2004 Journal of Ben Williams
I am in Palmdale California
staying with my mom for my dad’s funeral. We can’t hold it until tomorrow due
to the funeral home being closed for the holiday. It seems to surreal and I
have been sleeping on the couch because my uncle and aunt J.W. and Pauline
Johnson came out from Texas for it.
I’ve
been in kind of a daze since hearing of my dad’s death last December 26th
and have been trying to keep it together for mom’s sake who is like a zombie
barely able to function.
I
cooked a dinner for those here but mom didn’t eat a bite. She’s not crying just
kind of spaced out.
So
here it is a new year. I am a 52 years old sixth grade school teacher at
Orchard Elementary in North Salt Lake. I share a house in Salt Lake City with
Mike Romero and three dogs, Priscilla, Saffy, and Smokey and my cat Billy. Mike
and I bought the house on Fernleaf when we were lovers back in 1996 but now
have settled in as more or less roommates with us staying in separate parts of
the house. I still love him but I don’t think he loves me anymore but we just
continue to live together because it’s convenient and for the pups.
Reading
email messages from Utah from Yahoo Group Site I belong to I saw that Paula
Wolfe announced that the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah (GLCCU)
officially changed it’s name to Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community
Center of Utah (GLBTCCU). That’s a mouth full.
2 January 2004
Friday
Dad’s funeral was held today. I didn't attend. I stayed at the house and made a dinner for everyone coming back to the house. I said my dad's goodbye when I went to the viewing. Cooking his funeral dinner is the best I can do. My Aunt Marie and I got into a scrap about politics and said, "I am burying my father today can we not do this?
Douglas K. Fadel,
Center Board of Directors Event Coordinator wrote to me concerning the “LGBT
Historical Society.”
Hi Ben, On
behalf of the staff and the board of directors of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender Community Center of Utah, I would like to invite you or a
designated representative of your organization to join us for the Center's
first GLBT Town Hall Meeting, to be held Saturday, January 24, 2004 from 10:00
a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the Center, 255 North 300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah
84103. Light refreshments will be
served.
We have invited
your organization to participate in the GLBT Town Hall Meeting because your
organization is important to the GLBT community in Utah. At the GLBT Town Hall Meeting, the Center
staff and board of directors hope to learn more about your organization and
your organization's expectations of the Center.
We also hope
that your organization will learn more about the Center and its role in the
community. To make this event inclusive
and successful, it is very important that your organization send at least one
representative to the meeting. Please R.S.V.P. to Doug Fadel, with the name,
telephone number, and e-mail address of the individual from your organization
who will be attending the meeting.
Interesting that
he didn’t know our name is the Utah Stonewall Historical Society for Gay and
Lesbian Studies.
3 January 2004
Saturday
I wrote mom: I got home 10:47
your time…security delays...but am fine just tired.
Jr
4 January 2004
Sunday
I wrote to Rich Butler: Sorry
didn't stay in touch during the holidays. My dad died December 26th and I just
got home Sunday from Palmdale. Everything seems like a dream. Really tired but
doing better. Dad just got up in the morning to get the paper came into the
house had a stroke and died instantly. Mom found him on the kitchen floor as if
he had fallen asleep. He was 78 years old. I'm worried about mom being alone in
Palmdale so may be bringing her to
6 January 2004
Tuesday
Frances Williams Griess wrote:
Got your message about the williams_danforth group. I must be an idiot, because
could not figure out how to sign up / sign in to connect. Really sorry about your dad. How's your mom doing and how are you
doing? Thanks for forwarding the
obituary and sorry I was unable to be there.
Too little time, and too much on my plate to get away ...
but you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I know this is a tough time for all and I
don't care what anybody says, you learn to live with it, but that doesn't
necessarily mean it gets any easier to
accept. You just accept it and keep
putting one foot in front of the other and the days still continue to go by.
God bless and keep you until we meet again. Love ... cousin
I wrote back: Dear
Craig Hunter
wrote me: Ben, I hope you are doing o.k.
I don't know what it would be like to loose a father that was good to you. My dad was a beast. Hang in there!
I wrote back:
Thank you... My dad was a good man... How was the orgy? Mike said you got
invited to a JO party ha! Ben
Craig Hunter replied:It was the
hottest party I have gone to and the main age was 32. They were all as horney as the Devil and not
shy at all. I SURE DO WISH THAT YOU AND MIKE WOULD COME VISIT US AT THE CLUB
THIS SAT AT 9PM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wrote back: I need to see how I
feel about being out and about. I'm still pretty emotional. Love Ben
Queers Kick Ash meetings began to help Gay
Youth quit smoking.
8
January 2004 Thursday
Ken Jones
wrote me: Dear Ben, There will be no polite way to tell you this that
won't upset you but I am afraid I am going to have to ask you to remove
all information about Donna, me , Kevin, Kenneth jr. and his wife from the web
site that you have been sending to us to look at . While I am sure your
intentions are well meaning we are all quite upset that you did not consult
with us first before doing this. I know you haven't had much contact with Donna
in the last few years and are totally ignorant of the fact of how famous I am
and have been for many years and that people in my position and their families
prize their anonymity above all else . Currently we are quite busy beginning a
company to publish our own comic books that we own as well as helming several
movie projects too. We are doing this with top creators from Disney and places
like that and that ties up all of our
free time . You probably don’t know this either but the reason we moved to
Yucaipa originally was because we busted up a giant drug ring in the trailer
park we used to live in and the police who we cooperated with helped us get our
owner there to buy our trailer there so that we could leave town because many
of the drug addicts involved in that were threatening to kill us and still are
that is why Donna drives over a 100
miles a day to go to work.. What you are doing by posting all this information
about us is that you will not only have all kinds of people bothering us
because I am famous but you are also endangering our lives and property too. I
am officially asking you to remove all information about my family including
any photos of any vintage from this project and please never again give out any
personal information about my family to anybody. I have to tell you in all
honestly that we were never very interested about genealogy to begin with and if I was I come from a very rich and
famous group of people on my mothers side and I couldn't care less about
knowing much about that probably because I know so many famous people personally
that my ancestors don't mean much to me anyway. I am sure this will cause a lot
of hard feelings but I am sorry I am going to have to insist on my rights to
have you not do this And just for
future reference you might want to check with other people before you start posting all kinds of info on them too.
Sincerely, Kenneth L. Jones
I wrote back: Ken there is no
personal information listed on this site that is not public knowledge. I
respect your right to privacy but you will have to respect my right to record
information about my family. I will however delete you from the web site. Ben
My aunt Marie Buehlman Williams
wrote: I made it home okay and went to work on Monday. I really wasn't tired. It was
a pleasure to be of help for your mom.
We go back a long ways and had many good times together. We have a lot
of work to do at the office but time will fix that. Bought a set of 600 count sheets for $70.00
thought that was a buy since all those we saw there in
I wrote back: Glad
you made it home without being completely wiped out. We were worried about you.
Had to have those sheets ha! Good for you. Did you get the pictures of Steven
and David I sent as an attachment? Been talking to Mom nearly every day. She is
getting much stronger I can tell by her voice. Charline will stay as long as
she is needed. Tomorrow Mom goes to Panarama for her tests. As for the
Williams-Danforth site its pretty simple once you know how...its the knowing
how. You have to get into Yahoo Groups then search for Williams-Danforth site
and then click on the left hand task bar that says PHOTO and then the files
should open in there. Donna's nutty husband emailed me and said he wanted all
information regarding Donna and his kids deleted. You can imagine what I told
him he could do. Love and appreciate you Jr
10
January 2004 Saturday
Marie Buehlman wrote: Jr does
this mean that we are related????
