This Day In Gay Utah History July 9th

9 July 9-

1964 Thursday- Mayor J. Bracken Lee Wednesday blasted the Salt Lake City Police

J Bracken Lee

Department’s entrapment policy in vice cases and said “The system weakens law enforcement. Records show that trouble in the Utah Liquor Control Commission years ago was brought about by using a system of entrapment. It corrupted liquor enforcement officers.” 07/09/64 Page B1 SLTribune)

Dick Leitsch

1969-The first gay power meeting was held in Greenwich Village and organized by the Mattachine Society.  GAY LIBERTATION 1st GAY POWER MEETING Michael Kotis president of MSNY organized a  Homosexual Liberation Meeting committee because “right after the riots people started to come up to us because of our flyers…they wanted to do something…they wanted to get involved and overcome the difficulties, the oppression, the injustice”  The committee had no elected officers but Michael Brown and Martha Shelley were acknowledged leaders.  The society left the committee largely to itself, gave them, “their independence.”  Dick Leitsch founder of the MSNY called for “a community meeting” the 1st Gay Power Meeting for the homosexuals who were turned on by the riots.  Meeting was held at Freedom House, the monthly site of the Mattachine’s Town Meetings.  The meeting called for a Gay Power demonstration to protest police harassment. Dissension in the meeting was between faction that wanted the group to align with all oppressed minorities and those who wanted as a goal law reform for homosexuals. Michael Brown suggested joining the Black Pathers’ demonstration at the Women’s House of Detention in Greenwich Village. “That was the beginning of the end as far as the first action Committee was concerned with Mattachine Society because it was and still is Mattachine Policy only to be involved with issues related to homosexual liberation.

Mark Peterson

1977- Mormon Apostle Mark E. Peterson claimed that “every right thinking person will sustain Miss Bryant, a prayerful, upright citizen, for her stand”, which Peterson hoped would, “keep this evil [homosexualty] from spreading, by legal acceptance, through our society” in an article entitled “Unnatural Without Excuse” in the Church News.

1980  -" ... I must now start to write a book “Mormon and Gay " It will be my own documentary. I will write it to help people like me express our testimonies of the truth not only of the Church but of our love for each other. It will be for me a way to help the leaders of the Church see our sincerity and willingness to do everything humanly possible to find the narrow pathway to the Savior. "[Memoirs of Donald Attridge]

1981-Republican Barry Goldwater expressed disgust with the intolerance of the right wing and stated that every good Christian should kick Jerry Falwell in the ass.

1985-During a debate over passage of a resolution that the American Bar Association support the passage of gay rights legislation, delegate Henry Miller attempted to prove that homosexual [teacher]s do not influence the sexuality of their students by pointing out that the vast majority of children who attend Catholic school do not follow the example of celibacy.

1986-New Zealand legalized homosexual acts between consenting adults. The vote was 49-44, and also set the age of consent at 16.

1987 Salt Lake Prepared for handling the homeless by Douglas D. Palmer Deseret

News. Dr, Roger K Farr said, “homeless men may be instrumental in the spread of AIDS.” They make money 2 ways he said- by engaging in male homosexual prostitution and then by giving blood often in the same day. One third of the males living on the street engage in homosexual prostitution, Farr testified before Congress.

Mark Lamar

1987- Thursday After work went with Ken Francis to Sunnyside Park for the last Pride Day Committee planning meeting before pride day. About 15 people showed up at the for this last minute planning. We voted  to have the Pride Day planning committee pay for the Saliva Sisters rather then have the Sun and the In-Between shoulder the cost. Since Donny Estepp is the co-owner of the In-Between and chair of pride day the measure passed.  I still think that the bars that make such a living off the Gay community could chip in a lot more financial support like Denver's bars do. The cost is $300 and what is that among Backstreet, The Sun, In-between, Puss and Boots and Radio City?  I should mention that it was Mark LaMarr who walked the Gay Pride petition and permits  through the police, county, and city departments to okay Gay Pride this year. In other words Mark Lamar took care of the paper work otherwise there wouldn't be any Gay Pride Day at the park this year. [Journal of Ben Williams]

