gay marriage, the rise of teenage gay homelessness, transgendered issues,  and spirituality. As part of the city’s annual PRIDE celebration, we will screen six  full-length films including the Gary Nelson’s Sundance and Independent  Spirit Award winning BROTHER TO BROTHER. Salt Lake City has the second largest gay per capita community in the  United States, and presenting films that reflect this diversity is a strong value of the SLC Film Center. We hope to build bridges and  awareness between the heterosexual and LGBT communities through quality  cinema. We are dedicated to our goal of creating a fund for the Salt  Lake City Film Center’s annual PRIDE film programming because we  believe film is a safe and often inspiring way to understand and  explore our differences, and discover our commonalities. To that end,  renowned artist Trevor Southey will be donating an image and signed poster that will be for sale throughout PRIDE and the SALT LAKE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL. Our immediate goal is to raise the necessary funding to  support this year’s DAMN THESE HEELS film celebration.  With your  tax-deductible donation, we are offering the following benefit  packages: Diamond Tier: ($500 Donation): •   8 Tickets (Host your friends!) to opening night film and reception •Priority seating for entire festival •       Signed Damn These Heels 2005! Trevor Southey poster •      Signed copy of DVD Brother to Brother Emerald Tier ($250 Donation): •       4 Tickets (Host your friends!) to opening night film and reception •Priority seating for opening night • Signed Damn These Heels 2005! Trevor Southey poster Ruby Tier ($100 Donation): •     2 Tickets to opening night film and reception •       Priority seating for opening night •          Signed Damn These Heels 2005! Trevor Southey poster Please make your pledge/RSVP for the reception by responding our Development Officer, Naomi Lee See you at the movies! Sincerely, Geralyn Dreyfous, Executive Director, Salt Lake City Film Center Naomi Lee & John Patton, Programming Directors DAMN THESE HEELS

2006 LGSU represents U in pride parade Christian Poole Daily Chronicle More than 40 U students marched up State Street on Sunday morning following the Lesbian and Gay Student Union float in Salt Lake City's annual Pride Parade.  The parade was part of Pride Festival, which also included speeches, booths and dances put on by members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Utah. The students waved brightly colored signs and wore white T-shirts that read "U queered" on the front and "Gay it up" on the back. One sign read, "LGSU the gayest thing on campus since 1974!" Paul Michael Maxfield, a graduate student in British-American literature at the U, said he thinks Pride Festival is wonderful. Maxfield designed the float with the help of his partner, Tyrus Williams, a scenery designer for Desert Star Theatres. "I'm really happy to be part of such a great cause," he said. Besides entering one of more than 60 floats in the parade, LGSU ran a booth to promote awareness of GLBT issues in Washington Square during Pride Festival. Kara Draper, a U grad in organizational communication, helped to hand out LGSU leaflets in the booth. "I think it's important to celebrate diversity and equality," said Draper. "Pride gets you out-whether you're LGBT or straight-it gets you out and mingling." This year's Pride theme was "Pride not

Will Carlson

Prejudice," and Will Carlson, a third-year law student, said it's a good one. "It's important for us, as a community, to recognize the dan

Heather Franck & Bonnie Owens

gers of prejudice," Carlson said. "To realize we aren't just victims of prejudice, but that we can perpetuate it, too-if we're not careful." Bonnie Owens, a senior in gender studies at the U and co-president of LGSU, helped run the booth with her partner, Heather Franck, a senior in photography at the U. Owens said Pride is important because it unites people in the GLBT community. "Imagine if you had spent your whole life thinking that no one is like you, then you come here-and everyone's like you." "I wait all year for Pride," said Owens. "It's like Christmas to me."

2006 Utah Pride 2006 A Success!! The 2006 Utah Pride Celebration was a resounding success! We saw dramatically increased attendance at the Film Festival, Dyke March, and Dance, we had a great time at the Grand Marshal Reception, and with over 70 Parade entries and an estimated 20.000 attendees at the Festival, this is the largest and most successful Utah Pride on record! Thanks to all our sponsors, volunteers, community partners, and patrons for joining us in a celebration of "Pride, Not Prejudice!"  Gay Bingo: Pride Hangover Party This Friday! Join the GLBT Community Center and the Utah Cyber Sluts for a night of wickedly funny entertainment, prizes, and friendly cutthroat competition. Have fun, win prizes, and raise money for our Community Center. Bingo starts at 7:00 PM. Admission is only $5 and includes your first game board. 