I wrote back: Everyone is related
eventually. I talked to Mom and she is doing better. Went to Panarama
yesterday. Couldn't find nothing wrong in her blood. She sounded stronger and
she has gain a few more pounds so she is getting her strength back, Said she is
even going to try and go to church tomorrow. I've been downloading music for
you. I will have 10 CDs with songs for each year in the 1950's. I will try to
get them sent off to you tomorrow. The airport
Annual Mr. Ms.
And Miss Gay Utah Pageant held at Paper Moon in South SL.
11
January 2005 Sunday
David Nelson
wrote The 2004 Utah Legislature starts on Jan. 19 and there are already plans
to change the way we protect the rights of gender-and sexual-minority Utahns
and of those of us who are firearms advocates and owners. But we have our own
plan to watch this 45-day process unfold. We'll keep our attention focused on
those legislative ideas that would disproportionately affect us ... and share
ways to help these ideas get adopted or defeated. This is gonna get fun!
12
January 2004 Monday
The Center
announced a Safety Workshop. The GLBT Public Safety Liaison Committee and the
SLC Police Department will be holding a Safety Workshop for GLBT community
groups, businesses, and individuals at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center on
January 12th at 7pm. The workshop will teach you how to avoid undue risk and
protect yourself, your family and home, your businesses, and our GLBT meeting
places. There is no cost to attend.
Given
the political backlash from 2003's gay tolerant court decisions, 2004's
inevitable election year rhetoric, and the approaching Utah legislative session
(with its defense of marriage bills, and attempts to dilute the hate crimes
bill, etc.), our Committee believes that the GLBT community needs to be
prepared should any threats or problems be directed at GLBT individuals,
community groups, and businesses.
If
you have any specific public safety questions that you would like the GLBT
Liaison Committee and our participating law enforcement agencies to answer,
please send them and your contact information to Donald Steward and we will
forward them to the appropriate agency and/or committee member, and can address
them at the workshop. The GLBT Public Safety Liaison Committee.
Chad
Keller wrote me regarding the Celebrating the Spike Awards saying they were
done and was waiting on the USHS to decide when they were ready to give them
out. Would you like a small cocktail
party scheduled so that these can be put to a close. I will be happy to do it. Trapp Door Sound Good??.
13
January 2004 Tuesday
I wrote to Marie Williams: I sent
your package today. The music should get there
in 2-3 days they said. I insured
it to make sure it gets there. Talked to Charlene today. Said mom went to
church Sunday and did okay and she went out today by herself and did pretty
good just tired. The CDs are a belated Birthday gift. Love Jr.
Syren
Vaughn, Pageant Committee Chair wrote “Thank you to everyone who attended the
Mr. & Miss Gay Utah Pageant this last Saturday. The last word I heard on Saturday was that we
were able to make $1,100 on the door that night. Thank you all for attending and we hope to
see you at all of our court events.
Congratulations
again to Hunter, Charese, and Beth for a great year! You all did a great job and your numbers were
great. Congratulations to our newest title holders as well, Ms. Gay Utah 22, Jewels. Mr. Gay Utah 22, Wendy (We). And Miss Gay Utah 22, Legacy Vaughn. All of
the contestants were great and worked very hard that night. Again, thank you for
helping us make great events like these.
Without you, we couldn't do what
we love.........helping others.”
15
January 2004 Thursday
Chad Keller
wrote, It is a sign that there is growth in Salt Lake City! Ron Johnson, Owner of Signs & Such, and
now SGO, is hosting an open house.
Please come out Sunday January 18, 2004 to his new facitlity next to
Signs and Such at 1414 South West Temple. Ron has been a long time supporter of
our community, giving countless hours of his talent to help us all. Best of Luck on this new adventure! Attached is one of his designs. And if you know Ron like I do, the
possibilities will be endless, and hightly creative! So spread the word to
people! Lets give great community
support that Salt Lake is known for! CONGRATULATIONS RON!! In Service! Chad
Keller
A
note from Ron! In order to introduce our new stained glass service to everyone
in the community, we're hosting an open house this weekend, Sunday January
18th, between Noon and 6pm. We invite
you to stop by 1414 South West Temple to see dozens of samples of our colorful
creations. Stained Glass Overlay is a remarkable process that can convert your
existing clear glass into beautiful stained glass. You might say that SGO brings old world
beauty into the space age. The patented
mylars and lead are applied directly to existing glass. They are permanent and carry a guarantee for
quality and durability. There are over
300 colors to choose from, beginning with clear textures all the way through
the color spectrum to dark opaques. We
also offer a variety of lead colors, from antique to brass. The lead also comes in several sizes to match
the complexity of design chosen.
Sparkling bevels can be incorporated into SGO designs, as well. The possibilities are as endless as your
imagination. In addition, SGO mylars
contain a UV block to protect their colors from fading as well as your interior
environment from sun damage. SGO can be
applied to surfaces where traditional cut glass is unwise, such as shower doors
and tub enclosures. The SGO materials
can be cleaned the same as ordinary glass ... with Windex or its
equivalent. SGO can add special interest
and design to mirrors. It can also block
the view of visitors as they reach your door, while at the same time add color
and interest to your entryway. See the
attached photo of a special "Theater Masks" design we just
completed. It is a framed piece that can
be hung in a sunny window. All SGO glass
can be customized to fit in a specific location of your choosing. A decorated piece of glass can be installed
permanently, but is also removable so you can take the glass with you when and
if you decided to move. In short, with
proper care it's yours for a lifetime. If you'd like to see more of our work,
visit our website (
You'll see our
Salt Lake location also listed there under studios.
We look
forward to seeing you at our open house this weekend. If you're unable to attend, feel free to stop
by anytime. We're open from 9 to 5
weekdays and weekends by appointment.
Our phone/fax number is 486-1460
Thanks for your time. Ron Johnson Stained Glass Overlay of Salt Lake
City
we are also
Signs & Such
Chad
Keller also wrote, “Don't forget to check out "Latter Days" playing
in SLCon January 30th and Madstone Theaters. According to those that have seen
this movie in cities where it has already been shown have said that it is one
of the BEST gay movies to be made in a long time.
This
movie is definitely of interest to gay Utah historians...a very quality and
entertaining movie about gay life as a Mormon missionary!”
18
January 2004 Sunday
Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew,
spoke at a Hate Crimes Legislation Town Hall meeting held at the City and
County Building along with Professor Forrest Crawford and Representative David
Litvack.
• Ron
Johnson, Owner of Signs & Such, and now SGO, hosted an open house. Johnson is a long time supporter of our
community, giving countless hours to Gay causes.
19
January 2004 Monday
Marie Buelhman
wrote: Hi Love the CDs. Have my computer to run them on. I have a
friend in Tuscon where he and his wife stayed the weekend and we were talking
about a CD burner, and scanner. I will
get into that but I have to wait until I have the money set aside for it. Talked on the phone the other day to your mother
but waiting for an e-mail. Sounds like
she is doing okay. Well thanks again for
the CDs. The best birthday present that
I have had in a long time. Well take
care and write when you can. Can you get
on them with msn???? Love Marie
I wrote back: Glad you enjoying
your music. They will play in your car also. Mom said she hasn't been on the
computer but just has Charline check it. She's hurting again with her hip but
said she is doing good mentally. I didn't get what you meant about MSN Love
20
January 2004 Tuesday
Teinamarrie
Nelson wrote, “ Hey everyone, This very important that we take unified
action. I feel this is our year to
finally get Hate Crime legislation passed.
Please pass this on to everyone.
Please contact your representative and ask them to pass H. B. 68.Thank
you!
