Spring 2nd Quarter Journal 2003 April-June

 

April

1 April 2003 Tuesday

Chad Keller wrote to me saying “Remember next month....(lol) 19 May 1969  At 10:20 pm the planets aligned and was born the Grand B*itch of them all...Chad Curtis Keller...the world would never be the same. (LOL) CK.”

Chad Keller wrote to Erin Litvack regarding the Pride Day Sponsorship program, “I have had several people from the Business Guild inquire on Pride Sponsorships. Could you please send me a packet so that members of the Guild who are interested in sponsoring Pride Day can look it over and get you some cash. Also if you have information on the costs of ads in the Pride Guide that would also be helpful. Thanks! Chad Keller  Interim Coordinator The Utah GLBT Business Guild

He also wrote to Paula Wolfe saying; Members of the Business Guild are interested in teaming up to make some purchases of ad space in the Pride Guide. What are the specs for 2003, costs, and deadline? Thanks! CK”

Bob Childers, Emperor of the Ryal Court announced to All, “Greetings one and all, If you are planning to place an ad in the Salt Lake Coronation Program, please contact either Chad Keller at or Doug Roy at  Full page is 10.5" x 6" no color Full    $150.00  Half   $100.00 Quarter $ 50.00 The program is a unique size this year. I know you will like  it. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Bob Childers-Sheraton Convention Services Manager.”

So Chad Keller wrote to Randal Myers about designs for the USHS kiosks. “Randal Hope you’re feeling well. You need to send me the time this week we can meet on the kiosks and other stuff. I need an ad for the USHS for the RCGSE Coronation program. I'm giving the free one that I get for helping them to the USHS. Design it for 8 1/2 x 11 for now, they may change sizes tonight but it is unlikely as they are trying to save money. Have fun with it...Text can be altered if need be. Will need a couple versions to be voted on this month

Suggested Text for the Ad:  (I go for Fun and in your Face) To Their Most Imperial Majesties Bob Childers and Agnes of Cheesecake You're History... Wow, 27 Reigns...that's impressive! Many organizations have come and gone but one thing has been constant in the collective history of Gay Utah, The Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire. The Utah Stonewall Historical Society salutes the RCGSE for all you've done, for all you're doing, and for what you'll do. Join the Utah Stonewall Historical Society October 2003 for Gay and Lesbian History Month with Keynote speaker Eric Marcus, author of Gay History, The Half Century fight for Lesbian and Gay Rights.”  

The Delta Lambda Sapho Union at Weber State University hosted a special presentation on “GLBT history from Stonewall to today.” The event was held in the Shepherd Union Building.   

 

2 April 2003 Wednesday

Kathy Worthington wrote to me: Thanks for the article, I was finally able to read the one you sent me. Unfortunately, it doesn't tell what I thought it did; how to resign from the church. I know that issue was covered by the news media at the time, maybe it was a day or two later, after the QN [Queer Nation]  people 'visited' the church office building. Guess I'll have to ask around. Or maybe the church just told them how to resign, but it never made the news. I know that I wrote about it in the WCN [Women’s Community News].”

Chad Keller wrote regarding a fundraising event for the City of Hope, USHS and RCGSE “Okay, Call me reeeeaaaalllllllyyyyyyy greedy and self-centered. But I made a vow in March to stop trying to do and be everything for everyone and spend my time more wisely giving to the things that are closest to my own personal values and interests.

I just got a call from Hard Rock Cafe. They would like to help some Groups make some money and would like to start on Pride Day Eve. I was asked if I could round up a collection of groups willing to promote and host an after-hours party June 7, 2003 starting at 10:30/11:00 (or later if we felt It a better idea)

They would help get a DJ, and bands. They suggest a $15.00 prior and $20.00 Day of kind of thing. Price would be set by us when as a group we meet with them and we determine buffet and stuff. We would just have to do the Event planning, advertise, and get people there.

The Local Hard Rock has talked with their corporate offices and other Hard Rocks and they think that the after-hours is best suited to the Utah political climate. Las Vegas Hard Rock has done everything from all-nighters to early morning Martini's.

When we talked it was discussed having the “Queen of the Hard Rock” for the Drag Queens, and a “Rock Star” contest similar to past contests of Golden Boy and Lone Star Stud for the Men. So, In this group are City Of Hope Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire, Utah Stonewall Historical Society. Are we willing to team up. We could share in the profits or donate them to something local. I need to tell her by Friday or suggest other groups that have not recently used their hospitality CK.”

Chad also starting asking people from the Royal Court to be on the Board of Directors of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society.

Chad Keller wrote to Alan Anderson a former emperor of the Royal Court, “Alan, As the Utah Stonewall Historical Society has move forward to recreated and rebuild itself after an long absence, we have finally reached a point where it is important that a board of directors is established. Ben Williams and I have discussed many people with the membership. Your name has been suggested to fill one of the seats on the board of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society, due to your personal history as a community builder and you’ve the uncanny ability to encourage positive community building conversation in moments of conflict.

 Another great bonus it that you are affiliated with the oldest GLBT community organization the RCGSE. History has shown that when members or affiliates of the Court lend their support, great things happen over long periods of time. Our goal is to have a relaxed board, which will meet probably 4 times a year with the Co-Chairs to see that goals are being met, that the accounts are in order, discuss ways to share the history of our community in broader forums as well as our own community, receive scheduled reports from the various area chapters, and address other issues as important.

These quarterly meetings will be schedule for an hour and will usually be informal over lunch or dinner. Please let us know if this is something that you might have time to donate yourself to on occasion. Sincerely Chad Keller Co-Chair, Visual Utah Stonewall Historical Society Salt Lake City, UT.”

Alan Anderson responded “Chad, You definitely have the talent to charm people! I am not good with history. I can't remember what I did yesterday! Old timer’s disease! But I would be happy to lend my assistance. I can always ask Marita [Marty Pollack] about historical events. She has the mind of a trap! (But I have noticed that she gets mixed up lately too, and if you say anything to her, I will kick your butt!) Let me know. Alan.”

Then Chad Keller wrote to Marty Pollock aka Marita Gayle a former Empress; “Dear Marty; As the Utah Stonewall Historical Society has move forward to recreated and rebuild itself after an long absence, we have finally reached a point where it is important that a board of directors is established. Ben Williams and I have discussed many people with the membership. Your name has been suggested to fill one of the seats on the board of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society, due to your personal history as a community builder and you’re the uncanny ability to encourage positive community building conversation in moments of conflict. Another great bonus it that you are affiliated with the oldest GLBT community organization the RCGSE.

History has shown that when members or affiliates of the Court lend their support, great things happen over long periods of time. Our goal is to have a relaxed board, which will meet probably 4 times a year with the Co-Chairs to  see that goals are being met, that the accounts are in order, discuss ways to share the history of our community in broader forums as well as our own community, receive scheduled reports from the various area chapters, and address other issues as important.

These quarterly meetings will be schedule for an hour and will usually be informal over lunch or dinner Please let us know if this is something that you might have time to donate yourself to on occasion. Sincerely Chad Keller Co-Chair, Visual Utah Stonewall Historical Society Salt Lake City, UT

Marty Pollock responded  to Chad Keller Subject: RE: Utah Stonewall Historical Society Board of Directors  “Please feel free to add my name to the list and know that I am honored to be mentioned. I have and always will love and be a part of our great community and I fight for all it stands for...I have seen and been involved in a lot of changes that have taken place over the past 30 years. Regards, Marty Pollock.”

I then wrote to Chad Keller concerned over his seemingly asking so many people to serve on a Board of Directors, “Chad we need to discuss the size of the board.. Ben”

 

3 April 2003 Thursday

Chad Keller wrote me, “I was thinking that doing an entrance for the USHS at Coronation really isn’t what the USHS is all about. So I kinda felt out Bob's feeling yesterday to see what I thought about a couple kiosks at the Hotel in the lobby of the ballroom.... He was slightly overwhelmed...teared up.....and was like wow! So what do you think of perhaps pulling information from the books?

I responded “Bob is a good man.. What books? Puzzled in Peoria.”

Chad Keller wrote me-okay...I meant disks....not books...He and I met at the hotel yesterday on Coronation at the Hotel. If we do Kiosks there....he showed me where they could go outside where people smoke, and where in the lobby. He was told he may get an assignment to see that we have information for some of the panels.

What you don’t dream like Paul Wolfe, of having 21 influential people at Your disposal to take out those who oppose us?..... You tell me what’s workable, and I will work within those  parameters....Kinda like the kiosks....

There is a guardian angel kicking my butt this morning..... Maybe if I write down the ideas that he or she is push on me mentally that is pushing everything else out...I’ll be able to work.... What do you think of the theme for the October Conference.....  "Elements of Our History"  Articles that I guess I am to think about are Nemesis...The Persistent Voices Against the Utah Gay Community   The Life and Times at the Sun Tavern  Sorry just save this somewhere....CK

Chad wrote to Randal Myers: Randal we have some items for the Website: USHS Board of Directors Alan Anderson Marty Pollock Chuck Whyte,  Treasurer Thanks! CK

Jennifer Nuttall to All

Jerry Rapier wrote to Chad Keller; Hi Chad - How are you? Attached is the information you requested re: the 2003 Pride Guide. Doug [Fadel] invited me to the Business Guild kick-off party but I was unable to go due to HEDWIG rehearsal. I hope it was a success! Please keep me informed of other meetings, etc. I would like to be involved as Plan-B. Jerry.”

Chad Keller responded back to Jerry Rapier; “Also..... I would like to get information from you regarding sponsorship and advertising from Plan B Theatre to pass on to the Guild. If you have it available. Thanks! CK.”

            Jerry Rapier wrote to Chad Keller, “Hi Chad -Plan-B Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and thus all contributions to the company are fully tax-deductible. We are always in need of such contributions, both cash and in-kind, and determine what should be considered a sponsorship rather than a donation on a case-by-case basis. The rates for advertising in our playbills are as follows: Half page b&w   $ 400 Full page b&w   $ 750 Full page color $1000

We also are happy to work out trade for goods or services in Exchange for advertising in the playbills. The next available playbill space is in BASH: LATTERDAY PLAYS which runs September 12-28, 2003. The deadline for space reservation is June 1. Let me know if you need any other information - if anyone would  like to contact me directly, they can email me at this address or call me  at 359-3509. Jerry.”

Chad Keller to Jerry Rapier: “Is this play bill size? Show is not till September, June 1 seem very early for an advertiser, did you mean that date for sponsors?”

Jerry Rapier responded to Chad Keller; “I said June 1 since the playbill is filling up pretty quickly but I Can work with just about anything :)  The absolute drop-dead date for ads and sponsorship (so they can be properly recognized in the playbill) is August 15. And content is up to the purchaser - I don't edit anything - I just care about print quality! Jerry.”

Chad Keller to Jerry Rapier; “Okay so in either case you will accept a Co-Op. That is good. To be Quite honest when people saw the prices for Pride I don’t know whether they were shell shocked or left in wonder over the pricing. The Pride Guide, from many business people’s experience, has been a nightmare, and the distribution did not live up to the promise, try as any committee or chair try. Are the Pride guides to be distributed the weeks leading up to pride or just at the event?”

Jerry Rapier wrote to Chad, “I completely understand people's frustration with the Pride Guide. I have been an advertiser myself two of the past three years and have been not so  happy:) about the poor distribution. SOOO...the Pride Guide WILL be distributed in advance and on the day of if it kills me! We've also made it much smaller - it's only 16 pages - so those that  purchase ad space are guaranteed a higher profile!”

            Bob Childers asked  Chad Keller, “Why is it only 16 pages?”

Chad Keller responded to Bob Childers; “don’t get me going....I am very afraid that in the rush to take over the income that Utah's Pride Day provides, it will not be at a standard that is  acceptable....and it will be nothing more than Utah Arts Festival Jr. Pride day I fear may be doomed.....16 pages for the Pride Guide? Others our size around the country are a small magazine.....SF pride NY and the really Biggies are Huge Beauty sized Publications...They have no idea what they are doing I fear.”

Chad Keller wrote to me, “Pride Day is on Shakey ground.....$900.00 for a full color ad in a publication that will not be distributed until the day of.....I think all the Arts Festival Homo's need to focus on the Arts Festival and not do Pride Days.”

The Gay and Lesbian Community Center hosted The Utah Nonprofits Association workshop “Strange Bedfellows: Setting a Workable Affiliation Policy” presented by Scott Mietchen, University of Utah and Chriss Sharer, Make a Wish Foundation of Utah. Workshop moderated by Steve Klass. “Defining which donors and partners we will accept contributions from is one of the most central yet most avoided aspects of nonprofit management policy. Few organizations have been able to adopt clear guidelines that address this issue. In a workshop format, participants will use confrontation with several situations to develop policy that can be used for their own organization.”

Come and "test drive" some common approaches to contribution acceptance decision-making: - We must avoid any appearance of inappropriateness  - We must be true to our core values - We must assess the risks of any questionable source Cost  $15 for UNA members, $30 for nonmembers Reservations are Required-- SPACE IS LIMITED! Diane Hartz Warsoff Executive Director Utah Nonprofits Association

 

4 April 2003 Friday-

My Mom wrote me some sad news she heard about my dad’s cousin. “Hi  Just to let you know that Gene Walker killed himself on the front lawn of his home. He died April 2nd. The put him in the ground the 4th. Don’t know why. love mom.”

            I wrote her back, “Sorry to hear about Gene. I wonder if he was distraught over Andy's death. We are doing okay. I hope you are well. It's been cold here. Think the frost got my apricots. Mike's been home for a week now. He got a month's severance so should be okay until unemployment kicks in. Two more months and school will be out. Haven't heard from anyone so hope all okay. Just hear the war news. Nothing else besides Elizabeth Smart being found. Some Mormon who went off his nut and wanted her as a polygamous wife so kidnapped her. Love Jr.”

Kathy Worthington announced  the end of the Wendy Weaver ordeal by posting the following Tribune article. “Yay,Wendy!”

Kersten Swinyard of the  Associated Press Salt Lake Tribune reported, “Lesbian Teacher Wins Utah Court Ruling SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Utah Supreme Court on Friday left it up to education officials whether to fire a lesbian high school teacher. The ruling was a victory for psychology teacher Wendy Weaver, who came under attack from parents and students at Spanish Fork High School in a heavily Mormon part of Utah.

 Teachers are required by law to be moral models for their students. A lawsuit accused Weaver of failing to be a good role model because her lifestyle conflicted with state laws prohibiting sodomy.

Weaver, who now uses her unmarried name Wendy Chandler, said the court's decision was a relief. `What they were going after was not really within their right as citizens to do,'' Weaver said of her critics. ``I also believe that they're scared to have their kids see someone who is gay but who functions and is happy and they like. That doesn't go with their perception that gay people are evil or unhealthy.''

Weaver, a 1979 Brigham Young University graduate, continues to teach at the school because her ex-husband, children and partner's children live nearby. She disclosed her sexuality when asked by curious students in 1997. Shortly thereafter, the high school barred her from talking about her sexuality, and Weaver later won a federal lawsuit against the Nebo School District for that requirement.

Parents and students tried to remove Weaver by complaining to the local school board, but the district did not fire the award-winning, 20-year teacher. They then pursued the case in the state's 4th District Court, but Judge Ray Harding Jr. dismissed the lawsuit in 1999.

Those seeking to oust Weaver then sought a declaration from the state Supreme Court saying she was unfitted to teach. The declaration would have forced the school board to dismiss Weaver, attorney Matthew Hilton told the Supreme Court in October.

The court declined, saying Weaver's opponents ``lack a legally protectible interest in this controversy.'' Disciplinary action and complaints must be handled by the Professional Practices Advisory Commission, the disciplinary arm of the state board of education, the court ruled. Any complaints against teachers ``must be taken before the only bodies authorized to act in this regard: the local school district, the Commission, or the State Board of Education,'' the court said.

Hilton was disappointed with the ruling, but he is seeking clarification from state education officials about the requirement that teachers be good role models. ``At least we're entitled to have the state office to tell us if we're right or wrong,'' Hilton said.”

Malinda Maureen aka “Bob” director of Youth Programs at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah announced: “GLBT youth center in need of soup-The Youth Activity Center (YAC) is in need of soup. These last couple of months I have seen too many gay young people enter the youth center in need of food. Many of them haven't eaten for 2 days or more. So, I am asking all of you to donate some soup. We just need cans, or big packets from Costco that we can add water to and throw it into a crock pot. Soup Kitchen has agreed to donate bread sticks.

The Youth Activity Center is the only drop in center for lgbtq youth in Utah. It's mission is to provide support, education, advocacy, leadership opportunities and fun for LGBTQ youth, their families, and their allies in a safe environment, free of discrimination and drug/alcohol free.

Bring your soup cans to the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah, with your name attached so that we can identify you as a donor. Thanks for your support! "bob" Malinda “Bob” Maureen

The Salt Lake Tribune reported “Man arrested after restroom incident    A 33-year-old Layton man was arrested after a mall customer complained a man had snapped his picture while he was in a bathroom stall. Police Lt. Quinn Moyes said the 20-year-old customer said he was in a Layton Hills Mall restroom stall Tuesday with the door closed when a camera appeared over the top and a photo was taken. The man quickly left the restroom, spotted a man carrying a camera, confronted him, and motioned to a mall security guard. Moyes said Charles Reese Nebeker appeared in 2nd District Court in Layton Wednesday on a misdemeanor lewdness charge.”

 

5 April 2003 Saturday

Elizabeth Neff  of the Salt Lake Tribune reported, “High Court Awards Round to Teacher-Teacher Chalks Up Victory in Latest Round of Litigation- A group of parents and former students trying to oust a gay Spanish Fork High School teacher cannot look to Utah courts for help.

             The Utah Supreme Court on Friday ruled they must instead take their complaints about psychology teacher Wendy Chandler to local and state education officials.

            Dubbing themselves "Citizens of Nebo School District for Moral and Legal Values," the group filed a lawsuit in 1997 alleging Chandler, then known as Wendy Weaver, was unfitted to teach because she is a lesbian violating state sodomy laws. The suit also had claimed Chandler improperly administered psychological tests to students in her class and made inappropriate comments about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during class discussions.

            The high court refused the group's request for a declaration that Chandler had violated state laws and regulations, saying teacher discipline matters are the province of local and state officials. Any declaration would amount to issuing an advisory opinion, wrote Justice Michael J. Wilkins for the court.

            Chandler called the high court's decision an important one for all teachers. "If we're in our professional field, if we're maintaining the standards . . . our personal life should be nobody else's business," she said.

             "Anybody who may not fit the mold or be the majority and has different views or a different life . . . we can't be picked on by parents if they don't like us."

            Friday's decision marks the latest win for Chandler in a string of litigation since she first admitted to one of her students that she was gay. But her fight may not be over.

             Attorney Matthew Hilton says he has asked the State Office of Education to review a complaint filed years ago by the group but put on hold pending the outcome of the court case. The office will ask him to submit a new complaint detailing the allegations and potential witnesses, said Carol Lear, an attorney with the office.

            The Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission would review the complaint and determine whether to investigate, Lear said. The commission examines allegations of unprofessional conduct and recommends whether the state Board of Education should maintain or revoke licenses.

            While the Nebo Education Association has not taken a stand on Chandler's case, it would represent her interests if the parent group pursued action at the district, said union President Perry Ewell.

            "The association's role is ensuring due process, not necessarily whether a teacher was in the scope of his or her job," he said.

             Chandler, however, said she is not worried about continuing the battle, saying the State Office of Education previously chose to take no action against her and she does not believe it would reconsider.

             "If you have a problem, you take it through the proper channels," she said, "and they didn't get the answer they wanted."

            American Civil Liberties Union of Utah cooperating attorney Stephen Clark said he hopes Friday's decision will put an end to the matter.

             "I hope to convince Matthew Hilton that this crusade should end here, and that he and his clients should understand once and for all that to continue their attack on Wendy would only deprive the schoolchildren of this state of a valued teacher," Clark said. "We are not intimidated by the prospect they will take their claims elsewhere, we are disappointed they will continue to waste taxpayer money on what is really a political and ideological crusade."

            Chandler's legal struggles began when the Nebo District School Board told her she could not coach the girls volleyball team or discuss her sexual orientation with students. Chandler sued in federal court and won. U.S. District Judge Bruce Jenkins forced the district to offer Chandler her coaching job again, which she declined, lifted the district's gag order, and ordered the district to pay nearly $62,000 in legal fees Chandler accrued.

            Soon after Chandler filed her lawsuit, parents made complaints to the Nebo School District that included a petition signed by 3,000  residents.

            Friday's decision affirms former 4th District Judge Ray Harding Jr.'s dismissal of the group's lawsuit in 1999. It also awarded Chandler costs spent on defending the appeal.

            In steering the group's complaints elsewhere, the high court noted it looked to 1997 law in reaching its ruling and was not asked to consider a 1999 amendment aimed at giving parents standing to file civil actions against teachers.

            Utah Education Association attorney Michael McCoy said small groups of citizens should not have the right to try to overturn the decisions of elected officials.

             "Government would come to a halt if every single decision were subject to challenge by any person or citizens' group," he said.

            Michele Morley, 32, a plaintiff in the lawsuit who played volleyball at the school while Chandler was coaching, said she agreed to become a plaintiff in the lawsuit out of a sense of obligation  --  not because she was ever personally wronged by Chandler.

             "If she did do something, I wanted her to be held accountable for it," she said. Tribune reporter Ronnie Lynn contributed to this report.

 

6 April 2003 Sunday

Boyer Jarvis, professor of communication emeritus at the University of Utah, of Salt Lake City wrote, “Utah Voices: Confessions of a Recovering Homophobic: How to Open Your Eyes On a Saturday morning several years ago, as I was reading The Salt Lake Tribune, I came upon a news headline that instantly drew me into the text below it. The article reported that a husband and wife, who recently had moved to Utah, were trying to establish a Salt Lake chapter of a national organization called Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

            Reading that article brought to mind thoughts of wonderful friends of mine, both here and elsewhere, whose sexual orientation was different from my own.

            The Tribune story gave the time and place for the PFLAG organizing meeting, and, for friendship's sake, I decided to attend. After the dozen or so people present at the meeting had given brief self-introductions, it was obvious that I was the only person there lacking a close relative who was gay or lesbian, or who was not him/herself a homosexual. I decided, as a friend of lesbians and gays, that I wanted to be a founding member of the Salt Lake chapter of PFLAG.

            Being part of the local PFLAG organization has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

             It has been my privilege to become acquainted, and then to become friends with, truly outstanding citizens who just happen to be parents of gay or lesbian children. More importantly, PFLAG has opened my eyes to my own homophobia and has motivated me to try to understand the origin of, and to try to overcome, that unfortunate condition in my relationship with other human beings.

            Looking back to my long ago teenage years, I now am embarrassed to recall times when, along with others, I made what I thought were harmless jokes about "homos" and "queers," when, without an instant's hesitation, I would have objected strongly to jokes about Jews or Negroes. I simply was unaware of the phenomenon of homosexuality.

            By the time I was in college, I had encountered the term "homophobia," and, without knowing it then, had become friends with a number of closeted homosexuals.

            As defined in the Random House Dictionary of the English Language, homophobia is "unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality."

            It is my conclusion that, unlike the instinctive act of breathing, homophobia is a learned response. As children we learn to speak the language that we hear being spoken by our parents and/or other caregivers, and in a similar fashion we acquire attitudes of all kinds, often including the negative attitude of homophobia.

            Unfortunately, we live in a homophobic society. The consequences sometimes are tragic, as when a young gay man is beaten, tied to a fence, and left to die, or when another young gay man, no longer able to endure the rejection of his church, commits suicide.

             Less dramatic consequences of homophobia confront gays and lesbians on a daily basis. They are denied ordinary privileges that the rest of us take for granted.

            As a member of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, I have become a recovering homophobic.

             A recovering homophobic, in my view, is a person who first has become aware of at least some of the ways in which he or she has been programmed by society to assign a second-class status to homosexuals. The next stage of my recovery has been taking action, as best I can, to confront, and hopefully to change, public policies that discriminate against my homosexual brothers and sisters. At the moment, I do not know what the third stage of my recovery will be.

            (Someone ought to develop a 12-step program for recovering homophobics.)

            To the late state Sen. Pete Suazo, and to his widow, Alicia, I give thanks for their efforts to pass hate crimes legislation to protect minorities, including homosexuals.

            To state Reps. David Litvack and Jim Ferrin, I give more thanks for their determined advocacy in the most recent legislative session of House Bill 85, intended to provide enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by the perpetrator's disapproval of the victim's race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

            Litvack's and Ferrin's insistence on including sexual orientation in the list of protected groups of people created formidable opposition to HB85 among their fellow legislators. After achieving a 38-35 vote in favor of the bill, they decided to withdraw HB85 in order to avoid a seemingly inevitable defeat after the bill was reconsidered in the House.

            From the episode described above, I choose to believe that for at least a few minutes on Feb. 27, 2003, there were 38 (partially?) recovering homophobics in the Utah House of Representatives.

            With nothing more than hope to go on, I choose to believe that among my fellow citizens in Utah there are many thousands of people of good will who, like me, are recovering homophobics, who acknowledge the essential goodness of people whose sexual orientation is different from their own and who are willing to speak out in favor of equal rights and equal protection for homosexuals in our society. ---

  

7 April 2003 Monday

I wrote to Chad Keller after getting home from attending the Lesbian and Gay Student Union at the U to talk about Gay history, “I am sooooooooo old!!!!! Mike [Romero] and I went to LGSU tonight; or LGBTTQQISU; scream!!!!! It was horrible; horrible! Some kid sitting next to me said Stonewall was so long ago and that it is over we need to move on...We need to assimilate!!!

Some bisexual said he went to Pride Day once and did not want to be "marginalize" so never went back. Well if Pride Day is nothing more than a party why would anyone want to go? I had to educate them that “Gay” is a cultural movement not just sexual orientation.

Charles [Milne] was a no show; so we felt like idiots being there but was good to hear all the bisexuals talk about how discriminated they are by Gays.

And the Lesbians have “Lesbian Thursday” at the Women's Resource Center but   Where have all the Fags gone?

Don’t worry about working with Charles Milne. I don't  think we should bother nor participate in October pride month at the U. Ugh.. Ben”

Chad responded , “Oh, you should have called. I would have cabbed it up there. I think this would make a perfect article. And what was your response to the youngling that said Stonewall was so Long ago and we need to move on?? CK.”

“I was restrained...I wanted to rip him and I did forcefully let him know that the Stonewall Rebellion is not over any more than the 4th of July is over... I felt I had fallen down the rabbit hole with heterosexuals who were there whining about being discriminated against, bisexuals not feeling accepted by the Gay meanies, and some really fucked up thinking boiling down to ‘if we are going to be accepted’  which was the main mantra!

Accepted by who? Heteroes? Who needs their acceptance? No Queer energy at the meeting at all except for a few. I basically let them know that assimilation will make them invisible again which is what homophobes want.

If LGSU is representative of the views of young people then the Gay movement is indeed dead.”

8 April 2003 Tuesday

Paula Wolfe director of the Community Center used the dumbass acronym LGBTQQS to announce “On April 8th at 6:30 p.m., The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Utah Will host a reception for Sue Hyde, NGLTF (National Gay & Lesbian Task Force), the Creating Change conference coordinator in our gallery room.

Sue is here on a site inspection tour of Salt Lake City in consideration of placing the Creating Change conference here.. For your information:  the Creating Change Conference is the largest gathering of LGBTQQS grass roots activists in the country. It draws between 3000 and 5000 people annually depending upon location. I have been attending Creating Change for the past 6 to 8 years and usually find it helpful.

Sean Burke developed an LGBT Convention Bureau and submitted the proposal. I know very little about the proposal. However, the reception will give you an opportunity to meet with and talk about Salt Lake as a potential site for the conference and/or to learn more about this event and the NGLTF. The reception is open to everyone, so please feel free to share this information widely. RSVP is not necessary but would be helpful. Paula Wolfe Executive Director Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Utah

            Chad Keller wrote to Emperor Bob Childers of the Royal Court, “Subject: Rainbow Fund.” “Dear Bob, Wow! Coronation is almost here. The 27th Reign is to be commended for exceeding the expectations of the community, and importantly raising the standard. Each year it amazes many the work that the RCGSE does to better our community. It will definitely be one for the history books.

I write to you today on behalf of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society. In October, the Utah Stonewall Historical Society will join with other national Lambda history groups around the nation to host National Gay and Lesbian History Month. As part of the month the USHS will host a conference on the weekend of October 17-19, the USHS has secured Eric Marcus who wrote the book Making Gay History, The Half Century Fight for Lesbian and Gay Equal Rights, to be the keynote speaker.

Eric Marcus is a former associate producer for ABC's "Good Morning America" and for "CBS Morning News". He is the co-author of Breaking the Surface, the best-selling autobiography of Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis, which spent five weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list. He is also the author of nine other books, including Is It a Choice?, Why Suicide?, and Making History, which won the 1993 American Library Association's award for best gay non-fiction.

Marcus's latest book, Making Gay History: The Half-Century Fight for Lesbian & Gay Equal Rights, which is a completely revised and updated edition of Making History, is published by HarperCollins.. Eric Marcus graduated from Vassar College in 1980, where he majored in urban studies. In 1984 he received an M.S. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Over the next few weeks the Royal Court will again review and prepare to make donations at Coronations to the community. They USHS understands that in 1999 the Rainbow Fund was established to help support Utah Pride Day and other GLBT community events. High quality events take the support of the community in various ways. We would like to make application for funding from the RCGSE from this fund or other disbursement alternative.

 The RCGSE will be considered a Founding Sponsor for the 2003 USHS Conference. The Utah Stonewall Historical Society is established to promote the recovery, preservation and understanding of the history of the Lambda people.

Our history is best served by preserving the records and cultural artifacts of our people and our events and by recording our observations. The USHS is dedicated to preserving and interpreting all of these as part of an important historical record and legacy to the state of Utah.

Our primary focus is on Lesbian and Gay history and culture along the Wasatch Front in Utah. We are an all-volunteer and nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. We are also interested in partnering with the Court to insure that the history of our community is talked about and reflected upon as much of the history of the community is also part of the RCGSE's history. It principals of excellence and standards can be seen in our communities many organizations that the court influenced from its inception.

 I know as we have looked to find board members the first place we looked was the RCGSE. We would be honored to receive assistance from the Court for this mile marker of our community. Also as part of the conference we are in the process of designing a special event, Coffee, Conversation & Community, which would focus on the collective stories of our community through the eyes of the RCGSE College of Monarchs.

 Final details and presentation are still in the works, but this event would be a special onetime recorded interview featuring as many past monarch's that are willing to participate and insure our history. Please let me or Ben Williams know what the application process is. We will be happy to meet with you and the Board of the RCGSE to discuss the Conference. Sincerely, Chad Keller  co-Chair, Curator Utah Stonewall Historical Society

            Chad Keller wrote me about the fundraiser to be held at the Hard Rock Café at Trolley Square, “Theresa the manager of Hard Rock would like to meet with us and buy us dinner on Thursday. Does 6:00 pm work for everyone this Thursday? This is going to be a great event, and I thinks I have Millcreek on to promote it on air. CK.

Chad Keller wrote  to Charles Milne of the U of U LGBT resource regarding Kiosks for Pride Day, “Charles, I have not heard from you regarding the topics that you would like discussed on the History kiosks for Pride Day. USHS is happy to move forward, but we need to get to Ben the possible subjects for each of the 36 Panels. The clock is ticking for us, and we would like to have information prepared, and panels designed and printed by May 31, 2003.

As you are aware, due to USHS sponsorship agreements, advertising on the kiosks for people other than USHS Sponsors was to be limited.

I have several inexpensive options for you for Pride Sponsors and Stage line ups, which will help you meet the obligations of the Pride Sponsor, and for us keep our arrangements. Please let us know what's up or call me and we can discuss the list of possible subjects. I will send to you a word document today with the tentative subjects ones I have come up with that I think Ben will have information on. Missed you at LGSU last night. Thanks! CK.”

Chad Keller then wrote me referring to Charles Milne and the Pride Day committee, “They will dick around till it is too late. Let’s prepare the 5 kiosks for the [Royal]  court. People will see them; then see what they are probably scrambling to create and that will be that; proactive not re-active. See I am learning.”

I wrote to Chad asking about Charles Milne, “I wonder how much connection he really has at the U.”

Chad responded, “none. He thinks that he can waltz in to the [Marriott] library and they will pull all the stuff he wants for him. When I visited to see the collection, the man there informed me that it was not a priority collection and could be almost a year or more before it is available to the public. ‘Qween’ that thinks she is in  power. Notice that his title is only ‘Interim Director’.....hhhmmm.”

 

9 April 2003 Wednesday

Our military seized Baghdad, ending the Ba'athist regime of Saddam Hussein so hopefully the war will wrap up. I think most Muslims will see us as ‘conquerors’ rather than liberating heroes.

Chad Keller wrote me about the Hard Rock benefit; “It’s too bad that UGRA has officially Tee-d me off for good. They would have had all the funding for a rodeo with this one event. I’ll toss them a ticket or two just to watch them pound their heads into the brick walls of the restaurant.

I replied “Nah Nah Nah.........Raspberry.... LOL Chad I love you- you make me laugh and have more queer energy then all of LGSU, Pride Committee, and the Center's Board of Directors combined.”

The second Community Leadership Forum Meeting was held at the Metropolitan Community Church located at 823 S 600 East. I did not attend. “With the great success of the 2003 Community Leadership Summit, there is a renewed enthusiasm and commitment of the many in attendance to bring the GLBT community nonprofits together to communicate, strategize, build alliances, fundraise, and understand each groups unique perspective. There is now more than ever a need for us to work together to insure the survival of our non-profit entities. Presidents or Boards of the Utah GLBT Community Organizations or their representative are encouraged to attend the Community Leadership Forum monthly meetings, Meeting will start at 7:30 and will last just slightly over an hour. If Wednesdays do not work for your organization could you please send a representative to the April 9, 2003 meeting so we may select a day that is more appropriate for all GLBT groups to be in attendance.”

Mayor Rocky Anderson has appointed a Lesbian as minority director for Salt Lake City which is pissing off royally ethnic and racial minorities.

Heather May of The Salt Lake Tribune reported, “Minority Director Named for SLC

City Hall: The new coordinator is a lesbian; she promises a "human agenda"- Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson has hired Blythe Nobleman to work as the city's minority affairs coordinator.

             "I'm extremely excited about this opportunity. One of the things Rocky and I share in common is our belief in hard work," said Nobleman, a writing lecturer at the University of Utah.

            As part of her job Nobleman, who is a lesbian, will focus on gay and lesbian issues and Pacific Islander, Asian and Latino communities. She will also aid mayoral spokesman Josh Ewing.

            Anderson said he hired Nobleman in part because of her sexual orientation. "We've never had a representative of the gay and lesbian community in minority affairs. This is a first. The gay and lesbian community comprises an important element [of the minority community]," he said.

             Nobleman said more important is her commitment to the city.

             "I'm a lesbian but I'm also over 40, female, single, without kids, self-supporting," she said, adding that she wants to focus building up communities, "to include any group who happens to be marginalized, the disabled, any religious minorities, women."

             "I don't have a gay and lesbian agenda, I have a human agenda," she said. "I want to make that clear."

            Though the city has instituted a hiring freeze because of a budget shortfall, Nobleman will start next Monday. The freeze doesn't apply to jobs considered "mission critical." Anderson said the position meets that criteria.

            In a mingling of city government and this year's mayoral election, Unity Utah, a political action committee focused on gay issues that recently endorsed Anderson for re-election, plans to issue a news release about the hiring to "run interference" said executive director Michael Mitchell. Anderson said he didn't ask for the release.

             "There could be some political fallout" because Nobleman is a lesbian, Mitchell said. "I believe Blythe will do a fantastic job."

             Also on Tuesday: The City Council rejected Councilwoman Nancy Saxton's proposal to create a new public process to discuss time, place, manner regulations for the Main Street Plaza. However, council members stressed they will still consider such speech regulations as a way to solve a federal lawsuit over the LDS Church's control of speech on the plaza. They will also consider the mayor's plan to eliminate the easement and build a community center in Glendale.

 

10 April 2003 Thursday

I turned 52 years old today. I am getting so old but it’s a luxury so many of my friends never had due to not surviving the AIDS epidemic. I took the day off as a personal day from school. I hate all the fuss the kids do when they know it’s your birthday and they act up thinking you won’t get upset because it’s your birthday.

            I had a few calls of well wishers but otherwise didn’t do a thing to celebrate. Mike Romero is still out of work and I have been supporting him because he can’t pay his half of the mortgage so I am kind of broke right now. But happy birthday to me anyway.

            I did go with Chad Keller, Steven Whittaker and Larry Tanner representing the City of Hope and John Griffith who performs as Nova Starr to the Hard Rock Café to meet with Theresa the manager about hosting an event in Trolley Square during Pride. I didn’t let anyone know it was my birthday but I did get a free meal and order a hamburger and fries. I was the only one who didn’t order a cocktail.

            Nova Starr was being kind of obnoxious talking about Gays liking to “party” meaning using drugs which alarmed Theresa who was rather put off. Chad had to assure her that the after hours party would not allow drugs. The City of Hope guys and I were kind of wary of what kind of event this would turn into as it not at a Gay Bar. We will see I suppose. Nova Starr kind of intimated that Gays wouldn’t come if there wasn’t access to drugs.

I saw that Charles Milne announced a LGBT Resource Center Event called “Ex Post Papa: Life As A Freelance Dyke Dad, Written and Performed by: Bear. Directed by: Nicole Bergman  held at the University of Utah Marriott Center for Dance.

“What Is An Ex Post Papa? An Ex Post Papa is the Papa that you find for yourself when it becomes clear that the gap between where your dad left off and where you want to be is too wide to jump. Ex Post Papa is a do-over. Ex Post Papa exists to help you redress the things that your own father never taught you, or could never let you be, and to do things for you that no one else has been able to do for you in this gender, in this time - pick out clothes, talk about girls, loan you money, help you fix your messes, give you good advice, hold you while you cry.

With Ex Post Papa, you can rewrite the hard parts of the past and make them play better this time, you  can learn things without feeling stupid for not  knowing them already, and you can leave the monolithic identity that you got assigned at birth behind in order to take another swing at some of the important things that your original Dad may not have been able to help you with.

When you're coming out and you don't understand any of the or rules of the new lifestyle in which you find yourself. When after twenty years of being a certain kind of boy you discover that you have interests and feelings that no one ever told you were possible for a straight guy.