2006 Youth Activity Center Volunteers Needed! Make a difference in the lives of GLBTQ young people by volunteering at the Youth Activity Center. Volunteers are needed to support ongoing programs, to help develop new programming, to staff the youth drop-in center, and to help with administrative tasks. Many positions require a weekly commitment of 3-4 hours. Some positions require a monthly commitment of 4-6 hours. Other volunteer possibilities could include a onetime activity or event. The Grant & Mary Valentine "Soups' On!" Program  The "Soups On!" Program is an integral piece of the services provided to GLBT youth at the Youth Activity Center (YAC). The YAC provides a unique environment where GLBT youth can receive support/information, and enjoy each other's company in a drug and alcohol free environment - without fear and judgment. The YAC works closely with the Homeless Youth Resource Center to provide resources to young people in need.  "Soups On" provides food for hungry queer youth, many of whom find themselves without basic economic and nutritional support that many of us take for granted. We are always in need of non-perishable food items. The Center • 361 North 300 West • Salt Lake City, UT 84103 • 801.539.8800 • Our mission is to be a catalyst for personal growth, acceptance, and equality for GLBT people in Utah.

Mayor Beecker

2008 Salt Lake City's Mayor Ralph Becker was the Grand Marshall of the Pride Day Parade. Utah AIDS Foundation Director Stan Penfold was the recipient of the Dr. Kristen Ries Award.  The Theme of the festival was "Come

Stan Penfold

Together".  Utah Pride Festival Smashes Records QSalt Lake  The preliminary numbers are in, and so far this year’s Utah Pride Festival is the biggest gay gathering in the state’s history.  In July, the Utah Pride Center, the organization behind the Utah Pride Festival, released preliminary attendance records for the three-day festival. An estimated 3,500 people attended events held on Saturday, June 7 and over 20,000 attended events on Sunday, June 8, the third day of the Utah Pride Festival and the day of the Pride Parade. This year also had the largest number of exhibitors and vendors (over 150) and parade entries (over 83) in the event’s history. These figures closely match estimates the Center released a few weeks after the festival in June. “I think our aggressive marketing campaign and an incredibly talented Festival

Valerie Larabee

organizing team made the difference this year,” said Valerie Larabee, the Utah Pride Center’s Executive Director. “I also think a lot of people came out for the festival to celebrate Salt Lake City’s new Mutual Commitment Registry and the fact that gay couples have gained the right to marry in California.  For many, simply attending the Pride Festival is a show of support for the gay, lesbian, bisexual [and] transgender community and in the same light an act of political support for GLBT equality.” The Center has credited its ticketing system, introduced in 2005 when the Utah Pride Festival first charged an admission fee, with the ability to better track festival attendance. In the past, local media estimated that festival attendance was as high as 50,000 people. However, no official records existed to definitively verify these numbers. Although the Utah Pride Center is still reconciling its accounts and expenses, festival organizers have also said that this year’s event may also be the most profitable in its history. So far, it has cut checks from its $6,000 community partner budget for three organizations that provided extensive volunteer efforts to help run the festival – lesbian civic and social group sWerve, the Queer Utah Aquatic Club and gay-friendly wine tasting group QVinum. The remainder of the festival’s profits will go to the Utah Pride Center to fund its programming and towards improving and growing the Utah Pride Festival in the Future. Attendance at 2008 Utah Pride Festival Grand Marshal Reception (Friday, June 5): over 250 Attendance at 2008 Pride Interfaith Service: approximately 200-300 Attendance at 2008 Dyke March: over 300 Attendance at 2008 Utah Pride Concert and Dance Party (Saturday, June 6): approx. 3,500 Floats and other entries in the 2008 Utah Pride Parade: over 83 Vendors and exhibitors at the 2008 Utah Pride Festival: over 150