21
January 2004 Wednesday
The Utah AIDS
Foundation sponsored INVENIO LITE, a series of workshops to help get healthy in
many aspects of Gay Men’s lives. Tyler Ferguson announced “We
have chosen the topics due to feedback we received at the 2003 summit. We look
forward to seeing you there! Join us at The Library (210 South 400 East) from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM January 21st
Does Body Image Equal Health?: Fitness and nutrition getting into a routine
after the holidays. March 17th Career for Queers:Happy with your
Job, do you have a career? Come check us
out! May 19th Keeping our Focus and putting it into action!
“A
lot is currently being said about the Movie Latter days. As a plot concept about a Mormon Missionary coming
to terms with his sexuality and falling in love it is great. To be honest
though, I must side with the MadStone Theater.
I was invited with 40 other Utah Movie Promoters to see a screening of
the film. It lacks a lot! I came away wondering why the film maker just
didn't make it a porn, as the concept would have worked just as well in that
context, and some of the casts fantasy’s fulfilled.”
James
P. Hicks of Sandy, Utah wrote, “Hello Everyone, I apologize in advance for the
spam-mail. However, I believe this is a
very important issue and I don't think most people realize the Utah has given
away our Civil Rights to Foreigners.
If
you take a look at this Senate House Bill 24 it states that no gay or lesbian
living in the state of Utah has any Civil Rights and even if you get married or
have any type of Civil Marriage from another state, it will not be recognized
in the state of Utah.
However,
what it doesn't mention is the simple fact that if I am a foreigner I can come
to this country with my opposite sex significant other and get married in the
state of Utah. I can go back to my
country and this marriage is legal.
The
state of Utah has chosen to give away our Civil Rights as American Citizens to
foreigners. Which means that you and I
have less rights as American Citizens then a foreigner who has no allegiance to
this country.
Presently,
my partner and I are putting together a web site titled. www.givingawaycivilrights.com this site will
have an area for a forum for discussion.
I would love to hear your feedback on this subject.
We've
already lost our rights in Utah; however we can't allow the United States
change the U.S. Constitution. President
Bush said he already plans to sign a bill which will change our U.S.
Constitution and basically eliminate any chance we have of obtaining full Civil
Rights in our own country. I say don't
mess with the U.S. "Constitution" God Bless America and all our
Families! Sincerely,
22
January 2004 Thursday
Tim Keller
wrote, “Hi Chad,I'm afraid I must respectfully disagree with you in your
opinion on the Latter Day situation. You state that you must side with Madstone theaters on the basis
that the film "Lacks a lot". Madstone would seem to agree saying
simply "It’s a bad film". I have to say that with respect to
your opinion of the movie that the Gay
community in Salt Lake City, and for that matter the greater community as well,
should have been given the opportunity to judge that for themselves.
After
all, we all have different tastes and anyone programming for a theater company
would just about have to realize that. Surely Madstone has shown
"Bad" films before... I mean if one were to look through the films
Madstone has shown in the past I doubt it would be hard to find a "Dude
Where's My Car" or a "Showgirls" or any number of other
stinkers. Not to mention sexually explicit films in the straight genre like
American Pie or Boogie Nights or Kids.
Why,
there may even be movies like The R.M. or Singles Ward or God's Army or dare we
say it... Brigham City, tucked in there somewhere.
All
representative of a genre of propaganda
film making I personally find most distasteful. However, I for one know enough
to exorcise my freedom NOT to attend. I don’t believe it is unreasonable to
expect the same from our Mormon neighbors.
According
the Madstone CEO Thomas Gruenberg, this
decision is only for the companies’ Salt Lake City theater. Apparently it meets
the companies’ standards everywhere
else.
I realize that the theater most likely
received threats of boycott and God only knows what else but they programmed
the movie and should frankly should have had the integrity to live up to their
end of the bargain.
As
the Programmer and Chairperson for the Gay and Lesbian film festival held each
year at USU in Logan I can tell you it
isn’t easy to stand up to the lunatic fringe and show the films that tell our
stories. But I Believe it to be
necessary.
Long
story short, this is far more about discrimination and censorship than the
quality of the film. It is quite simply about Madstone and others telling us
what we can and cannot see. No different than the censorship, Church owned KSL
TV employs by deciding what shows we its
viewers can see, and as I stated in my Email to the company I for one wont
attending a Movie at a Madstone theater anytime soon as a result Respectfully,Tim
Keller
James
Hicks wrote “Chad, Thank you for posting my information, I've made some
modifications. Would you mind reposting.
Thanks, sorry for the screw up.
Currently Utah Senate Bill 24 effectively takes away gay and lesbians
civil rights and gives them to people who are not American citizens. If passed
here, it may very well pass in other states. It will be the beginnings of an
amendment to the United States Constitution. In effect, this bill would ratify
discrimination against gay, lesbian and non-traditional relationships. Yet this
bill will allow people who are not American citizens to visit our state, obtain
a marriage license and return back to their own country with a valid marriage
license, which IS recognized by the state of Utah and the United State of
America. This type of discrimination is wrong.
I
am attaching a letter, which I wrote to our Senators. You may either add your
name to the letter and e-mail it back to me, or you can cut and paste it and
sent it yourself. Either way, join me in expressing outrage at this
discriminatory piece of proposed
Subject:
Marriage Defined - Utah Senate Bill 24 Dear Senators: May you have the wisdom
to vote against Senate Bill 24. This bill, if passed, would adversely affect
the lives of far too many people in the state of Utah. As a tax paying citizen
born and raised in the US and an individual who's proud to live in Utah, I find
it hard to believe that our state leaders would vote for a bill that erodes
civil rights and liberties and targets a specific group of American citizens.
I also find it hard to believe that tax-paying
citizens who are born and raised in this country would be treated unfairly and
would be discriminated against if this bill becomes law.
When
heterosexual non-citizens are able to come to this country, obtain a marriage
license, get married and then return back to their own country with a license
that is recognized by the state of Utah and the United States America, WHAT ARE
WE GIVING AWAY? We are in essence giving non-citizens more rights and benefits
than some of our own U.S. citizens.
It
would appear that America's stand on freedom, equality, and justice for all, is
being chiseled away, not by terrorists in other countries, but by our own state
leaders who have turned to domestic terrorism and who threaten the equality and
freedoms of its own citizens.
Please,
senators, regardless of your personal feelings or religious teachings, do the
right thing and defeat Senate Bill 24. ALL citizens of the state of Utah
deserve the same rights and privileges .May God bless America and your family, James
P. Hicks Sandy, Utah
January 22 – Ann Miller, American
dancer and actress (b. 1923)
23
January 2004 Friday
The Paper Moon celebrated its
10th Anniversary.
Toni
Palmer wrote “It Has been awhile since there's been in-your-face stuff going on
in Salt Lake. The Utah Lesbian Avengers
are hoping to change that and in fact DID have an "action" during the
last LDS conference; Two avengers were dressed as brides and one gay man acting
as a "minister" to marry them.
We
stood on the corner of N. Temple and W. Temple and repeated a same-sex marriage
ceremony several times, so the people walking back and forth from the
Conference Center could see it. The ceremony ended with a "you may now
kiss your brides", and they did.
We
then walked thru the crowded sidewalk in front of the Center (it was in between
sessions and there were 100's of people) with the brides holding hands, others
holding "just married" signs and chanting "Queer Marriage
Now!".
We
actually stole the attention of the "bible thumpers" away from their
focus on the Mormons and we had it on us... which actually was mildly
disturbing... but never-the-less, we were noticed.
So... maybe activism isn't dead in Salt
Lake... just resting a bit.... The Lesbian Avengers hope to carry out more
radical actions in the future, but we're running into the good ole apathy thing
and could sure use some support and bodies. Queerly,Toni
SLC
Mayor Rocky Anderson accepted a post as a "key spokesman" for a new
pro-gay-marriage group called Freedom to Marry.