When your Dad was  the nicest guy in the world, and he made you feel like he could absolutely go to the end of the line for you, but you knew in your heart that his line was just not that long. Or when he was never around at all, and it never occurred to you that you could be the rompin' stompin hard-ass you had to become and still need to have somebody to turn to. If you've never had someone who could be bigger than you if necessary, someone who would always stand between you and trouble if trouble looked like it was fixin' to call, someone who would do anything to protect you from the consequences of your stupidity,  then turn around and give you hell for what you'd done - well then? You find yourself an Ex Post Papa, and you rewrite a little history.

 

11 April 2003 Friday

Chad Keller sent out a message to Bob Childers, Chris Smith, Scott Wilson, Steven Whittaker, John Griffith aka Nova Starr and me regarding the  Subject: “Dawning of Pride at the Hard Rock  We had a great meeting last night with Theresa at the Hard Rock. It seems that the Hard Rock is becoming a great place to work for the "family" Tickets to the event will be 30.00 in advance, and 35.00 at the door. The money will be given to the following Gay charities. Utah Stonewall Historical Society, City of Hope, and RCGSE. The event time start is still up in the air but it looks like it will start between 10:30 and 11:30.  With the early arrivers party starting in the Brickhouse . Admission Buttons will be used, similar to First night, as the Hard Rock brand is very collectable. There will be two contest that will be held,  The Queen of the Hard Rock and Rocker Boy. Hard Rock will put the winners up at the Hard Rock Hotel in Los Angeles and pay for the flight to and from as part of the evening. Queen of the Hard Rock rules will be determined later.

 Rocker Boy will be run similar to Golden Boy and The Lone Star Stud. The Best DJ's of Salt Lake will be asked to spin, and some bands are being considered, and of course  appearances by the beauties of Utah.

Hard Rock will run this like other Pride events they host around the country....the party ends as the sun comes up! The main floor will turn into a big dance floor with the stage located on the south east side. The buffet that being considered is a breakfast buffet. (unless you want the wings, and stuff  buffet.)   If the two cuties that we all like have to do this, this is gonna be hot if any indication. I and all of us will be there with bells on....

I need to meet with the RCGSE delegation for advice and to determine what the Court is willing to do. We have confirmed that if this is a success, we retain the rights to produce it as a group each year. They are so excited and look forward to working with us.

Also, I have confirmed the Pillar and City Weekly as Print media sponsors. I have asked Patti at Millcreek to consider working with us as the Radio sponsor. I will be contacting Nova Star to see if we can tap into her talent to create the posters and flyers.

Hard Rock wants to start promoting May 1 if at all possible. The restaurant holds 400 people, and then of course those that go and those that come. (The math; 400 x 30.00= 12,000.00 minus expenses...so 9,000.00  that would be 3,000.00 a piece to help our organizations.)   Are we ready to fly?!?!?!  Scott [Stites] and Chaise [Manhattan] , Call me In Unity,   Chad”

 

12 April 2003 Saturday

Michael Romero and I went to the Try-Angle bar tonight to meet up with my old friend Craig Hunter. The place was packed but few were dancing. Craig had in his entourage some transgender girls who had attached themselves to Craig who wanted to dance so Mike and I danced with them. We were about the only one’s on the dance floor but it was fun even if I am getting to old to boogie. One of the gals remembered me from the old Stonewall Center where a few transsexuals volunteered in the Library with me.

Toni Johnson, Director of People With AIDS Coalition of Utah announced a Resource Seminar- Topics: Emergency Funds, Food Certificates, Ryan White Supportive Services, Social & Support Groups- Great conversation and light refreshments.

A great way to spend a couple of hours. Time:    2:00 thru 4:00 pm Location: People With AIDS Coalition of Utah 1390 S. 1100 E., Suite 107  This will be a great seminar for Providers as well as people infected with HIV. We hope to see you there!

 

13 April 2003 Sunday

Crown Prince and Princes 27, Mark Thrash and Miss Millie presented a show “COMING TO AMERICA... THE JOURNEY BEGINS” for the Crown Prince and Princess Ball 2003. Event held at Club Splash Cocktails & Dinner - 7PM tickets $10 Special Guest Performances Odyssey Dance Theater  Fire Troup , Jo Tu Performance Art, and Blue Lotus Belly dancers Proceeds benefiting the Mayor's Multi-cultural Arts Youth Program Splash is a private club for members.

Michael Westley of the Salt Lake Tribune wrote a review of Plan B’s show Hedwig and the Angry Itch. Swenson’s Hedwig’ Bold, Dynamic and Sincere-For those who think that the term beautiful drag queen is an oxymoron, Aaron Swenson has something to say to you. In his role as Hedwig Schmidt in Plan-B Theatre Company’s production of Hedwig and The Angry Inch, Swenson shows that beauty and truth reside on many levels. His performance Friday night in the Rose Wagner Studio Theatre was bold, dynamic, funny, touching, and sincere.

If Hedwig were to hear such praise, she might remark that it would be funny that anyone would consider touching her sincerely. And so goes the dry wit that comes from balancing a life of pleasure and pain so vividly displayed by the East German transsexual rocker.

Through song and dialogue, Hedwig tells her tragic tale of betrayal and abandonment. The most important element of the show is Swenson’s voice: a rich tenor that sweeps dynamically through the vast range of musical styles encountered in the show. His East Berlin accent carries through to his singing. His delivery was consistent and thorough, capturing every nuance of the brash performer.

Also impressive was the band, under the musical direction of Dave Evanoff, who brilliantly played guitar, piano and sang back-up vocals for Hedwig. He was joined by Van Christensen on drums, Alex Rowe on bass and Christopher Glade on guitar.

Jeanette Puhich was convincing as Yitzak, the jaded lover and back-up singer. Her vocal talents, directed by Jerry Rapier, to accidentally shine through and upstage Hedwig, were like rays of light from Yitzak’s sullen disposition.

The set was sparse, as it should be, meant to look like the budget was blown on Hedwig’s costumes and then pieced together to make it work. The long and short of it. Hedwig and The Angry Inch continues through May 11.Tickets are $18 and can be purchased through ArtTix at 355-ARTS. Salt Lake City.

 

14 April 2003 Monday

I am off all this week for Spring Break. I need it. When I get back it will be full bore, getting the kids prepared for end of level testing, wrapping up the year, and rehearsing the “Ghost of Plymouth Castle” play.

 

15 April 2003 Tuesday

Mark Swonson announced, “Hello- Westminster College is having their Pride Week and they are having an open Mic tonight at 7:30pm at Westminster College in the Shaw Building. So if you or any of your friends can come up to Westminster College and like to speak up that would be terrific for them. I am sure they want to hear many positive points of view from our Community. Thanks.”

            Chad Keller wrote me saying, “Ben, Joe [Redburn] asked on Sunday if I would get with you to look into the history of Pignanelli on the GLBT community. During the East High thing, he was not very nice. Please email me to forward on or Joe.”

Frank Pignanelli is running for Salt Lake City mayor against Rocky Anderson.

            Charles Milne announced, “Hello Committee Members,  The date has been set for the first University Pride meeting of 2003. Please mark your calendars for May 1st, at Noon in Parlor B of the University Union. I know some of you may not be able to attend this meeting due to work schedules, please provide me with input prior to the meeting about agenda items you have input on.

Here is the Agenda for the Meeting; Review Calendar of Events,  Set Theme for University Pride, Review and generate a list of possible Keynote speakers, Select possible dates and locations for the fundraising dinner, Set assignments for Committee members, Recruit others for committee? Set next meeting time.

Open business I look forward to seeing you all there on Thursday May 1st  If any of you need directions to the Union please let me know. Charles Milne Interim Advisor

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center University of Utah

            Teinamarie Nelson, a long time Gay ally announced, “Hey everyone! It's official I'm now the big 30! So to celebrate I'm having a little bash at the Hard Rock Cafe on Saturday, April 19th. Come celebrate with me. I'm only 30 once. Best, Teinamarie.”

I wrote to David Nelson, “Could you give me your opinion on Pignanelli with a few supporting examples? Someone is wanting some info from the USHS on him  and all I remember is his sponsoring the first attempt at an  antidiscrimination bill in the early 1990's. Thanks Ben Williams.” 

            I wrote to Chad Keller what I learned of Frank Pignanelli so he could forward it to Joe Redburn. “Frank Pignanelli: --Served as a Utah representative from the Avenues neighborhood of Salt  Lake City from 1988 through 1996. --Sponsored the state hate-crimes bills in 1991 through 1996,  succeeding with the 1992 versions. --Served as a state chair for the Bob Kerrey presidential campaign in 1992. --Served as the state House of Representatives Democratic leader during  the two terms before his retirement in 1996. --Considered campaigning for the state senate, the U.S. House of  Representatives and Salt Lake City mayor before his retirement from the state house. --Met with Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats leaders in 1995 to demand that they stop using the word "Democrats" in their name because it was affecting the chances of other Democrats to win. Told GLUD founder  David Nelson that Nelson was "no Democrat." --Joined other conservative Democrats in at least two failed attempts  to start a "moderate Democrats" caucus of the party.”

Joe Redburn  wrote to Chad Keller, “The Rocky Signs go up ASAP, that Catholic bigot jackass. Payback time on PIGnanelli”

 

16 April 2003 Wednesday

Chad Keller  wrote me, “SOOOOOOOOO.....I got a call from Charles [Milne]. Wants to schedule a meeting to sit down and discuss all of this [history kiosks] with Jerry [Rapier]. Wanted to do lunch, explained with your work, and then a family situation in Wyoming that you would not be available this week,  and then next week I am booked. and neither weekend will be good as both of us potentially will be out of town, Suggested that they meet us at 6:30 at the library. He was panicked.”

I wrote him back, “No problem...btw can you bring your copy of the bylaws tonight. Let’s get them approved so we can move on.. What time do you go to lunch? Maybe we could meet you then and get everything done then. I'll call you.”

            Mike Romero and I went to the April Historical Society Meeting at the Main Library downtown. “Chad Keller Conducted meeting. In Attendant: Chad Keller, Courtney Moser, Mike Romero, Charles Milne, Ben Williams, Alan Anderson, Mark Swonson

 The Articles of Incorporation were signed by Mike Romero, Chad Keller, and Ben Williams and notarized, in preparation to be delivered to the state department of commerce. The organization's name has been registered with the state and the Employee Identification Number (EIN) has been filed with the IRS The Bylaws were read and discussed before being adopted by unanimous vote. Article VI on Indemnification was modified to include the word "may" instead of will or shall.

Board Members as listed in the Bylaws were confirmed. Executive Committee as listed in Bylaws confirmed with Mark Swonson accepting the position as Secretary in place of Ben Williams acting as interim Secretary.

Building Kiosks for Coronation and Pride Day was discussed. Chad Keller read his Kiosks disclosure form which was accepted by the board. The board agreed to host an afterhours fundraiser at Hard Rock Cafe for Pride Weekend with City of Hope and RCGSE.

Ads to run in the Pillar and Salt Lake City Weekly as well as radio promos. Charles Milne agreed to reserve space at the Union Bldg. on the U of U campus for a Saturday history workshop session and partner with USHS  in promoting author Eric Marcus as Keynote speaker for USHS Gay History Month in October.

Seeking member volunteers to serve on Kiosks Committee and October Gay History Month. Charles Milne liaison to Gay Pride Day Committee brought a list of ideals for Kiosks panels for Pride Day. Mark Swonson brought more Gay Pride Parade pictures to add to web  site collection. Meeting held at Salt Lake City Library.

 

17 April 2003 Thursday   

I wrote Chad Keller “I am getting ready to go to the commerce building to file the articles of incorporation. Regarding UGRA money; it’s your call but my advice is to let it go. Too much bad karma and a waste of your energy. There’s nothing to be gained but animosity and bad PR. Don't keep looking back or God might turn you into a pillar of salt. Look forward as the chair of wonderful new organization that you are creating.

I talked to Chuck Whyte tonight and I told him that I will go to the Expo Mart post office tomorrow and open a PO Box there. It will be centrally located for you and Mark Swonson. I see how many keys they will let me have.

I don't know if you got my phone message but FYI the articles of Inc were filed with the state today. They said they were fine. So we are a legal entity now! Mike and I are going to that SLCC play tonight that funk at CLF was talking about. I told Mike to bring his camera so maybe we can get cast pictures! Talk to you later. I am glad to have you as a friend Ben

Chad Keller wrote me regarding the funding resources for the Kiosks. “thanks for the compliment....I am overwhelmed, and I’m glad our paths have once again crossed.

Here is the announcement on the Gay Money from the UAF [Utah AIDS Foundation]. I’m sure that the Village will support the History Weekend; but let’s try this avenue too. Have fun with this one.

We have the RCGSE in the works. I need to write the Homo Depot but need the figures on supplies, so I  can finish. We need to get the money from the UGRA.

What did you decide on the Utah Humanities Council? No answer from Absolute [Vodka] yet but may just get the distributor here and  go that route. I can prepare a potential sponsor packet or document this weekend...need help setting up the commuter correctly. CK”

When I suggested that we needed more women on our board, Chad wrote back, “The only other woman that at the time I could think of other than Pepper [Prespentt], who is not able to join. Call me to discuss. so I can respond.

Heather May of the Salt Lake Tribune reported, “Latinos Questioning Minority Appointment-Diversity: Some community activists feel Salt Lake City's naming of an Anglo lesbian does not represent their needs and concerns;  Latinos Questioning Appointment- Some Latino community activists are unhappy that Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson hired an Anglo to work with minorities.

            Blythe Nobleman started work this week as minority-affairs coordinator. The mayor said he appointed her partly because she is a lesbian, and he felt that population needed representation. She replaced Mata Finau, a Pacific Islander.

             "A white person is now going to come and tell us what is best for us? They're going to resolve all of our problems?" said Robert Gallegos, chairman of the Latino community group RAZ/PAC. "That [minority coordinator] is a very important position in the minority community. That individual should be able to bring the various cultures and various communities together. I question whether a person of the Anglo-Saxon [ethnicity] would be able to do this."

            Though new to the city's ethnic minority community, Nobleman said Wednesday she can do the job. And she noted that Archie Archuleta, the other city official in minority affairs, is Latino.

             "I'm just as capable to meet the responsibilities of my position as anybody of color," she said.

             Nobleman speaks Spanish, has lived in diverse cities such as Los Angeles and Miami and was involved in minority communities there, teaching writing to underprivileged students in inner-city schools.

             "We have a lot of people who could have been picked to be in that position who were not," said James Yapias, another activist. Anderson did not advertise the position; he appointed Nobleman, who previously trained the mayor's staff on writing and has volunteered on his re-election campaign.

            Tony Yapias, the new director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs, said he has received phone calls from concerned residents: "They're confused [about] how does a lesbian become a minority, how does that relate to working with the minority community."

            Michael Mitchell, executive director of Unity Utah, a gay and lesbian political action committee, said those questions arise when people wrongly believe that a person chooses sexual orientation rather than being born with it.

             "We face a lot of the same issues ethnic minorities face and religious minorities face . . . of not being included," Mitchell said.

            "This isn't an ethnic position; it's a minority position," Nobleman said, noting the term minority includes the elderly, disabled and sexual orientation along with racial categories.

            But Gallegos believes a racial minority should fill the spot, especially given that few minorities are employed at City Hall. "I was just humiliated by this," he said. "Maybe what [the mayor] ought to do is put us in charge of all the departments and put all the white people in charge of minority affairs."

            During Anderson's tenure, more minorities have been hired, but not as many as planned. In December 1999, just before Anderson took office, minorities made up 10.7 percent of the city employees. Now, 12.3 percent, or 319 of the 2,600 full-time employees, are minorities.

            But the goal was to increase their representation by 1 percent a year, said human resources director Brenda Hancock, who compiles diversity statistics every quarter for the mayor. By that measure, minorities should make up almost 14 percent of the full-time employees.

            Anderson's office has the highest percentage of minorities at City Hall, at 32 percent. Of the 25 employees  --  including office assistants, community affairs specialists and some of his top aides  --  eight are racial minorities.

             Chad Keller wrote me regarding his views on the hubbub of a lesbian being director of Rocky Anderson’s minority office. “Any city would be better to create a council on Minority Affairs to assist in a position such as has been created or to directly advise the mayor. Each minority community has issues that are theirs alone. To fully understand and create change it takes more than to simply understand their circumstances on an academic level. Just another professional GLBT appointed to tell me and other minorities how I should feel. CK”

            I saw this announcement; “Historians Invited to Do Papers The Utah State Historical Society is inviting submissions of  proposals for papers for its 2003 annual meeting to be held in Salt  Lake City on Sept. 12. Proposals on any Utah-related topic will be  considered. Send a one- or two-page proposal to Kent Powell, Utah State Historical Society, 300 Rio Grande, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, no later than April 30. Include a brief description of the topic and research base as well as a short biographical profile. Proposals may also be e-mailed to  powell@utah.gov.

Chad Keller wrote to me and the Business Guild saying “The Utah Gay and Lesbian Softball team is in need of an urgent sponsorship of shirts. They are specifically interested and are targeting the Business Guild and the USHS in seeking assistance.

            In speaking to the person trying to work though the situation they would be willing to put a business or organization on the sleeves or under the team name in exchange for other forms of advertising on their website, at games, and in ads they will be taking out in the Pillar.

Some of the cost of each team members shirt is included in the fees paid by the team sponsor and the player. Apparently members of their board of directors  slightly changed some items after teams were sponsored, which created some added expense.

 The donation they are looking for is $150.00 to 250.00. We would have to commit and provide a logo by next week and then fund the commitment no later than the end of the month. There is a drawback to this that some of the shirts have gone to be screened already. But they as they are in such need they are willing to provide to us and meet our expectation, possibly including send others back to be updated.

If this is something that people feel that the Guild could benefit from, lets plan on having a quick discussion on it at our Founders meeting tomorrow at 3:00 at Tri-Angles for those who might be willing to donate to this.

I will be happy to negotiate this as a Co-Op, so that each business or organizations which chooses to participate receives a strong and equal representation for their contribution.

Co-Op suggestion: Participating members of the Guild would have a banner hung in the outfield or somewhere visible from the stands. Small banners hung at the awards banquet for participating members. The Guild Logo on the left and right sleeves. links to participating members on the softball website.

Guild considered first in 2004 Softball season to allow members of the guild first opportunity to sponsor a team. Championship team to play in potential Business Guild Tournament as a fundraiser for our mission. Thanks! CK

 

18 April 2003 Friday

Mark Swonson posted this on the Yahoo Group site- “Should Gays and Lesbians Assimilate? Should we Assimilate into Society? This is a vital question we must ask ourselves as individuals and whether we will have a Gay or Lesbian Community at all within the next 10-? years from now.

There is a great debate happening within our Community and Communities throughout the world about the Assimilation of Gay and Lesbians into mainstream America or other countries. Across this nation and the world Gays and Lesbians are asking for their equal rights under the laws of their Countries. Slowly, overtime these laws are being passed and our equality is being secured through legislation. But through this legislation will we lose ourselves and uniqueness as a people? Will we become so homologized that we will look and sound like everyone else? Will we become Borg like? Dull, plain, without any creativity or personality?

Face it, in many ways we do reasonably well in middle America even within our Community. We have a Center where people can meet and participate in groups and activities just like other community centers for young and old hetero people. The Leadership Forum is like a Community Council, the Business Guild is like the Chamber of Commerce, our yellow pages is the Lavender Book, living suburbia has influenced our neighbors and friends to realize we are just like them in many ways, whether if you as a couple want or disagree with marriage or you as couple would rather have equal partnership benefits it the same as a marriage to many people because to them it is the same thing, we have a paper (The Pillar) whether you like it or not that still informs the community of events, activities, and organizations, political action organization (Unity), and political caucuses The Stonewall Democrats and Log Cabin Republicans.

These are just a few examples how we are assimilating into society and becoming one with the rest of the world. There are many Gays and Lesbians that would rejoice for all Gays and Lesbians becoming assimilated into one society. These Gays and Lesbians want us to forget about our past ghetto history and heritage, no longer deal with our Gay or Lesbian bars or the bar scene general, drag queens, drama of the flaming gay queens or butch lesbians, they want us to be like "Father Know Best" or "Leave it Beaver" series society.

Except we will be Gay and Lesbian Couples and singles living the "Leave it Beaver" dream......rent or mortgage payment, car or cars, bills, debts, children, putting food on table, lights, electricity, gas etc....  Can the Gay and Lesbian Community and each of as individuals as Gays and Lesbians do not lose ourselves in a society being as one. Is this honestly good for us?”

   Chad Keller announced information about The GLBT Community Master Calendar today. “During the Community Leadership Summit held in March it was determined that we needed to establish and maintain a community master calendar. Many ideas were tossed around, and the idea left to be implemented. The issue was studied, some people do not readily have access to the Internet, some only use the Internet, and others still like the old fashion method, a personal conversation, or a phone call.

I am happy to announce that the Salt Lake Downtown Alliance has agreed help us and offer some assistance. Beginning May 28, individuals or organizations who are planning events for or by the GLBT community will be able to check a hard copy of the master calendar by stopping by their office at 238 S Main Salt Lake City. This partnership has many great benefits as they also have information on events that are going on in the Downtown and surrounding areas.

The current calendar will cover and accept date for the time from June 9, 2003 to June 11, 2006. Every organization in the community is encouraged to use the calendar no matter how many events you have monthly, weekly, or monthly. The Pillar will use this information to create its monthly calendar, as well as target organizations for promotional assistance. By use of this calendar at this time we also can determine the type of electronic calendar, and types of information that we need to make available on line.

Conversations are underway for an online version to be created in partnership with a major GLBT community organization. Design work on the calendar will be underway soon and will be online by Mid-Summer. As always you can call 265-0066 to check on a date or place an item on the GLBT Community Master Calendar. Emails for placement of the event on the calendar will still be accepted at ckell9@jcpenney.com. Items to be placed on the calendar or inquires via phone or email will have a slight delay. The

Due to the nature of this project and the nature of a master calendar we cannot anticipate the continuation or reoccurrence of specific events at specific times of the year. Each organizations determines its own schedule from year to year. Once an event is approved within your organization please post the item to the Master Calendar as soon as possible. We will however make a listing of events that have regularly happened on the same day each year available with the master schedule.

It is requested that if a cancellation of an event occurs to please send an email to GLBTUTcommunityforum@yahoogroups.com The Calendar will be posted in an email form monthly at GLBTUTCommunityForum@yahoogroups.com So subscribe today!! Archive of the calendar will be turned over to the UTAH STONEWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY. And may be referenced by visiting www.utahstonewallhistory.org or contacting Ben Williams at benedgar1951@yahoo.com.

Mark Swonson wrote me, “Hey Ben- What do you think about the Assimilation article I will write for my Pillar column? I didn't do spell check still a rough draft though. Write back and tell if I forgot anything else. Mark

Openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., wrote to Florida's St. Petersburg Times, last March 16. "Lots of people were never really homophobic in the first place -- they just thought they were supposed to be. The true homophobes are now on the run. They know they can't come out and say, 'I wouldn't hire a fag' anymore, so they have to resort to lying. They say they oppose anti-discrimination legislation for gays because it gives them 'special rights.' Which is a ridiculous argument. There's nothing special about anti-discrimination legislation, unless you think that's true for Jews, blacks, or Catholics, too."

 

19 April 2003 Saturday

Mike Romero and I took the pups with us to spend a couple of days in Rawlins vising his folks for Easter since I am off this week and Mike still hasn’t found work.

Jennifer Dobner a Deseret News staff writer reported, “Ferrin to push hate law at meet-If Jim Ferrin has his way, the Utah County Republican Party will soon lend its support to the fight for a tougher Utah hate crimes law....

A resolution drafted by the Republican state representative from Orem will be offered for debate at the GOP's county convention April 26. It asks not for support of a particular bill but for an endorsement of the broader principles that support hate crimes laws. Delegates will get a copy of the resolution in the pre-convention mailing.

Ferrin said he paid for 1,200 copies of the materials and gave the party $250 for increased postage costs. "I'm not sure if I'm doing this at great political peril, but it doesn't matter," Ferrin said. "It's the right thing to do." 

Ferrin likely faces an uphill battle. In February, the Utah Republican Party Central Committee overwhelmingly passed a resolution denouncing the hate crimes bill that Ferrin and Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, co-sponsored during the 2003 legislative session.

 Litvack and Ferrin's HB85 would have increased the penalties for crimes committed out of bias or hatred against a group. The bill defined "group" as including race, color, gender, religion, age, ancestry, disability, national origin, and sexual orientation.

After an emotional debate, the House of Representatives passed the bill but then called it back for reconsideration. Ferrin and Litvack opted to kill the bill rather than see it watered down by amendments or substitutions. It was the sixth consecutive year that legislators failed to pass a hate crimes bill.

Ferrin, the first Republican to ever co-sponsor a hate crimes bill, took considerable heat from fellow GOP House members and from his District 58 constituents for his position, but he is clearly not wavering. His resolution notes that 80 times annually, crimes of hate are committed in Utah, but adds that the existing statute is unenforceable because it fails to designate specific protected groups.

It also cites U.S. Supreme court rulings on hate crimes law and says that Republicans do not historically oppose enhancement laws. Included in the mailing is a strongly worded letter in which Ferrin explains in detail why Republicans should embrace the issue. He calls hate crimes the "essence of terrorism" and says Republicans have been obstructionist on the issue. He says the party cannot afford to be seen as "uncaring or as bigots, or as the party just for white people" because of their failure to support past bills.

He also reminds delegates that in February The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which he is a member, voluntarily said it "did not oppose the bill as drafted."   The church, he notes, rarely states its opinion in legislative matters but "did on this one."

He also borrows some of the wording from the church statement — including the portion that states that hate crimes law is not an endorsement of the church-banned same-sex marriage — for his own resolution.

Ferrin believes there are many in the Republican party who will stand to support the resolution. A poll conducted in January for the Deseret News indicated that some 70 percent of Republicans favored hate crimes legislation.

But Republican and former Utah Attorney General Frank Mylar, who drafted the Central Committee resolution, isn't so sure. He said he applauds Ferrin's commitment but doesn't expect the resolution to get the support of Utah County Republicans.

 "This is one of these issues where it's open to much confusion," said Mylar. "It's the type of thing that pulls at the heart strings of people. Sometimes that's good and sometimes that makes for bad policy."      

Mylar and other conservative opponents of the hate crimes bills traditionally argue the legislation creates protections in law for special classes of people, including homosexuals. Many also fear hate crimes law could move the state toward legislating thought and severely restrict the constitutional right to free speech. "If I didn't know the implications, I would want to vote for this," Mylar said.

 Sen. Pete Hellewell, R-Orem, a longtime friend of Ferrin's, agrees with Mylar. "My guess is that (the resolution) will not be received very well," said Hellewell, who witnessed the Central Committee debate and voted with Mylar. "I think most of the people that are at the convention are the more conservative people who are against the hate crimes bill."

Regardless, Ferrin said continued dialogue on the issue is important. Once an opponent of such laws, he said his personal change of heart came after several years of conversation, fact-finding, and reflection.

 "We need to have some dialogue in the conventions and the caucuses and in the precincts," he said, adding that he has yet to line up any support for the resolution at the convention. "I will present the issue and surely there will be some to speak against it. Maybe I'll be the only one there to speak for it, but I hope the issue and the argument will be so compelling that it will pass."

 

20 April 2003 Easter Sunday

            Right after easter dinner in Rawlins Michael Romero and I left for home as I had to be back up work tomorrow. There I saw I had a message from Craig Hunter, “Ben the ladies really liked both Mike and you. Several of them told me that they really hoped the two of you would start coming out to the club on Saturday nights. It was great to see you guys again !! Craig.”

           

22 April 2003 Tuesday

            I submitted a proposal to speak at the Utah State Historical Society this fall. “Utah's Response to the AIDS Epidemic 1981-1986- It is a fact that in 1980, AIDS was virtually unknown on the planet  and by 1990, it had killed over 200,000 Gay men. Today Health officials give Gay teenagers only a 50/50 chance of not becoming HIV positive by age 60.

 The total number of AIDS deaths in San Francisco is now greater than the total number of San Francisco men who died in all the wars: of the 20th Century. In Utah alone there has been nearly 1000 deaths attributed to AIDS since records were kept in 1983.

 My research paper deals with a grassroot attempt to stem and treat the AIDS epidemic in Utah virtually without any official local or statewide assistance. It documents the creation of AIDS organizations by the effected populations due to lack of help by public health officials. It deals with how a health issue became sidewayed by political intolerance to sexual minorities. Sources for research are local newspaper accounts, oral histories, local Gay periodicals, and firsthand knowledge. Ben Edgar Williams 1975-B.A. Social Science BYU Major; History, Minor: Political Science 1991-1997Archivist of the former Utah Stonewall Center's Utah  Stonewall Archives now located at the Marriott Library U of U 1987-1990 Triangle Magazine's History Columnist 1987-1992 Co-host of Concerning Gays and Lesbians KRCL FM 91 1987-Co founder of the Gay and Lesbian Historical Society with Rocky O'Donovan 1992-Founder of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society for Gay and Lesbian Studies. 2002-2003 Co-director and Historian for the Utah Stonewall Historical Society. Gay Political and Social Activist and Historian. Personal acquaintance with Ben Barr, Dr. Patty Reagan, David Sharpton, Duane Dawson, Dr. Kristin Ries, and other key players in the AIDS epidemic of the 1980's.”

Kent Powell from the Utah State Historical Society wrote back, “Thanks for your interesting paper proposal, "Utah's Response to the AIDS epidemic 1981-86" for the 2003 Utah State Historical Society Annual Meeting. The program committee will be meeting in mid-May to review the proposals and I'll get back in touch as soon after the meeting as possible. If, in the meantime, you have any questions, you can reach me by e-mail at kpowell@utah.gov or telephone 533-3520.”

I wrote to Chad Keller “There are several errors in the [Pride] program. Ray Henke was not the editor of the first Gay Newspaper. The Open Door came after the Gayzette and the Salt Lick. The other error is the one about Marshall Brunner. Either Brunner misinformed Kevin or Kevin assumed the 1983 was the first one. I know when Kevin and Debra Rosenberg were co-chairs and they promoted 1983 as the first Pride Day; but out of ignorance not being malice. I was not privy to the documentation myself at the time until I actually did some research. The old fashion way! ha!

Chad wrote me “Do you have technology on your computer to create a blue print for home Depot and Brian?? Let me know. So Kevin [Hillman] must really live in a dream world. Was Marshal [Brunner] around in 1974 or 1975??....oh that’s right Kevin sees 1983 as the first one[Pride Day].

What makes me mad about this is that Kevin is fanning the fire with Comments that since 1991 he has tried to document the earlier prides but no one was willing to gather everyone together to have a discussion....who needs a discussion?

“I think this is one of the reason he is soooo hell bent to use 1983, as to use anything else would unravel everything he has done. Then the rest of the world jumped on the band wagon cause it was in print. Marshal is just a dates person; he could care less about first; cause he often has been a savior or keeper rather than a strike out on his own.”

Then he changed the subject to funding. “David Ferguson [director of the Utah AIDS Foundation Village project] just called me and it appears that the Health Summit moved to our weekend. The UAF apologizes as they did not realize that they had scheduled on top of us. They were wondering if we would be willing to team up together and have Eric be the Speaker for both.... They want to know your  thoughts.....    

The UAF really wants to help us, and of course I see this in my opinion as a way to capitalize; so I will leave this to you.

They have around 100 people attending their event. They are willing to cover some of the cost. We would jointly market it and would have use of rooms through the rotation schedule for Invenio.

The Cocktail party and Brunch would still be ours, as well as the book signing. They have the whole Wyndam, but don’t use it all, and they see this as a nice compliment to each other if we can work out the details. Both the groups’ focus in and on are the same but different..... Call me.”

I wrote back, “We need to call a board meeting, and get a buy in before promising anything. Charles [Milne] thinks we are having it up at the U of U for their Pride Week. We need to have a board meeting and a Gay History Month established immediately. The bylaws state we can call a special meeting. Let's do that. We have a board let's use it. The idea is very intriguing but the devil is in the details which we have none right now except for Eric. We have not even really decided what this event is going to look like. And if we do share we need top billing since we have the goods. Ben.”

            I saw that Chad Keller’s Letter to the Editor was published in the Tribune today. “No Legacy- The Olympic Legacy for downtown was flawed to begin with. It was never "What can we build for you that will celebrate Salt Lake's accomplishment," but "This is what we are going to build."   

 The legacy to the Mormon Pioneers stands in the center of Salt Lake City and took 40 years to build. But SLOC's timeline gave just over a year to implement a legacy that will last for decades.

The mayor's office and the historic commission should be ashamed that they derailed what would have provided to the people of Salt Lake City a valuable community and economic development tool at Pioneer Park. They made a poor decision to protect something that is far from sacred today.

What was wrong with creating an Olympic foundation or commission to take the time to do the downtown legacy right? Downtown got a couple of monuments that in time will be subject to vandalism and decay, which is no legacy. Chad Keller  Salt Lake City

Brandie Balken wrote “Dyke marches have been held in large metropolitan areas since at least the early 1990s, usually the Saturday evening before PRIDE day. Some of those marches are huge, with thousands of women marching together. A march on April 24th, 1993, in Washington D.C. drew at least 10,000 women, though some accounts said there were as many as 20,000. Annual dyke marches in San Francisco and New York draw thousands of women. Now it's time for the very first Salt Lake march. Won't you join us? Here is the official email invitation:  Attn. all lesbians and lesbian friendly folk: Utah is launching its FIRST ANNUAL DYKE MARCH WHO: Anyone who wants to come, we encourage groups to attend, and bring  banners or signage, children are welcome! WHEN: June 7th, gather at 6:30 p.m., March begins at 7 p.m. WHERE: Memory Grove. Park at the State Capitol and walk down to the Grove HOW: March will begin at Memory Grove, down City Creek to State Street, South on State (beside our beloved temple) to South Temple, East to 200 East, South to 300 South, and on to Washington Square, where the dance will be in full swing. WHY: It's about time, don't you think?

 

23 April 2003 Wednesday

I wrote to the USHS BOARD, “Dear Board Members, Chad was contacted by David Ferguson of the Utah AIDS Foundation in regards to our October Conference with Eric Marcus. The Gay Men's Wellness Conference booked the Windham Hotel for the 18th of October which is the date of our planned Gay History Month event featuring Eric Marcus.

 The Gay Men's Wellness Conference is interested in cosponsoring Marcus and letting the Historical Society use the hotel for some of its projects. Chad and I feel that handled properly this inter organizational event could be a win win situation for both UAF and USHS. This email is being sent for the board's immediate response. Two questions- 1) Does the board need to meet for a special meeting to discuss cooperating with UAF in a joint venture during October Gay History Month. Or (2) Does the board want the executive committee to pursue the matter itself and report back to the board on its progress at a later meeting. If so the Board will be authorizing the executive committee to make contractual agreements with UAF. If the Board feels the need to hold a special meeting we must do so within 72 hours so that we can let Charles Milne of the LGBT Resource Center at the U know not to reserve a location on campus.

We currently have 11 board members. A simple majority for be six votes for either proposal. Thank you for your prompt attention. PS I do not have Marty Pollack's email address. Could someone forward this and send me his email address so I can add it to the board's electronic mail address book.

 I vote yes... especially when nothing had been done in past 4 years...Donate money to an Archive fund.

            The following is how members of the Board of Directors voted:

“Chad Keller-my vote is that the executive committee be empowered with this decision. But I’m the President...can only vote in a tie....”

I said “I feel that inter organizational events are important for building a sense of community. The UAF would be a nice way to start building a report with other groups. I think the executive committee should be given the go ahead to see if the Windham event will be a good fit.”

            Michael R. Romero-My vote: decision by executive committee is okay with me.

Charles E. Whyte-no response as of 4/23

Randal Meyers-no response as of 4/23  

Mark Swonson-Hello, I think the Board Members need to discuss this more thoroughly about working with UAF and what type of partnership it will be. Coordinating with another is fine and will probably bring more people into our group. Which would be better for us in a lot of ways. Let’s talk some more on this.

Alan Anderson-Ben, I think the executive committee can handle this. I see no reason to involve the whole board.

            Jay Bell-no response as of 4/23

Marty Pollock-no response as of 4/23

Courtney Moser-This sounds like it could be a very good thing. I always think that Joint ventures are worth the extra effort in planning. This could make our history conference seem larger than it would Otherwise have been able to be this first year out. If planned properly we could piggy back on an already assembled audience. Go for it.

Stephanie Thomas-Hello, Having just joining the board of directors, I am not sure I would know enough about this organization to have my opinion mean anything, but I will give you one anyway, Having been active in the RCGSE for the past 12 years, I know that working with other organizations is a good thing, after all we want unity throughout the community. I have known David Ferguson for a long time and I feel he is a very honest man, and community orientated. My suggestion would be for the Executive community to make the decision and report back to the board. Thanks.

Dear Board members, With seven out of eleven members responding, it appears that a majority of the board feels that the executive committee, Chad Keller, Ben Williams, Chuck Whyte, and Mark Swonson are empowered to negotiate with UAF about combining our October History Month guest speaker Eric Marcus and the surrounding events with the Gay Men's Wellness Workshop sponsored by Utah AIDS Foundation. However according to the bylaws we need a 2/3 majority (7) to adopt an action without meeting.

If you have not responded as of yet please do so by Friday (72 hrs.) otherwise we will have to postpone any decision until our next board meeting. Decision made in accordance with Bylaws adopted 4/16/2003 Section 3.9 Quorum and Voting.

A majority of the number of Directors fixed by section 2 of this Article III shall constitute a quorum, but if less than such majority is present at a meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting without further notice than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present No trustee may vote or act by proxy at any meeting of Directors.

Section 3.10  Meetings by Telephone.

Members of the Board of Directors or any other committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment. Such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 3.11  Action Without a Meeting.

Any action that may be taken by the Board of Directors at a meeting may take place without a meeting if consent in writing, setting form the action to be taken, shall be signed before such action by a two-third's majority of the board. Such consent (which may be signed in counterparts) shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Directors or committee members.

Section 3.12 Presumption of Assent.

A trustee of the UTAH STONEWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY, who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent is entered in the minutes of the meeting, or unless he files his written dissent to such action with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the secretary of the corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a trustee who voted in favor of such action.”

Chad Keller wrote to me about Kevin Hillman wanting to revitalize the old DIG [Diversity Is Great] Awards as a benefit for the community center. “Subject DIG Awards I really hate the name and initials..... What do you think the ramifications would be if we gave the award back and creates something new without the demand to donated proceeds to the Assimilation Center??”

Regarding the history of Pride; I’m getting more than a little irritated with this 20 year crap. I think it is time for the massive, signed community letter, demanding the change, and demanding the relinquishment of pride from an organization that has no business running it THOUGHTS.

I think that a petition needs to be created, I have my cell with me call me after 5:30.....Todd is in agreement with me when we last spoke of the issue. They are mad cause they got clobbered over it, but as so stubborn to not look at the facts and admit that they have had an error in judgement. It would be so much easier on them if they would have just said....oops, thanks, and did 29...but nnnnnoooooooo.”