Sponsors of 2008 Utah Pride Festival: 23

Jennifer Nuttall

2009 Jennifer Nuttall Takes Pride in Programming  Written by JoSelle Vanderhooft   QSalt Lake  In the last five years, the Utah Pride Center has undergone a name change and a remodeling — and not just a remodeling of its meeting spaces and offices. Its programming has also undergone an overhaul from being mostly youth-focused to including workshops, social groups and support networks for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender adults with a number of interests and needs, from health and wellness programming to neighborhood potluck dinners. Jennifer Nuttall has a lot to be proud of. As the Center’s adult programs director, she has made this change in programming possible. “I think getting the baseline support groups in place was really important,” she said, referring to the groups the Center now holds for lesbian and bisexual women, lesbian and bisexual men, transgender adults and the partners of transgender adults. “People would call just coming out or having broken up with someone, in a really vulnerable state, and there was no [program] we could provide for them where they could met people who had been through the same things.” Long before she made revolutionary changes to the Center’s programming, Nuttall lived in Orem, where she grew up in a typical Mormon household with her 10 siblings. A BYU student majoring in international relations, she served an LDS mission in northeastern Italy at age 21 and later received a minor in Italian from the school. She says that her Mormon background, and the difficulty she had in coming out to a largely Mormon family, has inspired much of her work as an activist. “It was really difficult and there were so many people to come out to and everyone was having their own reaction,” she said of her coming out at age 27. “It’s been a struggle. I’d say for the first good four to five years I was very consumed by the fact they didn’t accept me for who I was ,and [I was] trying to find ways for them to accept me. But at some point I was able to let that go. I don’t need their acceptance. I’m good with who I am.” “I feel like that whole experience was what motivated me to work to help alleviate [the suffering] that is caused by people being raised Mormon and having a sexual orientation that is different from the norm,” she continued. But when Nuttall began volunteering at the Utah Pride Center (then called the GLBT Community Center) under former director Paula Walsh in 2004, adult programming was anything but the norm for the center. Five years ago, the center’s programming was focused mainly on youth; adult gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Utahns interested in starting up a program or a support group mainly just used the Center for meeting space. Indeed, Nuttall’s first assignment as a volunteer was managing a grant from the Utah Department of Health designed to help gay and transgender people stop smoking. The resulting “Queers Kick Ash” campaign, on which she estimates she spent 75 percent of her time, made headlines across the state when Hillcrest High School students were suspended for sporting shirts with the catchy slogan. The flap ended with UDOH withdrawing the grant — a move which nearly ruined the Center financially. “It was scary because the center went under, but it was a good thing because then we were able to concentrate on getting adult programs the community needed.”  These programs included, of course, the aforementioned support groups. Of these, Nuttall said she is particularly pleased with the three groups the Center now extends to transgender people, their partners and the parents of transgender children and youth. Seeing how the transgender community has flourished and grown and become really united is one of the highlights that has happened at the Center,” she said. “Most of my resource calls at this point are for transgender resources, so it’s interesting how the need for transgender services has grown in the past few years.” The Center also offers programs and support groups for gay and lesbian parents, bisexuals, Latino gay and transgender people, and even music nights in their in-house bistro, Café Marmalade. Nuttall has also expanded adult programming to include a brace of wellness programs, free and confidential HIV testing and “culture competency training” for health care providers, businesses, journalists and educators who want to learn more about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and how to better serve them. “That’s something I feel is really instrumental,” she said. “As a community center there’s no way we can provide everything, but we can make our communities more caring and competent to serve the LGBT community.” Sometimes, education, outreach and fun comes together in her programming, as in The Breast Dialogues, an annual performance modeled loosely after Eve Ensler’s hit The Vagina Monologues about breasts and breast cancer. “People love being a part of it and it provides an educational component to the community,” Nuttall said of the long-running show. “When you put all those things together, I think you have a very successful program.” When Nuttall isn’t administering these successful programs she enjoys swimming, camping and spending time in the great outdoors with her niece and nephew, who she has had permanent custody of since 2006. And being a mother is another thing that Nuttall is proud of. “It’s amazing, it’s the best thing in the world but it definitely was a huge adjustment as you can imagine,” she said. “Being a mother has completely changed my life. You can’t even know until you experience it. I feel all my priorities have shifted, they [my children] have become top priority, and I prefer to spend time with them over anybody.” Although juggling work and family can be hard, Nuttall says she wouldn’t give her children up “for anything.” “It completely changed my life and it’s been a wonderful experience,” she said. Next > 

2009 Gay rights advocates strut political clout in Salt Lake GLBT community» The year's events bode well for its acceptance. By Steven Oberbeck The Salt Lake Tribune Updated: 06/08/2009 There was glamor and glitz, and at times a playful gaudiness Sunday during the Utah Pride Parade on Sunday in downtown Salt Lake City. Yet beneath the surface of the rain-soaked celebration of Utah's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, there was also the sense of a rising surge of political activism that almost transcended the spectacle with its brightly colored floats, rainbow banners and the marching, dancing men and women in brightly colored attire.  "This year it is about everyone coming together and showing how much clout we have as a community," said Coko Catoure Deazarea, Miss Gay

Coko Catoure Deazarea

Utah. "I believe we are at a turning point, where people are beginning to stop looking at being gay as a sin." The Utah Pride Center, organizer of the three-day festival that boasts of a parade attended by thousands, and eclipsed only by Utah's Days of '47 celebration, acknowledged it placed extra emphasis on political action this year. "This was the first year that we held a political rally