Heather May of
The Salt Lake Tribune reported, Rocky takes gay support national- Rocky
Anderson has been the grand marshal of a gay pride parade. He has raised the
rainbow flag over City Hall and delivered rousing speeches about gay rights.
Now, he has gone national.
The
Salt Lake City mayor recently accepted a post as a "key spokesman"
for a new pro-gay-marriage group called Freedom to Marry. Anderson's duties as
a member of the organization's honorary board, known as "Voices of
Equality," include helping "end discrimination in civil
marriage" and eventually "influence the decision makers,"
according to a letter asking for his support. But the national recognition
won't help at home, where state Sen. D. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan, is
sponsoring a bill in the Legislature to prevent the state from recognizing
civil unions performed in other states or countries.
Utah
defines marriage as between a man and woman. "He's always been for that
kind of thing [gay marriage]," Buttars said of Anderson. "He calls
that diversity. I call that a perversion." The senator doesn't expect
Anderson's post to generate retribution at the Legislature, where lawmakers
have tried to punish the city in the past over Anderson's stances on Legacy
Highway, for example. "I don't see any backlash like that. Nor do I see
him anymore effective in blocking this bill. This bill will pass," Buttars
declared.
Anderson
is in Washington this week attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Blythe
Nobleman, his minority affairs and communications coordinator, said Anderson's
involvement with Freedom to Marry is to make "a statement about his position
regarding equal human rights. This is a way that he's leading out in the fight
for equality for everyone."
New
York City-based Freedom to Marry seeks "equal access to civil marriage
licenses" according to its Web site. Anderson was one of the first people
asked to be on what amounts to the organization's honorary board, along with
the civil rights leader U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia. The organization plans
to add more members. The duties could include speaking engagements and signing opinion
pieces for news media outlets.
Evan
Wolfson, the organization's executive director, said in an interview that he
heard about Anderson's pro-gay rights stand in 1999 during Anderson's first bid
for mayor. It was a speech Anderson made in August -- during his second mayoral
bid -- that led the organization to ask him for help.
During
keynote speech to a group of gay advocacy organizations, Anderson criticized
the federal "Defense of Marriage Act" for defining marriage as
between opposite-sex couples. “Instead of pushing such polarizing and
discriminatory language, leadership demands that we define marriage as a legal,
matrimonial union between two people," Anderson told the crowd.
"Laws against gay marriage violate
constitutional rights to equality and dignity. And, worse yet, they violate the
inherent rights of dignity and respect that should be accorded to all. A family
consists of who we love --who we care for."
The
mayor has estimated that Salt Lake City has more than 18,000 gay, bisexual or
transgendered residents. He said he plans to explore offering benefits to
domestic partners of city employees and establishing a city registry for civil
unions. He would run into opposition in the Salt Lake City Council.
Wolfson
said Anderson may have more cachet outside of Utah. “In other parts of the
country people will be surprised to see the mayor of Salt Lake City [has joined
the organization], to know that people in Utah do support equality as
well," Wolfson said.”
Adam
Bass wrote The fight isn’t over! Yesterday the Utah State Senate Judiciary
Committee voted to “hold” the so-called “Marriage Defined” bill in
committee. However, even the Chairman
of the committee admitted that that was only a temporary hold-up of the bill,
and it would eventually receive a vote in the Utah State Senate. Bills are only
officially open for public comment while in committee. We need your voice on this now, while it’s
still in committee!
Today
progressive voices rang loud. Today
voices for equality and freedom won in the Utah Senate Judiciary
Committee. Today the Constitution won
the day. Tomorrow is a different day.
The
committee will vote on this bill again, and the members of the committee were
clear: they plan to vote for this bill
when it comes up again. That could be any day now.
What
can you do for equality and freedom and the Constitution? You can call all eight members of the Senate
Judiciary Committee. You can thank them
for voting to hold Senate Bill 24, Marriage Defined, in committee today. You can then ask them to vote against this
bill when it comes to committee next.
Call them even if you called them about this bill already.
The
members of the committee’s phone numbers and fax numbers are listed below. Please contact them, leave messages,
etc. The other side of this debate is
strong, and they will definitely try to limit our access as GLBT and
non-traditional families to equal rights.
We
must act as strongly as them and do the same activist activities – to protect
our basic civil liberties. Please be polite but be firm. The senators have a lot of pressure on this
bill, and we must make sure that they know we respect the difficult position
they are in, but demand that there is only one reasonable way to vote: AGAINST Senate Bill 24, Marriage Defined.
Feel
free to share your personal stories liberally with the Senators. They need to see that this bill does matter
real families in Utah. Any Senator, his or her intern, or voicemail can be
reached during business hours Monday through Friday at 801-538-1035. All can be faxed at 801-538-1414. Individually, you should contact them below
oustide of business hours: Senate Judiciary Committee: Chairman, Senator Gregory Bell: 801-971-2001Senator James Evans: 801-322-3452 Senator Patrice Arent: 801-538-1406 Senate President Al
Mansell: 801-942-6019 Senator David
Gladwell: 801-782-4130 Senator Lyle
Hillyard: 435-753-0043 Senator Mike
Dmitrich: 435-637-0426 Senator Chris
Buttars: 801-561-0535
Please
feel free to contact Adam Bass at:
adamgbass@yahoo.com with any questions.
Please feel free to distribute this email as liberally as you choose.
I
also responded to Chad Keller’s opinion. “I would like to respectfully disagree
with Chad Keller also. I emailed Madstone Theaters corporate offices after
learning of the cancellation of Latter Days also. Not surprisingly I did not
get a reply.
My
main objection is similar to Tim Keller's that as an adult I should be allowed
make decisions regarding what I choose to see and hear. As a film buff I have
seen hundreds of B grade movies or worse yet it was my choice to view them.
Why
did Madstone not let the market place decide whether the film had merit rather than them deciding for us?
Thank you but I decline the offer to have a baby sitter.
As
the new LDS "genre" of film making is being regularly touted here in
Utah (and some of it very dismal from what I hear), I can only assume that
Latter Days was not reviewed and promoted because it deals with two subjects
that the powers in Utah find too controversial sexuality and homosexuality. And
this is in a state where highway billboards promote "Pride and
Prejudice" a Latter Day Comedy and promote the study of polygamy as a
matter of faith.
As
a historian I am also dismayed over the fact that the "first" film dealing
with homosexuality and LDS missionaries can be so easily swept under the
beehive patterned rugs. Sometimes horrible films find a niche despite critics
and go on to become cult classics. "Plan 10from Outer Space",
"Orgazmo", "Trapped by the Mormons", "Carnival of Souls",
and "The Attack of the Giant Brine Shrimp" come to mind.
Brandon
Burt responded to Chad C Keller “We will agree to disagree on the film, and how
the business came to the conclusion to pull it, and another not to pick it up.
I think we would all benefit from living in a world where gay films could
receive the same level of critical analysis as other films without provoking
conspiracy theories.
Some
gay movies that have been made really are terrible--they can be as emotionally
manipulative and devoid of artistic value as any other flick at the Multi
megaplex, and Chad's right that a theater is under no obligation to show bad
movies.
"Latter
Days" may well be in this category--I'll withhold judgment until I see it.
Still, from what I understand, Madstone is still planning on screening this
movie in some of its other locations. If their reason for cancelling it here
is, as their spokeman said, that it lacks artistic merit, then it's hard to see
why they would do this.
Do
audiences in Salt Lake have such exceptional artistic sensibilities that a film
that's good enough for, say, Atlanta is beyond the pale here? Regardless of the
quality of the film, I think it's clear that Madstone caved to the threat of an
anti-gay boycott. This kind of cowardice does not encourage me to spend my
entertainment dollars at Trolley Square.