1988 - I spent most of the day making posters for Beyond Stonewall. About 9 p.m. Mark Brinkerhaus dropped by to take Mark LaMarr and I out to the bars. We went to The Deerhunter first and had a few beers there and then to the In-Between.  It was a warm beautiful night. Later on the way out I found this kid outside on the ground who had fallen off his bike he was so drunk.  I got Mark and Mark to help me get him up. The in-between where he had gotten so drunk didn't have any coffee and Bobby Dupree, the owner, said that he didn’t want him in there and to get him out. The kid was awfully drunk but not drunk enough to let me know how scared and lonely he was. The In-between use to be my favorite bar but now I am not sure I want to patronage it. [Journal of Ben Williams]

1989 I went to my Quaker meeting today and it was good to be back among Friends.  Saw Rocky O’Donovan and Robert Erichsson.  I asked Rocky to join me in starting a Faerie group in Utah.  He said it’s about time.  So far, three of us who are starting up this group have a Quaker consensus back ground, Mike Pipkim, Rocky O'Donavan, and myself. [Journal of Ben Williams]

1989  PROGRESS AT LAST IN AIDS CARE FRESH RESOURCES SPRING FROM NEW CONCEPTS, FUNDS Inspired by life-affirming concepts about AIDS care and new funding, advocates and public health workers are marshaling fresh resources on behalf of those under siege by the deadly disease. Since AIDS first was reported in Utah in 1983, volunteers and public health workers have stretched sparse funding and limited resources to maintain education and prevention programs and services to AIDS patients and their friends

Ben Barr

and families. For Ben Barr, who befriended a lonely man with AIDS as a volunteer more than three years ago and now directs a staff of six at the Utah AIDS Foundation, better days have been a long time coming. "I really feel like for the first three and a half years of doing the work, we were really struggling to get to ground zero, to get out of the trenches," he said. But with a recent Robert Woods Johnson Foundation grant of $720,000 to several related agencies for three years' work, Barr believes his group and the others have arrived "at a place where we can develop quality services. It's nice to see it really happen." Those agencies serve scores of homosexual men, intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs and women and children who have AIDS, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, which cripples the immune system and leaves it susceptible to certain types of cancer and opportunistic infections. To date, 186 cases have been reported to the Utah Department of Health, five of them children, and 116 people have died. Health officials estimate that up to 4,000 Utahns are infected by the human immunodefiency virus, HIV, but either are asymptomatic or exhibit precursors such as fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. But Barr and others estimate that more than 200 people are living with AIDS in Utah, many whose cases were identified in other states and who have returned to live out their lives among friends and family. Also on the battle line is the People With AIDS Coalition, which shares the Johnson funding. Its staff and volunteers serve as legal advocates, administer food banks and conduct outreach programs and support groups. PWA embraces a new concept of "empowerment," which concentrates on living instead of dying, said

Donald Steward

assistant director Donald Steward. Its members are "very vocal and belligerent in the fight against the perception that people with AIDS are victims," he said. "It's a second wave of thinking . . . where before the focus was on crisis management, now we're thinking of it as a controllable, treatable disease that has a finite span." Steward said people with AIDS and their loved ones need to adopt a more positive attitude. To help, PWA is sponsoring a new Sunday brunch program and the Utah AIDS Foundation is planning a series of river-running trips this summer. "We're trying to lighten it up a bit, and get out of the "death, destruction and Detroit' attitude," he said. "Stress is one of the most vital cofactors in dropping the immune system. The lower the stress, the more social people are, the more positive they become." Linked with PWA, the AIDS Foundation and about a dozen related groups is Sister Linda Bellemore, who works with AIDS patients and others at Holy Cross Hospital's infectious-disease unit and in follow-up visits to their homes. "Part of our approach is to support the quality of life and optimum health," she said. "They're living with AIDS, but they're living."  Meantime, the Utah Department of Health's AIDS Control Program recently received $1 million from the federal Centers for Disease Control, allowing an expansion to 17 employees involved in four major projects, said program director Louis Garrett. The program funnels CDC funds to pay for education and information campaigns, especially among the growing ranks of HIV-infected intravenous drug users. It's also part of a nationwide survey to assess the extent of HIV infection among such groups as women of child-bearing age, hospital admissions, gay men, IV drug users and newborns. To combat underreporting of AIDS cases, which Garrett said is a serious problem, one worker monitors death certificates and contacts physicians and hospitals, blood banks and laboratories. But the cooperative nature of the battle against AIDS hasn't always been smooth, said Barr, noting that early on, public health officials were suspicious of AIDS advocates who in turn lacked the skills to clarify their goals. But Barr points to the welcome Utahns gave to the Names Project quilt, with its thousands of panels memorializing those who have died of AIDS, as a bell weather in Utah's growing commitment to people affected by the disease. © 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.