I wrote to Chad, “Cool... How would you feel about USHS bringing back "GAY FREEDOM DAY" next year for a 30th Anniversary of Gay Pride Day? The name is historic and would not involve stomping too hard) on Utah Pride. Just a simple gathering like food booths, libations, entertainment (i.e. Saliva Sisters court talent etc. and a few comments).”

Chad replied, “I have taught you too well....I have already been gathering the support And the freebies...call me tonight!!”

            Chad shared the email he sent to ABSOLUT, “I know Absolut is a big supporter of the GLBT community. I recently read that Absolut through their philanthropy is big on the preservation of GLBT history. Where can I find information about grants or sponsorship from Absolut? Thanks!”

ABSOLUT replied “Dear Chad, Thanks for your e-mail and your interest in ABSOLUT. All sponsorship requests are handled on a local basis. Therefore, please contact our office in the U.S, The Absolut Spirits Company Inc., by sending an e-mail to siteinfo@absolut.com with a sponsorship proposal included. The mailing address is as follows: The Absolut Spirits Company Inc. 1370 Avenue of the Americas 30th Floor New York, NY 10019  Contact person is Louise Samuelson or Julie Vick. Best regards, Jirina Löfgren Assistant Marketing The Absolut Company SE-117 97 Stockholm Sweden.”

 Chad Keller  sent a copy of a message to Jerry Rapier regarding the Subject of the Community Partner Program.

“Dear Jerry, We are quite excited with the special attention being given to the history of our community at the upcoming Pride Day June 8, 2003. We have watch with interest as Pride has set sail in bold new directions.

Charles Milne has been wonderful to work with and has been eager to dig into our community's vivid Technicolor history. In our last meeting with Charles to provide to the Utah Stonewall Historical Society the list of potential subjects he felt that the committee wanted to have addressed, it was mentioned that the efforts of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society fall into the new Partner In Pride Program and may qualify the USHS for windfall money.

In his explanation he indicated paperwork that you would need to consider the efforts of the organization as part of the program. Could you please forward to me the appropriate paper work for this program?

I am unclear on this program and how perhaps he envisions us fitting into the program. The USHS Board of Directors is interested in applying if possible due to the amounts of time will be dedicated to the research, data verification, and visual presentation processes that have  been laid out for the 12 kiosks being sent as a compliment to Utah Pride 2003. We are very appreciative of Charles notifying us of the potential match and look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks! Chad Keller  Chair & Co-Director Utah Stonewall Historical Society”

Jerry responded , “Subject: RE: Community Partner Program I'll get stuff to you this week - we have room for 10 partners and you'll be the 10th. Just know that the flier that's an insert in the May Pillar won't have you on it as it went to the printer on Monday. Jerry.”

Lori Buttars of the Salt Lake Tribune reported, “Minority Coordinator Choice Is Under Fire Under fire from the Latino community, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is defending his decision to hire Blythe Nobleman as the city's minority affairs and communications coordinator.

            Anderson wrote a letter earlier this week to members of the Latino lobbying group Raz-Pac who had expressed disappointment over his decision to name an Anglo to the post. Raz-Pac member Frank Cordova met with the mayor and will take the letter to the coalition's planning meeting today.. Anderson, who was not invited to the meeting, is in Washington, D.C.

            "Our Minority Affairs Office should work to empower and assist minority groups of all kinds," the mayor wrote, "not only ethnic or racial minorities, but also those with disabilities, the elderly, refugees, the economically disadvantaged, and the gay and lesbian community."

            An agenda for Raz-Pac's planning meeting lists several concerns the group has with the mayor. The first item on the agenda notes that while Nobleman, a University of Utah professor, is a lesbian and considered a minority, the group prefers that a person of color fill the role.

            Robert Gallegos, Raz-Pac chairman, declined to discuss the agenda items until after the group meets.

             "My comments have been taken as an attack on homosexuals and that is not the case at all. We have numerous concerns regarding the Mayor's Office," Gallegos said. "The meeting is to plan for our formal meeting with Rocky."

            In his letter, Anderson points out that Nobleman is a communication and minority affairs "coordinator" who reports to Minority Affairs Director Archie Archuleta, whom the mayor described as "perhaps one of the most respected Hispanic advocates in the state."

            As for the group's complaint that the Mayor's Office has fallen short of stated goals to increase minority hiring, Anderson says that plan has been hampered by slow turnover in city employees. He notes that the number of ethnic minorities has risen from 10.7 percent to 12.3 percent during his tenure.

             "That is . . . an unprecedented increase in Salt Lake City," he says.

             Nobleman, who has been on the job eight days, says she hopes people will withhold criticism until they have seen the results of her work.

             "I'm proud of the mayor's efforts to raise awareness of the existence of diversity in our community and the significant role that minorities play," she says.

            Charles Milne wrote to Kathy Worthington and Chad Keller, “Subject: Volunteer for Utah Pride 2003!! Could you please forward this to your lists. Thanks  Charles.”

Hello Everyone,  It is that time of year again where we are in need of volunteers for the annual PRIDE day celebration in June. We look forward to having a Great Celebration and bringing back some of the History to PRIDE. There will be many exciting events. A schedule is attached below. WE need YOUR help in making Pride a success. There are many options for what you can do to help with PRIDE 2003. Interested in working with the Parade, Children, Beer Garden, Entertainment, or The RUN/Walk. Get your volunteer application in today. Application are Due MAY 15th, 2003 For more information about PRIDE please visit www.utahpride.org  Sincerely, Charles Milne Volunteer Coordinator Utah Pride 2003 Interim Advisor Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center University of Utah

Sheena McFarland a writer for the Daily Utah Chronicle reported, “Gay U Skier Becomes Role Model for Others-Quinn Breaks Stereotype of Male Athlete-Ryan Quinn describes coming out to his family and friends as "terrifying," but the decision to come out to his fellow U ski team members was even tougher. Though the Alaska native realized he was attracted to males in high school, he pushed those feelings aside and focused on sports. Quinn didn't admit to himself that he was gay until his first year of college, and then he took about a year to tell his parents and close friends. "I should have known earlier that I was gay, but I think being involved with sports delayed that because being gay is not a social option," said Quinn, who is graduating this year with a degree in business administration.

Quinn began living two lives-one with his gay friends and the other with his team. "I actually felt more uncomfortable being 'the jock' around my gay friends than being gay around my teammates because my sexuality was just something that I didn't share with the team," he said. But after two years of being out to his friends and family, Quinn decided it was time to merge his two lives. He first told his former male roommate and current team member, and then told a couple of female members on the team.

Then, about a week later at a team party, Quinn took his teammates aside and told each of them one-on-one. "I didn't want anyone to find out from someone else on the team, and my teammates really appreciated my honesty," he said. "Everyone [on the team] was like 'We respect, know and like you,' and they were immediately supportive."

 The next morning, some of his teammates called him and asked if he was OK with coming out and reiterated their support for Quinn.

Kevin Sweeney, the ski team coach, also supported Quinn. "Being supportive is not a problem for me or Ryan's fellow teammates. We have a lot of respect for each other, and we spend a lot of time on the road together and competing, so we have got to support each other," Sweeney said.

Quinn also notes the individual nature of cross country skiing. "There's not a lot of awkwardness among the team because we respect each other. We travel a lot together, but there are no locker-room scenarios," he said. Which may be why Quinn's coming out was easily accepted by his teammates. But for other, more full-contact sports, that may not be the case.

Anthony White, a backup safety for the U football team, says he wouldn't personally have a problem with a gay football player, but he could foresee problems with the team. "When I look at teammates, I think about how well they are playing, which is what any good team does, but I think having a gay player on a football team could be a distraction for the team, even if the individual players were OK with it," he said.

White, who will serve as the Vice President of the Associated Students of the University of Utah next year, says a gay football player would likely face a lot more adversity than someone in Quinn's position. "Football is probably looked at as the most masculine sport, and so I think it would probably be three times as hard for a football player to come out," he said.

White chalks up the fact that very few football players on all levels-from high school to pro-are openly gay. "Those guys are going to face a lot of pressure to not be on the team, and that's got to be really hard," White said.

That pressure is one of the reasons Quinn decided to come out. He served on the advisory board of the first National Gay and Lesbian Athletics Conference, which was set up to start discussions around the nation about making athletics a safe zone for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community. "The conference gave us information so we could go back to our schools and teams and help the athletics department be aware of homophobia and how to counteract it," he said.

Earlier this month, Quinn gave a presentation at the Student Athlete Mentors program, which is run by the U's athletics department. This semester, the program has focused on respect of diversity, so Quinn was a welcome speaker, said Mary Bowman, U assistant athletics director over student athlete support services.

This is the first semester the program has focused on respecting diversity. The subject didn't come up due to any specific incident, but rather a focus on awareness and education, Bowman said.

Charles Milne, director of the LGBT Resource Center, supports the department's program because of its emphasis on starting conversations that breakdown stereotypes society has of the LGBT community. "There are a lot of athletic people out there, and sexual orientation doesn't dictate that," he said. Quinn is a case in point.

Quinn participated on the Junior National Ski Team from 1996-2000. He won second place in both 1997 and 1998 at the Alaska State Skiing Championships and garnered the title of Junior National Champion in 2000. He was a member of his high school cross country team and won third place in the 1998 Alaska State Championships.

 That trend continued into college, with continued cross country skiing success. Quinn is a two-time NCAA All-American, and in U.S. national competition, he placed 11th in the 2002 sprint and 10th in the 2003 sprint. Quinn was also the Utah 2003 top men's cross-country point scorer. When successful athletes like Quinn decide to come out, it helps other gay athletes feel more comfortable coming out, Milne said. "The program creates an atmosphere where people are comfortable talking about their feelings and problems," he said. "Through the visibility of people like Ryan coming out, it shows everyone that a person can be a good athlete and can be gay," he said.

While Quinn says activism was never a life goal, he says his experience has made him want to share it with others. Quinn wrote an article about being a gay athlete for the Web site outsports.com, an LGBT athletic site, and he received e-mails from all over the country from athletes who were afraid to come out. Quinn then realized the help he could provide to those in such a situation. "Activism was one way to help other athletes with the coming out process," he said. "If I had known an openly gay athlete, I think I would have come out a lot sooner."

Chad Keller wrote me “(this list will appear as just acronyms this month in the community section of the Pillar. Next month the answers will be given...and other historically you can think of??)

“Acronyms are a part of any community. As full names they can be a mouth full, but as acronyms they provide instant recognition as well as telling a tale. Utah’s sexual minority community has had hundreds of acronyms over its 34 years of groups and organizations. How many do you recognize? Some are old, some are still around, and others are recently departed. All of them speak of our cultural identity....so take a shot!! We have even provided some clues to help. If you can name some of them or even all, send your results to the Pillar at (PO BOX). In case of ties, a lucky winner will be drawn for a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Gastronomy. Answers printed next month. Entries due by May 26 2003!!

Rules of the Contest Contestant must name at least twenty-five organizations by their acronyms to be entered in the drawing. Those meeting the minimum correct amount shall be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 Gift Certificate. Those naming all correct will be entered into a special drawing for a 50.00 gift certificate. Special thanks to our partners at the Utah Stonewall Historical Society!!

1. ACLUU  (Irritant factor on Main Street Plaza)1. ACLUU --American Civil Liberties Union of Utah

2. AIDS          (HIV Disease) 2. AIDS--Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

3. AVP           (Stop the hostility) 3. AVP--Anti Violence Project

4. BMCC        (Cache Valley Prayers Company) 4. BMCC--Bridgerland Metropolitan Community Church

5. BS  (Gay Summer Camp) 5. BS-Beyond Stonewall

6. CGL           (Gay Radio) 6. CGL- Concerning Gays and Lesbians

7. CLF            (New Leadership Group) 7. CLF--Community Leadership Forum

8. ERA           (fear of same-sex bathrooms and women’s rights) 8. ERA-Equal Rights Amendment

9. FUAH        (moms and dads don't like bad people) 9. FUAH--Families United Against Hate

10. GAA         (Friends of Bill) 10. GAA--Gay Alcoholic Anonymous

11. GAA         (Not so radical as GLF) 11. GAA- Gay Activist Alliance

12. GCSC (first community center) 12. GCSC--Gay Community Service Center

13. GCSCC (second community center) 13. GCSCC Gay Community Service Center and Clinic.

14. GGMCC (Ogden Prayers Company) 14. GGMCC--Glory to God Metropolitan Community Church

15. GLAAD (National Media Watch Dog)15. GLAAD--Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

16. GLCCU (a forum and congress) 16. GLCCU--Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah

17. GLCCU (round two for this acronym) 17. GLCCU--Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah

18. GLDSY  (Gay Mormon formative years) 18. GLDSY--Gay LDS Youth

19. GLF          (The mother of all Gay Civil Rights) 19. GLF- Gay Liberation Front

20. GLFU (Gay relatives) 20. GLFU-Gay & Lesbian Families of Utah

21. GLMA  (Dr Ries may be a member) 21. GLMA--Gay and Lesbian Medical Association

22. GLSEN  (Don’t stand so close to me) 22. GLSEN--Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network

23. GLUD   (Taken to the woodshed by Pignanelli) 23. GLUD—Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats

24. GRAU   (Oldest rump rider organization)  24. GRAU--Gay Rodeo Association of Utah

25. GSA         (hetero and homo together in high school) 25.GSA-Gay Straight Alliance

26. GSARA  (UGRA is not on their Xmas card list) 26. GSARA--Gay Straight Animal Rights Alliance

27. GSC- (ran the Gay Hot Line) 27.GSC-Gay Service Coalition

28. GSRA  (Yee! Haww! spiky golden roughriders) 28. GSRA--Golden Spike Rodeo Association

29. HRC        (It’s not Hilary) 29. HRC--Human Rights Campaign

30. ICU          (It needed intensive care) 30. ICU--Imperial Court of Utah

31. KoM         (levi and leather) 31. KoM-Knights of Malta

32. LAA   (Acting Painting Singing and More, New Group)32. LAA--Lambda Arts Alliance

33. LCC         (No friend of the donkey) 33. LCC- Log Cabin Club

34. LGBTRCUU (Ivy tower Supreme) 34. LGBTRCUU--LGBT Resource Center U of U

35. LGSU  (the first Gay Ivy tower) 35. LGSU--Lesbian and Gay Student Union

36. LHC  (take a hike) 36. LHC--Lambda Hiking Club

37. LLDEF (National Lawyers in love) 37. LLDEF--Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund

38. LMS- (Mother’s helper) 38. LMS-Lesbian Mothers Support

39. MADGAL  (I wish I was single again) 39. MADGAL--Married and Divorce Gays and Lesbians

40. MDSC    (Gay Sage Brush Rebellion) 40. MDSC--Mountain and Desert States Conference

41. NOW        (Not later ERA NOW!) 41. NOW--National Organization for Women

42. OWLS (Last of the Red Hot Mamas) 42. OWLS--Older and Wiser Lesbians

43. PETA  (in your face parent of GSARA) 43. PETA-People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

44. PFLAG (too easy) 44. PFLAG--Parents Friends and Families of Lesbians

and Gays

45. PWACU  (Compassionate support for the ill) 45. PWACU--People with AIDS Coalition

46. QN           (this land is my land) 46. QN-Queer Nation

47. QUAC (Like a duck to water) 47. QUAC--Queer Utah Aquatics Club

48. RC-          (oldest Gay bar in Utah) 48. RC-Radio City Lounge

49. RCGSE (A pretty girl is like a melody) 49. RCGSE--Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire

50. RCJC (All Latter Day Saints) 50. RCJC--Restoration Church of Jesus Christ

51. RMCC (a get back on your feet church) 51. RMCC Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church

52. SLAC (All the world is a stage) 52. SLAC--Salt Lake Acting Company

53. SLAF (married UAP and had UAF) 53. SLAF--Salt Lake AIDS Foundation

54. SLCMCC (Salt Lake City Prayer company) 54. SLCMCC--Sacred Light of Christ Metropolitan Community Church

55. SLGAA- (Jock Support) 55. SLGAA-Salt Lake Gay Athletic Association

56. SLMC  (Sing for your supper) 56. SLMC- Salt Lake Men’s Chorus

57. UAF  (put a helmet on it or dam it up for safety sake) 57. UAF--Utah AIDS Foundation

58. UAP         (married SLAF and had UAF) 58. UAP--Utah AIDS Project

59. UGLBTBG          (new and professional) 59. UGLBTBG--Utah Gay Lesbian Bisexual Trans Business Guild

60. UGLY (the funniest acronym! Out of the mouth of babes) 60. UGLY---Utah Gay and Lesbian Youth

61. UGRA (I’m back in the saddle again) 61. UGRA--Utah Gay Rodeo Association

62. US            (Acceptance of all homos) 62. US--Unconditional Support

63. USC  (A project of GLCCU) 63. USC -Utah Stonewall Center

64. USD  (not friends of the elephant) 64. USD-Utah Stonewall Democrats

65. USHS (who did what and when) 65. USHS-Utah Stonewall Historical Society

66. USSA  (Athletic Supporters) 66. USSA-Utah Stonewall Sports Authority

67. UVMG- (non-heterosexual men) 67. UVMG- Utah Valley Men’s Group

68. WA           (Wiley females) 68.WA-Women Aware

69. WA           (Gay Mormons) 69. WA-Wasatch Affirmation

70. WCN        (no news for men) 70. WCN-Wymyn’s Community News

71. WLA         (Masters of the Gay Universe) 71. WLA-Wasatch Leathermen’s Association

72. WLMC (The original WLA) 72. WLMC-Wasatch Leather and Motorcycle Club

73.  WOW  (females going varoooom!) 73. WOW-Women on Wheels

74. WTSN (support for changers and the changed) 74. WTSN-Western Transsexual Support Network

75. WWL        (Mistresses of the submissive)75. WWL-Wasatch Women of Leather

 

24 April 2003 Thursday

James J. Pangburn of Provo  wrote a letter to Editor in the Salt Lake Tribune “Institutional Ignorance  I would like to thank Boyer Jarvis for his recent Utah Voices item on his being a recovering homophobic. There is, however, more which must be done toward eliminating the basic cause of the hateful stigmatizing of those for whom he urges acceptance.

There is a large and growing consensus among medical and nuclear biological researchers at major universities that sexual orientation and gender ambiguity are as much a common factor in human diversity as left handedness, mental retardation, fingerprints, and the myriad of other variations that make humans different. A huge bank of relevant data is available on a number of Web sites. You can begin more fully to understand this condition by using these suggested search criteria phrases: "Roger Gorski," "sexual ambiguity" and "sex determination and sexual differentiation." Investigation into the subject should clearly indicate the catch phrase "life style" to be completely fallacious.

             If enough people inform themselves of the facts being developed, the parochial attitude toward sexual orientation could be changed. It would be nice to think we have had enough of a savagely beaten gay man left to die on a barbed wire fence, or of teenage school students cheering while one of their classmates uses a school assembly PA system to suggest that gay men be crucified, and lesbians be burned at the stake, or the harassment of a very nice woman teacher in Spanish Fork because she is lesbian. This senseless behavior clearly stems from ignorance, most likely institutionalized ignorance.

Chad Keller informed me “Did you know John Bennett has moved back to SLC Okay, I could not sit quiet. The assimilation center never has an Idea of their own,  and I grow tired and cranky with it all Institutional Ignorance.”

            He sent me this exchange between him and Doug Fadel, “Subject: Calendar- Doug, Recently the decision was announced pertaining getting a master calendar off the ground for the community. It seems that the decision of the location of the master off line calendar has lit up the email tree.

A great positive response is coming in, but a small fire is burning because, to quote "it’s one more jab at the Center." 

We agreed that we would find ways to help make a positive difference and rally the community for the best of both. (my interpretation) I want to share with you why the selection was made to work with the Downtown Alliance in hopes of stopping a few conversations in the community before they get out of hand.

Political Neutrality. The Downtown Alliance has no stake in our events. They have only vested interest in Downtown.

Knowledge. The staff at the Downtown Alliance stays up to date to the various other events around Salt Lake and the Valley. They also receive information on events throughout the state. I would also add that when it comes to planning events, meetings, and what not, they are wealth of information and experience in every area that involves the creation and implementation of many types of events

Location. The Downtown Alliance is located on a major TRAX stop. There are many planners and leaders who has given up cars for the benefit of the planet. Greedily, for now, it’s just me working on the calendar, and it is near my office, which will allows for a more immediate response until the online version is finished in the next few months.

While I am confident that eventually life will sort itself out, and life will be better for all of us, and the dust from growth spurts will settle, I have often sought advice from people who have been the backbone of our community for years. A comment from two of them sticks in my mind.

Why are the wagons always circled? You have explained to me that the Center is not and cannot be everything for everybody. So then why is there a concern or care where the calendar is or isn't.

I highly considered and event drafted a proposal to send to the Paula and the Center Board. But as I had it proofed small items manifested themselves that made me an advisors to the project stop and say that we needed to seek out other options.

 I did, and under the council of many great people saw a greater opportunity. If this decision has offended anyone at the Center or on the Center's board, please extend my apologies and explanation. The decision was not intended to be a jab, nor a slam to the Center.”

Chad Keller was mad as hell at the center for their constant criticism  and wrote Todd Dayley and me the following; “This frost the cake! I have had it! I have sat silent because I had to, because it was a necessity and  the Center thinks they are the governing body and the wise ones of the community. IT IS NOW WAR!

Todd & Ben  I have sat silent for months while I have personally been attacked, and the accomplishments that I and a team of people have tried to create to better our community. Today it is like the flood gates of the river Styx have been opened and I am the one they were opened for to destroy. I want a meeting with them. Doug is going to do crap, so it is time to protect the groups, protect the leaders, and remind them that they are the GL Community Center, not the Center of the GL Community. CK

Chad Keller sent me this fuming response “Mary Lassalle, Perhaps it is how things are being written, but I am taking a lot of offence in your email.

The things being created by the Pillar Services team have been requested and are much needed. The Center has not nor have they every shown one bit of interest in creating a Business Guild, A Leadership Forum, or a Sports authority, UNTIL someone else starts doing something, and then the $$signs start rolling in their eyes.

We have not asked, nor would we ask people to stop being an affiliate with the Center. But it is really damn funny that every freak'n affiliate always have the same conversation when we present an opportunity to participate in building a dynamic and colorful community.

The bad mouthing that has and continues to go on from the Affiliates is more interesting than it is annoying.

I too have volunteered at the Center, and got royally screwed, and further took offence by the appointment of how the board is appointed and who is appointed.

You have to have money to play with or for the Center.

To appoint Sherri Booth and Craig Miller is a slap in many peoples face, due to comments that have publicly been heard about people who work their butts off for the community. I do think however that it is pretty lazy not to file the paper work to be independent, nonprofit organization. I completed the process with Ben Williams for the USHS. Not being that word and detail oriented it was a breeze.

Further, theft from our organizations is made possible when well-meaning people have too many signatures or only one. You nor any board member should ever audit your own books but should have the audited by an independent professional auditor.

Unity does not mean that we should put all of the assets in to one organization. Nor should we when the organization represents only a small percentage of the community. The Center is more representative of Lesbians, Transgendereds, and youth.

 I hope that you choose to join us in building a stronger community.

By doing so is not an act of treason to the Center but will be an act of strengthening the sports minded or want to be sports minded people in our community.

I nor the Pillar have ever asked that you not support and be proud of  the Center. I can bring a herd of email forwarded to me by member of the center staff,  Board members present and recent past, and affiliate boards bad mouthing the efforts of the Pillar Services team to bring the community together to find a stronger voice for each of the many areas of interest in our community.

I reflect on words of a group of community elders who celebrated the efforts of my team when we were ready to call it quits. I share them with you now. "The Center is only the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, not the Center of the Gay and Lesbian Community. They and their funders are out to impress a nation but are losing their own community. Keep thinking, keep growing, and keep impendence, and it protects and enhances the diversity and color of our community."

Mary Lassalle responded, “Hi Chad, If it's offensive comments being tossed I could take some of what you wrote as a personal "dig" based on your experience with others. For the record, I don't care if my mother is forming a Business Guild. I am not in a position to support her or anyone at this point in time.

 I'm  working three jobs and never know my schedule so very hard to commit. I work days, swing, graveyard, whatever so I'm already doing the chicken without the head more often than I prefer. I must take time to get a few things in order financially (for me) before I'm of benefit to others.

I've been working 60-80 hours the past three weeks and the next week  is  scheduled the same. Little hard to schedule things in advance, especially getting my foot back into certain areas of work. I did not even take or make the time to go through the many thousands and  thousands of photos I have for the Historic Society, something that  is very dear to me. I hope to catch up with that one down the road, but  not now.

 Also, when I get my new computer, scanner, etc., will make that  type of stuff easier. I realize those who work within the structure of this community give  endless hours, money, etc. I've been there and devoted 20+ years. Everyone once in a while I need to step aside before I can dive in  again. Plus, from my being so "visible" in the past I've had personal repercussions that have altered what was always a very strong  financial base. I consider myself "Swiss" (neutral) and do not get involved between factions if I can help it.

I don't do the "he" said "she" said and if I sense that or it's blatantly obvious I have no desire to be associated. I'd rather just do my own thing.

When you mentioned the sports organization being formed I assumed you were working together with Darin [Hobbs]. Also, as mentioned, I don't even know if he is working on that or what. I can't be involved directly so the topic is not on that. I simply mentioned the jist of a brief conversation he and I had which resembled the topic you brought up. Nothing more.

I am unaware of the Pillar Services team perse' -- and its undertakings. I may have quickly read about, not sure as my reading time is cut drastically and in fact, I could not even submit anything for Todd regarding sports last month and questionable this month. I work 8:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. tomorrow so if I have juice left, maybe, that's a stretch.

I've read and been invited to the monthly community meetings and perhaps that the group you are referring to as the Pillar Services team. I have had that scheduled from month to month but obviously, never attended one yet. I have no clue what you mean about Affiliates not supporting causes or having such a strong tie to the Center that it inhibits involvement

If there is something that the Pillar Services group wishes to have the softball league assist with just approach Kevin who is the Chair and/or I'm happy to convey a message to the league. I just promoted the request for volunteers on behalf of The Center for Pride Day and not sure how many are interested but at least the message gets out. Please know, that the softball league has no "ties" to any organization aside from itself.

I would like to ask here, when making reference to The Center as getting involved only when $$ is involved, is that a bad thing??  Is the services you are setting up without any discussion of how to sustain the costs necessary at the very least associated with providing services to the community, i.e., organizing donations, contacting potential sponsors, maintaining information, etc. I believe I would be more worried if The Center started spending an enormous amount of time without bringing in the necessary funds to operate.

Personally, I believe The Center exists for persons who wish to provide their time and efforts for the benefit of the community. The group your mentioning could as easily meet at The Center and if or when dollar signs are there, work a deal out if The Pillar Services does not have that interest?

This is almost silly to type as there is obviously many, many more years of deeply rooted ego-busting or something that has gone on. If there is legitimacy to the board at The Center being biased and money being needed to get into it, then that can be taken to the community members. Community backing for a more "diverse" representation could be encouraged and get it printed, etc. The energy expended in that manner could pave the way for whatever having others you mentioned on the board.

When you mention Sherri Booth and Craig Miller, I don't know if that means they are on the Board??  Or want to be??  If I read something about someone unless I speak directly to that person it's rare I take anything to heart.

If they are on the board, obviously, due to the "consolidation" of Pride Inc with services provided by The Center. I've heard talk of the "consolidation" but also that there are aspects that very much remain its own entity and therefore, there are no "all eggs in one Center." 

I would trust folks that have helped out with Pride, Inc. to be educated or resourceful enough to place safeguards with the structure of consolidation. This community has barely began to even spring out of the dark ages as  far as I'm concerned.

 As mentioned, from 1994 - 1996 noticeable changes and thereafter, substantial changes. media more favorable, the cases ACLU handled that brought the gay & lesbian community onto front page quite often (Clubs & Weaver). The community has grown from many coming out of the woodwork and putting out their money and being in the professional realm and  recognized in that area but also being role models for so many that have not been able to do that.

I realize everyone approaching situations differently. Some are very forceful and insist others listen and learn; some quietly teach others without them realize they are being taught and interestingly,  those teaching can share the same goal, yet approach is quite different and  that can cause tension.

I think the exposure the Center gains from it being an actual location, nicely kept up and having the Mayor and others participate in functions there that is a benefit to anyone within the community who desires favorable recognition for organizations within this community.

I'll close here as I'm not sure what all the details are as reasons for distance between Pillar Services and the Center. I'm sure if more gay men organizations approached the Center it would be quite inclusive of.

 I've never found the Center to be biased and the only time I even caught a bit of prejudice there I immediately approached Paula Wolfe. It was the Center's softball team not letting a  transgendered person on their team. I believe they were going for an all women team that year and I was pissed the person was turned away. I don't care whether it was a man wanting to join the team or a woman, or whomever, that team was representing the Center and no one should be turned away who wants to play, especially for The Center who is there to represent all within the community.

 I know many guys from my Union that head to the coffee shop at The center just to relax, coffee, etc. I've turned all kinds of people onto it and I like that they are made to feel welcome. Perhaps the lesbians and transgendered don't have as many places to feel safe as the men do here in the City.

When you think about it, there are numerous men clubs to hang out at, but only one women club and no transgendered club to my knowledge. Therefore, not many places to meet and hang out with one another? Could be something there.

 Anyway, main reason for this response is to state that I have no opinion one way or another at this time; don't have the time to commit to anything more; I'm not opposed to one day learning more and have  scheduled but not worked out to date; the softball league or anything else I'm affiliated with would be happy to pass on information to members on anyone's behalf which benefits the community. and ; till later, Mary Lassalle, 680-3157

 

25 April 2003 Friday

I wrote, Dear Board members, With eight out of eleven members responding, it appears that a 2/3 majority of the board feels that the executive committee, Chad Keller, Ben Williams, Chuck Whyte, and Mark Swonson are empowered to negotiate with UAF about combining our October History Month guest speaker Eric Marcus and the surrounding events with the Gay Men's Wellness Workshop sponsored by Utah AIDS Foundation.

Charles E. Whyte-Hi Ben I feel that the EC should be able to handle this affair, we do need to get direction from the board, as a whole, on what they feel in the future is  ok with the EC doing on their own thanks chuck.”

Randall Meyers wrote, “Hi guys,  I am sorry if I did not respond quickly enough. (I have been having terrible seizures this last week and ended up kind of beating myself up and then having to spend my days sleeping, so I have not been on line much.)   I imagine whatever you all are working on will be good. I am sorry I'm not participating more right now. Thanks for understanding. Go for it! Randal.”        

I wrote Chad Keller about a USHS board meeting, “Can we all meet Wed. April 30 at 6 pm at the public  library? Chad can you contact a representative from the Gay  Men's Wellness org. and ask if they can attend? We can then make a decision to proceed or not and  then relay the info back to the board. Thanks Ben.”

Mark Swonson wrote back, “Dear Board Members: If we have it Wednesday night the 30th. I might not be able to attend since that night there is a Utah Democratic Fundraiser. I should hopefully know by Monday of next week whether I am attending this event. Thanks for your consideration. Mark”

Jay Bell the historian for Affirmation wrote, “Hi all, Recently I worked with Jim a former Utahn and current archivist who compiled a list of gay archive collections across the US. The U of U collection is on the list. U of U archivist Stan Larson was impressed that this was being done. I am trying to work with Stan on getting the Stonewall collection catalogued. I need one or two volunteers who would be willing to work on a volunteers basis with the U to catalogue the collection. The collection is rather extensive. Anyone interested please hit the reply button and let me know. Thanks, Jay

            James Hicks asked on the Group Site, “Will there be any type of media coverage for this Year’s Gay Pride event? What I'd like to see is a New Station, perhaps Fox 13 with enough guts to advertise this event before it happens. For 6 years I've been sending e-mails to various local news stations and they wait until the event is over. I always receive a very polite e-mail from them stating, that my e-mail went unread for several weeks. This is a crock of "shit!"

They prefer to wait until the event is over then they chose to broadcast nothing but drag queens "no offense" I love drag queens. However, only covering drag queens does not show an accurate representation of our gay community. Anyone have any thoughts how we can get the Gay Pride Event advertised in the media this year before it happens? Do we need to pay for this advertising?

During "community events" on every news station do people advertise their events? Is this just one more form of discrimination our community is being subjected to? Sincerely, James P. Hicks.”

 

26 April 2003 Saturday

I went to the Try-Angle bar tonight again with Mike Romero. Craig Hunter was there again with the ‘ladies’ and we danced a little not to be rude but spent most of the time there visiting with John Bennett who’s back in town and with Val Mansfield. It was good to catch up with them and what they are up to these days.

            Lee Silva's hosted his 8th Annual Utah Gay Rodeo Association’s DIAMONDS & SPURS benefit at the Trapp Door just west of the Trapp. Greg Harden aka “Miss UGRA Tracie Aviary”  & Chaise Manhattan were the hostesses for the event. There was a raffle for “lots of great prizes!!!’ such as a  DVD Players and Vintage Quilts) See you there!!!!

 

28 April 2003 Monday

I filled out an application for the GAY Grant. I asked for $2000! Who knows? Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Mike Martinez a Salt Lake City attorney Salt Lake Tribune’s Guest Columnist. He wrote “Minority Advisers May Not Have Community's Best Interests at Heart -Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson recently appointed a self-proclaimed lesbian as his minority affairs coordinator. Hispanic community activists complained about hiring a white female who claimed minority status only after she came out of the closet.

Racial and ethnic minorities point out they do not have the luxury of closeting themselves until they are forced or ready to declare their status. Activists correctly lambaste this appointment, but they do so for the wrong reason.

            In Utah, it is fashionable for politicians and corporations to have minority advisory boards or minority advisers. Benefactors publicly parade their boards and advisers as proof of their sensitivity.

            The governor keeps a minority advisory council and a director. The University of Utah has several minority boards and coordinators. Even newspapers have advisory boards with appointed minority leaders.

            The commonality of these boards is that none has a budget, employees, or policy-making authority. They are but shills trotted out every few years to sing and dance the praises of their sponsor during the campaign or fund-raising season.

            Board members enjoy their status as the appointed Hispanic leadership. In this capacity, the supposed advocates enjoy media and political attention as the oracles of diverse thought. Whenever the news media need a quote, they go to the chosen ones. Whenever a politician needs cover for a stupid move that doesn't go over well in the minority community, super-Hispanics provide cover. When community activists get uppity or want to actually meet the pasty faced boss, the Hispanic advocates run interference.

            Once, the small and disenfranchised Utah Hispanic community needed appointed advocacy to avoid being overlooked. Once, appointees took their positions seriously because they were bridges rather than resume builders. As the Hispanic community underwent an immense growth spurt, the ombudsmen realized they had no resources or authority to deal with the tidal wave of problems inherent in such growth.

            Appointed Hispanic advocates, frustrated by their conflicted duties, started avoiding issues paramount to Spanish speakers, lest there be controversy, and morphed into meeting attenders. This is now their safe and noncontroversial pastime. Advisers lay low knowing they will be promoted into higher-paying jobs if they are not contentious and their bosses never meet another Hispanic. This was the route taken by the governor's past three Hispanic directors.

            Gov. Leavitt recently appointed a Mormon Peruvian as his adviser. The Mexican community thought this appointment showed his religious bias. It is well known that about two-thirds of the native Spanish speakers in Utah are of Mexican descent and are Catholic.

            The activists miss the point. It doesn't matter who the governor or mayor anoints. Appointees all have the same goal: promotion to a gravy-train job. To do that, they must not place the governor, mayor, or agency director in direct community contact, lest they appear insensitive and uninformed about their constituents.

            Once a necessary evil, Hispanic minions now self-servingly placate, shield, and misdirect community efforts. The marionettes impede integration and maturity by perpetrating the stereotype of an infantile community inhabited by the illiterate and illegal.

            Truth is, the Hispanic community is numerically large, diverse, politically savvy, economically empowered and more than capable of addressing grievances and issues without intermediaries. And Latinos should address issues like everyone else does. They need to file litigation when aggrieved, confront inattentive politicians, become political candidates, and most importantly demand a seat on boards where white people sit, where real decisions are made.

            Latinos need to develop a broader vision of what a community is through active participation and pride of ownership. We must respect our own ideas, accomplishments, and individualism before we can expect others to respect us. We must avoid the tendency to argue about who occupies these second-rate patronage positions. Instead, individuals must rise to the occasion when necessary, regardless of adviser impediments.

            Anderson did not like Hispanic criticism of his appointee. In classic Anderson style, he lashed out at his critics as misinformed and divisive. He then touted his in-house adviser as "the most respected Hispanic advocate in the state."

            This, in political jargon, means, "I only did it after consulting with one of your own." And the paid scapegoat smilingly bears the blame as the activists withdraw, lest they show ill will toward one of their own.

            Checkmate.

            Truth is, Anderson, up for re-election, appointed non-heterosexual Blythe Nobleman to appease and organize the gay and lesbian community. Putting her on the public dole saves campaign funds. This was not some grand diversity gesture but merely a vote grabbing ploy. The crusader has become politically savvy. Et tu, Rocky?

April 28 2003 Having worked with two stations last year to get information out before pride was difficult to say the least. Air time is a precious commodity to them. It is my understanding that a public-service announcement is being created and sent to the local television stations. Which might do some good. Most TV stations are retailoring or pulling back sponsorships right now, based on current economic factors. They want their name on the big mainstream or mainstream-acceptable events. Having worked with channels 4, 5 and 13 to promote two separate events, one AIDS-related, the commercials ran at odd times, and in the wee hours of the morning. Salt Lake has grown by leaps and bounds, but we are still on the small side. If we want prime-time advertising, we going to pay.

Chad Keller returned from going with Joe Redburn to the GLAAD Awards in Los Angeles. He wrote me, “Oh my gosh....what a reenergizing experience......I have to tell you all about it. Partied with Catherine Manheim, Julia Roberts, and Queer as Folk....wow.” 

Rex Wockner News GLAAD HANDS OUT AWARDS IN L.A. Sean Hayes Tries To Come Out HOLLYWOOD -- The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation conferred special honors on actor Eric McCormack, singer Christina Aguilera and filmmaker Todd Haynes at its glitzy 14th annual Media Awards April 26. In addition, major awards were won by Six Feet Under, Will & Grace and the film The Hours for their positive portrayals of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people.

Held at the tony Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, the ceremony honored Aguilera for the bold gay and transgender images in her Beautiful video. Haynes was rewarded for his film Far From Heaven. McCormack was recognized for his five years of playing Will on NBC's top-rated sitcom Will & Grace.

Aguilera's video includes two gay men making out on a public bench oblivious to the stares of passersby, as well as former Robert Mapplethorpe model Robert Sherman slowly transforming himself into a woman, finally smiling at his feminine image in the mirror.