Michael Wesley

in conjunction with the festival," said Michael Westley, spokesman for the Utah Pride Center. "We wanted to put the words out there to let everyone know how we feel as a community." Parade grand marshal Clive Jones, an activist who worked alongside slain San Francisco gay rights leader Harvey Milk, said the past year politically for the LGBT community was marked by both hope and disappointment. "It was a  remarkable year," Jones said. The election of Barack Obama as president brought the LGBT community hope and showed change was possible, he said. And the film "Milk" informed young people of the gay rights movement's history and helped bring as never before new energy to its fight. And while gay marriage has been approved in six states, there also was the disappointment of California's Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiative that overturned an earlier court ruling that legalized gay marriage in that state. And the disappointment only intensified when the California Supreme Court last month upheld the measure. Jones just a

Cleve Jones

few minutes earlier had stirred up the festival's crowd by thanking The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its president, Thomas S. Monson, for helping bring the LGBT community together with its support for Proposition 8. "We thank you for unifying us as never before. We thank you for teaching our young people that they must be prepared to fight for freedom," Jones said, predicting that Proposition 8 will be a short-lived victory and recorded in history as a turning point in the battle for gay rights.  For many of the parade goers, though, the festival was more of an opportunity  Salt Lake City Gay Pride Parade 2009 to show support for their loved ones who are lesbians, gay or transexual. "I have a son who is gay and I'm here to let him know that I love him," said Mary Alder, who has been marching in the parade since 2001. "I would never want to do anything to hurt him."  And while she supports gay marriage, Alder joked that it isn't yet a huge issue for her.

Junior Hubrick

"My son is only 24. He is too young to get married." Dressed in a green plastic swimming pool with green balloons adorning his head, Junior Hubrick of the Queer Utah Aquatic Club, or Quac(k), said he hopes the rising tide of political activism will help more people realize that "gays help make Salt Lake City a much better place."  But Ruben Israel of the Bible Believers Fellowship, a Christian group that he describes as having chapters in more than 52 cities nationwide, said he was disappointed that his group wasn't given permission to participate in the parade. Israel, who has preached against the LDS Church during its general conference, said his group wanted to march in the parade and let everyone know the members are proud of being heterosexual. "I don't think they wanted to accept us for who we are, and that is a little disappointing."  steve@sltrib.com

2010 LDS Church fined for tardy financial reports during Prop 8 California » State agency seeking $5,539 for breaking election law.  By Rosemary Winters The Salt Lake Tribune The LDS Church has agreed to pay a fine to California for failing to report, on time, contributions the Utah-based faith made in fall 2008 to help overturn gay marriage in the Golden State. The California Fair Political Practices Commission's staff has determined the LDS Church violated the state's political-contributions law in the days leading up to passage of Proposition 8. The agency has proposed a $5,539 fine, representing 15 percent of the $36,928 in contributions to the "Yes on 8" campaign that the LDS Church did not report on time. The commission will vote Thursday on whether to approve the penalty.  "The church appreciates the fairness and consideration with which the Fair Political Practices Commission has addressed this oversight," LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said in a statement. "In the last two weeks leading up to the election, the church mistakenly overlooked the daily reporting requirement and instead reported those contributions together in a later filing."  Fred Karger, who filed the original complaint with the commission, said Tuesday the fine validates his allegations that the LDS Church tried to "cover up" its role in banning same-sex marriage in California. "They have absolutely every right -- as any religious organization, any individual, any business owner, union, whomever -- to be involved," he said. "But they must comply with the law if they are going to be involved in politics. That's what they've been covering up."  Trotter insisted the church reported all "institutional contributions" to the "appropriate authorities in California." The church waited until Jan. 30, 2009 -- months after the Prop 8 vote -- to report $134,774 of the $189,904 it spent on the campaign. The money went to "Yes on 8" leader ProtectMarriage.com. "Claims that the church misrepresented its contributions to the Protect Marriage Coalition are false," Trotter said. Roman Porter, the commission's executive director, said Tuesday there are not any additional outstanding complaints against the LDS Church for its financial reporting on Prop 8. The agreement for the fine, he noted, addresses "all of the issues" related to Karger's complaint, which included additional charges of under-reporting by the church. The Human Rights Campaign, a national gay-rights group, praised the commission and Karger.  "It's just not credible that a multibillion-dollar, sophisticated organization like the LDS Church didn't know or understand the election-law requirements," Joe Solmonese, HRC president, said in a statement. "California requires early disclosure so voters know who's behind these referendum fights and, clearly, the Mormon Church worked overtime to keep their full involvement hidden from the people of California."