1990 - I am reading all the time. I just cannot put down this book- And The Band Played

On by Randy Shilts.. I cry. I get angry. I get fearful.  I will never trust the government again and I will never forgive the damnable Republicans. [Journal of Ben Williams]

1996  ANDERSON CLARIFIES STAND ON SAME-SEX UNIONS  By Bob Bernick Jr., Deseret News Political Editor  Worried that his 2nd Congressional District race could be sidetracked by an "irrelevant" issue, Monday night Democrat Ross Anderson said he would poll his constituents and vote on any same-sex marriage bills as his constituents wish, regardless of his personal support for same-sex marriages. However, Anderson added that he wouldn't vote for any bill, no matter what the topic, that he believes unconstitutional. And parts of a current bill before Congress that would restrict same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, he believes. Anderson's clarification of his stand on same-sex marriages comes after media reports on the issue and a press conference Monday morning by about 20 northern Utah Democratic officeholders and candidates.

Rocky Anderson

The Democrats said that while they support Anderson's candidacy and agree with him on some issues, they vehemently disagree with him on same-sex marriages and his opposition to the death penalty. "Some in the media and some (Democratic) candidates are obsessing on this (same-sex marriage) issue," said Anderson Tuesday morning. But Anderson clearly had (and may still have) a real political problem. The LDS Church's First Presidency two years ago issued a statement opposing same-sex marriages. The church is actively opposing efforts in Hawaii to legalize same-sex marriages. There currently is no state or nation that sanctions same-sex marriages. Upward of 60 percent of 2nd District residents are members of the LDS Church, polling shows, and Anderson will likely need some of those votes if he's to defeat Republican challenger Merrill Cook. Cook opposes same-sex marriages. "This (same-sex marriages) is a very different issue for a lot of people. Our most revered institution is involved," said Anderson. "I hope that, as a community and a nation, we will all seek greater understanding and compassion - and judge each other less harshly. I also hope that our politicians will finally refrain from the politics of division and fear." In a Deseret News story that ran over the weekend concerning Anderson's political problem with the same-sex issue, Brigham Young University political science professor David Magleby, himself a Mormon and a Democrat, said same-sex marriages is a salient issue, an important issue, with many voters, and Anderson would be mistaken to discount its impact. Anderson won a primary battle last month, in part, due to support by the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats. And GLUD supported Anderson over rival Democrat Kelly Atkinson, in part, because of Anderson's strong support of same-sex marriages and other gay and lesbian issues. Atkinson is against

David Nelson

same-sex marriages. GLUD founder David Nelson said Tuesday that his group is "disappointed and angry" at Anderson over the "change" in his same-sex marriage stand but will still support him. Anderson "is trying to become a centrist" by the change, said Nelson, but he's broken a promise to support same-sex marriages in all cases, and it could cost him "up to 8 percent of his core support (gays and lesbians in the 2nd District), and I don't know if he can afford to write off" so many Democratic voters. Anderson said he met with GLUD leaders before issuing his statement and is disappointed over their reaction. "They agreed. I can't believe some of them were hiding in waiting to take pot shots at me now. I have not waffled at all; I will never back away from my deeply held personal commitment to equal rights for all. But on this sensitive issue, as a representative of all the people in the 2nd District, I'd vote my constituents' wishes, the only responsible thing to do." Charlene Orchard of the Utah Human

Charlene Orchard

Rights Coalition said she and her members still respect Anderson. "Ross has been incredibly consistent in his support of everyone's rights under the Constitution. It's what we admire about him. While our group doesn't endorse candidates, I know many gays and lesbians are pleased with his support of our issues," she said. Anderson said Tuesday that the simple truth is that his personal beliefs on same-sex marriages, or the death penalty or any number of other "minor" issues just won't be a factor in the U.S. Congress. "Issues like (same-sex marriage) shouldn't be decided in Congress anyway, they should be decided by the states and in the courts," said Anderson, a local attorney who is seeking office for the first time.  © 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.