GLAAD Executive Director Joan Garry said the video "conveys a powerful message about self-respect and  empowerment."

"At a time when many in the music industry avoid lesbian and gay themes altogether, or even worse, use  defamatory images to appear edgy, Christina's decision to feature gay and transgender people in her video is a strong statement of inclusion, affirmation and acceptance," Garry said. Aguilera performed an a cappella version of Beautiful that brought the house down.

"It is so important that in my music I do convey positive images, and this song is definitely a universal message that everybody can, I think, relate to," she said. "Anyone that's been discriminated against or unaccepted, unappreciated or disrespected because of who you are -- your color, your sexual preference, whatever that may be. I wanted really ... to support the gay community. Still in 2003, we even have to give awards because it is so unaccepted still today in society. So I wanted to show my love and support to all of you."

McCormack thanked GLAAD for its support of Will & Grace over the years. “Television by its very nature aims to please all the people all the time," he said. "As a straight actor playing a gay role on a network sitcom, I faced the very real possibility that I would please none of the people none of the time -- by being too gay for straight America and not gay enough for gay America. And I'd be trapped in some gay/straight limbo like  Simon Cowell or Ryan Seacrest. Fortunately, I needn't have worried. The straight audience came around pretty quickly but it was this community that was with us from the very beginning. In fact it was GLAAD that during the shooting of the pilot sent a telegram  saying, 'We're behind you all the way' and, being GLAAD, I know they meant that literally."

Filmmaker Haynes said Far From Heaven changed his career. "I've always considered myself someone working very much in the margins, very much outside of the mainstream, free to really experiment with narrative, with depictions of homosexuality and struggle and a lot of other themes as well," he said. "And not always committed to positive representations necessarily but trying to get really down deep into the things that kind of unify all of us. Something happened with Far From Heaven, I think, where the film entered a different arena for me -- this has been kind of a dizzying year, an amazing year of my career. "I feel very proud to be a part of the representation of gay struggle in film," Haynes said. "It'll be something I'll continue to do and we'll just keep fighting."

McCormack's award was presented by Will & Grace's Sean Hayes, who plays Jack. Hayes took the audience on a roller coaster ride, coming this-close to coming out, then not doing it. Many reporters and gay fans have been irritated by Hayes' refusal to say if he's gay, straight or something in between.

"I feel good here," Hayes said. "I feel comfortable. I look around and I see kind, accepting faces – granted  most of those faces don't move above the eyebrows, but  they seem to have kind and accepting potential. I've  had three martinis with the new low-carb vodka, I'm feeling the love, and I think I need to do something, I think it's time to share something about myself,  something that I've needed to share with you for a  while now but wasn't quite prepared to do so in the past. I needed time, I needed to feel safe, I needed it to come from me and no one else. I have to confess, I'm a little nervous about it, but I can't imagine a better place to say this. So, ladies and gentleman, members of the media, colleagues, and friends: I'm being selfish again! I'm being selfish again! Tonight  is about Eric McCormack and _his_ heterosexuality. I apologize."

In an exclusive interview, Queer As Folk's Peter Paige, who plays Emmett Honeycutt, talked about the program's impact on gay America. "I know Queer As Folk has made a difference to the gay cause," Paige said. "I see it literally every single day. I see in the faces of gay people who come up to me on the street. I see it in the faces of straight people who stop me on the street. Which now – early in the show it was all gay people who stopped me. Then very quickly it became straight women. And now it's straight men, all the time -- often subtly, often under their breath, but I don't get on an airplane without a straight guy saying to me, 'You know, my wife and I love the show.' And when asked why, they all say the same thing, 'Oh, we just like the stories.' If you had told me 20 years ago that I would be a part of that, that I would be a part of the show that made straight people not even able to see the division anymore, I'd have told you were crazy."

            Chad  also sent me what he wrote to Mary Lassalle, “Mary, I have just gotten back from a reenergizing weekend in LA and the GLAAD Awards. I am letting the sleeping dog lie with this issue, for me it  would not be worth the energy. There are bigger and greater things to accomplish.

I hope that you will or someone from the softball team chooses to participate with us as we make our contribution to the building of our community. Know that if you or the league chooses not to participate for what ever reason or pressures from whomever be it internal, center related, or political that the door to participate will always be opened and the  league welcomed at the table.

I would encourage you to empower those around you to take ownership. From the sounds of it you are going to burn yourself out trying to take all  of the responsibility on your own shoulders of the groups you are involved in. Balancing that with what seems to be a very busy work life, has been historically disastrous. Take time to care for yourself. Thanks!”

            Tyler Fisher of the INVENIO committee wrote me, “Ben, I am excited to see that you are interested in the INVENIO: Gay Men's  Health Summit. INVENIO planning is a yahoo group for members of the planning  committee for the gay men's health summit 2003. If you are only  interested in gay men's health I would like to direct you to our Gay

Men's Health yahoo group ugmhealth-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. If you are interested in being a part of the planning for the INVENIO  please come to our next general planning meeting May 12th @ 7:00 PM. Thanks for your interest! Tyler Fisher

Diane Urbani, a Deseret News staff writer  wrote; “Out with oppression   Students at 4 Utah high schools work to heighten awareness. Sixteen-year-old Tyler Follett could still speak, since he hadn't yet donned a surgical mask. As fellow students milled around him, lining up for masks and stickers, Tyler summarized the reason scores of Utah high schoolers refused to speak for 24 hours. The silence, he explained, was the cornerstone activity of Oppression Awareness Week, a focus on the oppression occurring in their classrooms and lunchrooms.

             "It hurts people, and not only that, but oppression can also kill people," the Highland High School sophomore said. He was referring to the April 8 beating death of a 39-year-old retarded man in Hartford, Conn. Or he might have meant the killing of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student in Laramie, Wyo., in 1998, or of James Bird Jr., a black man dragged to his death behind a truck in Jasper, Texas, the same year.

           They're sobering facts for typically loquacious teenagers, but those at Highland, West, Northridge, and Park City high schools haven't shied away. Many spent their spring break preparing for Oppression Awareness Week, painting posters and banners and planning for the lunchtime information tables.

           Asked whether he's experienced oppression himself, Tyler didn't hesitate. "Yes, in the way I've been treated. I'm gay . . . and the stuff people say to me" is hurtful. "I know they're kidding around, but still."

             "Unless someone points it out to you, you don't realize what's going on," added Alicia Washington, a senior at Northridge High in Layton. She's one of hundreds of Salt Lake area students who've attended the Anytown weekend camps sponsored by the National Conference on Communities and Justice. At the camps, teens are tossed together with peers from other cliques. Then, after a few days together, they return to school, to tune new eyes and ears into that environment.

           At Northridge, some of the banners pointing up forms of oppression such as "heterosexism," or discrimination against gays and lesbians, prompted some outcry. "We did have to relocate those (posters)," Washington said. Some students scrawled anti-gay graffiti on them, and the posters were moved away from the school's main entrance and hung on less conspicuous walls.

Yet students, parents and teachers have been talking about their messages all week. "Most definitely, people are curious," said Washington. Heterosexism is one kind of oppression that is rampant in Utah in 2003, the students say. "You hear things like, 'That's so gay,' a lot," said James Lunn, a 16-year-old who attends West High School. "That's so gay" might be said in "fun," but it's doubtless a slur, he said. Classmates may urge him to let it go or lighten up, but such speech reinforces anti-gay stereotypes. And those, as in Shepard's case, can lead to violent hate crimes.

           Then there's sexism. "Opening a magazine," said West senior Amanda Stephenson, "shows you how women are expected to be thin, silent followers." Teen-oriented media emphasize boyfriends, makeup, and size-2 fashions. Then there are Stephenson's fellow students, who stand in front of the principal's office and "rate girls" on a scale of 1-10.

           "They'll say, 'She's a 5, she's a 2, she's a zero,' out loud, as you're walking by," Stephenson said. She helped organize West's week of activities including the 24-hour period of silence from Wednesday noon to Thursday noon. During that day and night, students wore surgical masks and wordlessly handed out neon-green cards that read, "We are silent for 24 hours to raise awareness of oppression."

             At Highland on Wednesday, 17-year-old Lahdan Saeed handed out 50 masks in less than 15 minutes. More students came in asking for them, and Lahdan had to apologize for running out of both masks and "Racism will end, but not without you" stickers.

"Oppression isn't a typical high school word," she said. But students see what it means, in the way their school's population is divided along racial, religious and class lines. "There are a lot of stereotypes and biases," she said. "You can see the segregation, walking down the halls, in the lunchroom. The ESL (English as a second language) students sit in their own area, the upper-class white kids sit in their area, the skaters sit apart from them."

           Stephenson said the same thing goes on at West, and probably at any high school in Utah. "Friends of a feather flock together," yet hundreds of her classmates have also attended NCCJ's Anytown camps. That experience "takes students away from school to an environment in the mountains, where they can have a peaceful, inclusive community for a weekend. Then, hopefully, they can bring it back to school."

             "They come off the bus in those cliques," said David Litvack, NCCJ's assistant director. "When they get on the bus to go home, (the students) look completely different."

 Campers create skits, watch documentary films and talk, and they learn to let others speak their minds without "shutting them down," Litvack said. "You're not going to change someone's mind by telling them what they should think, especially with moral or religious issues." But having a dialogue — not an argument — in a safe environment can help people understand each other. Litvack, not a native Utahn, learned by listening to students talk about their experiences here that prejudices persist, even into this era when some believe we've moved past racism.

           "I heard a biracial student talk about the racism that existed within his own family," he recalled. "For another student, growing up Jewish in Utah meant feeling rejected in school every day."

           NCCJ activities are designed to help young people explore the roles they can play in building an inclusive community, he added. Students discuss "how they can be an ally to a person who's being treated unfairly." In the middle of high school-lunchtime pandemonium, West principal Joyce Gray reflected on Oppression Awareness Week.

 "What's so neat about this, in my opinion, is that it's totally generated by the students. I hope they can spread their understanding about oppression against people in our world, and I hope that one day, probably not in my lifetime, it will end." Gray, who is black, was raised in the South. "I grew up with racism," she said. "The key is: You don't hold those negative experiences so tightly that they drain you."

Gray was surrounded by prejudice, but she also knew people who lifted her above it. "I focused on being a teacher, like Mr. Owens," her music teacher when she was a girl in Virginia. Gray graduated from Virginia State University at Petersburg and had three offers for teaching positions. She went to the westernmost one in Las Vegas. There, "my first principal was another model," as she worked toward her next goal. Gray has been principal at West for seven years, and she holds no illusions about her school.

             "You see all the isms," including racism and "faithism," discrimination based on which faith community a student does or doesn't belong to, Gray said. "The one that is quite prevalent in the media is sexism." Walk through the nearby Gateway shopping center, and you can find all kinds of women's clothing that, of course, emphasizes outer appearance over inner development. "The school is in competition with the merchants.

They want to sell the clothes that we don't want the kids to wear to school, the clothes that violate the dress code."

           Stephenson acknowledged that the oppression awareness banners aren't going to change people's minds inside of a week. "We just want to get some people thinking about it," she said. Some of the banners have quotations that, while unfamiliar to the predominantly white, Christian student body, epitomize the student organizers' message. At West's northern doors, a poster raises a point from the prophet Mohammed: "A man's true wealth is the good he's done in the world."

 

29 April 2003  Tuesday

Chad Keller wrote; “Mr. Wockner; I just returned from an energizing weekend in Los Angeles. On the way home I began to thumb through the many Gay publications the area had to offer. While thumbing through Fab! I found an article that was written by you that stirred excitement and made me realize that I was not to put it in Utah terms "Freakn' Crazy".

 Your article on the use of the acronym GLBTIQTTQS (wait got that wrong LGBTIQTTQS) was well put and points out, in as non-confrontational as possible, the folly that is becoming a major part of our community identity.

As a regular contributor and member of the editorial staff, and new editorial board for the Pillar, Utah Gay News, I have watched time and time again as professional Gays stumble over enunciation and correct pronouncement of the acronym. This has been an issue that we have sought to address for some time. The acronym has become an embarrassment.

Some of our wiser "community parent" types have lately expressed concern of the over the top politically correct acronym and have in their writing begun to  reintroduce the words "stonewall" and "lambda" to our vocabulary, which for now, is providing a safety zone from the acronym and the many heated conversations and debates that are brewing here and in Gay communities across the world.

Our newly re-established historical society, Utah Stonewall Historical Society, www.utahstonewallhistory.org in writing their articles of incorporation, flatly refused to continue to degrade the community, and has dropped all but the word Gay.

Their boldness has been noticed and has started an under-rumbling in Utah of shameful actions and lack on inclusiveness. The acronym has become an embarrassment. As our publisher read the article, he and I agreed, this was the answer to get the Utah Gay Community back on track and functioning as a whole rather than separate pieces.

What are your terms to reprint this article? If there is a cost what would be your rate. Traditionally we have set payment for  columnists/contributors at $25.00 per story per month. The Pillar is a monthly publication. Would you even be interested in having your writings appear in our publication.

We are very interested in discussing specifically this article and setting up the terms to run it in our May edition. We also would love to work out the details in hopes of bringing you on as a regular by our July edition. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely Chad Keller Pillar Publishing Salt Lake City”

The Wockner Wire #201 by Rex Wockner April 23, 2003 LGBTQITS First we were gay. One of our first big organizations was the National Gay Task Force. Later we became gay and lesbian. Some gay women wanted their own word to up their visibility. There used to be a lot of talk about "lesbian invisibility." This was well before Ellen, Rosie, Melissa, and the gang.

            Later bisexuals started feeling invisible, and we became gay, lesbian and bisexual, or GLB.

            Then the trannies got uppity and wanted their own letter, and we became GLBT. Then lesbians demanded to be placed first in the alphabet soup, and we became LGBT.

Even though it's unpronounceable either way -- GLBT or LGBT -- that wasn't the end of it. Along came the queers and the questioning people, and we became LGBTQ.

Next it was intersexed folks (people born with ambiguous genitalia). And we became LGBTQI.

Then the indigenous folks (Indians) pointed out that their gay-ish folks are called two-spirited, and we became LGBTQITS.

And you know that's not the end of it. (And I'm probably forgetting a letter or two that already have been added in some circles.)

Unless you have been brainwashed beyond all hope, say it with me: This is political correctness run amok. First off, it's just a matter of time before the bears get pissed off and demand another B. Ditto for the leather men and a second L.

If every conceivable subgroup of gays eventually gets  its own letter, there will be no room left in gay newspapers for the news stories. The pages will just be filled up with our name.

I say enough is enough, and I'm asking you to join me. Just say no to the ever-lengthening unpronounceable acronym.

Black people are happy to be black. Latinos are happy to be Latinos or Hispanics. Asians are happy to be Asians. Can you imagine what would happen if they started subdividing themselves and adding a letter to an acronym to represent each nation they hail from?

The Mexicans and El Salvadorans and Argentineans and Bolivians and on and on? MESABs? The Latino acronym > > alone would have over 30 letters. The black one even more.

Lesbians started this mess so lesbians should take the initiative to halt it. I'm not asking that any of these words be removed from our vocabulary or our newspapers. I'm merely asking that for the sake of news reporters, for the sake of politicians, for the sake of public speakers everywhere, we agree that LGBTQITS people can be collectively referred to as gay -- or some other word as long as it's accurate and pronounceable and doesn't take 30 seconds to say and half a column of newsprint to publish, which is almost  the case with lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer/questioning/intersex/two-spirited.

You know (but are afraid to say out loud) that this trend has gone off the deep end -- and that it's only  going to get worse unless we intervene. Join me today.”

            Tyler Fisher of the Utah AIDS Foundation announced “Sex in the Dark: Promoting Healthy Sexuality 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm  at the Officer's Club - Fort Douglas Notes: Sex is fun.. Sex is a part of who we are... I believe in sex... Do you know what it means to have positive sexuality? From the beginning we are told that sex is "bad", we need to stay away from our "private parts"; it is time that we view our sexuality in a positive light. Come and discover with us how we can  do this. This discussion series will be presented in two parts and will be facilitated by Clayton Vetter. If you attended the Gay Men's Health Summit in 2001 you may remember Clayton from "The Mirror has two faces and in one of them my butt looks huge".

 

30 April 2003 Wednesday

I wrote Charles Milne finally “I won't be able to attend your meeting tomorrow, however I need to let you know of recent development. About a week ago UAF's Gay Men Health Summit contacted us saying that they had booked the Wyndham Hotel for their conference the same weekend we had planned Eric Marcus to speak. They suggested that perhaps the Historical Society join up with the Health Summit and use some of the space not needed at the hotel gratis.

Our Board of Directors directed the executive committee to meet with the Health Summit committee to discuss working out a deal. We will be meeting with them at UAF tomorrow at 7 pm. It appears that there is a real possibility that we will be sharing Marcus with the Health Summit and we will be able to use the Wyndham Hotel for our USHS conference.

Regarding the kiosks, I have information gathered as per the list you gave me on the 16th. I will send what I have to you this weekend for your comments.

However, Chad has not heard back from Home Depot yet and there seems to be a snag there. Chad is in charge of the physical building of the kiosks so you may want to contact him about that. I am off from school October 16 and 17 and am available for any work shops or assistance for your University Pride event. Ben.”

Chad Keller wrote to James Hicks, “I understand your frustration, and Gay Pride was mentioned last year in the calendars you mentioned on ABC4 and Fox. Those community calendars are usually set up for nonprofit events which benefit the community at large. Having just returned from Los Angeles and the GLAAD Awards, let’s not be quick to accuse people of discriminating against us just because they didn’t have room or chose not to place an item in a calendar that has limited space.

I have learned that it is better to work with them to create a partnership rather than torch a bridge.

Utah is a total backwards society, and most of our broadcast media are behind us 100%. We teach people to be open minded and tolerant, we cannot force a person to love or accept.”

James Hicks wrote back to Chad, “Thank you for your comments. I understand that we might have to pay for advertising to obtain the type of publicity the Pride Day event deserves. However, it's also my understanding that our local networks have a calendar of events which is offered as a "free" public service for all of Utah or at least anyone who can pick up reception of our local network stations.

This free calendar of events is provided three times each day during normal news broadcasts. Why is it so difficult to get our own local network stations to provide this as free coverage for our Pride Day celebration when it's offered as a free service for everyone else's local event?

In addition, why do our local news stations prefer to cover events after they occur? As I said before, I believe we are being discriminated against and perhaps we need to discuss this discrimination with the folks at GLAAD or the ACLU. Thanks, James P. Hicks”

 

MAY

1 May 2003 Thursday

Chad Keller wrote me, “Todd [Dayley] called me last night as he had been working on a pig fund article of which he forwarded to Paul, who of course forwarded it to the world....which has its own problems and got UGRA in more trouble with Todd. Anyway the $300.00 is on its way and checks will be sent in June and July.

This is the layout for an ad I’m getting for us in the Court’s program....there are some changes in text...he [Randall Meyers] kind did what he wanted with text....which irritates me.”  I wrote back “I'm with you the blocky black makes it look like the old censorship bars they use to but over people’s faces in old pornos. The rest is cool but it’s like putting a typewritten note next to a Chagall. Isn't being Gay about being fun and creative.” I added a quote from the Dalai Lama, “You should work as hard as you can to reduce suffering and foster justice-accepting that all of your efforts may come to nothing in the end."

Here is a second letter to Home Depot. I have to start over; please proof; .We need a short fact sheet, and if possible a drawing. When you proof it please do it either as a forward back to me or cut and paste. Something happened to the margins tool when it comeback and creates really weird word spacing....Thanks!

Are you willing to create temporary letterhead with PO Box and Board listing with Logo??

“Dear Home Depot;

The Utah Stonewall Historical Society is seeking your assistance and sponsorship for a historic kiosk program that has been created to share the history of Utah’s Lambda People. Home Depot has a tremendous history in providing to non-profits the tools of success through product.

To successful implement the plan we are in need of creating a total of twelve kiosks. These kiosks will be loaned to organizations, and businesses free of charge that wishes to share the history colorful history of our great community and state. The kiosks have been created by a design sponsor Mixed Media to be easily updated for quick use, are sturdy enough to last for many years to come and can be used in or outdoors. Various contractors from around the Salt Lake valley have donated donations of services to build and assemble the kiosks. The Kiosks will make a soft debut at the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire Coronation at the Downtown Salt Lake City Sheraton Memorial Day Weekend. The official launch of the kiosk program will be at Utah Pride Day on June 8, 2003 at Washington Square in Downtown Salt Lake City.

The twelve kiosks are identical. They are triangular in shape, each measure 8 feet tall at the highest point, and have a sloped top. The three panels of each of the kiosks measures 2 feet wide. Through the suggestion the following minimum materials would be needed to build the twelve kiosks:

20 plywood panels 8’x4’ (chip board preferred, as it will provide texture for the finished product)

100 2x2 8ft wood framing

5 LB box of deck screws 1 ¼ - 1 1/5 inch

160 ‘L’ Brackets

24 hinges

36 large eyehooks.

216 screw hooks

Each finished kiosk will feature the USHS logo on the top sloped panel. It will also feature the logos of Home Depot and Mixed Media in two ways:

1. Sponsor Logos at the top of the tallest panel in full color in large format of 6 inches or greater. The wording will state Official Kiosk Program Sponsors for the USHS Above or below the logo as deemed appropriate by the design team.

2. A smaller version of the logo will be placed in the most visible position on the remaining two sides.

It is important to note that the name of one contractor and will placed on the kiosk on the tallest panel to recognize their contribution to the construction of the kiosks.

The generosity of sponsors and the development of a great relationship is important to the Utah Stonewall Historical Society. Therefore the Board of Directors in approving the go ahead to build and implement the kiosk program have created a "no other logo" policy. This means that unless in a historic context, only those businesses or people who have contributed to the development of the program may have their logo or name mentioned on the kiosks. Also the kiosks may not be used for advertising or commercial purposes when on loan or in use.

There is a great deal of exposure here for our sponsors as people have heard about the program and have asked to participate with the USHS in sharing history via this new community service. They are but are not limited to, Unity Utah, The Center, The Lesbian and Gay Resource Center, University of Utah, Pride Alliance at USU, The Pillar Magazine, The Utah GLBT Business Guild, The Community Leadership Forum. We have also received requests from mainstream organizations such as The Downtown Alliance and the Memory Grove Foundation, The People with AIDS Coalition, Utah AIDS Foundation, Utah Historical Society and many more. Once complete the kiosks will be available to anyone who asks, on a first come first serve basis.

We hope that you will consider sponsoring this great project in helping people learn of the colorful and diverse history of Utah. We realize that you receive many requests and would be appreciative of any help that you can provide in products, services, and discounts to bring this program to life.

I look forward to speaking with you soon. For further information or to discuss this project or the USHS I can be reached at (w) 801-325-3758 or (c) (801) 661-0533.

Sincerely, Chad Keller Board Chair Utah Stonewall Historical Society.”

I wrote back Chad, “I got our EIN number yesterday 550828385 so we can open a bank account anytime. I talked to Chuck [Whyte] last night about getting on it. He and Mark [Swonson] are meeting at the Soup Kitchen at 5 for dinner before going to the meeting at 7. Chuck wanted to know if you wanted to go too. Ben.”

            I wrote to Jon H saying, “Jon tonight is not good. I have a meeting with the Utah AIDS Foundation about a conference they are hosting in October for Gay History month. What about Saturday in the day time? We could meet for lunch and I could bring some art or discuss what you need for your class. Ben.” He said Saturday wouldn’t work and suggested another time so I said, “Good deal.. I forgot also that Chuck [Whyte], Mark [Swonson], and Mike [Romero] were talking about going to a matinee performance of Guys and Dolls at the Grand Theater Saturday afternoon so that might have not worked also. Good luck on your tennis tournament Ben. PS school will be out in a month and our schedules will be more flexible

            Chad Keller wrote Tyler Fisher, “Just confirming the meeting with you to discuss the incredible opportunities in combined effort for the summit and the history conference tonight at 7:00 pm at your office.” Tyler replied, “We are looking forward to it!! Thanks!” Then Chad asked, “PS--Tyler--Could I pick up your ads and stuff ($$) for the coronation program.”

Chad Keller sent me this from Jeff Freedman a former Royal Court emperor and Gay Pride Director for much of the 1990’s wrote to Chad, “Chadster- This is Jeff Freedman. You STILL don't ever stop to amaze me. You are wonderful! Just thought that I would share that with you. Hope all is going well with you. I think of Utah often...and glad that there are people like you to keep it in good hands! Keep up the good work my friend...talk to you soon! -Jeff”

            I replied, “Chad  just remember who loves you and not those who don't.”

Chad Keller then sent me this, “To prove that assimilation should not be the objective...and that we are losing our color I submit the following. “Straights have become the new gays. You can't tell us apart anymore. I blame Diesel jeans and 'Queer as Folk.' All I do is hit on straights, and they're all, 'Gee, thanks, but I'm really more emotionally drawn to women.' You just can't tell. They're all wearing low riders, and they have great haircuts, and they're working out." -- Peter Paige, Emmett on Showtime's "Queer as Folk," to The Advocate, April 15.”

Chad Keller commenting on a layout that John Griffith aka Nova Starr designed for an ad in the Royal Court’s coronation program. “John is unique....it’s like someone used the Chad Keller model with added features...me 12 years ago...just ask bob [Childers]...The add will run in black and white; so the boxes are okay for me. He had done one that was jumbled. The boxes should perhaps be grey with a black text. Let’s print it out and look at it tonight. I need to speak to him as if the focus was on “historic” gay figures not RuPaul, Ellen [DeGeneres] and Nathan Lane who still have great careers going and are making history now.”

            I replied, “As always I defer to your creative wisdom-Ben.”

Kathy Worthington announced “Utah Pride Interfaith Service 2003-Coming Out to God: Celebrating Who We Are. The second annual Utah Pride interfaith service will be held on Saturday the evening of Pride weekend at the synagogue of Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City. The service will consist of music, prayers, and presentations that celebrate our spirituality and sexuality as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons. The service will last approximately one hour. After the service, we will have refreshments and hold a social.

Come join GLBT people from various faith traditions as we celebrate not only who we are, but also what we believe and value. When: Saturday, June 7, at 7:00 pm Where:

Congregation Kol Ami 2425 Heritage Way (2760 South) Salt Lake City

During the social after the service, space will be available for gay-supportive religious groups to set up tables with literature. There is a $10 tabling fee to help pay for refreshments. If your group is interested in having a table, email your request to naspoffordiv@aol.com.

Commencing May 1st, PFLAG mothers, from all across the United States, will converge on our nation's capital to personally deliver PFLAG's message of inclusion and respect to their Congressional legislators. In meetings with their representatives, PFLAG moms will share pictures of their loved ones to personalize issues crucial to the LGBT community and emphasize, through compelling photos of their loved ones, that prejudice and exclusion cause real harm to real people.

The day's visits will usher in PFLAG's Inaugural Mother's Day - Father's Day Congressional Outreach Project.

"As the nation's foremost family organization for social change, PFLAG has organized this national effort to persuade our legislators to honor their commitments to their entire constituencies, including the millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens they represent," said PFLAG president Sam Thoron. "This effort is central to our mission and reflects our core values."

The PFLAG Month of Advocacy will last until Father's Day, June 15. To launch the effort, PFLAG will host an Inaugural Congressional Reception on May 1. The Honorable Lynn Woolsey, California congresswoman, a longtime advocate for equality and fair treatment for all, and a mother herself, will be honored with the PFLAG 2003 Courageous Mother Leadership Award. Barbara Warner, past president of the PFLAG Metro DC Chapter will receive the 2003 PFLAG Outstanding Mom of the Year award.

Joining them on the program will be Lianna Carerra, a Virginia high school student who founded the Gay/Straight Alliance at her high school. The evening's program will be hosted by PFLAG national president Sam Thoron and moderated by PFLAG executive director David Tseng.

PFLAG education and advocacy will continue on the national and local level. Mothers across the nation who can't travel to Washington, D.C. will meet with representatives in their home districts to educate them on the following issues:

*  The importance of clearly including our transgender family and friends in federal civil rights legislation -- and in congressional office equal employment opportunity policies. Mothers will offer their representatives an office Diversity Statement and encourage them to sign it on the spot or thank the seven senators and 63 representatives who have already done so.

*  PFLAG's support for family friendly legislation that honors the partnership commitments of our loved ones, including the Permanent Partners Immigration Act (PPIA) and a bill recently introduced by Senator Joseph Lieberman that would extend partner benefits to Federal employees.

*  The Judicial nomination process.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) is the nation's premier grassroots organization committed to the civil rights of gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) persons. Founded in 1973 by heterosexual mothers and fathers, PFLAG has 500 chapters and over 250,000 members and supporters throughout the United States. SOURCE  Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays 

 

2 May 2003  Friday

I wrote Chad Keller, “I know you are tired because I am but I think we accomplished a lot yesterday. I sent Nova [John Griffith] about 20 pictures including Walt Whitman, Leonardo Da Vinci, Truman Capote, Alan Ginsburg, Jack Karouc, Alan Turing, Bessie Smith, Henry Scott Tuke, Rudy Valentino, Natacha Rambova, Cary Grant, and others I

can't think of now.

I added Paul [Cucunato], Marlin Criddle, Melissa Sillitoe, Nova, and Craig Hunter to the Yahoo Group Site.

I will work on the 80's Pride article for Todd [Dayley] and the May History this weekend. Ben.”

            James Hicks wrote regarding blood donations, “Hello everyone, This is James P. Hicks again with one of my "things that make ya go hum?" My topic for discussion is in my typical "multiple-part dialog and question," which I hope someone out there can answer.

My company recently sponsored a blood drive. Now, when I was married to a women and living that wonderful lie which our narrow-minded misguided society accepts, that being the wonderful illusion of wedded bliss with society’s golden seal of approval, I had absolutely no problem donating blood. In fact my blood was so highly in demand being (0 negative) in addition to having a high tolerance for everyday diseases, which I can't explain, probably something genetic.

At any rate, I was often asked to come into hospital to help save someone's life. Then my life changed and I began to acknowledge my homosexual side. I decided to have an AIDS test which was provided by my local family practitioner. Within a month the phone calls stopped. Not a single hospital in the valley has ever called me since this test even though the test was negative and my tests have always been negative.

So, I began to inquire into the reasons why and was told that someone had informed the blood bank that I may have "tainted blood." That I was gay and I had being gay my lifestyle was questionable and they should throw out any blood that I may donate.

 I was told that I could lie about who I was and I could donate to an anonymous blood center and that would be fine. When I questioned the integrity of this concept they told me that, if I wanted to donate blood that would be the only way I could donate in Utah.

Wow, how odd I thought. So, I said to the folks at ARUP. If I lie and live my life without integrity then I could donate blood to save someone's life. However if I was honest and true to myself, explaining to them that I've been in a three-year monogamous homosexual relationship I could not donate blood.

Now that I've shared the above dialog, I'd love to hear back from someone. In addition I'm curious if anyone is going to tackle this outdated discrimination practice. In addition, I mentioned the Evergreen Society to our folks at ARUP and in typical Utah naivete, they had no idea that anything like Evergreen existed, "homosexual men married to women," with multiple male partners.

 When I told them they should try to obtain the names of these men who are part of Evergreen they told me that would be an invasion of privacy. I said how ironic, when it was obvious that my privacy had been invaded and that appeared to be just fine and dandy. Now don't y'all feel blissfully safe about our blood supply? Hugs, James.”

My blood type is O negative also and I am also HIV negative but because I am Gay my life saving blood can’t be used either; “tainted blood.” Shades of Nazi Germany.

Chad Keller responded to James Hicks, “Aaaahhhhh, this sounds like a job for Mr. Hicks....I jest light heartedly, as there is a great deal of frustration in all  of our lives, and James has been one of the only ones to say "hey ... what the heck is going on here...." And the blood supply is no laughing  matter. But with science as it is today, why for many, not just gay people?

Nothing ever in life is accomplished until someone starts asking questions. Every question they can’t answer with valid fact takes a person one step closer to their goal. Be it gay issues, family issues or whatever.

James, if you choose to walk this path, I and others will be behind you. It might not change things, but is sure would point out that we get left out of a lot of things (and freak out a few ... remember the M*A*S*H episode where the sergeant didn't want any Korean blood cause it  would make him Korean? I can just hear some redneck saying "Doc, that ain't  no gay blood, now is it?").

Kevin Hillman wrote, “James, All blood is tainted. The “X-Files” phrase "Trust No One" really  applies here. My grandfather died of complications from Hepatitis. He got this from one of his blood transfusions during surgery. I agree with you  that it is wrong for a healthy person to be denied the opportunity to donate. At the same time, the technology just isn't there to protect everyone from what may be in someone's donated blood. As for your personal information being leaked out about an AIDS test, that should be a legal matter. I tell you what though ... in the future, if I need blood, may I ask  for some of yours? Kevin.”

Dominique Storni a transgender activist responded regarding “James and Blood.-James, I'll go you one better. In my case, I was a heterosexual man in a heterosexual marriage that lasted 17 years. My blood was also in great demand. I had one special antibody in great need. I also received the phone calls.

After I began my transsexual transition, the U of U called me as they were in desperate need for my platelets. They asked if I was taking any medications. I explained to them my regimen of testosterone blocker, estrogen, and progesterone. They asked why I would be taking those meds, as they still had my previous male name and identity on file. I explained that I had begun a transition to prepare for gender reassignment surgery. They said, "Let me check that out and I'll get back to you."

Needless to say, the calls stopped. I called to ask why. They told me, "Since you have begun changing, it is possible that you might have sex with a man and we would consider that men having sex with men. So you are no longer eligible to donate."

I told them, "But I self-identify as lesbian. I still am attracted to women and would date women; however, I have been dateless and celibate for nearly 3 years. Sex isn't an option with either gender right now."

They responded that it didn't matter. I was no longer eligible to donate.

About a year and a half later, I was in need of money and went to a local plasma center to donate. Being an honest person living a clean lifestyle, I thought that there was no need to lie or hide my identity. I presented my driver’s license complete with the "F". Someone noticed my Adam's apple and told the medical director.

I was lead to a back room and given a CIA-esque interview. I was circumspect and told him exactly my situation, that I was a male-to-female transsexual, that I was preparing for surgery, and that I had been celibate for 4 years and was in a monogamous relationship with another woman. "In fact," I told him, "I have had 2 complete STI runs while hospitalized in psychiatric institutions in mandated reparative therapy scenarios, and both came back completely clean."

He told me that it didn't matter. The fact that I had begun taking hormones and had made anatomical changes through hormone replacement therapy, it was now POSSIBLE that I MIGHT have sex at some point in my life with a man. As they refused to see me as other than a man, it would be perceived as men having sex with men and therefore I was no longer eligible to donate.

They had taken pictures of my ID and he informed me that I was permanently black listed and my information would be shared with other agencies. I informed him that I wanted the copies of MY identification and that I was insulted and that his actions constituted a violation of my privacy. He told me that the laws to protect the nation's blood supply gave him authority to invade my rights.

I told him that I was aware of at least 50 men who donate regularly, who are gay, and in active sexual lives with multiple partners, with and without protection. He nonchalantly told me that as long as they answered the questions correctly, they could donate and be paid for their time.

I, however, in spite of my honest and clean lifestyle, was ineligible simply because I had begun hormone replacement therapy. I am excluded for one reason and one reason only . . . I am a transsexual.

A gay man can go into any of these institutions and lie. I can't. You have a possibility of donating anonymously. I don't.

If THAT isn't a violation of my privacy, please tell me what is?”

            Gay Columnist Rex Wockner wrote, “Cruisers Kill Park The phenomenon of men having sex with each other in the wooded areas of public parks is a worldwide reality. And it's not just parks, but train-station and university washrooms, out-of-the-way beaches and on and on.

Fun, boredom, thrill-seeking and closetry are some of the explanations for why men do it. It is, of course, harmless as long as people who don't want to watch it don't have to. (And as long as you keep your willy  away from the poison ivy.)

But one place were sex in the woods is definitely not cool is Montgomery County, Texas, north of Houston.

The Texas Forest Service has padlocked W.G. Jones State Forest from Monday through Friday rather than continue to suffer the agonizing awareness that men are fiddling around in the woods. And Montgomery County is not alone. The City Council in Lake Jackson, Texas, south of Houston, has shut down Wilderness Park for the same reason.

Texas Forest Service Director James Hull told the Houston Chronicle that other visitors to the W. G. Jones saw men "lurking around picnic areas and trails" and sometimes saw them having sex. The visitors also complained about used condoms on the trails.

"It's disgusting to have to close the facility [to] hundreds of kids and families for something like this," Hull said.

Montgomery County Chief Deputy Buck Drake told the Chron that the only other way to stop the "lewdness" would be to hire full-time security guards. The cops "don't have the people or the money" to police the forest 24/7, he said.

Pshaw. Can't we all just get along? Throughout Europe, "families" and cruisers manage to share wooded areas without these blowups and overreactions we see  routinely in the U.S.

Here's a plan. U.S. cruisers should dispose of condoms in trash receptacles and restrict woodsy shenanigans to way-off-the-beaten-path locations. U.S. "families" need to stop being more freaked about gay sex in the woods than they are about straight sex in the public places that I've seen it, such as beaches and parking areas.

My hunch is that few if any "families" actually ever observe homosexual sodomy in the woods. Instead, they deduce (or hear rumors of) what is going on, disapprove of it, and exaggerate a tad when they complain.

Despite our culture's omnipresent hyper sexualization, many Americans remain, paradoxically, more prudish than the citizens of so many other nations. It's just sex, for crying out loud. -end-

 

3 May 2003 Saturday

Mike Romero wrote regarding making buttons to wear, “Need the lambda in the pink triangle but that’s what we should be wearing.”

Rebecca Walsh of the Salt Lake Tribune reported, “Shurtleff Stands Behind His Support of Anti-sodomy Law-  A controversial friend of the court brief that Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff signed has jeopardized its author's federal court nomination.

            Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor wrote the brief in support of a Texas antisodomy law the U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing. His words have drawn fire from gay rights groups and threaten his nomination to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

             But Shurtleff stands behind the brief, filed Feb. 18. He says the 28-page argument was painstakingly written and primarily quotes previous Supreme Court rulings.

            "We're just using the court's words," Shurtleff said. "Some people could try to say this is expressing the personal attitudes of the attorney general. We were just trying to express what we believe Utah law says."

            Although 13 states have sodomy bans similar to the Texas law, just Pryor, Shurtleff and one other state's attorney general signed the document.

            Utah's decades-old sodomy law is at stake in the case. If the court decides it is unconstitutional to punish gay couples for what happens in their bedrooms, the sodomy bans could be overturned.

            Justices heard arguments in the Texas case in March. A ruling is expected by July. Meantime, Pryor's confirmation hearings have not been scheduled.