2010 Subject: Official Announcement from the Speaker of the House: ICS in the US Congressional Record Courtiers of the International Court System, It is my extreme pleasure and honor to reveal to all the matter of the International Court System's inclusion in the United States Congressional Record on June 8th, 2010, in recognition of our 45th Anniversary. The United States Congressional Record is a publishing of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress (the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America) on a daily basis when the bodies are in Session.  The Congressional Record also includes the official reckoning of statements made to congratulate, honor or otherwise recognize the achievements by people, organizations or causes within the United States.  The ICS is one of the first national organizations to be included in the Congressional Record.  Representative Susan Davis addressed the 11th Session of the United States Congress, composed of 535 persons, on the 8th of June with the transcript attached.  Mrs. Davis marked the achievements of the ICS over the course of 45 years, recognized our beloved Founder Empress I José and described some achievements of our Queen Mother I of the Americas Empress Nicole the Great. In honoring the ICS's legacy of activism and philanthropy, the recording of the ICS in the Congressional Record is a permanent mark of the impact of the ICS on our communities.  Please join me in proudly displaying and announcing such an historic event as we continue our important work of Noble Deeds in North America.  Feel free to include in your Coronation Programs, Court Newsletters and any other materials used to promote. This historic document is a salute of recognition of 45 years of all of our work. Warm Regards, His Excellency, The Serene & Catholic Napoleonic Prince Royale AJ Speaker of the House, Her Majesty's Parliament Executive Secretary to the Queen Mother of the Americas  The International Court System of Canada, United States & Mexico  

2014 Utah’s Gay Pride Parade rolls through downtown Salt Lake City BY MATT CANHAM The 2014 Gay Pride Parade rolled through downtown Salt Lake City under blue skies Sunday June 8, 2014. A group of uniformed Boy Scouts carrying the flags of their nation and their state would be a non-event at almost any parade, but not at the Pride

Geoffrey McGrath

Parade. And that’s before adding Geoffrey McGrath, a former scoutmaster in Seattle dismissed by the Boy Scouts of America three months ago for being gay. McGrath led about 10 former and current Scout leaders and Scouts at the beginning of the Pride Parade on Sunday, carrying an American flag, an Israeli flag and rainbow flags, along with protest signs against the Boy Scout of America. Among the group was Peter Brownstein who made the same walk with Scouts in 2013, only to get reprimanded by the Great Salt Lake Council and threatened with being removed if he made a repeat appearance. The Scouting council won’t have to follow through with its threat since the United Jewish Federation in October suspended the troop Brownstein led. The Boy Scouts don’t allow its uniformed members to participate in political events and the Great Salt Lake Council considers the Pride Parade political. Brownstein argues that it is cultural. Brownstein said he felt it is important to participate in the Pride Parade, even after losing his troop, because he wants to keep the pressure on the Boy Scouts to change. “I believe the issue needs to stay at the forefront of the discussion as they remake themselves into a more inclusive organization,” Brownstein said. The Scouts have allowed gay youths to join its organization this year but still have a policy against gay scout leaders. McGrath, an Eagle Scout and a software engineer, founded a troop last fall sponsored by the Rainier Beach United Methodist Church, which promotes LGBT equality. His sexuality was mentioned in a NBC News story that prompted the Boy Scouts to remove him from his post in a letter dated March 31. Utah’s 2014 Gay Pride is the first since more than 1,000 Utah couples — many of whom were part of the parade — were able to marry during a 17-day window that opened Dec. 20 when U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby ruled Utah’s voter-approved ban on gay marriage to be unconstitutional, and closed when the state won a stay while appealing that ruling. The parade’s grand marshals were the three couples who brought the suit involved in Shelby’s ruling — Laurie Wood and Kody Patridge, Moudi Sbeity and Derek Kitchen, and Kate Call and Karen Archer.