• 1996 The Salt Lake Tribune Anderson: I'll Put Aside Support For Gay Marriage He Says He Would Poll Residents And Vote the Will of the Majority Issue Explodes in Anderson's Face By Dan Harrie Even as northern Utah Democrats moved Monday to distance themselves from 2nd Congressional nominee Ross Anderson, the Salt Lake City Democrat attempted to moderate his support of legalizing gay marriage. Anderson vowed, if elected to Congress, he would set aside his personal views on same-sex marriage to vote the will of the majority of residents in his district covering most of Salt Lake County. He would conduct a poll to determine the wishes of residents and then "vote accordingly," he said. Gay and lesbian wedlock is the one issue on which he would place the wishes of the voters above his own beliefs, Anderson said, because of its potential for divisiveness. "And because these kinds of changes in our institutions are very difficult and sometimes take a while for us all to accept."  But Anderson, an attorney, left himself a rather large loophole in his pledge: that he would not support any legislation he believed unconstitutional. And he attacked the Defense of Marriage Act now before Congress as clearly unconstitutional and the worst example of "political pandering." The pending legislation would give states authority to ignore marriage contracts from other states that might legalize same-sex marriage. Hawaii is considering allowing same-sex marriages. Anderson said he issued the statement to put behind the "sensationalized" topic of gay marriages and get onto the meaningful issues of transportation, the federal budget, environmental protection and saving Social Security and Medicare. The Democrat insisted his new statement on same-sex marriage is "entirely consistent with everything I've said on this issue." But in answering pre-primary election questions for The Salt Lake Tribune, Anderson said he supported efforts to legalize same-sex marriage. "He has flip-flopped, he's trying to backpedal on this," said Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats [GLUD] founder David Nelson. Nelson said GLUD will continue to support Anderson, but not without some hesitation. "If we're going to have poll-driven candidates, we might as well have gone with [defeated Democratic candidate] Kelly Atkinson. At least he was honest about it," said Nelson. University of Utah political science Professor Matthew Burbank said the success of Anderson's strategy on the prickly same-sex marriage issue rests entirely on how it is perceived. "The question remains whether this will serve to allow him to get past the issue or whether it looks like lawyerly finessing, in which case it could have the opposite consequence," Burbank said. "For some people the stronger tactic may be to say, `Here's what I believe,' and stick by it," he added. Republican candidate Merrill Cook said his opponent is practicing "politics at its most cynical." But Cook made a promise of his own: "We are not going to go out and campaign on that issue" of same-sex marriage. Cook said he agrees with Anderson that tax and budget policy need to be the central focus of the campaign, and that the two candidates have ample differences in those areas. Other Democrats also hope those bread-and-butter economic issues dominate in this election year. More than 20 Democratic office holders and candidates held a news conference Monday in Ogden to highlight their disagreements with Anderson's more controversial stands, including his support of legal gay marriages. "It's a pre-emptive strike against Republicans painting us with a broad brush," said congressional candidate Greg Sanders, Democratic challenger to 1st District Republican Rep. Jim Hansen. "We went to a lot of trouble this year to recruit good, solid, middle-class candidates," Sanders said. "We don't want to take any chances of that getting lost by dominant media coverage of the 2nd District race."

1997: Page: B1 Service Required Of Students; Projects Part of New Health Curriculum; Health Education Approved Byline: BY HILARY GROUTAGE THE SALTLAKE TRIBUNE   The Utah State Board of Education on Tuesday approved changes in Utah's core public-education health curriculum, raising the ire of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum and earning hearty thanks from the Utah AIDS Foundation and PTA. Starting next fall, older elementary-school students will be required to perform community-service projects. In the past, such projects were voluntary and usually were the ideas of individual teachers.  The goal of the revision is to integrate health-education information and student involvement across the curriculum. The revisions do not affect basic health education.   As before, students will not be taught the intricacies of human sexuality, and much of the reproductive-health information is taught to older elementary-school children as part of maturation programs within each school.   Elementary-age children will continue to be taught how they cannot contract HIV or AIDS, rather than how they can. HIV and AIDS will continued to be discussed separately from studies about deadly diseases and the risks of unhealthy lifestyles. Early in the revision process, a controversy arose over a misunderstanding of the language involving the service-learning projects. Some observers believed that children would have to do such projects exclusively for people with HIV or AIDS. But that was never the case, Margaret Rose, a specialist in AIDS education and comprehensive school health with the state Office of Education, told the board's curriculum committee. The children would be encouraged to help people with any long-term illness.  Paula Plant of the Utah PTA said the group approved of the service-learning element, as long as other diseases besides AIDS were included. ``Our recommendation would be that the project be left up to the teacher to decide for whom you show compassion,'' Plant said.   Debbie Simpson of the Eagle Forum still objected to the idea of required projects, and said her organization had not been adequately consulted on the matter.   ``How can they be service projects if they are required?'' Simpson said. ``They [the school board] just need to realize there are people out there with other opinions.''   She said Eagle Forum members were not informed of the public hearings at which the curriculum changes were discussed. But state Office of Education Spokeswoman Eileen Rencher said the public hearings had been advertised in newspapers across the state and held in 20 sites across Utah. In other topics, families will be characterized as people who love and support each other, rather than a typical mother-father-child. ``It's a little uncomfortable to stand before the class and say `This is the best situation,' when a little guy sitting there has a different situation and always thought it was pretty good,'' Rose said.   Overall, Rose said, the revisions were meant to make it easier for teachers to convey the message of good health. ``We wanted people to understand health education can be a number of things,'' she said ``If they haven't had breakfast, if they haven't exercised in 14 years, it disturbs their learning.''