            Pryor argues individual state legislatures with their unique sensibilities -- not the U.S. Supreme Court -- should establish laws dealing with homosexuality. Unless rights are specifically outlined in the U.S. Constitution, he says the court has to consider history, legal traditions, and practices -- not political correctness and changing social mores.

            By extension, Pryor wrote, "because homosexual sodomy has not historically been recognized in this country as a right -- to the contrary, it has historically been recognized as a wrong -- it is not a fundamental right."

             Later, Pryor continues, "A constitutional right that protects 'the choice of one's partner' and 'whether and how to connect sexually' must logically extend to activities like prostitution, adultery, necrophilia, bestiality, possession of child pornography, and even incest and pedophilia."

            Gay rights groups have protested Pryor's nomination. And some have likened Pryor's language to Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's comments comparing homosexuality to incest, bigamy, and polygamy.

            "It's the slippery slope argument," said Kevin Cromer, president of the Utah Log Cabin Republicans. "It does not follow that decriminalizing homosexuality will lead to adultery subsequently being declared legal. Adultery is a breach of a contract between two people. It does not follow that incest will be decriminalized. Polygamists who are prosecuted are usually the ones who lure female children into sexual relations. That will always be a crime."

            But Shurtleff says comparing the legal arguments in the brief to Santorum's comments is unfair: "That's certainly not what I was saying by signing on."

            Then, said Cromer, "he shouldn't have signed it if he didn't mean to endorse what it says."

 

4 May 2003 Sunday

The Salt Lake Tribune’s Editorial “Consenting Adults It might seem odd that one Republican senator is catching holy heck in the national press for condemning homosexuality -- equating it with polygamy -- while another has received almost no notice beyond his home state for remarks that have been heard by some as acceptance of polygamy.

            Perhaps the polygamy remarks, by Utah's Orrin Hatch, are being written off by a condescending press establishment as the kind of thing Utah politicians are expected to say to their constituents. Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's slam on gay sex, meanwhile, may be seen as noteworthy for going against the grain of his more cosmopolitan state.

            Whatever the reason, it does seem that it is Hatch who has drawn, or stumbled upon, true ethical distinctions rather than issue the kind of blunderbuss condemnation favored by Santorum.

            Santorum, you'll remember, recently expressed concern that if the Supreme Court overturns a Texas law that criminalizes certain acts when performed by same-sex couples, but not identical acts between heterosexual partners, it will be no holds barred. Allowing adults to engage in gay sex in the privacy of their bedrooms, the Pennsylvanian opined, means the law will also have to allow incest, polygamy, adultery and, in the senator's words, "the right to do anything."

            No, it won't.

            Not all sex acts are created equal. Those involving consenting adults, adults who are not married to someone else or related by blood to one another, generally do not present a hazard to individuals or society. Adultery and incest are prohibited because they have serious potential to damage those not willingly participating -- unsuspecting spouses in the case of adultery, inbred offspring as a result of incest.

            Even then, the lack of a complaining victim means those laws are seldom enforced. The level of police snooping that would be necessary to enforce them -- snooping that occurred in the Texas case only after a bogus report of a man running amok with a gun -- is intolerable in cases where no unwilling or underage victims are involved.

            Meanwhile, even as gay rights activists objected to the way Santorum compared their relationships to polygamy, Hatch was describing some polygamists of his acquaintance as "very fine people," and challenging those who allege widespread child abuse within polygamous families to present him with evidence.

            While largely unnoticed by the national press, Hatch's remarks did draw attacks from Utah groups campaigning against polygamy, particularly the sort that drags under-age girls into plural marriages. And, if Hatch were casting a blind eye on the abuse of children, then he would deserve to be castigated.

            But the Utah senator's inability to work himself into high dudgeon over matters of other adults' sex lives should not trouble the true small-government conservatives of his state or his party. Maybe that is why his remarks have drawn little attention.

    Rick Santorum should take note.

 

5 May 2003 Monday

Chad Keller wrote me, “Can you meet me at 6:30 tonight??  Need a quick ride to pay rent. Thought it would be a good time to review where we are and what we need to do. Very good. There are beginnings of rumblings of the Reis [Dr. Kristin Ries] award. For chuck's [Whyte] and yours information here are the following addresses.

One note would indicated the may have finally fell victim to the Alpha Lesbians and might be cancelled. Remember to tell Chuck if he was serious to raise hell, I have a tangible item that will provide great leverage.”

Kathy Worthington wrote, “Gay and Mormon or formerly Mormon? There is a website, about a year old, where you can post your story. The site is run by a gay former Mormon that I know. You can also go to the site just to read the stories, of course.

 

6 May 2003 Tuesday

Tyler Fisher wrote Chad Keller, “The General Meeting location is going to be at Larry. Dan & Chad's. E-mail Tyler or Randy for the address. Thanks, Ty!

Chad Keller wrote; would like to schedule a meeting for the Pride Party [Hard Rock Café] with the representatives from the partner organizations. This weekend we need to start talking it up and start getting things in line. Please bring any people that you feel will be key to the success for your organizations part. I am suggesting that we meet at The Hard Rock Cafe at Noon on Saturday. This will allow us to make decisions, and to clarify thing with management if necessary.

Chad wrote to me, “I was thinking about what you said about the conference for Gay historical societies.... Perhaps on that one as I have thought, we might not be thinking in the right perspective.... couple of questions.....do we have enough historical societies regionally to have get a turn out? Of the 50 states and Canada....how many Gay historical societies are there? and what are your thoughts of inviting them all to form, a strong coalition? and then what are your thoughts on recruiting people from the states that don’t have one to come. strength in numbers thing....I just thinking....I might be think of it incorrectly and where I see 200 people there might be 1000 people lurking....

            Melissa Sillitoe former director of the Utah Stonewall Center, “Ben, Thanks for sending this, it was interesting hearing Dale [Sorenson] and Rocky [O’Donovan] talk about burnout. It also made me a little nostalgic. Utah's gay  community will always be my home town even though my current partner is a guy. I identify myself as queer. Maybe I'll see you at pride day. My activism today is really service and trying to make the world a better place in small ways. I'm a girl scout leader at Bennion Elementary and hope to help girls  feel they can be themselves. I'm also making dinners at Homeless Youth Resource Center on Wednesday nights. And I'm quietly mentoring some gay employees at work. Your service really is keeping SLC's queer history alive. Thanks for  doing it. Best wishes, Melissa Sillitoe.

I wrote back to Melissa, “Melissa  Thank you for your kind words.. You will always be queer to me...Love Ben

Chad K wrote to Marty Pollack aka Marita Gayle, “Marty, Ben is very interested in recording your oral history. As one of the Founding Gals, you have a lot of history that needs to be told. And, as the May edition of this month in history came out, there are some holes in the History of the Courts evolution from the ICU regarding Candee and Gordon Steel. two things: When would you be available to like to record your Oral History? When would you be available to complete the story or tell the whole story of the evolution from ICU to RCGSE and the events that led up to and transpired?”

Marty Pollock responded, “I am available most evenings and weekends are open. I prefer either Saturday or Sundays though. It's hard to collect thoughts and all after work. Marty”

He then posted this on the group site “SUBJECT: Re: [UTStonewallHS] Correction on 4th Reign of the Royal Court; Gordon Steele was about to be impeached as Emperor Four for mis-use of court funds and his attorney was present when the entire  congregation turned in their court cards and walked out, leaving him and Candi Steele to run the defunct ICU. The court had already filed new papers to form the new RCGSE upon the night of the resignations in mass. He left shortly after his scandalous affair with the court members in 1980 and move to Chicago.”

Chad Keller wrote to me, “Let’s make a great big birthday cake on a big lawnmower or tractor....with a great big 29. It angers me the attitude coming from that little group. The crap with the Parade is just one of many where it they have slammed the people who did the work before them. I’m calling Home Depot today, then we can email if we can or can’t....to Charles [Milne] ....part of me says I hope we get told no.... CK”

Duane Dawson one of the founders of the AIDS Project Utah wrote me, “Ben, Can you add the following person to the UTStonewall History List. He's a history major and doing his Ph.D. on Queer history in Utah. - Doug Winkler  Thanks,  Duane.”

 Donald Stewart wrote, “Dear All, The Cyber Sluts were approached by the Pride folks to help with the Pride Parade on June 8. Our goal is to make the parade look bigger, brighter, and more animated than the semi-funereal parades of the past.

 As such, we will be holding a float building workshop (TBA) and have contacted a wholesaler for bulk amounts of 11-inch balloons. We will be constructing rainbow towers and arches for along the Parade route (these will be picked up after the Parade and distributed around the festival site), but we are also helping groups color-coordinate their entries.

For example, the Men's Choir has confirmed using blue, black, and white balloons (how tasteful...!!!) For the Pink Pistols, I can see a ballistic fantasia of pastel pinks and gun-metal gray ... Mayor Rocky will probably forego helium for hot air ... you see where I'm going  with this...?

If you or your group has a preference, contact me, and let us know so we can order your color choice (must be in lots of 100). By the way,  first in ... first served. So, if you want popular combinations like gold and black, or pink and purple, do it soon. The last thing we want is 30 entries showing up the day of the parade with one color scheme. Even WE think that's tacky!

Also, we will be assembling and presorting the balloons from 3:00 a.m. in a storefront on Gallivan Avenue if you want to come volunteer. We will have food, drinks, and the Sluts to keep you company. Think of it as the tasteless calm before the politically correct storm! Inflatable Yours.... Fergie.”

            Chad Keller commented on the Parade Pride Parade Preparations, “Oh Gee Thanks...B*tch....(lol)I didn’t realize I threw a funeral processional. (lol...kinda) On the float building thing, Bruce [Barton] and Bruce [Harmon] tried it, and I expanded it and tried it in a revamped format, sent invites, made calls, and attended other people’s meeting to get them to come learn to build a float, and people just did not participate. More power to you if they do, just don’t be disappointed, as most of how to for the beginner can be found on line as was pointed out last year. Tell me more on this balloon thing, can the Utah Stonewall  Historical Society just make theirs and bring it?? Chad Keller Funeral Processional Director Utah Pride 2002.”

Donald Steward aka Fergie aka Side Arms wrote to Chad “Parade Dahling..... Of course you can build your own! What we are doing is having a central place where the helium tanks can be delivered and picked up from, and volunteers can build their entry, and also help with the communal set pieces (the towers, the arches, etc.), and have a place to store them out of the wind until the parade. Because we have so many balloons to inflate we have to start way early. We also have to do it indoors because of city noise restrictions, so we thought we would make the best of a bad situation and make a party out of it....You know us! So do you want us to order balloons for you wholesale? Let us know. Maybe you're still in mourning....or do you just look fabulous in black? I can never tell.... Love Fergie.”

Chad responded Donald, “Be careful sweet heart....like Scarlet, Mourning is just a front. And remember those before you worked with what we had. So it’s okay to Joke just respectfully which you are in this email. I’ll get with Ben, Not sure what we are doing for the Parade....I have Historic Kiosks taking up our time.”

Connell “Rocky” O’Donovan wrote to me about leaving the yahoo group site, “Could you please unsubscribe me from this list? I have asked Jay Bell a couple of times but got no response. I cannot do it myself as you subscribed me with an old e-mail address and the mail is being forwarded to me. Thanks Ben! Connell O'Donovan.”

I responded back, “Done, You’re history.. Take care. Ben” then I wrote to Chad, “

I will set up a Sunday interview [with Marty Pollack.]. We now have 85 members on our group site, however interestingly, Rocky O’Donovan emailed me and asked me to unsubscribe him. He must be in one of his temperamental Rocky moods.”

Chad responded, “did you ask why.” And I said, “I've known Rocky so long, I didn't bother. He's always been temperamental, even having tantrums, especially if he is not the center of attention. Besides, I think he is so into the Faeries now that they are his world and Utah is just an unpleasant memory.”

I then wrote to Chad about burn out and take over by sending him a newspaper article from 1995. I said, “I decried in an article in the SL back in 1995 when I said that the Gay community was being taken over by "professionals" and grassroot activists were being pushed aside. Ben”

"In the following years, the gay liberation movement become more and more institutionalized. The struggle shifted from grassroots community groups to legal battles in the hands of lawyers. In 1973,The Advocate, a gay newspaper, editorialized that the gay liberation movement should be run by "responsible, talented, experts with a widespread financial backing from all strata of the gay community." The problem was that a politics of respectability required a basic trust in just that capitalist social structure that only a couple of years earlier GLF had described as sexist, racist, and homophobic. Many had become queer not to fit in. Countless gays, lesbians, and queers, particularly gender/fetish, SM, leather, or transgender communities had very little interest in fitting into the status quo. A conflict between the suits and the sluts would characterize much of the history of the GLBT movement and its inherent divides."

 

7 May 2003 Wednesday

I wrote Marty Pollock, “What does this Sunday look like for you about 1-ish? Or does after Coronation work better for you? Ben”

Chad wrote me  “Subject Kiosks-I meet with Mel, after Brian freaked, and he and I discussed the idea on the Kiosk that have gone around in my head need to talk to you; call me here today if you can 325-3758 or on cell later tonight at 661-0533...I think you called last night and I was asleep.

            Chad Keller must have been fuming over Donald Stewarts comments on Pride Parade, "Our goal is to make the parade look bigger, brighter and more animated than the semi-funereal parades of the past."

He wrote on the Yahoo Group Site “Not sure quite how to approach this, so here goes; This is just one of a couple that I have taken the time to read. And I'm sure that there are more, as people have referenced them in other ways, of chairs speaking on or about a variety of areas, not just the parade.

            The parade chairs of the past including myself, did rather well with what we were given to work with as far as a budget, and the number of volunteers that were willing to give some time on the biggest Utah gay day of the year.

They were as history and records will show  collectively, and alone, as animated as the community was willing to make it through the community's participation; as animated and lively as the chairs ingenuity and resourcefulness could make them, and all in keeping with what small budget.

 And the rest of it [Donald’s comments] I'm growing too board with the current situation and attitudes surrounding the situation to address and am saving energy for later.

            While this may just be someone being funny, it really is poor form on the current administrations part and makes those of us who were the caretakers of the Pride parade look as if we were do nothings. It doesn't quite reach some level of respect for those who gave not only much of their own time and creativity but allowed for the sake of Pride the Parade to consume their lives for 5 or more months. For that, the 8 year of Pride Parades and their 4 respective chairs do deserve a little more credit, and respect.

            We played by the rules and budgets of the of the respective Pride committees. With what recourses and money we had. While I cannot speak for the Bruce's,[Harmon]  I will say that for 2002 there was a very small budget for the parade and getting more of a budget was not an option.

            Pride Committees of the Past did not take shots at each other publicly and tried to continue on the legacy of each perspective project a chair was assigned with some respect to what the past had gone through from year to year.

            Let’s make sure that we are honoring the work that others have done, or at the very least respectful. But more importantly let’s make sure that the lessons of the past are reviewed. Be careful to look at and use the volunteers wisely.

The parade has had trouble getting people to carry the flag down the street, participate in the Honor Guard, or just plain sign up to do a float or and entry. There is a lot going on that weekend in the community with Pride, and other activities celebrating the community. I would not want to see the parade in a situation waiting for some arches, as SLPD takes the parade and goes. If you’re getting a greater response, congratulations.

            The comment may have been a simple joke, but the people who help in the past did not see it that way, and have been hurt by the comment, and are now coming to me. Best of luck and may it all be what you have dreamed of and planned. Respectfully Chad Keller  2002 Parade & Grand Marshal Chair Utah Pride, Inc.

Bruce Harmon former Parade Chair responded to “Subject: Re: Parade Chad: Well you need to continue to push them for what they are doing. They need to be held accountable. The fear we all had was that they would use the money received for Pride to fund their stupid programs. Pride can be a huge money generator and any excess should not be put into Stonewall Center programs but used for Pride Day. No one put those people in power and they need to be held accountable. Bruce Harmon.”

Chad wrote me “Remember this for later....I may need it...  "Pride Day is an event for the Gay community and by the Gay community. It is to celebrating all that we are and all that we strive to be. As an event I agree it is on the wrong path, and there are there is nothing at this moment to be done.

 Gay Pride does not belong in the hands of assimilationists who would rather see us in Shades of Gray, rather than our bold Technicolor. Our community has become weathered, worn, and grey like an old white shirt that has never been washed properly. The time is at hand for some all temperature cheer.

I am gay, and like a black or Latino, I cannot just be assimilated by stripping me or those around me of their color and diversity. They proclaim they protect diversity but have no diversity to show for it on the upper levels unless in the unless green in the colors wheel of  diversity represents money.

Mark Swonson who ruined his car driving to fast over the railroad tracks leaving the Trapp at night wrote the USHS Board, “Mark Swonson Hello- This is to inform you that I no longer have an automobile so now I am limited to transportation. As for attending meetings I hope to either get a ride or I will look to taking mass transit or walking depending on circumstances where the meeting will be. The same applies to attending any events that might be coming up in the future.       Thanks,  Mark:-)

I wrote to Craig Miller, “Craig could you let Chuck Whyte and I know what is going on with the Kristen Reis Award this year? Ben.”  We haven’t heard of any nominations or when voting would take place.

I wrote David Ferguson and Tyler Fisher of the Utah AIDS Foundation regarding the meeting to plan a joint venture in October. “Could you email me the address for the meeting Ben Williams USHS.

 

11 May 2003 Sunday

Heather May of The Salt Lake Tribune reported, “Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, 51, takes in the Friday night scene at the Zephyr Club. He guided media types on a tour intended to prove the city is happening at night. Below, the tour takes a cultural turn with a visit to Utah Artists Hands.- Mayor Reprises SLC Night Life Tour Rocky Guides Tour of SLC Night Life- As Rocky Anderson walks into The Tavernacle Social Club at midnight Friday, the dueling pianists pound out the "Rocky" theme song. Then a snippet of Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock around the Clock."

            Anderson had promised his entourage the Tavernacle would feel like a party. On this night, it does feel like a party  --  for the mayor. Someone shouts, "We're all voting for you." That's clear. There are at least five re-election signs posted around the room.

            The mayor is a tour guide this night, out with media types from Salt Lake City to prove again that, yes, there is life at night. Tavernacle is our eighth stop in the six-hour night, and there are two more places to go. The mayor requests a song  --  "The Devil Came Down to Georgia"  --  and even though it has been played before, a pianist does it again, noting the $20 tip Anderson drops. In the 30 minutes we are there, Anderson laughs along to raunchy lyrics, stands, and smiles to the crowd with a bottle of Budweiser in hand as they toast to him, and takes a shot of dark-looking liquor, apparently bought by a group of fans.

            He doesn't worry this publicity stunt will alienate nondrinkers. Standing at the bar in the club whose name plays off the LDS Tabernacle choir, he says, "I don't think people should drink to excess. People ought to be able to get out and socialize and drink if that's their choice. My view is, live and let live as long as you're not endangering anybody."

            And then we're off. While Anderson notes the numerous bars all are within walking distance, our New Yorker shuttle bus, and our designated driver, await.

             A night of bar hopping is not the mayor's norm, unless he feels he must correct misperceptions. In 2001, Anderson showed some of the same spots to out-of-town media to demonstrate that the 2002 Winter Games host city is not dull. He thinks he needs to do it again for the locals. "We've got some people within our own city who don't know what a great vibrant night life [we have]. No one will ever again say there's not a whole lot to do in downtown Salt Lake City."

            This isn't billed as a campaign event, but the November election is hard to ignore. Co-host Tom Guinney says it's about downtown promotion. The owner of the Gastronomy chain of restaurants (including the New Yorker) is also on Anderson's re-election committee. There are Rocky campaign signs at nearly ever club we enter.

            Our treatment is fit for a mayor. We begin our night at the Oyster Bar (owned by Guinney) where we are ushered to three empty tables. Regular folks wait 45 minutes to sit.

            Drink watch: One glass of Cabernet for Anderson.

            At Port O' Call (campaign contribution: $5,000) the line is 30 or 40 people deep. Not for us. As soon as we enter, a table of four notice the mayor and give him a thumbs up. "He represents the minority in Utah," gushes Emily Hix. "Which means non-Mormon."

             Upstairs in the indoor patio, Carol Nichols spots the mayor, too, and buys him a shot of tequila. Anderson's hairdresser since he was a teenager, Nichols says later she knows everything about him. "He loves tequila. He loves tequila." She's about to reveal more  when Anderson runs interference, walking over to give her a hug and a noogie. Sharing time is over.

             Casey Scott, another traveler on the bar tour and a producer for 107.5 FM, considers bailing out at this point. The 29-year-old already knows night life. "I kind of feel like I'm clubbing with my parents." Anderson is 51, after all. But Scott concedes he didn't know much about Salt Lake's cultural side. (We also stopped at the Salt Lake Art Center and Utah Artists Hands.) "I don't know where to buy art."

             But at the Zephyr Club (campaign contributions: $0), another 20-something applauds the pub crawl. As a band starts up, Abbie Sonntag stops the mayor to say thanks for being a politician in Utah.

            Another fan awaits at Bricks (whose owner is a frequent donor). The club is packed with kids 18 and older, chilling to techno beats or break dancing. Just as Anderson says he's glad he doesn't have a daughter to worry about in this night scene, a woman who could be his daughter suggests they dance. The mayor begs off.

             There were moments of reflection. At the Globe Cafe, nursing a scotch, the mayor said he still believes an ordinance that limits the number of bars or clubs to two per block is outdated, especially with the city's extra-long blocks. But he won't try to change it anytime soon, already having tried and failed in 2001. "Things are really healthy right now," he says, rattling off a list of places within two blocks.

            We do make room for gay night at Club Axis (not a campaign donor). The place must have been hot before we got there, at 1:02 a.m., because many of the men have taken off their shirts as they mingle or grind to rapper Missy Elliott. The mayor feels overdressed, in his button down white shirt, black sweater and Lee jeans.

            At 1:30 a.m., Anderson is ready to hit one more spot  --  the Orbit Cafe  --  for breakfast. To his surprise, it's closed.

Current Members of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society,

A-Michael Aaron Gay activist, Alan Anderson former emperor RCGSE USHS Board Member, Jason Avilla community member,

B-Curtis Baker community member. Ben Barr founder of Utah AIDS Foundation, Jay Bell USHS Board Member Affirmation historian, Karl Bennion of Gay Business Alliance, Rep. Jackie Bikupski first openly Lesbian Utah legislator, Randy Bodle community member, Julie Brizzee Lesbian Activist

C-Paul Chez community member Bob Childers current Emperor RCGSE, Dawn Colbert community member, Joyce Cottrell President of PFLAG, Marlin Criddle lawyer and former Chair of Board of Utah Stonewall center, Paul Cucunato President of the UGRA

D- Jim Dabakis founder of Unity Utah, Todd Dayley owner of the Pillar Newspaper

Billy Denim community member

E. Russ Ellison community member

F-Doug Fadel founder of QUAC Board Member of GLCCU, Dan Fahndrich Gay activist, Steve Ferguson of the Utah AIDS Foundation

G. Alex Gallegos Gay Business Alliance, John Griffith aka Nova Starr drag performer

H- Bruce Harmon former Emperor XX of RCGSE, James Hicks Gay Business Alliance, Kevin Hillman UGRA and former Pride Day Director, Frank Holt former Emperor of RCGSE, Craig Hunter community member

J- Ron Johnson of Signs and Such Gay Activist, Toni Johnson Director PWACU,

K- Chad Keller USHS Co-Director and Board Member, Tim Keller of Cache Valley Alliance, Kevin Knollenburg of Wasatch Leather Men, Boris Kurz community member

L- Heidi Larsen of the RCGSE, Rhett Larsen Emperor  XXV of the RCGSE

M- Dixie Martin community member, Maryanne Martindale chair of Board of GLCCU, Thom Lee Martinez of the RCGSE, Cy Martz Pride Alliance Utah State University, Erick Meyers community member, Randal Meyers Artist USHS Board Member, Charles Milne director of LGBT Human Resource Center U of U, Michael Mitchell Director of Unity Utah, Courtney Moser of Cache Valley Alliance and USHS Board Member, Becky Moss of Concerning Gays and Lesbians

            N- David Nelson Gay activist founder of GLUD and Pink Pistols, Teinamarrie Nelson straight ally longtime activist

P-Toni Palmer lesbian member of Queer Nation, Stan Penfold Director of the Utah AIDS Foundation, Kelli Peterson founder of East High’s Gay Straight Alliance, Linda Peterson community member, Mike Picardi director of the Utah Stonewall Democrats, Martin Pollock aka Marita Gayle former Empress of RCGSE            USHS Board Member, Pepper Presspentt first Emperor of the RCGSE

R- Joe Redburn owner of the Trapp, John Reeves of Boston, Mike Romero USHS Board Member

S. Troy Schmittroth community member, Melissa Sillitoe former director the Utah Stonewall Center, Alma Smith member of Affirmation, Chris Smith aka Chaise Manhatten RCGSE, Bryan Stone-Daley community member, Donald Stewart of the Cyber Slut, Mark Swonson Gay activist USHS Board Member, Jan Sylvester of UGRA.

T-Stephanie Thomas former Empress of RCHSE USHS Board Member, David Thometz Gay Activist, Mark Thrash Crown Prince of the RCGSE, Doug Tollstrup aka Clariss Cartier former Empress of RCGSE, George Trosper community member,

Q-Michael Quinn Historian

V- Tracey Von Harten of Downtown Alliance , Brenda Voisard lesbian activist

W. Kevin Warren aka Ruadhan o”Sheridan Gay activist, Randy Watson community member, Mike Webb former owner of Club Blue, Stephen Whitaker Gay activist, Chuck Whyte of the RCGSE USHS Board Member, John Wilkes community member, Ben Williams USHS co-director Board Member, Scott Wilson community member, Doug Winkler historian, Doug Wortham founder of GLSTEN former director of GLCCU, Kathy Worthington Lesbian activist

Gay Organizations which are members

The SLCC Gay Club Coloring Between the Lines, LGSU at the U of U, Pink Pistols, the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, Wasatch Affirmation, and Delta Lambda Saphho Union

            These are members who only uses their email addresses;

Enviodivo @ hotmail.com,  Jeremy enviousfigureskater, Brad of Downtownslc Alliance, bullwinkles baby @ yahoo.com, poliua7ey @ yahoo.com                    ?

utah_skibabe13@yahoo.com        ?

 

13 May 2003 Tuesday

Joyce Cottrelll announced “Marc Adams, author of the Lambda Literary Award finalist and Silver Pen Award recipient autobiography, The Preacher's Son, spoke to the Salt Lake City Chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) at the meeting held at the City Library, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, at 7:00 p.m.

The library closes at 9:00 p.m., so we're starting half an hour early so there is ample time for questions and answers at the end of Marc's presentation. Parking can be accessed only by driving eastbound on 400 South. Watch for the sign at the east end of the library directing you to the underground parking. Or, if you'd prefer not to drive, Trax stops at the library.

The Preacher's Son chronicles Adams' life growing up gay as the son of a fundamentalist Baptist minister in rural Pennsylvania. He went on to attend - by choice - Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. During his time as a student there, he was also employed by the university in the student recruiting/ university relations department. His book articulately reveals life at Liberty and the struggle to conform to the standards for which he was prepared to die. The book culminates with his coming to terms with being gay and his coming out to his fundamentalist family.

In his talk at PFLAG, Adams will share much of his life's story, share from his other books, Light, Still Water, Do’s, and Don'ts of Dealing with the Religious Right, as well as talk about Heart Strong.

Adams co-founded Heart Strong with his partner as an outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students (current and former) at religious educational institutions. It is the only outreach of its kind in the world.

The talk was followed by an open forum Q& A session with Adams.

"Being born into fundamentalist Christianity and a practitioner and fundamentalist recruiter for almost 20 years," Adams illustrates, "I am aware of what they are doing as well as the belief system responsible for all they do. “I remember a decade ago when I was an open fundamentalist Christian, “Adams continues, "I spent a lot of my free time proselytizing and doing everything I could to recruit people into the fundamentalist Christian lifestyle. I believed that if I did not bring everyone I came inContact with to my side, that their blood would be on my hands. That was my motivation. “

“However," Adams continues thoughtfully, "Even though I managed to break the chains and free myself, millions of others have not. I climbed the hill and made it. Everything I do now is to show the path to others."

All of Marc Adams' books and resources will be available to purchase at the event. The event is free of charge and is open to the public. Receptacles will be available for donations of canned food such as peanut butter, soup, stews, or canned meat, which will be given to Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Utah for use by the youth. I think it will be a very informative evening. If you have questions, please feel to leave a message at 244-6423 and I'll return your call. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday evening, May 13.

 

15 May 2003 Thursday

June Carter Cash, wife of Johnny Cash and a member of the Carter Family died today (1929-2003). My mom really enjoys the old songs of the Carter Family especially the Wildwood Flower. Died: May 15

A woman of many talents, June Carter Cash was an American singer-songwriter, author, comedian, actress, and dancer. In 2003, she was named in Country Music Television's 40 Greatest Women of Country Music list. Her relationship with Johnny Cash inspired the 2005 film Walk the Line, where she was portrayed by Reese Witherspoon. June was also a well-known philanthropist.

16 May 2003 Friday

Karl Bennion Retreat Chairman  wrote The Intermountain Gamofite chapter of Gay Fathers met in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho at the Aura Soma Lava Resort for the weekend to discuss issues relating to their needs as fathers coming from a Mormon background. “Aura Soma Lava is nestled in the mountains of southern Idaho just south of Pocatello. Lava Hot Springs is the site of Idaho’s famous natural hot springs. Parenthood and religious background are not a requirement to attend the retreat. Anyone who felt they would like to participate would be welcome.”

            “Gamofites are a unique sector of the Gay community in that they are men who typically come from a Mormon background and who are or have been married and may be wrestling with issues of fatherhood, spirituality, new friendships and new relationships.”

            The theme of this retreat is “Rainbow Connections” “Connecting Mentally, Spiritually, Socially and Physically.”  A variety of topics will be discussed from gay couple relationships to building bridges as a father, son, brother, uncle, neighbor, employer, or employee. Participants will have an opportunity to participate in a talent show and a dance, which is always a highlight. The weekend will include a session on spirituality followed by a devotional. Parenthood is not a pre-requisite to attend. Anyone is welcome.

           

22 May 2003 Thursday

Mom wrote me in response to the Mother’s Day Card I sent last week “Hi got your card it sure was pretty, Your dad had a black out and had to have six stitches. The doc said it was the medication he was on. He has two black shiners. I feel better than I have in a long time. Marie come out to see us guess. It had been three years are longer. I Know you will be glad when school is out. Hope it’s not as hot their as it is here. Guess we are in for hot old summer Love  Mom

 

25 May 2003 Sunday

            The Royal Court’s Coronation was held at the Sheridan Hotel but I didn’t want to go so Chad Keller, Chuck Whyte, and Mark Swonson kind of represented us. The Theme was Coming to America a Journey Home. Bob Childers and Agnes Malloy Cheesecake stepped down as emperor and empress of the 27^th Reign. Austyn Riley and Syren stepped down as Prince and Princess Royale.

            The program stated that the Cyber Sluts received the Community Service Award. Life Time achievement went to Alan Stephenson and Ray Duncan life partners of 24 years. Todd Dayley and the Pillar received Humanitarian Award. I was surprised to see that article mention that I was part of a “collaborative project with Ben Williams, Brandon Creer, Bobbie Smith and other community notables.” Todd must have forgotten all about poor David Ball LOL as he was  other Notables. I guess it was too much of a stretch to mention that the Pillar was my brainchild, financed by me, and stolen from me by Todd and Brandon Creer put I guess that’s water under the bridge as it was 10 years ago this month I was betrayed by my Sacred Faerie friends.

            I noticed that the ad that Nova Star made for us never made it into the program. I guess Chad couldn’t work his magic on that one.

            Mark Thrash and Heidi Ho Waters aka Larsen were elected Emperor  and Empress XXVIII. Heidi is the wife of emperor Rhett Larson I hear is or was a Gay porn star.

 

26 May 2003 Monday Memorial Day

My mom wrote me  to tell me that my great aunt Jerrie Smith died. She was my dad’s aunt and sister to my Grandpa Williams. “hi R L called and said Aunt Jerry had died  this morning four o clock Texas time  love Mom”

            I have been so  busy with end of level tests and school wrapping up I’ve had no time to write about anything. Some big disappointment so far is that Home Depot said that they couldn’t donate the materials for the Kiosks so I told Chad that I would front the money and be paid back from the Pride Day partnership.

            Another event that did not pan out is the Hard Rock Café’s commitment to a fund raiser over concern about drugs being used during the event. I think it was kind of a pipe dream anyway because Chad could not round up any real help for it.

            I’ve been negotiating with Michael Aaron’s Mixed Media company to make some decals to put on the Kiosks when they get made.

 

30 May 2003 Friday

Another school year is over. The four days after Memorial Day is crazy because the kids know it’s over and we are just entertaining and baby sitting them now. We had Field Day yesterday when the whole school goes out on the playground  for activities. Last Tuesday Dan Unger had his annual egg drop throwing eggs that had a container around them to see if they survived being tossed off the roof.

            The kids were out right after lunch and with last minute hugs and goodbyes I sent them off on their way. My room is a mess but I will come back tomorrow to close it up. I am too exhausted now.

 

JUNE

1 June 2003 Sunday

It was super busy today as Chad Keller had me help him pick up some of the props used for Coronation in my truck and then we went to Home Depot were I bought sheets of ply wood to deliver to the Trapp. Two of the workers there said they would cut and build the kiosks for us which we have scaled down to just six instead of 12. Charles Milne has been worthless helping with the project and since I am out of school now for the summer I guess it’s up to me to see it through.

            I talked to Chuck yesterday and he said he would help me paint the kiosks Tuesday after they have been built.

 

3 June 2003 Tuesday

I picked up Chuck Whyte this morning and we drove over to the Trapp on sixth West and first North where the kiosks were stored on a side patio. The bar had some buckets of blue paint that they said we could use so that is what we used. Kind of a cobalt blue.

            I haven’t painted in a long while and did most of the work as that Chuck was kind of unsteady. We were supposed to have help from Charles Milne and Chad Keller but neither showed up until after 4 when we were finished and exhausted. Chad started drinking and Charles kind of pissed me off after he started acting like he was in charge of the project.

Today is my mom’s 74^th birthday so I called her Palmdale to also see how dad is doing after his fall. Charline and Dennis came up from Stanton and I guess had spent the weekend since they are both out of work. They all seem fine out there.

My cousin Stephanie Williams wrote me, “Hey Cousin Ben, good to hear form one of the sane members of the family. Good to hear that Utah's coming of age too! Yeah mom was out. My nerves are still on edge. She was real nice till she got to John & Steve's then started saying all kinds of crap. God bless her.

I'm real busy now. I'm taking engineering classes. Doing Union work, Still working too. David got accepted to a special school for gifted kids! So you can be proud we got a genius in the family. He will be starting in the fall and he's so excited. It's a cool school. Real hands on learning, teachers are all PhD. They also have dramatic arts, creative arts, full on sports programs, music, language, gardening, and full academics very cool campus. It's called Eldorado School for the Gifted. It goes to 12th grade.

Steve's doing pretty good to. He's working for his neighbor learning electrical. He usually comes by on Saturdays to say hi. he seems to like it pretty well. and he said that he preregistered for next semester. I try to encourage him, but I'm not holding my breath either, LOL he's the one that has to do it. I think when he gets tired of these crappy jobs, he’ll figger it out.

Julie and I are doing pretty good. I am hoping to retire in 10 more years. I will have 30 years in with the company in by then. I sure would like to get out of here Boeing treats their workers like crap.

Anyway it's been a while since I wrote so I thought I'd send a little note. Hope you doing well cuz. I'm going to take a little break and go camping with Julie and David this weekend. Were gonna to up to a lake called San Antonio to a women’s campout. there should be lots of kids for David to play with. I'm sure he will have fun. And school has been tough. It's been 25 years since I took any engineering classes and my wee brain is fried. So I'm gonna to find a tree and take my chair and a big, tall, iced tea and watch the ladies, LOL. Behind my sunglasses of course so my wife doesn't knock me out, ha-ha.

love, your cousin Steph

            Steve is Stephanie’s son from her ex-husband Jon Haag while David is her son by another man.

 

4 June 2003 Wednesday

I went over to Michael Aaron’s Mix Media company to pick up the Utah Stonewall Historical Society wraps that will go on the Kiosks the went to the Trapp where the Kiosks are being stored to carefully peel off the paper backing of the logos to place them on the top and bottom. I had to be careful smoothing it out to avoid any air bubbles.

Todd Dayley said that print out of all the posters was ready to pick up so I went and got them and took them to Kinko copy to have them laminated. That was almost as expensive as all the materials purchased to build the Kiosks. It was a lot of work but we made a commitment and hopefully people will enjoy them. We should get a lot of money from the Pride Day Committee as we are the tenth and last community partner. That is if Pride Day isn’t a disaster like last year.

Chad Keller seems to have another project now with corresponding with Planet Out. He  wrote “I want Utah to take its place front and center, and all the people that have pushed us to our rightful place and a community. We deserve some recognition as a community in this state. Todd will you run this.....? Ben what's your ideas on getting some Utah people on this list that will be in the Advocate?? To quote Barbra Streisand, "ordinary miracles happen all around."

In celebration of Pride season, we'd like to pay tribute to some of the unsung "miracle workers" of the gay community. Is there someone in your world whose efforts deserve to be recognized? Maybe it's that teacher who started a gay-straight alliance at your school or opened a center for gay and lesbian youth in your community. Maybe it's the small-town mayor who stood up for gay and lesbian issues during a tough re-election campaign. We want to hear about people -- gay or straight -- who have made a difference to the GLBT community. It's our way of saying "thank you" to all those people who you otherwise wouldn't hear about -- the ones who really make the gay world go round.

To nominate a local hero, please write to us at localheroes@planetout.com. Tell us in 500 words or less what makes your nominee special. Please include his or her contact information (including e-mail address if possible), so we can get in touch.

Bob Childer wrote “Greetings, Forgive this mass e-mail, but I have been given added responsibility  here at the Sheraton and I can use your assistance. Now that I have all this  free time on my hands since stepping down as Emperor I would like to put it to good use. With one of my newest positions being Catering Sales Manager, I am able to help you or your associates in planning their next meeting, conference, or union.

I have picked most of you because of your influence and connections within your business' and organizations. If you would all be so kind as to pass this information on to whomever might benefit from it, I would be most appreciative. Remember, the more I work, the less time I have to bother you with  recycled stories of the 27th reign. Please reply directly to me and do not "reply to all" Thanks, Bob Childers Convention Services

Mike Piccardi sent out a blast that the rally for the Utah Families Coalition today at the State Capitol was postponed!!  “This rally has been canceled until a later date. An email went out to their entire email list yesterday, but some may not be aware yet. Do NOT show up at the capitol. The rally will be rescheduled. Thanks.”