Still,
Madstone's relatively new to Utah--they're from New York; they don't know how
things work here. Ruzicka and her minions are always boycotting something. Give
Madstone a couple years and they'll learn to ignore her like everybody else
does.”
Toni
Palmer wrote, “I've heard it suggested elsewhere that the film was pulled due
to pressure on Madstone by the Mormon church.
I don't care if the film is like "porn" as you've suggested,
or if it just otherwise sucks. If the
true reason it was pulled was because of pressure from the Mormon church... I
say it's Madstone Boycott time!”
Don't
Miss the Sweetest Show to date....WONKA VISIONAt the Trapp Door (a private
club)Saturday January 24, 20049:00 pm Hosted by Imperial Crown Prince Chad
Keller and the R C G S E Proceeds for the Peoples Concern Fund Experience the
Spike.
24
January 2004 Saturday
GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER CCU
hosted its first GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL,
AND TRANSGENDER Town Meeting to discuss
the center’s future with 65 people from 45 organizations attending.
Christy
Karras reported, “Director of film with gay LDS theme still hopeful for
screenings in Utah-PARK CITY -- C. Jay Cox, director of "Latter
Days," hasn't given up hope that his film will someday be shown in Utah.
The movie, which is about gay members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, was recently dropped by Madstone Theaters in Salt Lake City
without ever being screened.
During
a panel discussion Thursday at the unaffiliated QueerLounge set up during the
Sundance Film Festival, Cox said he believes the decision was based on pressure
from conservatives in Utah who threatened to boycott the art-house movie chain.
The theater said the decision was made because of the film’s "lack of
artistic integrity and quality" -- that is, it just wasn’t good enough to
screen.
"Yeah, movies only get shown if they're
'Citizen Kane,' " he joked to The Salt Lake Tribune after the panel. He
hopes the simmering controversy over the movie will ensure that it gets
screened somewhere in Utah; perhaps after the fuss, people would want to see it
just out of curiosity. Cox heard about threats through an employee at the theater,
who "implied that some of these threats were coming from high up in Salt
Lake," Cox said.
"We
were getting criticized for having the audacity to make a film about gay
Mormons, because of course there's no such thing," Cox said. But during
the film festival circuit ("Latter Days" was not screened at
Sundance), "every festival we would go to, people would get up and say,
'I'm a gay Mormon and this is my story.'
"Panel
members discussed how to get gay-themed films into the mainstream -- and
whether that should be the goal in the first place. Even when bad movies or
television shows are made about gay people, some say, " 'Oh, this is good
for us.' Well, is it?" said Ryan Shiraki, director of "Home of
Phobia," screening as part of Sundance's Park City at Midnight section.
"Latter
Days" is the first directing foray for Cox, who worked as a screenwriter
on "Sweet Home Alabama." "My next movie is so not gay. I'm now
doing one on chick car racing," Cox said. "The only thing that would
get my family to talk to me again was to make a NASCAR movie."--
Heather
May of The Salt Lake Tribune reported “Activists seek to form anti-bias
commission - The way Salt Lake City seems and the way it really is don't jibe for
Michael Mitchell. "This feels like a very white . . . one-religion town.
The demographics don't hold that to be true," says the executive director of
Equality Utah, a gay political action committee.
Mitchell
is working to change the capital's flavor by creating what apparently would be
the state's first Human Rights Commission to examine how people are treated in
their daily lives. An early draft of the ordinance already has been criticized
as a feel-good, do-nothing board because it focuses on promoting equal
treatment through education and hearings to discuss prejudice. It lacks power
to investigate and rectify specific claims of discrimination.
That
could change. Mayor Rocky Anderson's office has seen the draft, and his staffers
are trying to find ways to give it teeth. The model may be the city's Civilian
Review Board, which investigates allegations of police misconduct and makes
recommendations to the police chief.
"We
would like this commission to have investigative and lobbying powers,"
said Blythe Nobleman, the mayor's minority affairs and communications
coordinator. "We see it as an opportunity for a strong and effective
commission that can make a difference in the community."
According
to Mitchell's research, such commissions are common. The Boulder, Colo., Office
of Human Rights investigates complaints while a commission hears appeals and
seeks remedies, including requiring an employer to reinstate an employee. In
Denver, the Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations can help mediate personal
and community disputes.
At
the least, Mitchell wants Salt Lake City's ordinance to "create a formal
dialogue between the city government and QSaltLake City residents regarding
human rights. It's an opportunity to formally look at issues that affect us and
divide us.
"The
ordinance promises to spark a conversation about which classes of minorities
deserve protection. A part of the proposal declares that discrimination on the
grounds of "race, religion, color, ancestry, age, gender, gender identity
and expression, sexual orientation, disability, medical condition or national
origin" harms the city.
In
the past, the City Council has balked at protecting city employees from
discrimination based on sexual orientation. The 1997 council approved the
protection only to see the 1998 council repeal it. Anderson reinstated the
language in an executive order after he entered office in 2000.
Councilman
Carlton Christensen voted for the repeal and is the only remaining member on
the council from that time. He is still skeptical about naming protected classes.
“I tend to think there is a broad range of discrimination," said
Christensen, who wasn't aware of the Human Rights Commission idea. "When
you get into classes, sometimes you omit other forms of discrimination for the
political draw of certain classes. Sexual orientation is one of those."
Mitchell
says a rights commission that excludes gender identity and sexual orientation
would be a "cowardly" one. Council Chairwoman Jill Remington Love --
who has been working on the ordinance and won her seat in 2001 with the help of
Mitchell’s group -- also believes in keeping the language. "It's important
to
the different
minority groups in the community to be named. . . . I hope that we can say the words.”
Still,
ordinance backers say the focus of the commission won't be on anti-gay bias.
They foresee looking into the status of children in the city. Or holding
hearings on religious tension or the glass ceiling women face in employment.
For now, residents who feel they have been discriminated against in housing or
employment can seek help from the state’s Antidiscrimination and Labor
Division. It investigates allegations against employers with 15 or more workers
and against companies or people who own four or more housing units. Sexual
orientation is nota protected class under the state law.
Director
Sherrie Hayashi said Salt Lake City could create stricter standards and outlaw
discrimination by every employer, for example. In other cities, rights
commissions hear such allegations and even seek prosecution.
Ken
Gordon, chairman of the Human Relations Commission in Fort Collins, Colo., said
such power is important. His city's commission doesn't have it. It focuses on
education and awarding do-gooders, while another city agency investigates claims.
The commission has met with the accused to talk about the problems. It also
stages forums to discuss racism.
Aaron
Cloward wrote regarding Madstone, “I just wanted to echo the things that Tim
said. I agree 100%. I just wanted to add a couple of points: 1. Madstone agreed
quite some time ago to how the movie. If they thought it was such a bad movie
when they were asked to show it, why in the world did they agree to carry
forward and show it? 2. If it's such a horrible movie like some people says it
is, why did it get such great reviews at several gay film festivals? Even the
fact that they were "gay" film festivals says more about the quality of
the movie! I know this will sound stereotypical, but it does have some truth to
it: most gay people I know are extremely critical about artsy stuff. If it made
it past my hard-to-please artsy gay friends with lots of approval and
accolades, it can't be so bad that an agreement has to be broken to make sure
it's not shown. Those are my thoughts..
Aaron
Cloward responded to Toni Palmer, “Are we ever going to learn the old phrase,
"you attract more flies with honey than you do with vinegar"? Was the
goal of the protest just to draw attention or to actually try and change
someone's opinion on gay marriage?