1998-The Wisconsin State Journal reported that evangelical minister Ron Greer sent a fund

Tammy Baldwin

raising letter which attacked House of Representatives candidate Tammy Baldwin for being a lesbian. Baldwin would go on to win the election and become the first openly lesbian woman to be elected to the House of Representatives. 

 1999 MORMON ANTI GAY MARRIAGE GALPAC held a press conference to kick-off the local movement. GALPAC will not run UFF -- UFF will be an independent grassroots organization-- but it will be actively involved. The Utah ACLU has also promised its support, and gay rights organizations from coast to coast have either pledged or are expected to lend their aid. Until UFF has an information line and an Internet presence, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center will provide information. The Center can be reached at (801) 539-8800 or on-line at www.glccu.com. Call to Arms Every member of the Utah gay community and its allies are called upon to join and/or support Utahns for Fairness. In order to make an impact, time, talents and resources are sorely needed; committees cannot have too many members. As UFF gears up, here are some things every member of the Utah gay community can do to help get the ball rolling... * Send letters to the editors of Utah and California newspapers expressing your opposition to the Mormon Church's political activities. (Some activists think that you should) be sure any outrage is directed at the actions of the church leadership and not the church itself or its members in general (and that) Mormons who are sympathetic to gay issues should not be alienated or put on the defensive. * Talk to, write, e-mail and call you friends, family and colleagues. Let them know what's happening and how you feel about it. Ask for their support. Encourage them to write letters to newspapers and the LDS Church. * If you are a member of the church, write a letter asking to have your name removed from the church rolls. Be sure to indicate your full name, birth date and place of birth. State clearly that you want your name removed from church records and feel free to explain why. Consider having the letter notarized or sent certified mail so the church will know it's from you. * If you are a member of the church and do not want your name removed, write a letter to the church expressing your anger and disapproval of the church's actions. * If you are not a member of the church, write a letter to the church asking that you never be baptized by proxy (that is, after you are dead). * Stay informed of protests being organized and plan to participate. Log-onto the Community Center's webpage at www.glccu.com to get up-to-the-minuteinformation about UFF.

Becky Moss

2003 Wednesday Subject: Re: Retirement Becky Moss to Ben Williams “Ben, I have retired from Concerning Gays and Lesbians, 20 plus years is enough for me. I will help Stan with the show up to the end of the summer, Labor Day weekend.  I am still very active with the station. My retirement from the show was effective June 16th. No big deal, I want to do something else now. Becky Conflict with new program director Gena Edvalson was a contributing factor for Moss leaving the show.

2003 Chad Keller to Ben Williams Subject [Kiosks Pride Community Partners] Since I’m frustrated today bear with me.... Paula Wolfe mentioned in July the Community Partners would be thanked and get their checks....has the invite come in the mail? CK

• Re: Kiosks Ben Williams “Mark Swonson went in June and was told that they needed until July to sort out how much money was made. I will ask Mark to contact them again and see what the scoop is
• The USHS never recieved their promised share of money made at Pride as a community partner.

2003 GAY PROVO GROUP We are having a PARTY!!! at 9:00 pm July 9th Wednesday....YAY...please confirm by calling and also we are going to talk about hiking trip to Moab sometime in July... I will provide light snacks and drink so eat a meal before you come... Please call and let me know...hope to you see all... Eric

2005 Utah Bears Everyone is welcome; RSVP's are greatly appreciated! The hot tub will be open, so bring a towel and flip-flops if you want to get wet! We are requesting a $5 donation for this party, to help cover expenses. Saturday, July 9th, 8:00 PM to Midnight In beautiful Slut Lake City, UT As always, you will be greeted at the side door off the driveway, so please cum around to the lighted door at the side. Please arrive by 8:30, so your hosts don't have to spend all night doing door duty! This will be an old-fashioned Bear Hug for Bears, Cubs, Daddies and Chubs, and men of all descriptions who admire them. Soft Drinks, Water and Snacks will be provided. 