 

5 June 2003  Thursday

I sent a message to the USHS Board “We could use some help setting up the six history kiosks on the library plaza Sunday morning on the 8th for Pride Day. We need people with trucks to transport the flat sided 8 x 2 feet billboard like kiosks and help place them. They are light. If you can help it would be much appreciated. Please email Ben  Williams at benedgar1951@hahoo.com or leave message at 631 8243. Thanks for all you do and remember "Pride is more than a Party."

            I picked up the laminations that will be tacked onto the Kiosks for Pride. I did one for The Kristen Ries Awardees, One on the AIDS Foundation, One of the Utah Gay Rodeo Association, One of a Chronology of Utah Gay History, one on Pride Days,

            Jan Sylvester wrote me “Hi Ben,  Yes I should be able to help I have a truck. Call me at 867-7878 so I can get more details and a time. Thanks   Jan.”

 

7 June 2003 Saturday

The Dykes had their first March today which I suppose was a success. I wasn’t invited. LOL

Rhina Guidos of  The Salt Lake Tribune reported: Weekend Festival Will Celebrate Gay Pride On paper, Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of Utah's Gay Pride day. But it was in 1974 that a handful of gays and lesbians quietly got together in Salt Lake City to recognize the beginnings of a civil rights movement born with the Stonewall Riots in New York City.

   "This celebration was held in a secluded location primarily because many were afraid that the city would not allow gay people to congregate together in its city parks," according to the Utah Stonewall Historical Society.

"It was a small community that was out," said Craig Miller of the Utah Pride Committee. "They celebrated at city parks with picnics and it grew and grew and grew."

This year's "Utah's 20th Gay Pride Celebration" of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities spans the weekend, with a Saturday dance and march and a Sunday morning parade followed by a day-long festival downtown at Washington Square.

 "It's about bringing people together to celebrate who they are," said Paula Wolfe, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah, one of several organizations sponsoring the festival.

Most  agree that groups in Salt Lake City began marking gay pride day in an organized manner as early as 1974. Nine years later, the city approved the first permit to hold an official event on city grounds, Miller said.

Although crowds ebbed and flowed with the years, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities and their supporters have been making it a successful event in recent times, Miller said.

"It's a huge festival," he said, that draws visitors from all over Utah and Idaho, Montana, and Nevada.

 The event also draws mainstream political candidates courting the gay vote, which is why this year's festival will have a designated "political stage" that will give attendees a chance to discuss issues such as gun control, gun violence, same-sex marriage, and adoption by gay couples, said organizer Jerry Rapier. For families, there will be face painting and a children's area.

Miller said outsiders are sometimes surprised by the turnout and by the city's long history of celebrating the gay pride festival, which recognizes 1969's Stonewall Riots, an event where a group of gay men in Manhattan stood up to police who were raiding a gay bar.

 "Utah, in general, has become a more diverse and open [place] which is making it easier for us to be honest about who we are," Rapier said. "Salt Lake City has grown up a lot."

Rhina Guidos   of  The Salt Lake Tribune reported “Kate Kendell, a graduate of the University of Utah School of Law, now heads The National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco. Native Utahn: Salt Lake City's Gay Pride Parade's grand marshal is a national crusader for equal rights;  Parade's Grand Marshal a Rights Lawyer.

Adoption and same-sex marriage are at the forefront of issues faced by today's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in the United States, says a native Utahn who is returning this weekend to participate in Salt Lake City's gay pride celebration.

             Kate Kendell, who heads the National Center for Lesbian Rights in San Francisco, is grand marshal for Sunday's Pride Parade.

             As an attorney and executive director of the NCLR, Kendell has been involved in national and high-profile child-custody and compensation cases, including a dog-mauling case in San Francisco and an action involving custody rights for lesbian mothers in the South.

   "There's clearly no respect for our relationships and families," said Kendell, 43, who grew up in Ogden, graduated from Weber State University and the University of Utah School of Law and was the first staff attorney at the Utah chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

            "Utah, sadly, is one of the worst in failing to recognize legal relationships between committed lesbian and gay couples," she said. "That's shameful. That kind of bigotry has no  place in government policy."

            She particularly attacks a Utah law, enacted in 2000, that prohibits unmarried, sexually involved couples from adopting children. Many gays and lesbians believe the bill targeted gay couples, who cannot legally marry in Utah.

             Kendall also worries about the harassment gay youth still suffer in schools around the nation.

             She said legal action has been taken in several states to challenge school curricula regarding homosexuality and inadequate consequences for those who bully students because of their sexual orientation.

            "We're working in all the country with those issues," she said.

            "The final big picture issue is relationship recognition," Kendell added. "We want to change the culture in this county, to eradicate homophobia and anti-gay bias and to have one's sexual orientation be irrelevant when one is buying a home or adopting a child."

             Kendell is co-counsel in a lawsuit filed by Sharon Smith, whose partner, Dianne Whipple, was  killed in 2001 by her neighbors' dogs in a San Francisco apartment complex.

             Smith is seeking damages for the loss of her partner and is challenging a California law that does not allow unmarried partners to seek damages for the death of their mate.

            The NCLR also is involved in the lawsuit by an elderly couple who claim they were denied access to an assisted-living facility because they are gay.

             "All of the work that we do is emotional, sometimes traumatic," Kendell said.

              "But it's work that's truly a privilege to do and there's nothing else I'd rather be doing. It's about women and men who have suffered heart-breaking discrimination or outright harassment or violence."

            Paula Wolfe, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah, said Kendell was chosen to be the parade's grand marshal because of her Utah roots and for her nationwide work.

             "She's still doing things to affect lives," Wolfe said. "And she has a huge following in this community."

The second annual Utah Pride interfaith service was held Saturday evening at the synagogue of Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City.

The service consisted of music, prayers, and presentations that celebrated our spirituality and sexuality as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons (GLBT) with our families and friends.

The service lasted approximately one hour. “Come join GLBT people from various faith traditions as we celebrate not only who we are, but also what we believe and value.

Sponsors: Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, Congregation Kol Ami, Integrity, Utah Metropolitan Community Church of Salt Lake City, The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, St. Patrick's Gay and Lesbian Outreach Ministry, United Church of Christ, and Holladay United Church of Religious Science.

Donald Steward of the Cyber Sluts sent this out early “Pride Parade – Sunday 8 Logistics Information: Tam Captains need to sign in between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. on Sunday in the forming area (300 South between Main and State streets) to receive their lineup and assignments. Your entry will be assigned to a color group and you will line up in that color column. Floats and vehicles need to be in the forming area between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. and MUST enter 300 South from the Main Street side traveling east, as we do not have room to turn floats around in the forming area.

Walking groups should be in place at the latest, by 8:30 a.m. We will make important safety announcements concerning traffic, protesters, dispersement, and parking at the end of the parade at 8:30 a.m.

Because of noise ordinances and the equestrian units, there will be no idling of engines or amplified music until Step Off. There will be Port-A-Potties near the forming area.

STEP OFF will be promptly at 9:00 a.m. so the parade can disperse and the opening ceremony can commence at 10:15 a.m. Miscellaneous Stuff: The giant Rainbow Flag which usually is towards the beginning of the parade will be the final entry (sort of like the Santa Claus float in the Macy's Parade). After it has passed spectators will simply close in behind the flag, and some spectators will be asked to pick up one of the twenty rainbow balloon pillars along the parade route and take them to the festival area. This allows the police to clear the barricades quickly and open the streets back up to traffic. The dispersement area is one block away from the festival area. Why? Because of the University Trax line on 400 South.

For safety and speed reasons in the dispersement area, floats will be directed to the left for parking/dismantling and walking entries will be directed to the right. To facilitate the movement and clearing of the parade, we are not doing a reviewing stand this year. Judging for the five Parade Awards will be done close to the Step Off area and winners will be announced in the Opening Ceremony.

The Parade is divided into six color groups. Each will be led by an arch of single color balloons. Under that arch (or very close by) will be one of the Parade Coordinators (Members of the Utah Cyber Sluts) who have radios and are tied into the logistics and public safety folks. If you have any problems or questions during the parade, these are the people to go to. If you have questions before then my cell phone number is (801)597-9844. Enjoy the Parade ... Fergie and all of the Utah Cyber Sluts.

 

8 June 2003 Sunday

I met Jan Sylvester at the Trapp this morning at 8 and between our two trucks we were able to fit the six kiosks in them and bring them to Washington Square. We had some of the volunteers there to help us carry them in and set them up on the concourse between the city building and 2^nd East. I attached all the signage onto the billboards and I think they looked pretty impressive and professional if you ask me.

Chuck Whyte showed up also this morning but basically, all the set up was done by the time he came. Jan took off to join up with others from the UGRA so Chuck and I just walked around to see how everything was being set up.

The mainstage was being set up on 2^nd South between the library and Washington Square. I thought that was a mistake as there would be no shade if it get’s really hot which it did.

We only saw the parade as people ended up at Washington Square and I spent the rest of the day trying to find some shade and showing off the Kiosks which had a lot of viewers taking the time to stop and read them. When I saw Kristen Ries Awardees like Patty Reagan and Val Mansfield I had them pose next to the Kiosk for a photo op. Others like Greg Harden aka Miss UGRA Tracy Avery posed next to the UGRA kiosks.

It was so much work getting these built, doing the research and the logistics not to mention nearly $400 out of my own pocket as Chad never was able to secure any funding and the Hard Rock Café fundraiser was a bust. The UGRA is going to donate some of it’s PIG fund to the USHS so maybe I will get some money soon and then of course we should get a chunk of change from being a community partner.

Pride Day started shutting down around 5 and since Jan Sylvester had left with her truck, I only had mine so I told Darren Hobbs that I needed help. He secured some young kids who also had a truck to  help however they damaged some of them by throwing them into the back carelessly.

Also I saw Darren being a real ass yelling at the volunteers who were helping strike down the booths and equipment. I thought my god that is not how you treat volunteers who out of their own goodness want to help. I told him at one point he should lighten up but he just ignored me, the pompous ass. Volunteers should be treated like gold.

Anyway I put the Kiosks in the garage and deconstructed the stands from them so they could be leaned up against the wall. The laminated signage I was able to just roll up and put them away so they won’t get damaged.

I sure didn’t get much help from Board Members which makes me nervous about having a really big event in October.

Some observations for Pride Day 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.

A Political Stage was set up in Library Square with speakers Rep. Jackie Biskupski (D-SLC),  Michael Picardi of the Stonewall Democrats,  Kevin Cromer of the Log Cabin Republicans, Deanna Taylor of Utah Green Party, Doug Wortham  of the Utah Democratic Party Exec. Committee.

At noon there was a debate between Barbara Nash for the Gun Violence Prevention Center and David Nelson of Pink Pistols.

Mayoral Candidates Frank Pignanelli, Molonai Hola, and Rocky Anderson were each given 15 minutes to speak. Grand Marshall Kate Kendall Executive Director / National Center for Lesbian Rights also spoke. Sgt. Kyle Jones  the  LGBT Liaison / Salt Lake City Police Department also gave a speech.

Performers were Singer/Songwriter Gigi Love, Spoken Word Artist Michelle Tea, Lambda Literary Award Winner and Author/Activist Patricia Nell Warren who wrote “The Front Runner”

Chad Keller wrote me this evening regarding his exclusion from riding with the Pride Committee from last year, “Well it is official, and of all the things in life this will hurt the most. An email was sent to the Pride committee from last year, and all the chairs were invited to ride in a truck behind Billy [Lewis] and Sherry [Booth]. Like Booth deserves any credit.

It is not like I put my life on hold, and worked my butt off, again for the rest of the world to take credit, and then to be treated like crap because I wanted to save pride, rather than just sit with a financial problem, so that it could be handed to the Death Star Center.

But that was the plan all along, I was just the Motley Fool that stumbled across the plan and took issue. While I know that there may have been personality conflicts, it would be nice to be recognized once in a while.

Yeah I take the issues head on, and totally don’t care if  I grow old and tired, and maybe none of it really matters. And I know that I’m not and will not be the most loved in their circle, but it would have still be nice to be asked. And I still haven’t gotten the other call either, but as I was told yesterday by M M [Maryanne Martindale] and C M [Craig Miller], "Oh yeah their making a big deal of the award, and all are going to be there. They will be calling, I’m sure that its and oversight."

Well I’m done, the gloves are off, and screw it all. From here on out it is about me,  and those that respect me, and if you don’t want to hear what I have to say don’t ask.

The biggest slap in the face yet, but I should have seen it coming. I have been patient with them.

I am ordering a Birthday Cake and am having it delivered. The wording: Happy 29th Anniversary   Here’s to many great and often profitable years!”

Emperor Mark Thrash wrote me “Thank You! Ben, thank you for that statement about "Pride being more than a Party" at the end of your email. That statement rings true to a discussion I recently had with some of my friends here in Utah just yesterday.

I was telling them how frustrating it is that too many people view Pride simply to  cruise, meet new guys that they never see at the club and a way to get noticed.

In Utah, it is less about being "proud" and more about meeting guys. I remember Pride festivals in Arkansas where we had many "lessons learned" type displays and speakers. I severely miss those days and focused

Sheena McFarland a writer for the Daily Chronicle reported “Pride Day Sees 35,000; 120 from U. 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," 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."

Sean P. Means a reporter for the Salt Lake Tribune wrote, “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 The Salt Lake Tribune Politics mixed with partying Sunday as candidates mingled  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, but it’s also 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' anti-sodomy 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." 

“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 policies 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

 

9 June 2003 Monday

Emperor Mark Thrash  to me, Ben, It has been great reading all of the historical information you have  sent, and I'm looking forward to learning more. I've noticed that in several  emails you have included Court history, and I was wondering if you would  have an interest, or would be willing to compile Court history (Court inception, the name change, crowning of Monarchs, involvement with the origin of Utah Pride, the Gay Rodeo, GLCC, etc. I'm a believer in the importance of history, and I think a combined timeline to show Court history in one location would be impressive and useful. Please let me know if you would be willing to compile such a list or timeline? Thanks...

 

10 June 2003 Tuesday

I am sad today. I had to put my old schnauzer Oscar down today so I'm a mess and have been bawling all day. He has been going downhill for a long time and is nearly blind and has dementia. He still had his appetite but he would not go outside any more and would go down stairs to poop and often I’d come home from school and he would be lying in his fifth.

I would clean him up in the shower downstairs but I knew he was too good of a dog for him to continue this way as I know he was not getting much out of life. I knew I would have to put him down someday but waited until school was out and after Pride day because I knew I would be a complete mess when I did.

            He went for his last ride down to our veterinarian at about 5000 South on Redwood Road. I had made an appointment for 3 in the afternoon and all day I kept thinking this is Oscar’s last treat, his last breakfast, his last walk and so forth. When I have to do this again someday I will make sure it’s as early in the morning as possible rather than prolong the misery.

            I went in with Oscar, held him and petting him as he was injected and put to sleep. I could not help but weep the whole time. I paid to have Oscar cremated and his ashes placed in a container so I can bring him home.

I still feel guilt over the years when I had put my dogs Sam and Toby down and left their bodies for the vet to dispose of. I don’t know what I was thinking as I learned later they simply grind up the bodies and they go into a land fill. This way I will always know where Oscar is.

            Mike and I adopted Oscar in June 1996 even before we moved into the house that was being built on Fernleaf. At the shelter when I first saw Oscar he was housed with another dog as a companion and he had a blanket. When I sat down with him, he gently came over and fell into my arms and whimpered. I knew I had to have him and when Mike Romero went with me to see him again, we adopted him on the spot but couldn’t take him for a week because he had to be neutered and chipped.

            We left that weekend for Rawlings to spend Mike’s birthday with his folks and in the newspaper I saw that a Dachshund mix puppy was at the Rawlins’ pound. We went and looked and she was the cutest thing and we adopted her on the spot for $20 that Mike’s grandma had given him. We all called Priscilla “Grandma’s $20 dog.” There was no fuss or muss like with the Salt Lake County shelter and we took her with us immediately. Even though we actually got Oscar first, Priscilla was the first to come home with us when we lived at the Rivera Apartments.

            We named her Priscilla after Priscilla Queen of the Desert and we named Oscar after Oscar Wilde.

They said that Oscar was a pure bred Schnauzer and he must have been a one person dog who probably died because no one would have given up that dog. Oscar was always patient, kind, and sweet. The only quirk he had was when we would go to the park and if a sprinkler was on he would charge at it only to be kicked back on his butt by the jets. It was funny to watch.

            Oscar was my sweet companion as my relationship with Mike was falling apart and  slept with me downstairs.

            The house seems so lonely without him but we still have Priscilla, Smokey, and Saffy.

            Brandon Burt wrote, Oh, Ben, I'm so sorry. How awful to lose your companion. I don't think I met him, but in lots of ways the dogs really are the best among us; they are so loving and loyal. The animals I have known have added so much to my life. Right now our Chloe (Pyrenean) is in the animal hospital; she's awfully old and I'm afraid she'll have to be put down as well. (Liver problems.) Let me know if there's anything I can do.

Chad Keller to Mark Thrash on the Subject of the Kiosks, “I was wondering what you would like on the kiosks for Investiture,  or if you still wanted them. Marshal and Walter--Decade. Alan and Auntie Dee--Double Decade.”

Mark Thrash replied, “Honestly, I would like to see as much Court History as is possible  To compile. In many of the emails Ben has sent there have been excerpts of Court involvement mentioned now and then: the Court's inception, the involvement with opening a Gay & Lesbian Community Center, involvement with creation of a Gay Rodeo Association, the crowning of Monarchs, etc. I would then make some special signage for the decade and double decade listings. Does  that help?”

Brandon Burt wrote me saying, “I was noticing that the way RCGSE monarchs get numbered is different  from the way other royals do it. For instance, Mark XXVIII is/was presumably  the 28th Emperor, but he may or may not have been the first one named Mark. The information that is conveyed gives us a sense of our cultural values. The  information that is considered important is the number of years the Court has been around, not the number of monarchs who have "descended" from, say, the House of Mark. Even though the Court is nominally a monarchy, this belies a very democratic value system.”

He also then wrote about my asking about his writing Is "Sluts Like Brandon" a work in progress?” He said, “Yes, I'm still conducting extensive field research. Although it's amazing how few cruisy fields there are these days” I replied, “I think you should also publish a three-volume boxed set Entitled "Sluts Like Brandon: a History".

He responded “I am a firm believer in the importance of sluts like me, and an extensively researched omnibus edition complete with illustrations would certainly be impressive and useful. Let me know  when you have a few years to spare! Thanks,  Oooh, I hope that didn't sound too snatchy! I was just trying to be  funny, actually.”

Emperor Mark Thrash wrote me, “Thanks Ben! I look forward to reading what you find and making a display to  be used at major functions. Please let me know what I can do to assist. This is an important  project to me and for our organization. Mark XXVIII

            Scott Wilson wrote me, ‘Ben, thank you for the great article. It looks great. Scott Wilson Retirement Department (801) 366-7494”

            Chad Keller wrote to the USHS Board “Hi, How is you other letter coming on History Month??  Need it as soon as possible. Here is some stuff for the letter assignment for the Organizational Archives and Special Collections Committee.

The Organizational Special Collections Committee oversees the items in the Special Collections that are not the property of the USHS to insure that the entire collection pertaining to the overall history of the Utah Lambda people is maintained in the event of the untimely demise of any community organization. Each Chair recruits, finds and assists in rebuilding the once massive collection of Utah GLBT history for presentations, archiving, photographing, and cross referencing for public use.

OSC Committee members serve as a representative of their specific active and functioning organization. They have authority over their organizations historic collection. Further they make recommendation to the Archivists and Board on how to rebuild, expand, and promote the history of the Utah GLBT community.

They determine what if anything will be recommended to the USHS board in the event an organizations becomes inactive or defunct.

They insure and recommend action to the board on the items in the various organizations collections. They assist and help cross reference items in their collection for use by the USHS.

Learn the tools of historic preservation and recording to pass on to members of their organizations.

Assist and advise the curator in preparing historic presentations of materials for the public.

OSC committee members are accepted and approved by the USHS Board of directors with a vote of confidence.

"The history of our community is important. A task of truly great importance takes many people to accomplish, Your organization can play an important role in making sure we save all the photos and items as well as write our history." --Chad Keller.”

Chad Keller is a great “idea man” but sometimes his eyes are bigger than his stomach.

Emperor Mark Thrash wrote, “I wanted to say thank you to everyone who assisted with construction of the Pride Day float and setup of the Pride Day booth: Shawn, Krystyna, Chad, Paris, Mike, Alfredo, Thom Lee, Hunter, Angelica, Heidi (the new one), Mackenzie and Derek. Your hard work and dedication is what makes our organization a success. Thank you very much for your support. In service...HMIM Mark XXVIII

            Mark Swonson wrote; Hi Everyone-THE UTAH STONEWALL DEMOCRATS have a NEW Website. Its brand new so give us time to improve upon it. So log on and get all the information you need regarding Utah Politics and what’s happening with the Democratic Party locally and nationally. Enjoy and be informed. THANKS,  Mark:-)

The actor Alexis Baigue wrote me,  “I’m house-sitting June 6 through August 25 at 795 North I Street; the street address is 548 East North Hills Drive, Salt Lake City. If you wish to call me, please dial 363-0060 and leave a message on the answering machine so I know to pick up the telephone and speak with you. I’m also flat-sitting at 515 South 1000 East apartment 402 until June 19 and again July 21 through August 3. Feel free to try me there at 364-0522 and leave a message on the voice mail if I’m not in.

 I refuse to get my own phone like everyone else; instead, I’m working on communicating telepathically. I intend to perfect my E.S.P. by August 26, so if you hear a voice in your head, it’s me… or you need psychotherapy… or both.

     I’m traveling to Minnesota on June 20 and will fly home on the 27th. My dear friend, Leah Dutchin, is leaving Utah and can’t drive for extended periods of time because too much time behind the wheel makes her dangerously insane, so I’m driving for her.”

Randal Meyers wrote Cha and me, “Hi Ben and Chad, I hope both the Pride celebration and the Coronation pageant went well. I have not been able to participate much lately because of health reasons. I still hope it all went well as you represented the historical society. take care, Randal”

Michael Aaron wrote on the Yahoo Site, “Hey folks, This is going to be an amazing evening -- not least of which because I get to read from The Adventures of Captain Underpants! I have tickets to sell at the incredibly reasonable rate of $25 each (includes a reception with munchies at Baci, donated by Gastronomy, immediately following the show). You can't beat that! Email or call me to get tickets! (as a board member of Plan B, I'm responsible for selling tickets, so help me out here!). Best, Michael

Toni Palmer wrote on the Group Site, “I have a comment regarding Pride too. First, good job to everyone that helped pull it off. Next; what was the deal with the stage? Didn't we learn in years past (when Pride was at Sunnyside Park and the Salt Lake County Fairgrounds) that having the stage (and thus seating area) in open sun is a BAD IDEA? In case that didn't sink from past experience, or for those who don't remember, let me state it again: having the stage in full sun, BAD IDEA, BAD.

And another thing, besides the seating being in full sun, it was also on hot blacktop. Most people brought blankets, not chairs. I dun no about you, but I'm not planting my behind on burning hot blacktop.

This is what I do at Pride normally: Walk around and look at booths, go sit in the SHADE and watch the entertainment, go get lunch or a drink, go back and sit in the shade and watch the entertainment, etc. This year, I didn't see a single performer because it was just too hot and being in the sun literally makes me sick. I know there are a lot of sun lovers out there but I think we need to take into consideration those people who honestly cannot be in the sun. Come on, let's be reasonable, move it back to the north side of the Salt Lake City and County Building. There was grass to sit on and lots of shade. -Toni P.”

 

11 June 2003 Wednesday

I wrote to my friend Rich Butler, “I put Oscar down yesterday. So I am kind of sad. Hope all is well with you. I am leaving tomorrow for California for Father's Day. Mike just got home from his train trip to Colorado said he enjoyed it. Oscar was a good dog. I will miss him. Take care Ben.”

Dad wrote me, “Hi We are saddened to hear about Oscar but we knew it was time. I had some test done Monday I am going to the doctor tomorrow. We are looking forward to your visit, love Dad.”

            I wrote back, “I am leaving tomorrow morning and am going to drive straight thru so should be there Thursday night. I will leave Monday. I have a meeting on Tuesday with my Principal about hiring a new 6th grade teacher for next year.”

            Krystyna from the Royal Court wrote me “Ben, Hello! It is me Thom  .  I just had a quick change for you. My email address is actually thom.martinez@bisys.com  These have been going to my husband Thom Lee and he has been forwarding them to me. I was just wondering if you have a chance if you would be able to switch the address over. Thank you!

            I wrote back, “ Sorry for the mix up. I deleted Thom Lee and replaced it with your email address. If the posting becomes too much you can always just delete them and then go into the history site and read them there at your leisure. Appreciate All that You do Ben Williams

Krystyna wrote, “No problem. Everyone always gets us mixed up anyway. That is what is  hard when you have the same name as your partner and especially when you

Both spell it a little different ( "Thom") .  Thank you!  :O)

I asked James Hicks, “Do you want to out for coffee or lunch sometime? He replied

Ben, That would be great. I'm very busy, with work and school, but my weekends are often open. Sunday Brunch at Market Street would also work if you’re up to that sort of thing? James.”

            I wrote back, That would nice sometime. This weekend I am heading for California for Father's day. Take care Ben”

He responded, Ben,  Are you going to visit your father, or do you have kids in CA? Where in CA are you traveling? Contact me when you get back and we'll plan to get together. Have a great time. James (Hicks)”

Mark Swonson wrote on the Yahoo Site, Dear Community Organization This year as the Utah Gay Community will join collectively for the Frist time in celebrating Gay History Month in October 2003. Our Gay History is a vital record for us all, for it reflects the organizations and individuals who have helped involve our Community from our past to present History.

            So what does our Gay History do for us? And why is it important to keep and preserve our Gay History? Our history is an expression of who and what we are as a people and community. Our history shows our accomplishments as well defeats myths as organizations and individuals over the past 34 years how our community and quest for equality came to be.

            The Utah Stonewall Historical Society would like to make Gay History month fun and as well as profitable for all parties involved. We would like your Organization to choose a day to celebrate its history along with your members and the members of the community. The day you choose in October will be a day our community can come together and celebrate with your members of all the accomplishments and struggles your organization faced when it was first conceived. It will be a day of memories and reflection for us all.

            How can we make this a special day for you, as well as the rest of the Community? The Utah Stonewall Historical Society will take care of all the publicity of the event. Participating organizations will have their logo featured and will advise for creating a perfect and historic event. We also will provide assistance as required to verify data and provide organizations with the necessary tools to properly document and record there past and present history.

            October is an extremely busy month as it is the RCGSE AIDS Awareness Week, National AIDS Awareness month, UAF Invenio, National  Coming Out Day, and importantly Gay History Month. The Utah Stonewall  Historical Society will be bringing renown author Eric Marcus who wrote Making Gay History, The Half Century Fight for Gay Equal Rights for presentations, book signings, and lectures. This will be a special event for us all to participate in and to help us gain more control of our past and present Gay History from our Organizations as well from individuals.

            Let’s all participate and help make Gay History Month in October something we can share and be proud of. As we share our History Organizations accomplishments, struggles, and those who made our organization and community so successful from our past to the present.

If you choose to participate please send a member of your organization to the July 16, 2003 meeting of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society at the downtown library. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm and will Organizational or personal Gay history events for October will be the  First item on the agenda.”

            Chad Keller wrote to Mark Swonson, In the letter we need to make it clear that only events that are historic in nature will be added to and excepted on the Gay History Month Calendar. And if it is to be a fundraiser, somehow we need to ask for a contribution. and Ben will have comments to discuss and add.”

The Rolley and Wells column in the Salt Lake Tribune wrote, “A Republican steed: Before making their grand entrance at Washington Square to kick off Pride Day celebrations Sunday, Kate Kendell, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights; Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson; and State Rep. Jackie Biskupski took a practice ride. Biskupski's horse became spooked, began bucking, and ultimately threw the lawmaker to the ground. Biskupski, a liberal Democrat and lesbian, probably received fewer bruises from the fall than on any given day at the Utah Legislature.”

 

12 June 2003 Thursday

I made it down to Palmdale by 7:30 for Father’s Day.

A letter to the editor I wrote to the Salt Lake Tribune was printed today “As I hear about Capitol Hill homes using millions of gallons of water, I have to wonder why are the wealthy more deserving of more water than the rest of us? Then as I drive around the valley and see the hundreds of lush yards of LDS churches, I wonder how many LDS ward houses in the valley have xerophilous landscaping? All the conservation measures and rate hikes are meaningless when those with the means can purchase as much water as they can afford. How about true water reform and limit the amount of water available per household and property? I bet bark and drought resistant plants would replace grass in a heartbeat. Water in a desert is not an unlimited resource. Ben Williams 1633 Fernleaf Street Salt Lake City Ut 84116 801-631-8243

Ron Johnson wrote to me, “Don't know if you're keeping records of everyone who died of AIDS in Utah. I noticed that you listed "Notable fatalities:" for each year. My life-partner, Joe Panek, died of an AIDS related brain tumor on February 19, 1995. He was an active member (and board member) in the UGRA for years and together we had co-founded the country line-dance group "The LakeLiners" early in 1993 (it was the successor dance group to the UGRA's "Golden Spurs"). The LakeLiners survived for another two years after his passing and even performed at his funeral. Quite an unusual (and beautiful) tribute. Thanks again for all you do. You've become a "gem" in our community!   

I accidentally deleted the e-mail you sent about Utah's Gay Rodeo history. Oh, duh. Would please do me a favor and resend it to me? It was of special interest because it documented much of the association's history. I was involved in the reorganization and seating of the UGRA into the IGRA in 1989 and was very active in the group for years afterward. Thanks in advance. Keep up the good work. You're doing a terrific service to the gay community ... now and for the future! Ron Johnson SIGNS & SUCH.”

Gregory Peck, one of my favorite actors died today (1916-2003). He always seemed so dignified except as Captain Ahab LOL Died: June 12

American actor Gregory Peck was one of the most famous movie stars between the 1940s and the 1960s. In 1999, Gregory Peck was ranked 12th in the Greatest Male Stars of Classic Hollywood Cinema list published by the American Film Institute. Also known for his humanitarian efforts, Gregory Peck was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969.

 

13 June 2003 Friday

I had lunch with Mom and Dad at the Palmdale Senior Center. I guess they go on a regular basis as they seem to know a lot of people there.

Charles Milne wrote on the Yahoo Group site, “Hello everyone, Here is a reminder of the University Pride meeting. I look forward to seeing all of you there with your updates on what you have accomplished. We will be meeting in room 311 of the Union at 4:30 PM. I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. Thanks for your participation. I have good news about the Keynote speaker. Charles Milne Interim Advisor Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center University of Utah

Michael Mitchell wrote to me “Thanks for sending out that article. Wow... such service! Love a timely response! Marlin's [Criddle] comments are just as prescient today as they were when he spoke to them! Do you have the publication and date? By the way, I thought the history kiosks were AWESOME! We need to do something like that every year.

I think one of the main complaints by those of us who have worked in the GLBT community (or any progressive movement, for that matter) is that institutional memory isn't handed down... or any history for that matter.

Thank you SO much for keeping that history alive. I think it's an incredibly important part of who we are as a community. We need to remember all the work that's been done -- the shoulders upon which we stand -- by those wonderfully brave folks before us. Keep up the good work, sir! Warmest regards, Michael.”

I wrote him back, “Thanks for your kind words. BTW If you need info for a topic let me know and I'll access my data bank. I have over 5000 pages of documents and articles.”

Chad Keller wrote to the USH Board, “here is the proposed schedule for October.

Friday October 17, 2003--  Cocktail Party Meet the author Eric Marcus. Tickets $50.00  Location detail will be confirmed later this month Saturday  October 18, 2003-- History Conference Lectures, Presentations, Historic Presentations and Community Fair. Gateway or City Library. This event will also tie in a book signing with Eric Marcus  Admission to these events free...costs underwritten by sponsors and donations.

Saturday Evening October 18, 2003--Eric Marcus  Making Gay History Sunday Morning October 19, 2003--Focus on Youth Sunday Evening October 19, 2003--Milestone Honors (members of the board to take ownership)  $25.00 minimum.”

 He then wrote me “I hope you are okay...I’m worried.... I have given notice officially to other things that they are second priority. I can multi task....but only so much....also we need to go get the kiosk that is at Trapp....and the brushes....I can go grab the brushes.

  If necessary I will get the kiosk and take it to my house, Mary Tyler Moore style. I need to move on a press release for the Centerpiece of Gay History Month, my conversations with the library has revealed a Center plot on the same weekend.”

The Salt Lake Tribune reported, “A 58-year-old Ogden man entered a guilty plea to felony child sex abuse charges in return for prosecutors' dismissal of other counts. Robert Alvin Beeler entered the plea to two first-degree felony counts of forcible sodomy in an incident involving a 16-year-old boy. He also pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree felony aggravated assault. As part of the plea agreement, two first-degree felony counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child were dropped. Ogden police have said the 16-year-old accused Beeler of sexual abuse in February of 2002, and DNA evidence was obtained to corroborate his story.

 

14 June 2003 Saturday

The Utah AIDS Foundation wrote on the Yahoo Group Site, “Please join us Saturday, for the 15th Annual Utah AIDS Foundation Walk for Life. Again this year we are partnered with the Folk and Bluegrass Festival at the Gallivan Center. Register for the Walk and receive free admission to the music festival. There will be fun entertainment, cool incentive prizes, and a great walk through downtown. Here’s the schedule: 5:00 p.m. Registration begins at Gallivan Plaza 6:00 p.m. Welcome and Warm Up begins 6:30 p.m. Get ready, get set, go! The Walk for Life begins! You can walk on your own, with a team, with friends and family members, or you can register your dog to walk with you. Get your company to sponsor you, set your goal to become a 500 Club member, or sponsor a water station. The possibilities are endless.

 

15 June  2003 Sunday

I read that Hume Cronyn; husband of Jessica Tandy  died today (1911-2003). I member him in Hitchcock’s Life Boat

Donald Steward wrote on the Yahoo Group Site, “Peaches, On behalf of the Cyber Sluts ... a big thank you to everyone who volunteered and helped us with this year’s Pride Parade. No one was run over, electrocuted by overhead lines or trampled scrambling for Mardi Gras beads, so we think it went relatively well.

We are posting our conclusions of what worked and what didn't on this site and hoping to hear feedback from you all before we start planning next year’s parade.

Things that worked:

1). The balloon pillars looked fabulous. They were colorful, cheap, and easy to move ... oh wait, that's us!

2). The parade route was compact, logical and there was actually shade for those who wanted it.

3). Placing the giant rainbow flag at the end of the lineup gave the parade a nice conclusion, and they raised the most money for the Utah AIDS Foundation ever (I think it was about $1,200, but don't quote me).

4). The color-coded column line-up in the assembly area moved well and there was no overlapping sound systems or gaps in the parade. The west-to-east directions worked well, as did the prohibition on engine idling and sound systems in the set-up area.

Things that sucked:

1). Entries with multiple vehicles that arrived at different times, could not be placed together. Even vehicles for the grand marshal and dignitaries showed up late. For rude!

2). Barricades for the disassembly area did not get put in place before spectators started camping out. With the largest concentration of pedestrians and spectators on the parade route inside that block, the parade backed up, floats could not exit, and the transition was unnecessarily hazardous.

3). There were no trash cans on 300 South Street in the assembly area.

4). The parade started way early and did not give people time to unload, set up their booths on the festival grounds or park.

These are our recommendations that we are sending to Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah Inc. and Pride to consider for next year:

1). Start the parade at 10:00 a.m.

2). Start the welcoming ceremonies at noon. This gives folks time to orient themselves and do a quick once over of the festival site. It also gives parade participants time to catch their breath (i.e., Salt Lake Men’s Choir, etc.).

3). Have a preassembly area on the west end of 300 South Street so that groups can collect themselves and all of their vehicles, before being placed into their final line-up slot.

4). Offer a discount or entry-fee waiver for groups entering the parade for their first year. This would encourage more groups both gay and gay-friendly to participate in the parade.

5). Block off 200 East Street between 300 and 400 South streets at 8:00 a.m. with trestle barricades and a police unit who can give directions.

So, that's it in a nutshell people. Tell us what you think. Love, Fergie and the Sluts”

 

16 June 2003 Monday

I left for home this morning and it wasn’t too hot going across the desert and into Las Vegas. The Truck didn’t overheat. I was back in Salt Lake City by 7 and the pups were happy to see me but I was sad knowing Oscar was there to bark at me.”

Stan Penfold wrote to me, “ Ben, Two things... Can you send me some current contact information on  yourself. Looks like we don't have your mailing address or phone number. Also, I was talking with Patty Reagan the other day and I mentioned that I would like to get some history of the Foundation from her. She  said that several years back you did a recorded interview with her that  would be good for me to hear. Do you still have that? Could I possibly  borrow it? Let me know. Thanks Stan.”

            There’s a 20 cities rally to support the Supreme Court’s decision on whether sodomy laws are unconstitutional. Salt Lake was not among them, although Utah is one of the states that still has a sodomy law on the books. The Supreme Court ruling did not get released today like expected.

17 June 2003 Tuesday

James Hicks wrote on the Yahoo Group site, “Hi all,  I think this year’s Pride was the best I've seen in seven years! Everyone did a great job. I put in my three hours in volunteering at one of the booths and loved it. I'd do it again next year, but we need more shade, my booth was in the sun at the Library Courtyard. I believe I sweated off a few pounds, ‘no comments please.’

Colorful patio umbrellas in the courtyard would be a nice addition. I also love the suggestion to start Pride at 10:00 a.m., it would give some of us who need it a little more time to get ready for this event in the morning. Whoever heard of getting up before 9:00 a.m. on the weekend anyway?

In addition, I would seriously love to have Pride on Saturday and not Sunday. Two very good reasons: I personally would love to party the night away "Saturday Night After Pride" and then sleep in on Sunday and recover before I have to go back to work on Monday. Other cities have adopted Saturday as the day for Pride, why can't we?

Oh, yes, some folks think it's tradition -- screw tradition -- let's do something different and do something that might make Pride an even better event than it already is. I can provide a list of cities who have changed from Sunday to Saturday because they all like to party all night and they also benefit from the exposure they receive from their community.