2014 Gay couples who made history lead Utah Pride Parade Provo entry • The Provo Pride Council was a first-time parade entry this year. BY MATT CANHAM AND DANIELLE MANLEY THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE This weekend’s celebration is the first since some 1,300 same-sex couples — many of whom were part of the parade — were able to marry during a 17-day window that opened Dec. 20 when U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby ruled the state’s voter-approved ban on gay marriage to be unconstitutional, and closed when the state won a stay while appealing that ruling. The parade’s grand marshals were the three couples who brought the suit involved in Shelby’s ruling — Laurie Wood and Kody Partridge, Moudi Sbeity and Derek Kitchen, and Kate Call and Karen Archer. Scouts lead off • A group of uniformed Boy Scouts carrying the flags of their nation and their state would be a non-event at almost any parade, but not at Pride. And that’s before adding Geoffrey McGrath, a former scoutmaster in Seattle dismissed by the Boy Scouts of America three months ago for being gay. McGrath led about 10 former and current Scout leaders and Scouts at the beginning of the Pride Parade on Sunday, carrying an American flag, an Israeli flag and rainbow flags, along with protest signs against the Boy Scout of America. Among the group was Peter Brownstein who made the same walk with Scouts in 2013, only to get reprimanded by the Great Salt Lake Council and threatened with being removed if he made a repeat appearance. The Scouting council won’t have to follow through with its threat since the United Jewish Federation in October suspended the troop Brownstein led. The Boy Scouts don’t allow its uniformed members to participate in political events and the Great Salt Lake Council considers the Pride Parade political. Brownstein argues that it is cultural. Brownstein said he felt it is important to participate in the Pride Parade, even after losing his troop, because he wants to keep the pressure on the Boy Scouts to change. “I believe the issue needs to stay at the forefront of the discussion as they remake themselves into a more inclusive organization,” Brownstein said.  The Scouts have allowed gay youths to join its organization this year but still have a policy against gay scout leaders. McGrath, an Eagle Scout and a software engineer, founded a troop last fall sponsored by the Rainier Beach United Methodist Church, which promotes LGBT equality. His sexuality was mentioned in a NBC News story that prompted the Boy Scouts to remove him from his post in a letter dated March 31. Mormons showing Pride • Two groups of churchgoing Mormons made return visits to the Pride Parade, including one that overtly supports gay marriage. And while these Mormons were front and center in 2012, they were far back in the pack this year. Mormons for Equality, the one that supports gay marriage, came about halfway through the parade, tucked between eBay and Chase Bank. Members in the group of about 50 were conservatively dressed, but not in church clothes like many of those who were prepared to walk in the second group. Mormons Building Bridges, a group created to improve relationships between Latter-day Saints and the gay community but stays out of the marriage fight, came near the end of the parade. In 2012, about 300 straight Mormons dressed in their Sunday best to march in the Pride Parade in 2012 and about 400 came with the group last year. This year, Mormons Building Bridges once again brought hundreds in their Sunday best and it was clearly the largest group marching in the parade. A number of the participants carried signs saying such things as “God is love” and “All are alike unto God.” Their slogan this year was “Love Is Spoken Here,” the name of a popular LDS children’s song. Mormons Building Bridges, a mix of active and former Mormons, also staffed a table at the Pride Festival where people could stop by and get a hug from a Mormon. Organizers Doree Burt said it might sound hokey, but the emotions displayed are anything but. Burt, from Logan, participated in the parade in 2012, thinking it sounded nice for Mormons to show some love for LGBT people, but she was taken aback by what she experienced. The crowds roared with applause, people shouted thank you and countless others cried. Burt gets choked up just recounting that memory. “That first time it, it was transformative for me,” she said. Burt, who is a young women’s leader, believes her faith “has really blown it” on the issue of gay rights. “It’s not just people not going to church. People are killing themselves,” she said. Kelly Butikofer walked in Pride parades in Chicago, where he lived before moving back to Utah a few years ago, wearing far less clothing in than he did Sunday, in his first experience with Utah’s Pride Parade. Butikofer wore a white dress shirt and tie and he pinned on his old missionary badge as well. “I’m a gay, active Mormon. There are not many of us,” said Butikofer, explaining how he returned to the faith of his youth after stumbling across LDS General Conference while searching for a game show on TV. “I want to help other gay Mormons,” he said. “You can be active Mormon and gay. You can do it.” The LDS Church has softened its stance on gay issues, saying that being gay is not a choice or a sin, though the faith’s leaders have remained steadfastly opposed to same-sex marriage. And Mormons Building Bridges isn’t popular everywhere. The group tried to get into the Days of ‘47 Parade but was rejected for being too controversial, as was the Utah Pride Center, which organizes the Pride Festival. The council will host its second annual pride festival in Provo in September. “We want to be the change we want to see in the world,” he said. “We want to be the help we never had.” One big flag • About two hours after it began, the Utah Pride Parade came to an end with dozens of people carrying a massive rainbow flag that spanned the width of 200 South. Spectators high-fived the flag holders, while others threw money onto its colorful surface that will go to the Utah Pride Center, which organized the event.