2006 Sunday Emperor XXXI Kim Russo, Empress XXXI Kyra Faye  Prespentte,  Prince Royale XXXI Nick CostantinoI, Princess Royale XXXI Vanessa VaughnN, Along with the Royal Court of the Golden Spike empire Present  INVESTITURES Sunday July 9^th at the Paper Moon* Ttitles and Showtimes start at 4:00 PM Free Admission ..A THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY! COME AND CELEBRATE WITH THE FABULOUS INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL BE RECEIVING TITLES FROM THE THIRTY FIRST REIGHN.

2009 Gay couple detained by security near Mormon plaza after kiss July 10, 2009 SALT

Derek Jones and Matt Aune

LAKE CITY — A gay couple say they were detained by security guards on a plaza owned by the Mormon church and later cited by police, claiming it stemmed from a kiss on the cheek. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said that the men became argumentative and refused to leave after being asked to stop their "inappropriate behavior." The men say they were targeted because they are gay. Matt Aune said he and his partner, Derek Jones, were walking home from a concert nearby on Thursday night, cutting through the plaza near the Salt Lake City Mormon temple. Aune, 28, said he gave Jones, 25, a hug and kiss and that the two were then approached by a security guard, who asked them to leave, telling them they were being inappropriate and that public displays of affection aren't allowed on the property. He said other guards arrived and the men were handcuffed. "We asked what we were doing wrong," Aune told The Associated Press. Church spokeswoman Kim Farah said in a statement Friday that the men were "politely asked to stop engaging in inappropriate behavior, just as any other couple would have been." "They became argumentative and used profanity and refused to leave the property," she said. The church did not immediately respond to a request for more comment. Police later arrived and both men were cited with misdemeanor trespassing, Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Robin Snyder said. "It doesn't matter what they were asked to leave for," Snyder said. "If they are asked to leave and don't they are trespassing." The church has been the target of protests over its support of a ban on gay marriage in California. The couple were married July 5, 2014 

2014 Utah appealing gay-marriage case directly to Supreme Court BY MARISSA LANG THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE The Utah attorney general’s office announced Wednesday that it will appeal the 10th Circuit Court’s decision last month upholding same-sex marriage to the U.S. Supreme Court. Wednesday was the deadline for the state to seek a full-court review by all 12 judges of the 10th Circuit Court, but, according to a statement from the attorney general’s office, Utah will instead push onward to the U.S. Supreme Court. The announcement came as dozens of Utah families delivered more than 3,800 petitions to Gov. Gary Herbert’s mansion, asking the state to pull back its appeal of same-sex issues on which judges — both state and federal — have already ruled. This includes Utah’s landmark Kitchen v. Herbert case, the first in the nation to topple a state ban on gay marriage, as well as a case over whether or not the state is obligated to recognize the nearly 1,300 same-sex marriages performed in the wake of the Dec. 20, 2013 decision by a federal district court judge in Utah striking down the states ban on same-sex marriages. The timing of the state’s