My
goodness, I'm gay and an extreme supporter of equal rights to marry and even I
would have been put off by the Lesbian Avengers. Does anyone honestly think
that they're going to change any LDS leader's mind by yelling them or purposely
trying to disgust them or offend them? Change is not going to come by "in
your face" protest. In fact, it just pisses people off even more and makes
them hate gay people with even more vengeance.
I
am honestly embarrassed that the Salt Lake gay community was represented that
day by the actions of these people. All the hard work that so many people have
done, all the hours of lobbying (in a dignified manner) to try to change things
are all for naught when people pull sh*t like the Lesbian Avengers.
My
advice: If you want to change people's minds about
gay marriage,
don't scream and yell and disgust them. Show loving couples who have been
committed to each other for years. Show them that gay relationships work. Show
them that gay couples contribute to society and build society instead of
tearing it down like they think will happen.
Wow.
I'm still just absolutely baffled. At this rate, with groups doing stuff like
they did, we'll never get gay friendly legislation passed. I guess I better
pack my bags and just move to Canada. Apparently the gay community is doing
something right in that country. Aaron Cloward
25
January 2004
Mike Picardi
wrote, “I am glad the GLBT communities are getting so involved and activated
over the "pulling of a gay film". I do wish, however, that we could
get so mobilized over things that truly effect our everyday lives.
The
State Legislature is attempting to remove forever our right to be married. Not
only that, but to remove access to the courts by people from outside of Utah
who move here and are in a same sex marriage. This affects us NOW and in our
everyday lives.
House
bill 64 is the Hate Crimes Bill this year and again, we are fighting an uphill
battle to get protections for the effected groups. Please contact your
legislators and let them know, as you all have done to Madstone, that we are
not going to take it anymore.”
James
Hicks wrote, “Michael, Very good point.
We all get very involved protesting a Movie Theater, but when it comes
to equality, civil rights and our future.
It would appear that most of us would rather be out on a date.
KAP
responded to Aaron Cloward, “For your information, Mr. Cloward, The Lesbian
Avengers have also put in several volunteer hours at People With AIDS Coalition
of Utah, organize a monthly queer art event, put on an educational forum for
women, and are currently raising money for the Utah Coalition Against Sexual
Assault. If these are negative activities, I would hate to see the standard for
positive.
Toni Palmer responded to Aaron
Cloward, “Let me start by saying that I speak for myself and not for the group.
You're right, we should all just sit back and be nice quiet little Queers and
wait for the heteros to pass out our equal rights to us. Give me a freaking
break... you have got to be joking.
The
"protest" wasn't to change the minds of church leaders. It was a F*ck you to the fact that the LDS
church has so vehemently opposed Queer marriage, both in words and with
countless thousands of dollars (Hawaii for example). And also to its many, many, very Homophobic
speeches (comparing us to child-molesters) and practices (aversion and
electro-shock therapy done at BYU as late as the 80's).
It
also was to show the LDS leadership and members that we WILL marry. We already
Do. Regardless of what they say or
preach or how much money they contribute to fight Queer marriage, we WILL marry
anyway. Maybe not legally right now, but
we will marry and celebrate our love and lives and have our own brand of
family, regardless of all their hateful efforts.
"Disgust
and Offend", huh? Wow, it's too bad
to hear that you think Queers kissing is disgusting and offensive. Maybe you should look at your own internalized Homophobia. And don't try to say "no, I don't think
Queers kissing is disgusting and offensive", why would those words ever even enter your
head unless you Did. Talk about feeling disgusted
and offended. And what is so
"disgusting and offensive" to you about the idea of two Queers
"marrying"?
Another
thing.. I truly appreciate all the hours people have put into lobbying
etc. However, there is also a place time
for in-your-face Queers and protests. It
was angry Queers in the form of ACT-UP who brought attention to the AIDS crisis
and the fact that gay men were dying with little or no help. It was die-in's, screaming and even arrests,
held by angry Queers, that brought the needed attention to the crisis, not the
nice, quiet, don't-rock-the-boat homosexuals sitting back and playing cutesy
with the heteros.
I
could go on with examples, but the basics are that it's the people who put
themselves out there that create change, not the assimilationists. I hope that
you will learn to love and embrace your own Queerness and not see it as
"disgusting and offensive." It
is truly a beautiful ... or maybe a should say Faaaabulous thing. Toni Palmer
26
January 2004 Monday
The Capitol’s Supreme Court
chamber was packed with Gay advocates and supporters seeking an enforceable
Hate Crimes law in Utah that included the words "sexual orientation".
OUR
LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO LEGISLATE OUR LGBT FAMILIES OUT OF EXISTENCE Tell them
NO! Monday, January 26, 6:00 PM Capitol Rotunda From SB 24 (Marriage Defined)
to the Federal Marriage Amendment, LGBT families are under attack. Bring your
families, friends, allies neighbors and coworkers to find out what you can do
advocate for our families. Community
leaders will be speaking (Rallies are not allowed in the Capitol Rotunda. Please do not bring signs on sticks. No chanting.) Sponsored by the EQUAL families
Coalition: ACLU Utah Equality Utah GLBT Community Center of Utah HRC Utah
Steering Committee Log Cabin Republicans PFLAG Stonewall Democrats sWerve UPNet
Michael
Mitchell of Equality Utah/Equal Families Coalition wrote TWO MEETINGS AT THE
CAPITOL, SLC We have confirmed January 26th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM for a program
to let our voices be heard about how the legislature is trying to legislate our
families out of existence. It will be a
similar format as last year in that there will be speakers and opportunities
for people to take action like fill post cards to their elected officials and
find out information from the other Equal Families Coalition members (tables
have been reserved like last year... and we can hang banners on the balustrades
like we did last year as well). ALSO: the Senate Judiciary is meeting at 8:00
tomorrow morning in room 414 to discuss S.B. 24, Marriage Defined. It's the only thing on the agenda. If you can come be there and perhaps speak
tomorrow, that would be great (PFLAG moms and dads encouraged to apply).
27
January 2004 Tuesday
Teinamarrie Nelson wrote: Dear
friends and family, It has been 12 years that we having working getting HATE
CRIME legislation passed in our state. We are one of the last states to
pass HAT CRIME legislation. It is time to get it passed this year!
That requires us as a community to unite and take a stand on this issue.
I am urging everyone to get involved and support HB 68. There is a debate
tonight. Please come and show your support. WHAT: Hate Crime Debate
WHERE: County Complex Building (2001 South State) WHEN:
Tonight January 27th TIME: 7pm SEE YOU THERE!
For those of you
who are interested. FIFTH ANNUAL PRIDEFEST HAS SOMETHING 'QUEER' FOR EVERYONE LOGAN,
UT - A ground-breaking documentary about gay youth in America, a look at gay
subtexts in a popular mainstream film, and an appearance by Frank DeCaro
(Comedy Central's The Daily Show) will highlight the fifth annual Pridefest of
Utah State University's Gay and Lesbian Student Resource Center.
The festival,
which runs Feb. 9-14, also is sponsored by
community members as well as USU gay and lesbian alumni. This year's
offerings represent "Something Queer in Everything I See," a theme
emphasizing the prominent cultural impact of the gay and lesbian
communities, according to Cy Martz, a student majoring in public relations
and festival coordinator.
"We want to
let people know that gay culture affects everybody's life, whether they
recognize it or not," Martz added.
The festival
will feature a wide range of documentaries, feature-length
and short films, and guest speakers designed to provide a greater cultural
awareness of the impact of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
community.
All events for
Pridefest 5 will be held in the
Tim Keller, festival founder and programming
director, said, adding that he hopes that USU faculty will encourage students
to attend the various events.