Jan Parson-Soran,  Michelle Stephan, Katina Tuero, Bonnie O'Brien

2014 City Weekly Humble Pride The Unsung Heroes Of 2014'S Pride Festival By Deann Armes This year’s Utah Pride Festival is expected to draw up to 35,000 people, with more attendees, vendors, supporters, parade participants, and volunteers than ever before—and in this climate of hopeful anticipation for a ruling from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding Judge Shelby’s decision, it’s set to be one of the biggest, most joyous gatherings. Despite some abrupt shifts and changes at Utah Pride Center just as festival-planning season peaked, the Steering Committee leaders at the forefront have pulled together and picked up the pieces with renewed dedication and camaraderie. “The leadership is good,” says Parade Director Bonnie O’Brien. “You can put a new leader in there and the train is already driving down the tracks.” The team of passionate staff and volunteers who make up the Steering Committee work tirelessly year after year to make the festival a success. Michelle Stephen, director of logistics, says, “it takes a special person” to keep coming back each year. Most of the Steering Committee has been there seven or eight years. “It’s really inspiring and humbling to be a part of it.”  Jen Parsons-Soran, sponsorship chair for the past seven years, says it’s nice working with a group of people who know what they’re doing. “We have a very veteran group, and it’s great to see the time and energy they give to this festival. They have a real love for it.”  Stephen has watched the festival grow and change in the 11 years she’s been involved. The changes she is most excited about this year are the increased number of vendors (as many as 80 more than last year), a focus on local food, a bigger art zone, and newly added street performers. “It used to be just a party in the park. Now it’s a diversified party in the park, with family-friendly hours and more representation of what our community truly is.” The director of logistics oversees everything on the festival grounds: maps, layout, compliance, safety and security, emergency response, timing and deliveries, tents, tables and chairs. It’s a huge undertaking, but Stephen says this is her way of giving back to the community. “I wasn’t one of those queer people that had to fight the fight. I have a lot of friends and know a lot of people who had to fight the fight—whether it was being beat up in high school, having to deal with losing their family, or losing their children. I didn’t have to sacrifice.” The event’s director of volunteers, Katina Tuero, is looking forward to bringing her 16-year-old daughter with her to volunteer at the festival for the first time, and marvels at how much better things have become. “It’s so neat,” she says. “The next generation has a whole different viewpoint than even my generation did.” Growing up with a lesbian aunt made it confusing for Tuero to hear kids at her school saying negative things about gay people. But now she has a lot of friends who are bringing their own kids to the festival. “When we were growing up,” she says, “it wasn’t as accepted, so it’s very different for them to see their kids excited to go. It’s great to see viewpoints and attitudes changing.” More straight allies have started volunteering, especially in the last couple years, according to Tuero, who has volunteered for the past seven years. She says people see this as something they need to support for their LGBTQ friends or family. More than 600 volunteers have already signed up, and 150 more are needed. One three-hour shift gets volunteers free festival entrance for the day, plus a T-shirt. Tuero says the many hours of work involved organizing the hundreds of volunteers all starts to pay off when she sees the fences and tents go up, and all the people come pouring in. “Every year I see the parade it makes me cry,” she says. “It’s beautiful to see the love.” Some have said that the Utah Pride Parade has become the biggest parade in Utah. Though O’Brien, who has been parade director for two years now, says she has “no proof” of it being the largest parade, it’s certainly bigger than ever before, with as many as 130 entries and 7,000 participants. Two dozen more requests came in that had to be denied because it got too full, according to O’Brien, who covers all off-grounds festival events: parades, marches, rallies, and the 5K fun run. She says there will be booths selling beverages and swag along the parade route this year to raise scholarship money for Utah Pride Center Youth. The funds will send kids to Camp Any Town, a program run by the Inclusion Center, whose mission is to teach understanding and acceptance of all people regardless of ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. “I’ve been a ninth grade teacher at a junior high for six years,” explains O’Brien, “and I’ve watched kids struggle with their sexuality, and the religious or political dogma that they’re brought up in. I’m out and proud. I’m good, and my family is OK, and now my whole goal is helping other people to get there.”   Parsons-Soran—who covers all sponsorships, community relations, awards, as well as the Grand Marshal event and VIP tent—sees the festival as a celebration of people being able to come and be themselves. “You get to come and enjoy yourself and be yourself, and you are accepted and loved for that.” She says she was called to the work seven years ago for her expertise, but her love for it is personal. “Although I am straight, I have many, many members of my family and friends who are LGBT,” she says, “and as members of the ‘majority,’ we have a responsibility to stand up for our LGBT brothers and sisters. And we have a different voice in this fight. I have these people in my life that have the most amazing relationships and they don’t have the same rights as I do, and I don’t think that’s right.” The Utah Pride Festival has come a long way from that first small park gathering of gay and lesbian folks in 1974 to the celebration of diversity it is today. It’s a community-building event that attracts not only LGBTQ people looking for a safe space to feel accepted and loved for who they are, but also the friends and families who support them. Parsons-Soran says she appreciates being welcomed into this community: “I know that sometimes there’s a concern and a challenge about straight people being involved, but the fact of the matter is, this is my community,” she says. “This is where my friends are, this is where I feel the most welcome, and the ability to be myself. And I thank everybody for that.”  “It also gives us an opportunity to highlight who we are at Utah Pride Center,” she continues. “In many ways, it’s our gala. We throw the biggest party in town. It’s very hard for the Utah Pride Center to be everything to everyone, and this is one way we can be, at least once a year.”