Brandi Balken

announcement Wednesday was “interesting,” said Brandie Balken, executive director of Equality Utah, who attended Wednesday’s march. “We don’t really know if the Supreme Court will take this up or they won’t,” Balken said. “Unfortunately, today we have families, couples, children who are living in legal limbo.” A statement from the Utah attorney general’s office reiterated the state’s call for “clarity” and “resolution” on the issue of same-sex marriage. “To obtain clarity and resolution from the highest court, the Utah Attorney General’s Office will not seek en banc review of the Kitchen v. Herbert Tenth Circuit decision, but will file a Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United State Supreme Court in the coming weeks,” according to a statement from the attorney general’s office. “Attorney General Sean Reyes has a sworn duty to defend the laws of our state. Utah’s Constitutional Amendment 3 is presumed to be constitutional unless the highest court deems otherwise.” The federal high court is not obligated to hear Utah’s appeal — or any case regarding state same-sex marriage bans. Should the justices decline to hear such a case, the rulings of lower courts, like that of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, would stand as the law of the land. Evan Wolfson, the president of the gay-rights group Freedom to Marry, urged the Supreme Court to take the case. “The Supreme Court should take this case and swiftly move to end marriage discrimination across the country,” he said in a statement. “Every day of delay is a day of hardship for couples and their loved ones wrongly denied the freedom to marry and respect for their families.” On June 25, the 10th Circuit Court ruled that states outlawing same-sex marriage are in violation of the U.S. Constitution. By upholding a Utah judge’s decision, a three-member panel of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver became the first appeals court in the nation to rule that voter-approved bans on same-sex marriage violate the 14th Amendment rights of same-sex couples to equal protection and due process. But the court immediately stayed the implementation of its decision, pending Wednesday’s anticipated appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The 10th Circuit’s two-to-one ruling affirmed U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby’s December decision, which struck down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage and prompted more than a 1,000 same-sex couples to marry during a 17-day window before the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay, halting all such weddings.  The 10th Circuit split along that same lines that were formed during oral arguments in April, with pointed questions asked by the three judges — Paul J. Kelly Jr., Carlos F. Lucero and Jerome A. Holmes — about marriage studies, jurisdiction and standard of scrutiny. At that time, Kelly — who was the dissenting judge in Wednesday’s opinion — had asked the plaintiffs’ attorney hard questions about state authority. The ruling affected all states in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals: Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. The court’s majority opinion focused on the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under law to American citizens. The court said its reading of the Constitution shows that couples’ right to marriage has nothing to do with the gender of those in the union. “We hold that the Fourteenth Amendment protects the fundamental right to marry, establish a family, raise children, and enjoy the full protection of a state’s marital laws. A state may not deny the issuance of a marriage license to two persons, or refuse to recognize their marriage, based solely upon the sex of the persons in the marriage union,” the appellate court said. “Courts do not sit in judgment of the hearts and minds of citizens.” Charles A. Stormont, who is the Democratic candidate opposing Reyes in his bid for the office of attorney general, said if he were Utah’s top prosecutor, he would immediately drop the case against same-sex marriage. “This appeal is an enormous waste of money and we should be fighting to protect people’s rights, not to take them away,” Stormont said in a statement. “The state has no business dictating how people build their families, and the State should never tell children or their parents that they are second-class citizens.”

Add caption

2014 Marriage Equality Supporters Ask Herbert, Reyes to Stop Fighting Marriage Battle by WHITTNEY EVANS  A group of people who support marriage equality gather outside the Utah Governor's Mansion.  About 50 people gathered at the Utah Governor’s mansion Wednesday morning to deliver thousands of signatures collected for a petition asking Governor Gary Herbert and Attorney General Sean Reyes to stop fighting same-sex marriage in court. Governor Gary Herbert is in Tennessee this week for a meeting of the National Governor’s Association. But that didn’t stop members of the LGBT community, their families and friends from delivering 3,900 signatures to his doorstep. Utah officials are prepared to defend the state’s law banning same sex marriage all the way to the Supreme Court--Even after two lower courts ruled the law unconstitutional. “It’s time for the governor and the attorney general to stop hurting Utah families,” says Crystal Young-Otterstrom who joined her husband and two children at the event to show support for marriage equality and ask the governor to drop the appeal. Weston Clark married his partner Brandon Mark in December during the 16-day window when gay marriage was legal in Utah. Standing outside the governor’s mansion Wednesday with their two children, Clark says he wants Herbert to see the families who are affected by policy decisions like Utahs same-sex marriage ban.    “We are real people and we are real families and we are trying to live our lives,” Clark says. “I was saying to somebody today we’re getting ready to go on a trip and I’ve got to pack, I’ve got to clean the house, I’ve got to do all this stuff. Oh, and on top of that, I’ve got to fight for our family.” Back in June the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s decision that declared Utah’s gay marriage ban illegal. But the court ultimately stayed its own ruling, anticipating the state would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The attorney general’s office announced Wednesday it will not be asking for a review from the full panel of 10th circuit judges, but will move forward with a direct appeal to the Supreme Court in the coming weeks.

2014 Supreme Court Justice Alito denies request to stop same-sex marriages in Pennsylvania, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Justice Samuel Alito has denied a request to halt same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania.