In addition, more "straight" people might attend this event just because they are downtown on Saturday. Not that I want to make this a straight event, "Absolutely not! However, it would give us more exposure to the straight world and they can see us for who we really are, "a vital part of this community!" I hate the way our local media paints us; they do such a poor job. Cheers! James P. Hicks "The Deviant One"

I responded to a SLCity Weekly article that I thought was homophobic. “For several issues I have wondered what is going on with the Weekly. First there was Shane McCammon's juvenile spew on the seminal fluids of males. Semen is icky? To whom- adolescent girls? Then Bill Frost seems to be fixated on what Gay men do with their butts. I know Frost likes to portray himself as the perpetual adolescent male obsessed with mammary glands and wild male horseplay (IE. heterosexual bonding)but enough already. You're straight. We get it.

However what prompted me to write was David Richardson's puerile claim that "heterosexualism has the potential of bringing a person the greatest possible joy and happiness and the greatest possible growth in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of

which a person is capable." Tell that to Plato, Michelangelo, Alan Turing, Stephen Sondheim, and countless others!

            Contrary to Richardson's narrow definition, life is more than simply the joys of procreation. St. Paul, the founder of Christianity, even said it’s better to remain single, as he was, than to marry. Jesus Christ, when asked who was his family, did not state his pedigree, but rather said all who believed and followed him were his family.

Yes Gay sex is hot! I can understand why some heterosexuals are jealous. However let me explain something to those straights who don't get it,  homosexuality is not about what is done with our genitals but rather all about who we fall in love with. It's about love. Get it?

            I cannot believe that anyone with any intelligence would make the claim that Gay people are more prone to sadness, depression, loneliness, and suicide then straights. Has Mr. Richardson never read Dear Abby for God's sake! And as for VD and AIDS, Syphilis did not come from homos and AIDS is still up to debate whether that was an experiment gone terribly wrong.

Gay people are nurturers, creative people, and have an insight on the nature of Romance that few heterosexuals can even imagine! Historians will tell you that it was the Gays in the middle ages that created the modern concept of romance! Religious and political institutions dictated that sex in marriage was for procreation only.

And as for what is good for children, I personally feel, Mr. Richardson, that any child is happiest when raised by someone who loves him or her.           

Finally, Mr. Richardson let's hope that you have a Gay child so that in your old age when all your hetero children are busy raising your grandchildren, there will be someone compassionate enough and willing to wipe your ass and change your diapers.          Ben Williams 1633 Fernleaf Street SLC Utah 84116 801-631-8243 Class of '69”

            I responded to Ron Johnson’s request for information on the Utah Gay Rodeo Association Kiosk. “Sorry it took me a while to get this to you. I was in California over the weekend for Father's Day. Best Regards  Ben PS You should be able to pull up anything posted from the group site's message board.

GAY RODEO-1975- First Gay rodeo held in Reno, Nevada. Emperor I of Reno, Phil Ragsdale of the Imperial Court of Northern Nevada, created an amateur Gay rodeo to raise money to help out the local Senior Citizens Annual Thanksgiving Day feed.

1977-Ragsdale founded the Comstock Gay Rodeo Association and his rodeo project became the National Reno Gay Rodeo. Following the  Imperial Court's lead, Ragsdale added the titles "Mr., Ms., and Miss National Reno Gay Rodeo" contest to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

1979 Utah's Golden Spike Gay Rodeo Association was created with Gary Wayment as its first President.

1980 - The "Pacific Coast Gay Rodeo Association," was organized. At the Reno Gay Rodeo talented rodeo contestants from Fresno, California and Utah were some of the top contenders for the Mr., Ms., and Miss titles.

1981- John King opened "Charlie's" in Denver and Gay country bars were opening across the nation. Steve Baxter opened The Deer Hunter in Salt Lake City as a "levi-leather" bar. The Colorado Gay Rodeo Association (CGRA) was organized.

1982 The Reno Gay Rodeo was dominated by Colorado, which brought over 150 supporters wearing shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Colorado Rides With Pride".

1983 The "Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo," was held in the Denver metropolitan area and Colorado became the second location in the United States to stage a Gay rodeo. The Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) was organized.

            1984 Texas became the third state to stage a Gay rodeo at Simonton, 35 miles outside of Houston. 1984 The Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (GSGRA) officially

organized. John King opened a second "Charlie's" in Phoenix and in a matter of weeks the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association (AGRA) was formed. The ninth and final National Reno Gay Rodeo brought over  10,000 people to the rodeo grounds and thousands more to Reno for the gambling and nighttime parties. Steve Oldroyd, prominent Utah Pianist, was winner of first national talent Show at the Reno Gay Rodeo. First known Utah Gay

activist to recognize in a speech "all of Utah gay/lesbian/bisexual community."

            1985-The Los Angeles Equestrian Center, located in Burbank, California became the site for the fourth state to host a gay rodeo. Arizona became the fifth state to host a gay rodeo and the event took place in on the south side of Phoenix: at a Mexican Charro rodeo arena. The International Gay Rodeo Association was organized and chartered in Denver by delegates from five founding states of Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, and Oklahoma to encourage the education on or preservation of "Country/Western" lifestyle heritage. The Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association (OGRA) was organized.

1986- The In-between Bar became home bar of the Golden Spike Gay Rodeo Association. Bar owner Bobby Dubray was president of the Gay Rodeo Association while Donny Eastepp, his lover, served as Mr. Utah Gay Rodeo for two years. The Golden Spike Gay Rodeo Association went to the Rocky Mountain Gay Rodeo Association's Regional Rodeo in Denver. For the first time Utah was recognized as participating in the regional rodeo.

1988- After two years of being in Limbo, The Golden Spike Gay Rodeo Association was reorganized by Earl Ashley, Chris Trujillo, and Donny Eastepp.

1989, The Utah Gay Rodeo Association was officially organized. UGRA was seated as a member of the International Gay Rodeo Association at the annual IGRA Convention, which was held in Albuquerque, NM.

1990 The Utah Gay Rodeo Association attended the Texas Gay Rodeo.

1997 The International Gay Rodeo Association completed its 11th annual International Rodeo of Champions in Phoenix, AZ. Women's Bull Riding winner was Rusty Beatty, of Utah Gay Rodeo Association. 1997 UGRA hosted the 500 delegates of the 13th annual IGRA.

2000 The UGRA produced its first of three-sanctioned rodeo at the Utah State Fair Park called, the "Wild West Festival". Profits from the rodeo were distributed to five charities which best exemplified the vision and values of the association and its membership. The charities were; City of Hope, YWCA, Camp Kostopulos, Special Olympics, and the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah.

I wrote Ron Johnson “Yes I am trying to keep a record of those we have lost in our community. Thank you for informing me. Ben

 

18 June 2003 Wednesday

I wrote Chad Keller, “Got home. Still worn out. Will see you are USHS tonight. Ben”

USHS JUNE MONTHLY MEETING  Those Present: Chad Keller,  Mark Swonson,  Ben Williams,  Cathy Cartwright, Chuck Whyte, and  Jan Sylvester

-Chuck Whyte Treasurer’s Report by Chuck Whyte:  +$300.00 UGRA DONATION      

-$180.00 Kiosks Stickers, -$106.49 Lamination fee, Total  +  13.51  Bank       -$231.77

Ben Williams Loan Total  -$218.26 Bank Total

MOTIONS ADOPTED A motion was proposed and passed to have Board Member Jan Sylvester talk to the UGRA Board about a fundraising project and later meet with Executive Committee regarding details.

Ben Williams proposed that the Monthly Meetings revert back to original intent to share historical research and information with its members rather than be business meetings. The motion was adopted and starting in July (Wednesday 16) all general monthly meetings will have guest speakers or be group discussion session. Business Meetings will be called by Chad Keller at his discretion and are open to all members.

Ben Williams will schedule a mandatory Board of Directors' Quarterly Meeting for July. The meeting will be closed to Board Members.

Because Ben Williams also loaned USHS at total of $231.77 for extra  expenses that come up on this project, a motion by Chuck Whyte was brought up on the floor and proposed:

   1. All USHS projects will have sufficient funds on hand before a project is to begin.

   2. Adequate Volunteers must be secured before taking on any projects through the efforts of the Executive Committee, Board of  Directors, and chairs of sub committees and from general membership of USHS before a project is to begin.

   3. Time lines and proposed budgets and expenses will be in writing and reviewed by the Executive Committee and Board of Director members for completion of all projects. If deadlines are not met in a timely manner, USHS projects then may be disbanded or abandoned by the  majority of the Executive Committee and Board of Director members.

   4. Also, we will do one project at a time until that one is completed regarding all future projects by USHS.

The proposed motion by Chuck Whyte (Treasurer) passed by all members on the Executive Committee, and Board of Directors present.

OLD BUSINESS: UTAH STONEWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S KIOSKS    Pride Day was very successful. People liked the Kiosks, and we received recognition in Salt Lake Tribune article. However there was some damage done to some of them. They now need repainting and other minor work done. Someone on the Board will talk to Charles Milne about the damage done to the Kiosks.

            A lot of interests have been expressed to USHS about the Kiosks. We need to set up new guidelines regarding how, when, and where these Kiosk will be used. We have a total of 6 Kiosks.

            It was noted that Kiosks where changed in configuration to meet necessary expenses, due to the fact that we did not receive any donated material from Home Depot, like we were supposed to, when project was first introduced to the Board. Due to the fact Home Depot did not fulfill their commitment to Chad, we did not receive all the material necessary to construct the kiosks. Out of pocket expenses were incurred by Ben Williams and Chuck Whyte for the Kiosks project as well as time.

FUND RAISERS: Members of Executive Committee, Board of Directors members and USHS general members can and should propose any Fundraiser ideas in order to raise funds for USHS's ongoing projects.

Jan Sylvester proposed a fundraiser in conjunction with UGRA's Gay Rodeo University on June 28, 2003. The Executive Board gave approval with Jan talking to UGRA and getting back with Exec. Board regarding what would be necessary to help out. Jan, stated that she would cover the initial food expenses for the fundraiser to be paid back after the event. However Jan would like at least 2-3 people to help out. The Rodeo University will be held in Heber City at a UGRA Member's ranch. Jan will get more details regarding this later on.

Chad Keller suggested we do a fundraiser with RCGSE on their Wild Card Sundays for their Patio BBQ. The business owner at either the Trapp or Paper Moon will donate the meat. Chad Keller as part of his duties as RCGSE's Crown Prince suggested that we could combine organizations and make a fun Sunday for both Organizations. Details  will be worked out later.

            Chad Keller is also involved with the Drag Idol Shows and proposed that we could get a certain share of the money raised at those shows. There will be a total of 9 shows and we could get percentage of the door proceeds. Chad will give us further detail and report of this  project at the next Board meeting.

Cathy Cartwright, a member from Ogden, stated that she was willing to help with fundraising by providing material from her stain glass business. She proposed either donating glass or perhaps recreating our Rainbow Beehive Logo in stain glass for sale. She also generously agreed to create artwork for the Milestone Honors recipients.

NEW BUSINESS: Ben Williams, our historian, stated that he has ample historical

projects to keep him busy this summer and wants to focus solely on  these projects and let the rest of the Executive Committee, Board Members and general members fulfill the other ongoing projects that USHS will be doing. Ben will be interviewing several members of the community for an oral history project, writing a paper to be  delivered  September 12 at the Utah State Historical Society's annual meeting, writing articles for the Pillar, and working with RCGSE to compile a more thorough chronology of their organization as requested by Emperor XXVIII, Mark Thrash. We all agreed that night that Ben will need the time to proceed with his USHS projects and that he will  keep us informed on how they are proceeding.

Next we discussed Sponsorship and Budget concerns for October Gay Month with Eric Marcus and Milestone Honors Banquet. Here is a financial and time outline for October: Total Possible Sponsors Potential Sponsors and Potential Dollars,  Bruce Bastian Fund    $1,500.00,     Gateway Grand Hall    $2,500.00, Barnes & Noble                      $  200.00   Joe Redburn/Trapp   $  500.00 Jim Dubakis   $1,000.00, Gastronomy                          $1,000.00 RCGSE    $  700.00 General Distributing   $1,000.00 Absolute Vodka                           $1,000.00, Jack Daniels   $  500.00 Pepsi     $  200.00 Modern Display      $  500.00         Total Possible Sponsors   $10,600.00

Expenses for October Conference: Eric Marcus   $1,500.00 Hotel Monaco   (comp)               $1,000.00 Airfare      $1,000.00 Food/Beverage  (comp)  $  500.00 Milestone Awards Brunch   $1,000.00 Grand Hall Gateway 1 day   (comp)   $1,500.00 Milestone Awards (5) (comp)         $2,000.00 Milestone Programs     $  500.00   Total Expenses             $9,000.00

Some of these expenses will be compensated but we all agreed that we want written letters for any comp/or partially comp expenses for  USHS. Chad will secure these letters at the earliest convenience to  fit within the time line guidelines.

A motion was also set forth that night regarding the Milestone Honors Banquet:

1. There will be a separate process in choosing (2) men (2) women and (1) organization who will receive these honors.

2. There will be a separate committee set up by USHS who will make recommendations on who will receive the USHS Milestone Honors.

3. Ben Williams agreed to draft a proposal for nomination and qualifications for the Milestone Honors.

4. The Sunday Brunch Milestone Honors Banquet was suggested by Mark Swonson to be held at a Gastronomy Restaurant where we will charge $25.00 per person/plus one free drink. Total expense with tips and 6.99 Brunch cost will be around $11.00-$12.00 per person.

Mark Swonson USHS Secretary

The Utah Stonewall Historical Society's June Monthly Meeting will be held Wednesday June 18 at 7:00 pm at the Salt Lake City Public Library Conference Room Level 3. All are welcome to attend. A Board of Director's Quarterly Meeting is scheduled for July.

Summer Meetings schedule 06/18 Conference Room--Level 3 07/16 Conference Room--Level 3 08/20 Conference Room--Level 3

I wrote Cathy Cartwright, “ Cathy What a pleasure and delight to have met you. I am sorry if I came across somewhat obtuse tonight. I put down my old schnauzer last week and picked up his cremains today. I have been bawling for a week so I apologize if I seemed cross or edgy.

As you may have figured out we had to do some house cleaning tonight about setting a better course with financing projects. We all love Chad but we wanted it to be understood that from now on there needs to be money in the bank and volunteers in place before proceeding on with a project.

I don't know if you were able to attend Gay and Lesbian Pride Day on the 8th. We had four history kiosks located there. I appreciate your joyful enthusiasm and hope that you will find friendship as well as history in our little endeavor. I can appreciate your limited time and think it’s smart to know your boundaries so that you don't get overwhelmed and burn out.

I will send your proposal to the board and get an input from them as well. Again Thank you Best Regards Ben Williams  PS I sent an attachment of our kiosks

            .

19 June 2003 Thursday

My Dad wrote me, “ Hi glad you got home ok. we enjoyed your stay but it was too short. You deleted my address book. You may have to send me some addresses. I have J W, Marie, Stephanie  and yours. It’s hot and windy love Dad.”

I wrote Rich Butler, “Hi Rich, Hope you are well. I have to meet with my 6th Grade Team today for interviewing for a new teacher next year. So much for having time off in the summer LOL I hope you got my message about poor old Oscar. I picked up his cremains yesterday. Still bawling some. I do miss that old dog.

I just got back from a quick trip to California to see my dad for Father's Day. He is starting to fail. Let's do something soon. Sounds like some good movies will be out this summer. How about Sunday brunch and a movie? Mike [Romero] is going camping up in Logan for the weekend. You do have my interest about your health. I hope it is nothing serious. Take care Ben.”

I wrote to Courtney Moser, “Dear Courtney Regarding: 13th annual - CAMPING AT HIGH CREEK -  When: June 20 - 22. Where: 7 miles Up High Creek East of Cove Utah Details: More Details will be sent later [Mike Romero] is interested in this. Do you have more info to share? Can he bring a small schnauzer? Ben.”

I wrote to Cathy Cartwright “Yes please forward all minutes. I will get them posted and saved. Take lots of digital photos. (A camera is a great investment and will save a fortune on film development.) This is what I have been doing with material. I scan any hard copies into a file and save on a CD rewritable. I also post to cyberspace.

Our official website is slowly being worked on but we hope to store material there also. Chad has a vision of keeping an archives of different organization's materials which the society would maintain but be owned by each particular organization.

I created an archive at the old Utah Stonewall Center which surreptitiously was disposed of and am very reticent to create another physical archives. Some of the material was saved and donated to the U of U Marriott Library but all the artifacts disappeared.

Chad's idea is more of a museum and my concept is more research librarianish! You are correct about creating a quick "What to save and what not" List. Clutter is the bane of every collection but then again people's garbage is an archaeologist dream. Give me some time to think about what would be useful and I will post it here. PS I travel so if your group would ever like a presentation on historical subjects I would be happy to oblige. Best Wishes Ben Williams.”

Shane Johnson  of  The Salt Lake Tribune reported Students push for a gay/straight chapter at Logan school Alliance: Principal says the time is right for such a club in northern Utah, but it may take until fall

A proposed Logan High School chapter of the national Gay/Straight Alliance caught school officials off guard, but they say they will work with students to make the club a reality.

            "It was a lot worse my freshman year, but now I don't even interact with those people," said junior Mark Sailor of the harassment he endures for being gay. He is one of the students trying to start the club.

            But the climate of intolerance is enough that he and friend Jessica Liddell are pushing for the support group, which would pro- vide support for marginalized gay and lesbian students and promote tolerance and acceptance.

             Principal Charles Nelson agrees that some at the school harbor an intolerant attitude toward gays and lesbians.

            "I don't think I would describe it as hostile, but I would certainly describe it as unfriendly," he said Monday.

            Nelson said the time is right for such a club at the northern Utah school, but it may take the better part of the summer to reconcile district policy and state and federal law before a charter can be drafted and voted on by the school's faculty and the student senate, neither of which will meet until fall.

             Similar issues were raised in 1996 when the Salt Lake City School Board banned all nonacademic clubs to block East High School students from starting their own Gay/Straight Alliance.

            A protracted battle ended in 2000 when the board reinstated the clubs, succumbing to public and legal pressures.

            Nelson said the Logan School District does not want to refight that battle but added that "with a conservative northern Utah community, there is going to be a lot of emotion involved with it."

            Sailor and Liddell approached school administrators in April with their idea for the club. Nelson initially told them that the proposal was out of line with new district policies that deny access to clubs that "materially or substantially . . . involve human sexuality."

            To be in compliance with the rules, the students would have to create an organization with a more generic name, and with a mission statement that would fight discrimination in general, not just that based on sexual orientation, Sailor said.

            But Liddell said an umbrella group addressing other forms of discrimination would miss the mark.

             "It is widely understood that race discrimination is not OK, where [discrimination based on sexual orientation] is something that is just not talked about."

             The students -- both standouts on the school's debate team -- do not foresee the need for legal action, but they have not ruled it out if their proposal is ultimately denied, Sailor said.”

 

20 June 2003 Friday

Mark Swonson wrote to Paula Wolfe, Subject: Pride Partner, “Hi Paula- As member Board of the Utah Stonewall Historical Society we were wondering when they are going to have a meeting to distribute the money for the Pride Partners? Thanks, Mark.”

"Paula Wolfe"  responded, “Mark, It will probably be in July. We still have bills to pay, and money to collect, so cannot possibly know our final outcome until mid-July. Not to mention we have to calculate the volunteer hours. I'm hoping we'll schedule something around the 3rd week of July. A nice party for everyone and distribute checks at the same time. We will let the partners know by early July of the scheduled date. Paula.”

Mark Swonson wrote the USHS Board “RE: Pride Partner, “I asked Paula [Wolfe] about the Pride Partners and here is her response. So I have no idea about that meeting Michael Picardi was going to?”                             

            I wrote to Jan Sylvester who asked about Sean Dennison, “Rev. Sean Parker Dennison of the South Valley Unitarian Church, the first transsexual minister hired in the United States.”

Sean Hannity appears on  Fox News Channel's Hannity and Colmes and ABC Radio's Sean Hannity Show and has recently written a book Let Freedom Ring: Winning the War of Liberty Over Liberalism. Hannity is the new Rush Limbaugh and declared that “if the Left prevails in America, the well-being of future generations will be in peril,” by creating confusion in our society (and among children) about what is right and wrong. He is against adoption and marriage rights for same sex couples having stated “You know, kids don’t want to have two daddies. They want to have a dad and a mom."

According to Eddington the Freedom Festival went private as a nonprofit organization in 1994 after learning that some Gay groups had petitioned to be included in Salt Lake’s Days of 47 parade. He confirmed this by citing conversations with a Mayor of Provo and a director of the festival.”

Kenni Littlefield and Marlin Criddle are planning a rally to celebrate or protest the Supreme Court Decision regarding the Texas Sodomy Law on the day of the decision which will be either June 23 or 30^th. It’s being sponsored by Utah Lawyers for Human Rights and other organizations.

“What to Do: Plan to attend the rally. Send this e-mail on to others. Invite 5 of your friends to join you at the rally and ask them to invite 5 of their friends.

Why: If the decision is favorable (the Texas law is overturned), we will have the opportunity to celebrate the fact that unmarried adults who engage in private consensual sex will no longer be branded as criminals under Utah law. We will celebrate a great step forward in the quest for equal rights under the law. If the decision is unfavorable (the Texas law is upheld, or the Utah law is upheld), we intend to inform the Utah legislature and the people of this state that we will not rest until Utah's sodomy statute is repealed or found unconstitutional. In either case, we need to make sure that our voice is heard and our presence felt, and we need to continue the struggle for justice and equality.

Background: The US Supreme Court will soon issue its decision in Lawrence and Garner v. Texas (the Texas Sodomy case). This will undoubtedly be the most important US court decision affecting gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender/intersex rights since Bowers v. Hardwick in 1986, when the Georgia Sodomy statute was upheld. The decision could have the effect of declaring all sodomy laws in the United States, including Utah's, unconstitutional.

The Texas sodomy statute is being challenged on two grounds: equal protection (the Texas statute criminalizes only same-sex sexual conduct) and privacy (the government has no business regulating private consensual, non-public sexual conduct). Utah's sodomy statute applies to both same-sex and opposite-sex unmarried persons. If the Supreme Court declares the Texas statue unconstitutional on equal protection grounds, Utah's law would still be enforceable. On the other hand, if the Supreme Court declares the Texas law unconstitutional on privacy grounds, Utah's law would go the way of the Edsel.

Cathy Cartwright wrote me, “Ben, I just thought I would let you know I create fused glass pieces, not stained glass. I don't see a need to send out a correction; I just wanted to let you know. Thanks!”

I sent out this Information for USHS Board Members, “Dear Board Member, As required by our by-laws a mandatory Board meeting is looming. We need to schedule a Quarterly Board of Directors Meeting for July. I am looking at 11-14 July for a possible meeting date. The days would be Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. Time commitment approximately 2 hours (or less!!) I thought we could even have a luncheon, dinner, or coffee meeting at an inexpensive restaurant i.e. Dee's Denny’s, Village Inn etc.

    This would be a great opportunity for board members to meet one another and give input and insight on direction the society should be heading.

    Please email me ASAP if any of these days would not work for you and whether you prefer an afternoon or evening meeting. I will set a date by Monday June 23rd.

MINUTES ITEM; I did not send out this financial proposal to the general membership. Please be prepared in July for suggestions how to help make this event happen and as stress free as possible! At June 18th meeting we discussed Sponsorship and Budget concerns for October Gay Month with Eric Marcus and Milestone Honors Banquet. Some of these expenses will be compensated but we all agreed that we want written letters for any comp/or partially comp expenses for USHS. Chad will secure these letters at the earliest convenience to fit within the time line guidelines.

A motion was also set forth that night regarding the Milestone Honors Banquet: 1. There will be a separate process in choosing (2) men (2) women and (1) organization who will receive these honors. 2. There will be a separate committee set up by USHS who will make recommendations on who will receive the USHS Milestone Honors.

3. Ben Williams agreed to draft a proposal for nomination and qualifications for the Milestone Honors.

 Sunday Brunch Milestone Honors Banquet was suggested by Mark Swonson to be held at a Gastronomy Restaurant where we will charge $25.00 per person/plus one free drink. Total expense with tips and 6.99 Brunch cost will be around $11.00-$12.00 per person.

This is not carved in stone yet! Please we need your incredible expertise and suggestions! Best Regards Ben Williams

Chad Keller wrote Will look into, may be under renovation I am about to send you some file....I sent up a complaint to management yesterday, and informed them the I may seek the state to intervene....so.... Just put it on a disk, and I’ll pay you some cash for it and time...need to cover my butt and get my documentation out of here.

Mark Swonson wrote “Hi Ben- Sunday or Monday would work out for me for the Board meetings at this time. Stephanie Thomas wrote, “As of right now, I have no commitments on any of those dates. Stephanie.”

Reporter Mark Eddington wrote me, “Ben, I’m working on a story about the lack of diversity at the Freedom Festival. Michael Mitchell suggested I get in touch with you for an interview. Could you call me as soon as possible at 257-8749? Thanks. Mark Eddington The Salt Lake Tribune

Chad Keller wrote me “Per Michael [Mitchell] (I called as I wrote this) This is a festival in Provo... common knowledge is that the Freedom Festival went private, due to Gay Groups trying to get into the Days of 47. He is looking for historic facts from our community. Michael Mitchell suggest he contact you for a historic perspective, etc. I would note that Rocky did open the door for the Utah Gay Community to participate in the Dayz of 47 when they put him on as an honorary board member. He asked them to consider diversifying and did mention Gay community, and they said that they would allow us if we met the theme and went  through the process.

I have tried to get a float together for two years...but  the expense is quite a lot, and I could never get enough groups together  that would financially support it and realize just the presence of a nice  float spoke volumes politically without a need to be nasty and degrading. That would come later.”

Brandon Burt wrote me concerning the Umbridge I took over the SLCity Weekly’s homophobia, “I think David Richardson is just a letter-writer, isn't he? I mean, I realize some people at the Weekly get into that stupid hyper cynical mentality that since gays got a certain amount of good press in the 1990s, suddenly it's possible to be hip and edgy by being anti-gay—one of the most infuriating and distasteful phenomena of recent years, in my opinion--but I always enjoy it when publications print letters from idiots; it gives people a chance to "speak truth to stupidity".

Anyway, staff never pays any attention to letter-writers; people who write letters are all supposed to be cranks and the sheer fact that anyone feels strongly enough about anything to write a publishable letter for free is enough to discredit him/her. (Again, I don't always agree with this, but it's part of that whole hyper cynical mindset that's rampant among insecure types who fear nothing more than being considered uncool.)

On the other hand, it will be interesting to see what response you get. I just don't understand where they get this attitude--I mean, I know they subscribe to the Seattle Stranger. Don't they ever read it? It's obvious that the Stranger sets the bar for hip and edgy weekly tabloids, and a big part of what does it is an unflinching acceptance of the fact that a good percentage of their readership (and staff) is unapologetically gay (plus the fact that Dan Savage is the editor in chief).

Does this mean that it is never critical of the gay community? Far from it: the Stranger is free to criticize more honestly than the Weekly ever could. It recently ran a cover story that was very critical of a certain segment of the gay male community, and yet I wasn't offended--It seemed like it  was written with the community's best interests at heart, and it seemed to show that the Stranger really cares. If the Weekly tried to do the same thing, it would be a lot more difficult with its current editorial policy for it  not to sound like muckraking.

*** BTW, I'm flattered that you think some of my email is interesting  enough to be included in the historical society's Yahoo! group. I'm hoping you wouldn't mind asking me before posting my emails there, though--not that I would have tried to withhold permission for the emails in question,  it's just that it came as kind of a shock to see it up on a BBS with no warning.

 I think if I'm writing to you personally I'm more likely to be open and frank without worrying about some bogus "public persona" and self-censoring, so the emails will probably be more interesting anyway. *** I sent Greg Garcia an email yesterday; haven't heard back from him yet, though. I'll keep you posted. XOXOX Brandon

I wrote back to Brandon Burt “You're absolutely right about the postings and I apologize. I would never post however anything that I felt would have been unflattering and you did generate a bucket full of responses and clarifications and got people responding who never write anything. But you are right and I was wrong. If you ever free like it feel free to post directly to the site otherwise it will just be me and you jabbing away. Mea Culpa-Mea Culpa. Ben Williams PS by the way I just got off the phone with Mark Eddington of the Tribune who was seeking a Gay angle on the lack of diversity in Provo's Freedom Festival for this year. I guess they have some right wing wacko as they grand poohbah.

I gave your cell phone number to Eddington so he may contact. This is what I got out of it: Tribune Reporter Mark Eddington is doing a news story on the lack of diversity in the Utah County’s Freedom Festival. Evidently the new darling of the radical right Sean Hannity is invited to address the crowd although the current Festival organization is a private, non-profit, and supposedly non-political foundation that plans and organizes annual 4th of July celebrations.”

Brandon Burt then  responded “Ack! Really, Ben, it didn't bother me--I kept rewriting that paragraph trying to soften it--and you know it's not like me to try to soften *anything*. If you really think something would be interesting enough to be on the yahoo group, I hope you'll feel free to ask. It's just that, for me, the experience of writing email as opposed to a group post feels so much more friendly and personal, and I don't want to sacrifice that.

Oh yeah, they got ... fucking Sean Hannity. Woohoo, one o' them there real tele-vision celebrities! Like we were expecting Provo to celebrate anything but the "freedom" to marry within one's own race and breed like bunny rabbits. What did you tell the Trib reporter?

Oh, by the way, I think I forgot to mention that I really enjoyed your letter. Bravo! XOXOX Brandon.”

Chad Keller commented “We should also point out subtly if anyone has the chance the total lack of diversity in Utah's Newest Informercial "Best of State."  The board is all right wingers from Provo. Perhaps We can do.... Simply the Best.....without all of the entrance fees and what not.”

Brandon Burt later wrote to me, “Dear Ben, Hey! I just heard back from Greg Garcia; he wanted me to forward his Email address to you: beastly@sonic.net The only thing is he would like you to keep his address strictly  private (that's why I wanted to email him to get his permission.) And, okay, well, specifically, he asked that you not share it with Chad Keller. (I don't  want to hurt anybody's feelings, so I'm just going to keep all that to myself, but Greg did want me to pass that along to you.) So *anyway*, I told him that you would like to interview him for the historical society and mentioned that Chad had said something about an award. XOXOX Brandon.

Marlin Criddle wrote me, “I wasn't aware that Michael [Mitchell] had sent something to you. That's probably enough then. Thanks for being willing to help.

 

21 June 2003 Saturday

My dad wrote me, “Hi I  got the email addresses,  I will have to write Kay to get Johns web site been windy and cool had to turn on the heat this morning. Dad.”

            Michael Mitchell announced on the Yahoo Group site,  “You have to clear out your schedule for Saturday night and join me at my new house for a very special event. EDIE CAREY up close and personal private house concert at the home of  Michael Mitchell 7:00 PM $10.00 RSVP to this email for address and directions. If you haven't heard of Edie Carey, trust me, she's one of the best singer/songwriters you haven't heard of! And a simply amazing performer. Her soon to be released next CD "When I Was Made" has many local connections with producers, songwriters, and designers from Utah.

Saturday will be an opportunity to hear her in probably the most intimate setting you ever will (unless of course you marry her and beg her to play for you on the couch). For those of you familiar with her music, you'll be able to make requests (although I don't know that I can personally deal with hearing "Open Wide" from the new album - but I'm certainly going to request it anyway!). If you need more convincing, go to www.ediecarey.com. Music clips, information, other swell stuff all at your fingertips. I promise this will be a highlight of your summer. Best, Michael

 Someone wrote, Metro Sports Club. in ZCMI Center, Cruisy health club "Vice cops have been working the steam rooms and showers over the last couple months with a number of arrests. It’s still a great gym to meet sexy guys but be discrete in the showers."

Mark Eddington of   The Salt Lake Tribune reported Freedom Fest lacks diversity, critics say Too conservative: Annual Fourth of July extravaganza draws fire for leaning to the right; Provo festival criticized for lack of diversity

PROVO -- There are lots of things right with America's Freedom Festival. And critics of the July 4 patriotic gala in Provo say that is precisely the problem.

   It has too many Republicans and not enough Democrats. It is heavy on Sean Hannity and light on Alan Colmes. Diversity -- or its lack -- is an issue after 20 Utahns recently scolded organizers for allowing Hannity to host the festival's Stadium of Fire at Brigham Young University's football stadium. In a letter, the signers accused the conservative commentator of being a hatemonger and an "embarrassment."

             "He's very divisive because he is so right-wing and goes berserk when anyone disagrees with him," Springville resident Chriss Pope said of Hannity, whose nationwide show is aired on KSL Radio. Hannity also appears on TV with liberal sidekick Colmes.

            Others view Hannity's involvement as part of a much larger problem at the festival, which has a $2 million budget and  bills itself as the nation's premier Independence Day party. The festival draws a half-million or more revelers every year to Provo for its 25-plus events.

            "There have been some questions about diversity," said BYU physics professor Bill Evenson, whose wife, Nancy, signed the letter along with Pope and others.

            As some see it, festival leaders are part of an "old boy network" that discourages participation by Democrats, gays and minorities who fall outside of Utah County's conservative mainstream. They point to the all-Anglo, mainly Mormon, and Republican makeup of the festival leadership and the right-wing tone of the celebration.

            Festival officials accuse critics of taking liberties with the truth.

            "We've had Larry King, a liberal Democrat and a true patriot, involved at the festival in a major way at the Stadium of Fire show and haven't had a single complaint from a conservative," said Carl Bacon, festival executive director.

             Festival leaders point with pride to past participation from former Democratic Rep. Bill Orton, singer Gladys Knight, who is black, the Rev. Robert Schuller and others. Bacon says board members even have invited Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, and former President Carter.

            While Bacon cannot name a single Democrat (other than King), black or Latino on any of the festival's top boards, he bristles at any suggestion of exclusion or bigotry.

            "I'd assume most are Republican," he said. "But I don't ask that question. I don't think it is appropriate." He says the same is true of board members' religion. Even so, festival leaders pledge to make diversity a future priority.

            Paul Richards remembers diversity -- too much of it -- being an issue when he served on the festival board in the late 1980s. At one meeting, "Someone made the comment that if we could just get rid of some of these Democrats around here, we could really get things done," recalled Richards, a Republican at the time. During much of the 1980s, the Utah County Democratic Party did not enter a float in the festival's parade because leaders believed the GOP received preferential treatment. When the Democrats began entering a float in the 1990s, they say they often were victims of subtle harassment.

            Nancy Woodside, former Utah County Democratic Party chairwoman, recalls being yanked from the parade one year for not having her truck properly registered with festival officials. In other years, parade leaders threatened to bar future participation if Democratic leaders wore campaign T-shirts.

             "It was always something," Woodside recalled. "It was like our slip was always showing."

            Reports in the early 1990s that gays and lesbians sought entrance to Salt Lake City's Days of '47 Parade worried Freedom Festival officials, who decided privatizing the gala was preferable to having Provo continue to run it and risk entry by such groups.

             Former Mayor George Stewart remembers organizers approaching him about privatization during the spring of 1994.

            "One of their concerns was that if it was a government parade, they would have to allow whoever or whatever" to participate, Stewart said.

             "It was a hot potato," recalled Rod Fudge, past parade president. "This was an attempt to take it off the plate and get it out of the kitchen."

             Even today the festival all but shuts the door to gay groups. David Pratt, parade chairman, says such entries would have to conform to the parade theme and pass muster with float reviewers.

            Added Bacon, "We want people to express patriotism, not lifestyle. . . . Let me tell you, the thing that ruined Hollywood was that very issue. They started having gay parades. I don't want my children seeing what I saw in Hollywood, and I don't want anything that is inappropriate in this parade."

            Michael Mitchell, executive director of gay/lesbian political action committee Unity Utah, says that is the private Freedom Festival's privilege.

            "The word 'freedom,' however, flies in the face of their exclusion of people who don't think like them," Mitchell said. "Patriotism does not solely belong to folks who are conservative and straight. Wrapping bigotry in the flag doesn't make it less; indeed, it makes it all the more stark."

            Woodside, however, sees hopeful signs the festival is trying to be more inclusive. This year, for the first time, a parade official called the Democrats and asked if the party wanted to participate.

            "I guess even the journey of a thousand miles begins with the smallest step," she laughed.

             Even so, the Democrats declined.”

 

22 June 2003 Sunday

Heather May of  The Salt Lake Tribune reported, “Questions of style over substance- Rocky Anderson for mayor: He maintains that "we need a mayor who's going to keep standing up and adding a different voice in the state of Utah"; Frank Pignanelli for mayor: Described as a "people person" who admires the approach of former Mayor DePaulis, he says he will work better with lawmakers;  Mayoral race puts focus on personality.

Rocky Anderson regrets not picking up the phone. When he joined the lawsuit against Legacy Highway in 2001, he didn't call Davis County leaders who previously had met with him in hope of maintaining a civil relationship. The suit spawned threats of boycotts and legislative retribution.

            As House minority leader in the Legislature, Frank Pignanelli made the call. Known as a Young Turk, he frequently lobbed partisan barbs. When it came time to denounce the budget during one legislative session, Pignanelli phoned his GOP counterpart before floor debate and the two worked out a deal: Democrats would bash the Republican budget for two hours. Then it would be passed.

            Now, Anderson and Pignanelli are running for Salt Lake City mayor, along with Molonai Hola.

             If it comes down to Anderson and Pignanelli, as expected, the choice may be more about manner than matter. The two front-runners are both liberal-leaning Democrats who share the same broad objectives: help the west side, revitalize downtown, protect the environment. But one is seen as combative. The other seeks to be conciliatory.

             "The thing I disagree about most with Rocky, that drives me to knock on doors, is the way he treats people -- employees, residents, department heads," Pignanelli says. "People might say, 'Yeah, he [Anderson] may be an SOB but he's our SOB.' People like that always end up failing because they can't inspire their employees."

            Anderson calls such talk "negative" and says it means Pignanelli doesn't have much to run on. But the first-term mayor doesn't miss a chance to criticize his opponent's style, either. In the Legislature, Anderson says, Pignanelli was "extremely bombastic, very partisan, very unrestrained oftentimes in his personal insults toward others."

   Brack's back: If Anderson mirrors anyone, it may be J. Bracken Lee, Utah's governor from 1949 to 1957 and Salt Lake City's mayor from 1960 to 1972. In fact, Anderson replaced a portrait of former Mayor Deedee Corradini that hung in the hallway outside his office with one of Lee. Known as a maverick, the Republican Lee was a controversial enemy-maker, admired for his candor and known for confrontation.

             "There isn't this mealy-mouth, I-don't-know-let-me-go-home-and-think-about-it-for-a-while," says Deeda Seed of Anderson, her former boss. "He's not smooth. He offends people frequently and then tries to make amends for it later. Sometimes you have to be provocative. You have to offend people. That's leadership in a sense."

            To wit: Most City Council members oppose Anderson's re-election. Groups outside the city are targeting him to be ousted. He is so unpopular among state lawmakers that two freshmen had the power during the past legislative session to withhold millions from the city because they were angry about the Legacy Highway and Anderson's record on the west side. (The parties eventually reached a deal and the city got the money.)