Exemplary of this year's offerings is "Jim in Bold," a 2003
documentary
about Jim Wheeler, a young gay poet and artist who was the victim of
homophobic attacks during his childhood days in rural
aftermath of Wheeler's 1997 suicide, three members of Young Gay America,
inspired by the poet's work, traveled across the country interviewing the
gay youth about their experiences.
The film will be
screened on Monday,February 9, 2004 at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from the screening
will go to the Gay-Straight Student Alliance at Logan High School. X2, the hit
2003 sequel to X-Men will be screened on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 8:30 p.m.
Audience members will be asked to identify and discuss examplesof gay sub-texts
in mainstream films, Martz said.
The festival
will conclude with "Flaming Screens," an evening of clips and comedy
featuring DeCaro, whose outrageous "Out at the Movies" reviews were a
favorite on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" for seven years. Known
for
his pop culture punditry on numerous VH1 shows - most notoriously on
"Britney vs. Christina" - DeCaro is a frequent contributor to such
publications as TV Guide, The New York Times, and The Advocate.
His 1996book,
"A Boy Named Phyllis: A Suburban Memoir," was called
"hilarious" byVanity Fair.Tickets can be purchased in advance or at
the door. The cost will be $3 for matinee documentaries and $5 for feature
films. Festival passes also canbe purchased for $25 for all screenings or $30
which includes the DeCaroshow. Student discounts also are available. More
information and a complete festival schedule can be found at www.usu.edu/pride/pridefest5
or by calling Cy Martz, 435-730-1178.
I wrote “In
review of the many conversations of being politically correct or protests. It
is one thing to be skilled and eloquent enough to tell a person you have
reserved a warm seat for them in Hell and to enjoy the trip and get
a thank you later.
It is quite another to have the balls to flat
out tell them to go there and have them clearly understand just exactly how you
expect them to get there and how long you plan on them staying.
We lost the
momentum almost a decade ago, and now we are left scrambling the last minute to
keep films on screens and to pass legislation. There is a lot to be said about
safety in numbers.
I’ll take a
protest that upsets one or two allies a little if it means making an
in your face statement that gets results and makes the majority feel a
little uneasy any day.
Besides if a
little protest makes allies squirm rather than join in then perhaps they are
not allies. Then again that is a formula of capitalism, which brings us
back to square one. It has been heard more regularly that If we don't know who
and what we are, then how can we expect anyone outside our circles understand
our needs Instead of one cohesive whole, we are becoming more often than
not a collection of related ever growing "sexual minority"
communities glued together by a common cause.
KAP wrote “One
thing I noticed about the protest at the capital: There was NO ONE there but
gay people, which means, yet again, we were only talking to ourselves. While I
feel these rallies are important for the morale of the community, someone else
must also hear the message.”
Donald Steward wrote, “Dear
Group,I have to believe that everyone on this site is committed to making positive
change in our community, both locally and nationally. The question then is a
matter of tactics.
In any
situation, we need to thoughtfully and systematically analyse a situation and
choose the most appropriate action, whether that is confrontation, cooperation,
or something in between, to achieve the most sustainable and most
beneficial result.
My favorite
example...(that I will repeat over and over and over until you get it) was the
early AIDS protests of ACT-UP in Washington, New
York and Los Angeles. Protest leaders had specific, tangible goals.
They researched who or what agency had the ability to change a
situation and they targeted that pressure point.
BUT...It was a twostep
process. ACT-UP would stage confrontational die-ins and media events at the
front door, while AIDS moderates (like the Whitman
Walker Clininc, AIDS Project Los Angeles, Gay Mens Health Crisis)
would be working the back doors and the phones offering dialogue, and
an attractive alternative or mediation. It worked well.
In your face
demonstrations have their place, but ultimately it’s the long-haul incremental
dialog, and partnering and networking with like-minded allies that will
facilitate change.
Instead of
beating each other up over tactics or trying to change a
monolithic religion with layers of defenses and almost unlimited
resources, we need to be working collectively in the legislative arena
and the courts to shift public policy.
I guarantee a
sincere two paragraph e-mail to your legislator about hate crimes, family
adoption law, or civil benefits will have more impact than any public protest on
the Main Street Plaza (with far less chances of backlash or media sensationalism).
Fergie.
28
January 2004 Wednesday
Nova Starr aka
John Griffin wrote, “YOU GO GIRL!!! Lol or boy, well whatever, I agree
entirely:)Nova.”
Aaron
Cloward responded “Toni (and any other interested), I think you misunderstood
my email. This e-mail is an attempt to clarify my position and opinion. You
said: You're right, we should all just sit back and be nice quiet little Queers
and wait for the heteros to pass out our equal rights to us.
My
response: I never said that we should just sit back. What I DID say was that
there are more effective ways of getting things done, than shouting or making a
scene on a street corner.
Tonight was at the Capitol Rotunda with Equality Utah
at a very powerful, and politically LOUD rally, fighting for the rights of
equal marriage. If you want legislation and laws to change, there is a certain
process that you have to take in this country. There is also a certain decorum
and behavior that is required, if you expect to get any respect.
So,
by NO MEANS should we be quiet and sit back...but we DO need to make our voices
heard in a respectable, civil way.
You
said: The "protest" wasn't to change the minds of church
leaders. It was a F*ck you to the fact
that the LDS church has so vehemently opposed Queer marriage, both in words and
with countless thousands of dollars (Hawaii for example). And also to it’s many many, very Homophobic
speeches (comparing us to child-molesters) and practices (aversion and
electro-shock therapy done at BYU as late as the80's).
My
response: I am just as upset with the church as you are about some of their
attitude and things that they have done. In fact, I cringe when I read some of
the things they say in general conference.
However, how
in the world are we going to get these people to understand our point of view,
what it means to be gay and have a long term committed relationship, that we
are normal valuable people, if we are telling them "F*ck you!"?
Do
you honestly and truly expect for the LDS controlled legislature in Utah, to
pass gay-friendly legislation if you're telling them "F*ck you!"?
I've worked customer service jobs and when people called me demanding things,
yelling profanities, demanding that I give them what they deserve, nearly every
company I've worked for said to just hang up.
People
(as well as organizations) don't need to put up with people telling them
"F*ck you!". If on the other hand, someone called (even if they were
frustrated beyond belief) and asked me to just hear them out, chances were very
high that I (or anyone) would have done their best to help them. The same
principle applies here.
You
said: It also was to show the LDS leadership and members that we WILL marry
& we already Do. Regardless of what
they say or preach or how much money they contribute to fight Queer marriage,
we WILL marry anyway. Maybe not legally
right now, but we will marry and celebrate our love and lives and have our own
brand of family, regardless of all their hateful efforts.
My
response: That's awesome! I agree that we need to show them that we will marry
and be with each other no matter what. What I question, is the technique that
was used in this street demonstration. How much more effective do you think the
protest would have been if you had actual couples holding signs saying
something like "25 years together and still going strong". Maybe the
kids could have held signs that say "I love my gay daddies".
You
said: "Disgust and Offend", huh?
Wow, it's too bad to hear that you think Queers kissing is disgusting
and offensive. Maybe you should look at
your own internalized Homophobia. And don't try to say "no, I don't think
Queers kissing is disgusting and offensive", why would those words ever even enter your
head unless you Did. Talk about feeling
distgusted and offended. And what is so
"disgusting and offensive" to you about the idea of two Queers"
marrying"?
My
response: You misunderstood me. I said that the LDS CHURCH would think it to be
disgusting. Of course it's not disgusting to me, or I wouldn't be gay.