Brandi Balken

2014 QSalt Lake Just shy of her fifth anniversary as executive director of Equality Utah, Brandie Balken announced today that she will be leaving in August to assume a new position with the Gill Foundation, one of the nation’s largest funders of LGBT equality work. “My service as the executive director of Equality Utah has been the most rewarding and challenging of my life. As a lifelong Utahn it has been extraordinary to witness the astounding change in public opinion, and in public policy,” Balken said. “I am so honored to have had the opportunity to do this work at this amazing time, having benefited from the hard work and sacrifice of my predecessors — and countless others in this incredible community.” “Together we have accomplished some wonderful things. Although I am sad that I will not be here to witness it, I know that Utah will continue to build on its gains in providing fairness, freedom and opportunity for all! I know, with the dedication, commitment and resilience of this community, and the drive and savvy of my colleagues at Equality Utah — the best is yet to come. Get ready Utah —the future is knocking,” Balken continued. “Brandie’s service and dedication to Utah’s LGBT community has been as inspired as it has been effective.  Under her leadership, Equality Utah has more than doubled in capacity and successfully lobbied for the passage of more than 35 LGBT-inclusive policies on local and state levels,” said Equality Utah Board Chair Clifford Rosky

Cliff Rosky

. “Brandie’s expertise, grace, and compassion have truly transformed the landscape for LGBT equality in Utah, and we very much look forward to seeing her work continue on the national stage.” Shortly after she was named interim director of Equality Utah in July of 2009, succeeding Mike Thompson, the group announced the transition of its Common Ground Initiative from an effort to pass legislation at the state legislature to working with municipalities in the state to pass local ordinances. The effort was wildly successful, as 19 communities passed ordinances in all areas of the state, from Salt Lake City to St. George to Moab to Price, Utah. In 2010, the organization was honored with Change.org’s top ten “Gay Rights Heroes of 2010″ after securing its goal of 10 city ordinances in the first year. Also in 2010, Balken was named QSaltLake‘s Person of the Year and was featured on the cover of the January issue. In 2012, Philanthropedia, a division of GuideStar which reports on U.S. nonprofits, ranked the group seventh among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and ally organizations that had a high impact on their local community. Balken was also named by the organization as a top leader. Over the years, the organization helped many endorsed candidates from both sides of the aisle in their goal of a “fair and just Utah.” The group raised funds through personal donations and the annual Allies Dinner, which has grown dramatically since 2009 to filling the largest ballroom in the state. The group expanded the dinner to include one each year in St. George as well. EU has also worked to forge relationships with politicians and other leaders at all levels of the state. Their reach of influence extends from senators to representatives to school leaders to the Utah Driver License Division. “Utah is a better place because of Brandie’s dedication, hard work and her talents,” Salt Lake City Parents and Friends of Gays and Lesbians said in a statement. “She

Mark Lawrence

will be missed, but will now be able to continue to effect change on a national level, which benefits so many more people. We extend our sincere gratitude and congratulations to Brandie.” “I cannot imagine going through the events of the past year, without knowing that Brandie and Cliff and Equality Utah had my back,” said Restore Our Humanity director Mark Lawrence. “We have become not only a village but a new light in the universe and without Brandie and her work, that light would be much dimmer.” “Brandie Balken has been one of the greatest leaders of LGBTQ equality in Utah it has ever been my privilege to know. We all owe her a huge debt of gratitude,” said activist Eric Ethington. “When Ben Williams finally finishes his Utah LGBT history, Brandie will go down as one of the great ones. With legislators, her velvet touch masked a backbone of steel. And organizationally, she is Fortune 400 material,” said Sen. James Dabakis. “I saw her steel side one day in a meeting where it was suggested that if she dropped the ‘T’ from ‘LGBT,’ she might get a statewide non-

Marina Gomberg

discrimination bill passed. She icely said, ‘That, my friend, is going nowhere.’” Marina Gomberg has been named interim director as the board finds a permanent replacement for the position. Gomberg is a communications manager at the University of Utah and was a director of development and marketing director at the Utah Pride Center for five years. She and her wife, Elenor Heyborne, are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the state of Utah seeking to recognize the over 1,300 couples married during the 17 days that marriage was legal in this state. “Marina has deep roots in the LGBT community of Utah and strong communication and leadership skills.  We look forward to utilizing her talents in this capacity while we conduct a thorough, comprehensive search for our next executive director,” Rosky said. “As always, Equality Utah remains fully committed to the growth of our robust programming.  Working together, the board and the staff will continue to raise awareness about the experiences of transgender Utahns, achieve nondiscrimination protections in employment and housing, and win the freedom to marry for all Utahns.”