            Anderson almost relishes the alienation. At a Utah Pride Day event earlier this month, he practically bragged he doesn't get along with the Legislature. "We need a mayor who's going to keep standing up and adding a different voice in the state of Utah," he told the crowd.

            The mayor says he helps bring about change by being confrontational, sparking a dialogue about urban sprawl by suing over Legacy, for example. He lashed out at the council over members' religion during the Main Street Plaza saga, but supporters say, while offensive, it helped get people talking about church-state issues.

             Fans love him for it.

             "I like his high energy and willingness to step out on unpopular issues," says Tony Weller, owner of Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore, referring mainly to Anderson's executive order protecting gay city employees from discrimination. "I saw that as an example of a man who's not playing political cards. He said, 'Dammit, that's the right thing to do, and I'm going to do it,' "

            But Anderson -- like any mayor -- needs the Legislature. In the same conversation where he accuses lawmakers of "horse-trading," he mentions he wants them to allow cities to increase the sales tax for transit projects. The capital city may also need Capitol support to keep Hogle Zoo. "I don't know Frank [Pignanelli] that well but would very much welcome someone who would sit down and negotiate and acknowledge our existence," says Rep. Stuart Adams, R-Layton, one of the freshmen who fought Anderson over Legacy. At the same time, he credits the mayor with bringing environmentalists to the table to work out issues relating to the stalled highway project.

            Councilman Eric Jergensen, a Pignanelli backer, believes his candidate would have a better chance of getting things through the council. Feuding between the branches may have cost the city Olympic money for a downtown 2002 Games legacy. The council balked at the mayor's grand plans for youth programs and may try to cut them. They question some of his board appointments, but eventually approve them.

            Seen as leading like the lawyer he is -- staking out a position then arguing his case -- Anderson insists he builds consensus. Former council members credit him with persuading them to approve light rail to the University of Utah. He also leveraged the city's property right on the Main Street Plaza into money and a community center.

             But Jergensen says Anderson's style is exhausting. "Why does each situation like this [Main Street Plaza] have to be so divisive, so confrontational? Not everything has to be a battle."

   Labor pains: Pignanelli also points to Anderson's relationship with employees, saying the "revolving door" hurts the city in lost time and money. According to city records, 41 appointed employees have been fired or resigned since Anderson took office in 2000. Anderson hired 16 of them himself, including three spokespeople, three chiefs of staff and two Olympic organizers. Corradini had a similar turnover figure, but her 46 separations were spread over eight years.

            Salt Lake County Councilman Joe Hatch, a former head of the county Democratic Party who is leaning toward endorsing the mayor, says he has a Top 10 list of reasons why it's difficult to be a liberal in Utah: Explaining Anderson's management style is one of them.

            While an employee union of clerical and technical workers is endorsing the mayor, morale is low among some.

            Anderson explains the firings as getting rid of people who don't meet his expectations. He says he doesn't plan to fire any more. "City government is very stable. I'm a good manager." He says he occasionally reads books on leadership style and knows there is room for improvement.

            He is a workhorse, and he expects the same from employees.

            "What he doesn't want to hear is nothing's happening," chief of staff Dave Nimkin says. "He can be intense. He can be abrupt at times. There are levels of frustration he exhibits -- just being impatient."

                        But, Nimkin adds, he also is funny, charming, passionate, and benevolent.

   Yes, the mayor micromanages, editing employees' memos, giving legal interpretations of ordinances like a city attorney, remembering minute details -- such as whether a pile of dirt a resident complained about was removed. Supporters like his hands-on, bulldog style. Others wonder if it prevents momentum.

            "He doesn't delegate very well," says Tim Funk, a low-income housing advocate. "If he has a personal interest in something, he'll follow it through day and night. If he doesn't . . . you're mostly caught in suspension."

             Anderson is accessible to the public and the media, with his one-on-one and group meetings with constituents and habitual news conferences. The public often sees the mayor in every stage of his decision-making process, which leads to complaints of flip-flops. Residents watched him agonize over the Main Street Plaza controversy, offering and stridently defending three positions.

             "He puts himself into hard-and-fast decisions and then backs away from them," says Helen Peters, a Sugar House community activist. "It's kind of hard to know when to trust him."

            Anderson explains his shifts as compromises.

             Fans like him for being out there. Backtracking, Weller says, "isn't nearly as important to me as the earnesty of the man. I think he's earnest."

   Frank talk: If Anderson is like Lee, Pignanelli wants to be Palmer DePaulis, Salt Lake City's mayor from 1985 to 1992 who evokes warm fuzzies.

            DePaulis, now a state tax commissioner, was known as a listener, a believer in the public process and a uniter, though that doesn't mean he always got his way. He dueled with members of a hostile legislative branch known as the "gang of four."

             "I've been in the grocery store with Frank and he can't get his grocery shopping done in two hours -- he just stops and talks to everyone," said Councilwoman Jill Remington Love, who supports Pignanelli. "He finds human beings interesting. That's different than Rocky's style. Frank is just really a people person."

            Maybe it's the lobbyist in him. Pignanelli, who also is an attorney, says he will work better with lawmakers. He has been one, and he schmoozes them during the Legislature. But he says he's no pushover.

             According to news reports, Pignanelli called Republicans "those right-wing extremist wackos," claiming they were on a "witch hunt" against teachers and were "irresponsible" with the budget. The difference, Pignanelli says, is that he doesn't personally attack lawmakers. However, in 1992, Pignanelli was criticized for questioning another lawmaker's integrity during one particularly heated debate.

             During the 1999 mayoral chase between Anderson and Stuart Reid, Pignanelli helped supply information for a controversial mailer that labeled Anderson soft on sex predators. Pignanelli says he didn't see the flier in advance and objected to its use.

             "Frank's more of a go-along, get-along type of a person," recalls former GOP House Majority Leader Craig Moody. "We would give him latitude."

            Pignanelli credits his negotiating skills with passage of the state's first hate-crimes bill (though the courts later struck it down), and with helping expand the Salt Palace Convention Center and construct the Matheson Courthouse.

            "Frank is a consensus builder. He's an excellent listener -- sometimes he takes in too much information," says Kelly Atkinson, who was the Democrats' minority whip under Pignanelli. "He's always trying to gain more information prior to making a decision."

   Liberals could view Pignanelli as too compromising in his attempts to pull the Democratic Party to the center. In 1996, he wanted to set up a political action committee to raise funds for moderate and conservative Democrats who would not be beholden to abortion and gay-rights issues. The same year he was part of a group that tried to distance the party from the now-defunct Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats, asking the group to drop the party label.

            Randy Horiuchi -- a Salt Lake County Councilman, lobbyist, and Anderson supporter -- says Pignanelli may be too smooth, too political. "He will excel at working deals, cutting deals. A mayor's job, it's a lot of administrative, executive functions that I don't think political guys like me and Frank Pignanelli are well-suited to do."

            Pignanelli has enemies, too. "I found his style of leadership was not inclusive," adds Anderson supporter Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City. "His leadership set the agenda and you either followed or you got out of the way."

            Pignanelli took over Democratic leadership in the House from Mike Dmitrich, now a state senator. "I did the negotiating. His leadership was all through the press," says Dmitrich, an Anderson supporter.

 

23 June 2003 Monday

Tim Sullivan  of  The Salt Lake Tribune reported  “Paula Wolfe, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah in Salt Lake City says the center's 7,000-volume library is growing through donations and has a broad collection. Gay center's library sees steady influx of donated books Big plans: The director hopes to put its book database online and link to other small libraries.

 As at any library, it's the trashy fiction that is most popular in the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah's book stacks -- at least with some patrons. Others use the center's library for more serious endeavors. One large nonfiction book devoted to female-to-male transsexuals receives particularly heavy use.

 "There's nowhere for them to go to get any information," says Channing Galbraith, volunteer librarian at the center in Salt Lake City. "To have something like that on hand is priceless."

The library, which opened last summer, is slowly gaining in popularity. Born out of a need to keep track of the books flying out of the center's coffee shop, the library is now a 7,000-volume collection that is neatly organized in a room of shelves and on a computer database. "It's a much more serious effort," Galbraith says. "The gay community has always wanted to have a library there. . . . It's one more way they're serving a very wide range of people."  

The challenge now, says Paula Wolfe, the center's executive director, is getting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community to use the library more. The increase in patrons has not kept up with the steady influx of donated books the center has received, she says, partly because many in the community don't know about the library.

And despite donation being the only way the library obtains materials; its collection is broad. The volumes include lighthearted romance novels, plays, poetry and self-help books. There are sections on AIDS, identity, and history, and even a few antigay books. The center also has several rare and out-of-print books, such as Sexual Orientation and the Law, a reference book of every U.S. court case that has dealt with sexual orientation, and Dykes to Watch Out for, a comic-style book by Alison Bechdel.

It used to have a first-edition copy of The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, one of the nation's first lesbian novels.

Wolfe acknowledges that the University of Utah's Marriott Library has a large gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered-oriented collection, but the center's library is nonetheless important.

When the center first began to put together a book collection, the gay  community did not have nearly as many resources as it does today. Now, it presents a valuable alternative to mainstream libraries, Wolfe says, with its books that are tough to find in Utah and its easier access.

As Galbraith points out, it may also be more comfortable for Utah's closeted gay community to come to the center rather than a public or university library.

The library, says Wolfe, is looking for more children's and youth literature, as well as audio-visual materials. The center already owns several documentaries that she plans to have available to watch on a television at the library.

Wolfe also wants to put the library's database online and create a search engine for it. She wants to link it to those of other small libraries at the People with AIDS Coalition of Utah and the Utah AIDS Foundation. The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah's library at 355 N. 300 West is open Monday through Friday, during normal business hours; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays; and until 8 p.m. on selected days.”

How there’s no institutional memory is that it was Bobbie Smith who created a Gay and Lesbian library for the Utah Stonewall Center back n 1991 much of it from his own collection. My archives was housed in the library section of the center until after moving to 3^rd West we were able to have our own room. If it wasn’t for the vision of Bobbie Smith, Paula Wolfe wouldn’t have a library to tout even though it was looted and decimated in 1997.

 

25 June 2003 Wednesday

The University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center sponsored a panel discussion titled "Defining Minority: A Process of Inclusion?" held in Room 253 of Orson Spencer Hall, 260 S. Central Campus Drive. The event is free and open to the public.

            The panel, moderated by the Hinckley Institute of Politics' Tim Chambless, will feature Blythe Nobleman, minority affairs and communications coordinator for Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's office; William Smith, U. assistant professor of education, culture, and society; Anna Archuleta, probation officer and community activist; Brenda Lyshaug, U. assistant professor of political science and gender studies; and Tony Yapias, director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs.

            The panel discussion is designed to educate, foster dialogue and raise issues facing Salt Lake City's and the University of Utah's minority communities, said Charles Milne of the U.'s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center.

            Students and faculty will hear from a group of community leaders, government workers and university professors regarding nontraditional minorities in the community and their unexplored relationship to ethnic minorities, he said.

 

26 June 2003 Thursday

I went up to the state capital to attend a rally celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the nation’s Sodomy laws. I took several pictures for the Utah Historical Society and also interviewed a lot of folks about their feelings on this historic day. There really wasn’t much of a turn out which surprised me  just about a 100 people. Marlin Criddle and Michael Mitchell were the main speakers.

Shinika A. Sykes of The Salt Lake Tribune reported “Rocky aide gets an earful Forum: Ethnic leaders question whether a white lesbian should be a minority affairs director; Panel discusses minorities- It was supposed to be a forum aimed at finding common ground and bridging the divide among Utah's growing ethnic minorities and the lesbian and gay community.

             But what occurred Wednesday on the University of Utah campus was a litany of heated comments directed at Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson's selection of a white lesbian as the city's minority affairs and communications coordinator.

            About  75 people attended a panel discussion billed as "Defining Minority: A Process of Inclusion," sponsored by the U.'s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center and the Hinckley Institute of Politics. The event was billed as a discussion over whether lesbians and gays should be considered a minority and fall under antidiscrimination and equal protection policies.

            On the panel: Blythe Nobleman, appointed in April as minority affairs and communications coordinator for the Salt Lake City mayor's office; Tony Yapias, director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs; Brenda Lyshaug, professor of political science and gender studies at the U.; and Teresa Martinez, an associate professor of sociology and assistant to the U.'s senior vice president for academic affairs.

   Several people said that with few if any ethnic minority representatives on school boards, the Board of Regents or in the Legislature, the mayor's selection of a white woman to represent ethnic minorities because she is a lesbian is an insult.

              "Yours is a lifestyle choice," said Carol Goode to Nobleman. "I am a black woman. You do not represent me."

            Said Frank Cordova, "Bald-headed white men can be a minority."

             Nobleman, clearly taken aback by the tone of the comments, said she did not anticipate the amount of "hostility" that was directed at her.

   "I thought there might be concerns, but I am not an ethnic minority representative. I got the job because I am a qualified applicant," said Nobleman. "I was appointed because of my unique strengths as a technical writer and my living in diverse cities like Miami and Los Angeles."

             Goode said she had applied for the minority affairs position but received a letter saying it would not be filled due to budget constraints.

            A few weeks later, she learned that Nobleman has been appointed. Goode said she would have been satisfied if Anderson had interviewed various people for the job, whether she was selected or not.

             "If she [Nobleman] does not represent the ethnic minorities, then what minorities does she represent?" asked Goode. "That just does not fit right."

             Nobleman pointed out, again, that her title is "minority affairs and communications coordinator," adding that she works  at the discretion of Anderson on behalf of the city's minority constituents but not as their representative.

            Yapias, too, said his appointment was criticized by many in the Latino community. He is native of Peru and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The majority of the state's Latino population are of Mexican descent and Catholic.

             Lyshaug said she looks at minority issues from the perspective of a "political theorist." She noted that once one group has been successful in overcoming a history of discrimination, others will use their example to say they have suffered as well.

             "Some of the divisiveness even in the minorities groups themselves are real," said Lyshaug, adding that many religious groups  reject carving out any special rights for gay and lesbians.

              "We got a little off [the planned] topic but lots of people got to express their feelings and concerns about minority issues that are going on throughout the city," said Charles Milne, director of the U.'s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center. "I did not want to silence  anyone's voice."

  

27 June 2003 Friday

Elizabeth Neff and Rebecca Walsh of The Salt Lake Tribune reported “Reagan Plewe, 5, shows her support Thursday for her mother Maxine Plewe, middle and Plewe's partner Amanda Madsen, rear, at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City during a rally in support of the U.S. Supreme Court decision to strike down a Texas sodomy law as an unconstitutional violation of privacy. The ruling means Utah's sodomy law could also be struck down in challenged.

            Court kills sodomy law Utah's gay-rights groups, conservatives see far-reaching ramifications The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law banning gay sex as unconstitutional Thursday  --  a historic ruling that ensures the demise of anti-sodomy laws in Utah and 12 other states.

             In a vote of 6-3, the justices held the Texas law violated the privacy rights of consenting adults to choose what takes place in their own bedrooms.

             Unlike the Texas law specifically aimed at homosexuals, Utah law forbids "any sexual act with a [unmarried] person who is 14 years of age or older involving the genitals of one person and the mouth or anus of another person, regardless of the sex of either participant."

            But the justices said both kinds of consensual sodomy laws impinge on the constitutional liberties of Americans.

             "Liberty presumes an autonomy of self that includes freedom of thought, belief, expression and certain intimate conduct," wrote Justice Anthony M. Kennedy for the majority. "The statutes do seek to control a personal relationship that, whether or not entitled to formal recognition in the law, is within the liberty of persons to choose without being punished as criminals."

            Thursday's ruling does not apply to two other portions of Utah's statute that prohibit forcible, or non-consensual, sodomy and sodomy on a child.

            Utahns  --  from gays rights activists to conservative pundits  --  were struck by the far-reaching ramifications of the decision.

            State Rep. Jackie Biskupski quietly rejoiced. The openly gay, Democratic lawmaker from Salt Lake City figures the justices reinforced privacy rights that have been eroded by anti-terrorism campaigns, the Internet and so-called morality laws.

            "We're kind of losing some of our rights to privacy," she said. "This is reaffirming some of the core values of our country. I think the country as a whole will embrace this decision and not be disappointed by it."

             And attorney Matt Hilton, who used Utah's sodomy statute to try to force a gay teacher from her job, could not dispute the impact of the decision.

            "The justices had to do some stretching to get where they got, but they definitely got there," he said. "There's no question. The language is broad enough. The sodomy law in Utah is invalidated by this opinion. I wouldn't try to prosecute it. It's gone."

            Thursday's landmark decision comes in the case of two Houston men arrested in 1998 for violating the Texas Homosexual Conduct law. Police found the two having sex after responding to a false report of a disturbance at one man's apartment. Both were jailed overnight, convicted, and fined $200 each.

            The high court reversed its own 1986 ruling that upheld a Georgia anti-sodomy law on moral grounds. That earlier court, the majority wrote, failed "to appreciate the extent of the liberty at stake."

             Justices John Paul Stevens, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer joined Kennedy in the majority opinion. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor agreed with the outcome of the case, but not for the same reasons as the majority. O'Connor said the Texas law should be declared unconstitutional as a matter of due process in that it singles out gays.

            State laws against consensual sodomy are increasingly rare. Before 1961, all 50 states had outlawed sodomy, but at the time of the court's 1986 decision, only 24 states and the District of Columbia had sodomy laws.

            Of the 13 states that still have them today, laws in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri apply only to same sex couples. Eight other states in addition to Utah ban sodomy for all unmarried people: Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

              Utah law makes consensual sodomy a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Sodomy was outlawed even for married couples in Utah until 1977.

            The law is rarely enforced, but in 2001 a 19-year-old American Fork man was charged after a 16-year-old girl  said she performed oral sex on him. Prosecutors eventually dropped the charges.

            And Hilton and the "Citizens of Nebo School District for Moral and Legal Values" targeted Spanish Fork High School psychology teacher Wendy Chandler, saying she was unfitted to teach as a lesbian violating state sodomy laws. The case made its way through the court system for six years but was ultimately dismissed by the Utah Supreme Court earlier this year.

            Weaver said she was happy to see the old laws go.

             "I'm very glad that the U.S. Supreme Court saw fit to move on and move past those types of things," she said. "I wish it had happened a couple of years ago."

            Utah gay rights activists are relieved the threat of going through an ordeal like Chandler's is gone.

             "It means that the heart of our lives can no longer be made a crime," said Unity Utah Director Michael Mitchell, "and thus, there is no excuse for treating us as anything other than full partners in our great democracy."

             But state lawmakers may not be in a hurry to strike bans on consensual sodomy from the books.

             Sen. John Valentine, an Orem Republican, and an attorney, agrees the ruling invalidates one section of Utah's three-part law.

             "Consensual sodomy will have to be either changed, or prosecutors will have to enforce it differently," he said. "I suspect, in an effort to keep our statutes current, we would make some change consistent with the ruling."

            Some expect Utah legislators to put up a fight.

            Dani Eyer, director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah, said she worries the law will be left on the books as a statement, in the same way legislators have left the state's unenforceable abortion statute in the code.

             "In a perfect world, the legislature would realize that our statutes are not in compliance with the ruling," she said. "But our legislature has a history of leaving on the books statutes that they like [but] that the Supreme Court has found to be unconstitutional."

            If the sodomy statute were not repealed, attorneys say it would take a legal challenge to remove it.

             Beyond questions of what the Utah legislature will do, some wonder about the future of Utah's other morality laws including bans on adultery and fornication, and bigamy statutes used to prosecute polygamy.

            A dissent authored by Justice Antonin Scalia also calls into question laws against same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, bestiality, and obscenity. In an unusual move, Scalia read his dissent from the bench.

             "The Court makes no effort to cabin the scope of its decision to exclude them from its holding," Scalia said. The justice, joined in his dissent by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justice Clarence Thomas, said the majority had "taken sides in the culture war."

            Salt Lake City civil rights attorney Brian Barnard, who has supported well-known Utah polygamist Tom Green in an appeal of his bigamy conviction, said the ruling undermines the foundations of several Utah laws.

            "I don't see this opinion as attacking the bigamy law as such as much as maybe chipping away at the underlying assumptions in it, " said Barnard. "Before we get to the polygamy aspects, the fornication law will be the next one to go down."

            Utah's fornication law makes it a class B misdemeanor for two unmarried people to have sex. An adultery law can be applied to cheating spouses.

             Hilton agreed, saying the ruling's "overwhelmingly broad language" could muddle interpretation of other Utah laws.

             Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff was out of the country Thursday. His office declined to comment on the decision in his absence.

            Shurtleff signed off on a controversial brief supporting Texas in the case. The brief, written by Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor, was signed by just one other state attorney general. At the time, Shurtleff justified his decision to sign on as part of his role to defend Utah law.

 

29 June 2003 Sunday

I was sad to hear that Katharine Hepburn, died today. She was great in so many films with Spencer Tracy but my favorite role was as Queen Eleanor in Lion in Winter (1907-2003) Katharine Hepburn served as the leading American actress for over six decades. She is regarded as an influential cultural figure and was included in the popular book Women Who Changed The World. Katharine Hepburn is also named in lists like 300 Women Who Changed the World, 100 Icons of the Century, and 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons of All Time.

Blythe D. Nobleman: Guest Column for the Salt Lake Tribune wrote, “Collaboration is necessary to improve minority inclusion in society. On Wednesday, I took part in a panel discussion at the University of Utah titled "Defining Minority: A Process of Inclusion?" The panel was formed to provide a structured, civil forum for discussion about the burning questions of how we recognize and designate minority status in government and society.

             I was heartened to see that the room was filled to capacity. The panel was to include Theresa Martinez, associate professor of sociology and gender studies; Ana Archuleta, probation officer and community activist; Brenda Lyshaug, professor of political science; William Smith, professor of race relations; Tony Yapias, state director of Hispanic Affairs, and me.

            Smith called to say that he was running late but did not arrive. Archuleta had a last-minute family emergency and was unable to participate.

            The discussion included personal anecdotes and a discussion about social and political theory. Representing the Salt Lake City Mayor's Office as the Minority Affairs and Communications Coordinator, I described some of the programs, projects, grants and hiring initiatives the mayor has implemented in order to provide greater recognition of, and opportunities for, people from all "minority" communities.

            The panel discussion itself was lively, informative, insightful, and thought-provoking. After an hour, the moderators, Charles Milne of the University's Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center, and Tim Chambless of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, handed the microphone over to the audience for what was supposed to be a question/answer session.

             When the microphone was passed among audience members, the discussion, which had been inspiring and dynamic up until then, became a free-for-all for a few people who continue to criticize my appointment as the Minority Affairs and Communications Coordinator on the basis that I am not a member of an ethnic minority community.

            I understand that a few people do not want others to infringe upon their "minority" turf. However, we all need to find common ground and work together, rather than allow a few abusive, disruptive people to divide us.

            As a lesbian, I belong to a "minority" community. I have been subjected to exclusion, discrimination, and persecution. I do not have equal rights to marry the person I love or to adopt children. I also have felt the disdain and condescension aimed in my direction solely on account of my sexual orientation. Contrary to Carol Goode's uninformed, cruel comment, I did not "choose" my sexual orientation.

             Believe me, few people would choose to attract the belittlement, cruelty and hatred so often directed at gays and lesbians.

            This essential dialogue last Wednesday was sidetracked by intolerant, hateful comments made by a few screaming audience members. I was disheartened by their lack of civility and respect. I was saddened by their abuse of a situation in which an intelligent, challenging, open discussion had previously taken place, and of their undermining an opportunity for further exploration and dialogue relating to such crucial issues.

            The argument that a white lesbian does not deserve to work in a minority affairs position reduces the issues of bias and discrimination to being solely about skin color and race. No one person can represent all minority communities, ethnic or otherwise.

   We have a great deal of work to do  --  work that we must accomplish in collaboration with each other as we exercise the utmost empathy, tolerance, respect and, above all, kindness. Blythe D. Nobleman is minority affairs and communications coordinator in the Salt Lake City mayor's office.”

Paul Wolfe    wrote in the Salt Lake Tribune, “Implications of the Supreme Court's ruling on sodomy Decision secures rights for the oppressed. Sodomy has been used to deny equal rights and equal protection to a group of people. Regularly, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of Utah are denied housing, are fired from their jobs, denied access to their partners in health-care situations. In Utah, members of this community are more than three times more likely to be a victim of a hate crime.

A year ago, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah was asked to sign on to the amicus brief of Lawrence versus. Texas. On June 26, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down a decision in that case that, in essence, invalidated 13 state sodomy laws, including Utah's.

             For a third of a century, sodomy laws permitted the government to dictate what was appropriate in our bedrooms. They controlled and defined the most intimate component of an adult relationship. Some sodomy laws, such as the one in Texas, named only homosexuals as potential offenders. Other state laws, including Utah's, made illegal any non-procreative acts, regardless of sex or gender. In only four of the 13 states were the laws ever enforced. Invariably, they chose to prosecute only homosexuals. As Justice Sandra Day O'Connor pointed out, we were denied equal protection under the law.

             Since Utah has not evoked its sodomy law, why is our gay community so excited about this decision? Sodomy has been used to deny equal rights and equal protection to a group of people. Regularly, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of Utah are denied housing, are fired from their jobs, denied access to their partners in health-care situations. In Utah, members of this community are more than three times more likely to be a victim of a hate crime. They are more likely to commit suicide. Lesbians are more likely to lose custody of their natural-born children, and men and women without any criminal  conviction are denied the right to adopt a child.

             Every year when the hate crimes bill comes before Utah's Legislature, it stumbles over the term "sexual orientation." The thinking seems to be that if homosexuals are illegal, they don't deserve to be protected.

   Not too many years ago we believed that African-Americans were inferior and therefore did not deserve the same rights as the rest of us. We created an entire culture built upon a notion of "separate but equal." In an effort to join the rest of our society as full citizens, the gay community has struggled since the '60s for equal rights. The Supreme Court has taken a step toward the recognition of that protection and those rights.

            The dissenting opinions written by Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas argue that laws do control or define morality and that if a law was enacted yesterday, we should practice it today. From this perspective, I assume we should bring back the laws that permitted the burning of witches, laws against miscegenation and, while we are at it, let's eliminate that vote for women.

             On a more serious note, it is my hope that this decision will extend its influence beyond gay men and lesbians to include the rest of what some of us call the "queer" community. It is my hope that the rights to privacy and personal liberty will be extended to include those immigrants and naturalized citizens who were most recently held without any proof of wrongdoing, without the right of appeal, without an opportunity to let their families know where they were.

             I hope this decision will shore up our commitment as a nation to the vision of our forefathers, to offer equal protection for every person in America. Paula Wolfe, Ph.D., is executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Utah.

            Michael Aaron’s Utah Men’s Naturalist club held an event out at the Great Salt Lake. Someone named Ron mentioned it. “Hey Everyone, I just wanted to say I had a great time on Sunday! It was nice to see some old friends again and have a chance to make some new ones. I'll definitely be coming to some of the other events in July. A few people expressed interest in seeing my art website but I didn't have any cards with me, so I'll put a link to the website below. I also included a pic of one of my paintings from a local model (hint:  all you hotties, I'm always looking for models, another chance to hang out naked!!). Again thanks to those who organizing the event and I hope to see you all soon. Ron.”

 

30 June 2003 Monday

Comedian Buddy Hackett died today. My favorite role of his was with Mickey Rooney in It’s a Mad Mad Mad World but he was also good in Music Man.(b. 1924-2003)

I wrote to the USHS Board Members, Dear Board Members As per our bylaws a mandatory quarterly meeting is upon us. I have scheduled Monday July 14  7-8:30 p.m. for our board meeting. We will probably meet at Dees or Denny's for drinks and refreshments as we discuss the society's business. This will be the first official board meeting so it would be great for all of us to meet one another. Not to be extreme, however a no show at the meeting will indicate to the board that you are no longer interested in serving on the board. I will email the board exact location of the meeting as we get closer to that date. If anyone has a suggestion where to meet that would be great. Best Regards

Ben Williams Class of 1969

 I wrote to Joe Redburn, “I left a CD of the State Capitol Sodomy rally I recorded for the historical society for you at the front bar of the Trapp with your Sunday afternoon bartender. Best Regards Ben Williams PS Chad said Ted was not doing well. I hope he gets to feeling better soon.

Michael Mitchell wrote to me , “Ben, Your email brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it. You know, I do what I do because there's nothing else I could do (sounds Seuss-ian... sorry). I really feel in my bones that my mission for the time being is to be working on the front lines for our rights where my home is. It's an honor and incredibly humbling. Thank you for the work you are doing to have our history be alive and present for us. It makes a huge difference to know where we've been and to have a sense of community and history. Warmest regards, Michael

Toni Johnson of the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah sent me a list of 2003 Upcoming Events

            Saturday, July 12th    Who Me? Stressed? a workshop for clients and providers.

            August 23 & 24 River Trip Cost: $25.00 for clients $100.00 for family and friends

            September    Date to be announced End of Summer BBQ a celebration for clients, providers, supporters, and volunteers.

            Friday, October 10^th Awards Reception an annual fundraiser to benefit the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah.

            Saturday, October 11^th Living With AIDS Conference a one-day conference designed for people living with HIV/AIDS, their families, friends, caregivers, and AIDS service providers.

            Sunday, December 21^st Holiday Party a celebration for clients, providers, supporters, and volunteers

            The People With AIDS Coalition of Utah is dedicated to providing educational and support services that enhance the quality of life for all people impacted by HIV / AIDS.

Toni Johnson, Director People With AIDS Coalition of Utah 1390 South 1100 East, Suite 107 Salt Lake City, Utah 84105

Wasatch Leather Men wrote We're finally done with our project! Check out this mega listing of  ADULT Yahoo Groups that are unique to Utah!

Chad Keller wrote to me  asking me to help him send a bio and picture to Planet Out as part of their local hero series. They required, “1) A picture of yourself, any format, sent as an attachment 2) A short reply to the question: "What inspires you to make a change in your community? 3) A brief list of organizations, events or efforts you've been involved with.”

"Chad C Keller" to: "Marke Bieschke" Subject: Local Hero Response “Marke; Here you go, and like everybody else is there a picture of me that I like. This one will probably be the best from an event this past weekend. Let me know when it is on the site, and if you decide to do anything else. Thanks for the recognition, it’s nice, and thanks for the opportunity to participate. I am truly honored. Keep in Touch, Chad Keller Salt Lake City, UT”

Then to me he said, It will be on line the weekend of the 4th..... Do I ever have a good hair  day....no...simply no...”

He also wrote to Planet Out “again thanks to whomever may have made This nomination. I am honored, and deeply touched.” I think it actually was Chad who made the nomination LOL.

Here is what was submitted....was “I was taught the lessons of service from a very young age. It perhaps is a Mormon thing, there isn’t times that I don’t remember being busy doing something to help others or to improve the world we live in. Pitch in and get the work done, someone has to set the chairs up, and clean up the mess when the party is over. I look around at that that have laid the foundation to the Utah Gay Community and am inspired to keep the work they started moving forward. We will always be met with challenges to improve ourselves, and the places that we live to be more diverse and inclusive.”

He then wanted me to send this as a sponsor even though he wrote it. “Active in the Utah Gay community since 1987 when he became a member of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Cache Valley, a Utah State University student organization. Since that time he has held several notable positions, and has created numerous projects for the betterment of the Utah Gay and mainstream community, highlights include:  Current Crown Prince XXVIII of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire, Fundraising Director Utah Gay Rodeo Association 1999 to 2001Executive Director UGRA Rodeo 2001& Wild West Festival Creator of the 1st Utah Pride Kids Activity Center 2002 Utah Gay Pride Parade Chair  Salt Lake First Night 2003 Processional Chair 2004 First Night Entrance designer, and Processional Chair Creator of Utah Gay Service Day Founder Golden Spike Literacy Project Co-Founder Utah Stonewall Historical Society Founder GLBT Community Leadership Forum Founding member and visionary of Utah GLBT Business Guild Active Volunteer Utah Heritage Foundation Active Volunteer Salt Lake Downtown Alliance Active Volunteer Memory Grove Foundation, Creator Adopt a Monument program Founding Partner Mixed Media, LLC

The above while it is only an abbreviated list of the many organizations and projects that Chad Keller has generously donated his time, talent, and vision. As the novelist George Eliot said, "Keep true, never be ashamed of doing right; decide on what you think is right and stick to it." This has become his mantra. Often controversial because of his outspoken nature, once his sights are set there is no stopping him, but for certain the outcome of his vision and determination will be outstanding. Throughout his 16 years of service he has often made great making great sacrifices to see to the betterment and growth of the Utah Gay Community, stating. "I was taught at an early age to put Community first, and it’s a habit I’m in no rush to break."

Courtney Moser wrote me saying “I'm contacting everyone in my address book. Because Attbroadband has changed to Comcast my new E-mail address is  cmoser 4 @ comcast. Net Please update your address books, thanks. Courtney Moser P.O. Box 4442 Logan Utah, 84323.

Chad Keller wrote me regarding the Rally Recording I made last Thursday. “I have people interested in a copy of the recording of the Rally. I personally see great value in it and see that it could be a nice revenue generator to cover some of the last of the debt. A suggested donation of at least $10.00 seems in keeping with the Utah Historical Society, and photos. It should come with some sort of disclaimer in keeping with national copyright. Credit where credit is due....Ben Williams Recording...etc. act...... Thoughts. CK.”

Chad Keller also wrote to USHS Board, “I invite those members of the Utah Historical Society to join me on Monday July 7 at 7:00 pm at the City Library in the Atrium Reading area above the Atrium Shops. This will be a preliminary planning meeting to determine what our direction will be and to make assignments. Members of the board are encouraged attend, and everyone looking for assignments.

We will review the Milestone honors guiding rules that Ben has written that will be voted on by the board of directors, discuss location, and make recommendations to the Historical Chair on what subjects we see that would generate interest for people to attend. We may also have conceptual drawings for the Milestone Award from our great Artist in Ogden!

            Mark Swonson has a great letter that we will need the help of those participating to see gets out to the community so that the History Fair portion is focused and a nice compliment to the Historic Presentations.

            In review, if anyone is specifically interested on a Kids segment or Kids track those ideas would be appreciated. As we have many parents in the group, if you have kids, bring them along, the meeting will be kept to a minimum of 2 hours, and I just bought some great new coloring books for the "keep em busy box."   Thanks! Chad Keller Co-Chair.”

Chad Keller wrote to Dana Tumpowsky of the Program Committee C/O Salt Lake Public Library 210 East 400 South, “Dear Ms. Tumpowsky; Thank you so much for discussing with me the many new programs and partnership opportunities that our new and outstanding public library can and is willing to provide to the citizens of the Region. It and its programs will stand for decades to come as a place where ideas and subjects reflective of the diversity of our city and state are discussed.

On the weekend of October 17-19, 2003, The Utah Stonewall Historical Society will host its first Historic Conference as a participant of the 2003 National Gay and Lesbian History Month. This weekend will highlight the great and colorful history of the Gay and Lesbian population of Utah. As the centerpiece presentation of the Month on the evening of October 18, 2003 we will feature nationally renowned author Eric Marcus in a discussion of his re-released historic perspective, Making Gay History, The Half-Century Fight for Gay and Lesbian Rights. Mr. Marcus is also the author of several other Gay oriented publications including: Is it a choice?, Why Suicide, The Male Couples Guide, Together Forever, and New York Times Best Seller, Breaking The Surface: the Autobiography of Greg Louganis.

As we prepare for many events with other local Gay and Lesbian Organizations throughout Utah, we are very interested in teaming up with the Salt Lake Public Library system to host this Cornerstone and landmark presentation for a review and discussion of Gay History with Mr. Marcus. Further we see many great ways our two organizations might team together to bring enlightening and diverse programming to the many presentations that are made available through the city’s library system on an often stressed budget.

We envision a couple of key elements in our partnership with the City Library:

Use of the Library’s new conference center the afternoon of October 18 for various local historic presentations from a variety of local historians. This group might include such notables and Ben Williams, and Michael Quinn, as well as presentation from student historians. All subjects will be prescreened and will be based on documented history and research. On the evening of the 18th Mr. Marcus would make his presentation in the Auditorium, with a small book signing and reception to follow in an adjacent room.

We envision a small History Fair on the Atrium level of the history or many of Utah’s outstanding Gay and Lesbian Leaders, businesses, and social and support organizations.

A limited number of invited organizations and businesses will be accepted to make a visual presentation at the History Fair. As part of the History fair the Utah Stone Wall Historical Society’s kiosks could be featured for the month of October in the Atrium outlining specific subjects of interest pertaining to Utah Gay History. Local Gay Historian Ben Williams will prepare the text of these kiosks.

A Children’s Story Hour featuring the fables of Oscar Wilde to entertain youngsters who might attend with a parent or guardian. This event would also be open to those whose family might be interested in one history’s more notables authors and orators. This event would not have a gay focus other than the featured author and presented by the partnership as a compliment to the weekend.

The featuring of Milestone Honors nominees, an award presented to 2 men, 2 women, and one organization, on banners on the south walkway between the new library and the Leonardo. These banners would be created by the USHS and a requested date for the unveiling to be October 1, 2003 to kick off Gay History Month.

Of course there are several other items that if the Library was made available that we would include in the lineup, including the 2003 Community Notables, Then & Now, an interview and discussion on the Changing Face of the Utah Gay Community with historic leadership, Salt Lake City Stonewall Era 1969-1979; a community interactive review and recording of Gay Salt Lake from Aerial Photographs; and history minded events.

We are expecting a minimum audience for Mr. Marcus of at least 200 people or more depending on what if any the requested donation or ticket price would be. It is our hope that with our partnership and through outside sponsors all of the events would be offered free of charge as a way to open a new door of history for the community. With the implementation of a rigorous public relations campaign, we expect that number to increase. For other presentations throughout the day we expect the number to fluctuate depending on the subject.

As the library is our first choice, and we anticipate a positive response to our offer, time is still of the essence. This final piece of the recipe for a successful first history conference must be confirmed shortly so that we may begin an intensive marketing campaign and complete the last of our sponsorship letters. I or other members of the USHS would be happy to meet with you and the committee to discuss possibilities further. I look forward to hearing from or speaking to you in the immediate future. I can be reached at (cell) 661-0533 (work) 325-3758, or at ckell2@jcpenney.com.

By partnering with us, the City Library would be listed as a Presenting Community Partner and would be offered a seat on the planning committee of the Conference and Fair. At this time we do not anticipate any cost to the City Library and offer it as a way of supporting the great possibilities of discussions and community events at the region’s most outstanding educational facility. We see this as a winning situation for both organizations and look forward to speaking further with you in the near future.

Sincerely Chad Keller  Co-Chair Utah Stonewall Historical Society.”