 2014 Utah Pride 2014: Grand Marshals The Couples from the Utah Marriage Equality Case

This year, Utah Pride has selected six Grand Marshals of the Utah Pride Festival. They are the three couples of Utah’s Amendment 3 marriage equality case: Moudi Sbeity and Derek Kitchen, Laurie Wood and Kody Partridge, and Kate Call and Karen Archer. By standing up for what is right, they have become a beacon of hope for the Utah LGBTQ community and for LGBTQ citizens all across the nation. Join in the celebration of the courage, determination and passion of these three couples as they all continue to work for marriage equality in the state of Utah.

Moudi Sbeity and Derek Kitchen

Derek Kitchen grew up in South Jordan, Utah and attended the University of Utah. He remembers when Amendment 3 was on the ballot in 2004—at the time, the only thing he could do was change Vote Yes for Amendment 3 signs to say Vote No. “I was directly affected by Amendment 3. I was 16 and the only way I knew how to express my concern was to change the yard signs. It was empowering,” he said. His partner, Moudi Sbeity, was raised in Beirut, Lebanon. He moved to Utah in 2006 to attend Utah State University. Due to their shared love of cooking and food culture, Moudi and Derek started a business called Laziz, in which they provide Utah grocery stores with packaged Middle Eastern delicacies. Though they were both afraid of media backlash harming their business, they took a chance to share their story by being a part of the Amendment 3 court case. Though Moudi worries for his family in Lebanon, he hopes his involvement will set an example. “My hope is that my personal story reaches Lebanese shores and can be a part of a broader change in my home country,” he said. Derek and Moudi were engaged Feb. 14, 2014, and their hope now is that Judge Shelby’s ruling will be upheld so they can start their married life together. They currently live in Salt Lake City with their dog, Goji.

Laurie Wood and Kody Partridge

Laurie Wood was raised in American Fork, Utah and graduated from the University of Utah. She taught in Utah County until 2004, when she moved to Salt Lake City. She currently teaches at Utah Valley University as an associate professor.  Speaking about why she decided to join the Amendment 3 case, Laurie said, “While on the ACLU board, I closely followed Nebo District’s firing of Wendy Weaver. She was incredibly brave; I wasn’t sure I could do what she did. But when this opportunity came along, I knew it was the right thing to do.” Kody Partridge grew up in Montana, and moved to Utah in 1984 to attend Brigham Young University. Like her partner, Kody is also a teacher—she teaches at Rowland Hall, a private high school within walking distance of Kody and Laurie’s home in Salt Lake City. The couple was married Dec. 20, 2013, shortly after Judge Shelby handed down the verdict that rendered Amendment 3 unconstitutional. Laurie’s and Kody’s work in the community and their connection to the Kitchen v. Herbert case is about fostering a better community. Kody says, “There are a lot of people, straight and gay, who feel a certain level of pride in what has happened in this state since Dec. 4 and more so since Dec. 20. This is about Utah reclaiming a new reputation – a new state, a state that welcomes diversity.”

Kate Call and Karen Archer

Kate Call spent her childhood in Mexico and Wisconsin, but did most of her growing up in Provo, Utah. She graduated from Brigham Young University in 1974 and worked at University of Utah’s Rio Mesa Center. Karen Archer was born in Maryland in 1946, but grew up in Boulder, Colo. She attended the University of Texas, where she received a bachelor’s and a medical degree. She would later complete her residency as an OB/GYN at Pennsylvania State University. Karen later developed two serious illnesses and had to retire in 2001. The couple met online in 2010, and Karen moved to Southern Utah in 2011 to be with Kate. The couple has faced some of the biggest legal issues facing LGBTQ couples who are unable to be legally married—because of Karen’s health issues, end-of-life and survivor laws are at the forefront. That is why they joined the fight in the Amendment 3 case. Kate and Karen were married in Iowa, July 7, 2011, but the state they call home refuses to recognize their marriage. “We wanted to get married in a state where it is legal so the moment marriage was legal in Utah, it would be in place,” said Kate. They continue to stand up for the recognition of their marriage, along with the over 1,300 Utah same-sex marriages that were issued after Judge Shelby’s ruling.