Again, you
have to put yourself in the shoes of the people who were watching you on that
street. THEY are the ones who think it to be disgusting and offensive. How can
you ever get someone to see your side of the story if what you are doing is
disgusting to them? How can you ever get someone to see your opinion if you are
telling them "F*ck you!".
I
am formerly LDS, and I can absolutely guarantee you that every active LDS
person that saw the Avengers that day, just closed his ears, turned his eyes
and did his best to tune out what was going on. That's what I did at one time,
and that's what every LDS person does.
Shock
value does nothing. It only helps create a bigger chasm between our two worlds.
It further creates the "us versus them" idea. You said: Another
thing.. I truly appreciate all the hours people have put into lobbying etc. However, there is also a place & time for
in-your-face Queers and protests.
It
was angry Queers in the form of ACT-UP who brought attention to the AIDS crisis
and the fact that gay men were dying with little or no help. It was die-in's, screaming and even arrests,
held by angry Queers, that brought the needed attention to the crisis, not the
nice, quiet, don't-rock-the-boat homosexuals sitting back and playing cutesy
with the heteros.
My
response: There is a HUGE difference between a country being hit with an
unknown disease, people dying from it, with the government not paying attention
compared to a social issue. Also, I hardly think that I would call PROPER
political activism, civil rallies, writing or calling your legislator or
government leader as "not rocking the boat", "sitting back"
or "playing cutesy with heterosexuals".
You
said: I could go on with examples, but the basics are that it's the people who
put themselves out there that create change, not the assimilationists.
My
response: EXACTLY! That's why I spent the day e-mailing and calling my friends
and family trying to get them to the Capitol building today for the political
speeches and rally.
You
said: I hope that you will learn to love and embrace your own Queerness and not
see it as "disgusting and offensive."
It is truly a beautiful... or maybe a should say Faaaabulous thing.
My
response: Again, I don't see it as disgusting or offensive. Active LDS people
may, but I don't. It IS beautiful AND faaaaaabulous! Aaron C.
I
wrote “I agree very much with Fergie's point regarding that a successful
protest must have a two prong approach. The protests against the American
Psychiatric Association were successful because of this strategy. Militant
homosexuals had disrupted annual meetings while closeted Gay men within the
profession worked for change by controlling the positions of authority.
However
in Utah I doubt very seriously whether this approach will ever work since the
state is not a democracy nor heterogeneous but a semi-theocracy homogeny where
allegiance to one's church's authorities is paramount over the true principles
of republicanism.
Closeted
Gay and Lesbian state representatives will stay closeted or dig in even deeper
when other Lambda people charge ahead for social change in this conformist
climate. This state is an oligarchy and change will only come when forced upon
us from outside (i.e. Johnston's Army, the Manifesto, Blacks in the Priesthood
etc.) and then the "powers that be" within the state will do damage
control and say it was always their intention to make the changes.
Hallelujah
for federalism. This is not to say we simply should roll over and die in this
state. We need to be the state's conscience and standard bearers for the
progressive movement. We need to be actively participating in our liberation-
each in our own way.
If
"kicking at the pricks" heals the broken heart or using the
"balm of Gilead" works for you I say let each Lambda person express
themselves in a way that is appropriate for them. Instead of going after each
other we need to turn all our attention on the sexist dysfunctional
patriarchal-matriarch system that is willing to disregard the pursuit of
happiness of ten percent of its fellow citizens.
It’s
okay to be a lone voice crying in the wilderness or lighting a lamp in a dark
room. Nothing is ever in vain. I have lived in Utah for 30 years and openly as
a Gay man for 20. My very presence in this state is a protest against the
establishment. Ben
Deb
Rosenberg commented, “here, here about the need for all factions: radical,
moderate, conservative, etc. I remember the days of ACT-UP, and how those who
put themselves on the line, in your face, made it easier for the
"diplomats" of the community to get face to face.”
James
P. Hicks wrote "K.A.P." You make an excellent observation. It's sad but true we are preaching to the
choir. In addition, on that rare
occasion when we do have media coverage it's so brief and the message is so
distorted and incredibly inaccurate the public doesn't pay any attention.
If the real truth were to be told to the
general public, and they were to get to know us, our community and who we
really are. None of these
"protests" would be necessary.
I pray that one day the overall community will see and hear the real
truth, however the lies give some of our community leaders the power and
control they desire.
Donald
Steward wrote, “On Monday January 26th, there was a great example for us all.
In the morning the Supreme Court chamber at the Capitol was packed to overflowing
with media, elected officials, clergy, prosecutors, people with disabilities,
minority reps, police chiefs, and LGBT advocates, speaking on behalf of an
enforceable Hate Crimes law in Utah that included sexual orientation. It was an
impressive coalition.
For
years we have been told that if sexual orientation was removed from a list of
protected categories then Hate Crimes legislation would pass overnight. This
divide and conquer strategy isolated the GLBT population and put serious
pressure on minority groups and faith communities from their constituents to
drop "us" in the name of political expediency. This year these groups
stood alongside the GLBT community and sent a clear message that any meaningful
Hate Crimes
legislation includes
"us".
So
even if HB68 disappears in committee or is voted down, their collaboration and
participation is a huge step towards our goals (both with hate crimes and other
discriminatory issues further down the line). Personally I cringe
when someone says "let’s do a vigil" or stage a rally if all we are
doing is singing to our choir. Rallies have their place, but to move this
society we need votes, influence, and allies.
That
comes back to three things....outreach, education, and networking. All things that we can do as individuals in
our daily lives to increase our communities visibility and also our political leverage.
Fergie
Rebecca
Walsh of The Salt Lake Tribune reported, “No list? Evans' audience is a hard
sell - State Sen. James Evans claims he has found the solution to Utah's hate-crimes
stalemate. Year after year, legislator opposition to the idea of a hate crimes
law seems to hinge on a list of protected groups -- based on race, religion and
so on. So, the Salt Lake City Republican got rid of the list.
But
a skeptical audience of gay and lesbian factions of the Republican and
Democratic parties, Latino activists, and current and former legislators
gathered at the Salt Lake County Complex on Tuesday night apparently wasn't
convinced by Evans' tactics.
Over
and over, they asked why his hate crimes bill doesn't include a list. Evans'
quick fix -- modeled on a Georgia statute being challenged in that state's
Supreme Court -- is being offered as an alternative to the bill Salt Lake City
Democratic Rep. David Litvack is sponsoring his year for the fourth time.
The
two drafts are similar, except for the list missing from Evans' version. "I
don't want to exclude," Evans said. "A woman can be Jewish, she can
be gay, and she can be black. But the reason I targeted her is because she is
overweight. "I don't think it's fruitful for us to continually go down the
path that we have to list."
Litvack,
however, says Evans' bill is unworkably vague. "What isn't excluded? What isn't a hate crime?
Everything's a hate crime. How is that going to be enforceable?" he asked.
Evans'
and Litvack's debate was a prelude to the perennial, inevitable hate crimes
debate that arises each legislative session.
Evans
is a longtime opponent of hate crimes legislation. Critics say by offering his
own version this year, the senator simply is trying to derail Litvack's
legislation.
On
the defensive all night, Evans rebuffed question after question, even
interrupting his predecessor, former state Sen. Alicia Suazo, when she asked
why he didn't revive a compromise he worked on in the final days of the 2001 session.
Between
1998 and 2002, the number of hate crimes reported in Utah fluctuated between 68
and 124. Litvack acknowledged Tuesday that the biggest obstacle to his bill is
its inclusion of "sexual orientation" along with gender, national
origin and ethnicity as the motive for hate crimes.
Some
lawmakers worry singling out gays and lesbians for protection will give them
so-called "special rights."
"It
all of a sudden becomes a gay issue," said Michael Picardi, chairman of
the Stonewall Democrats. "If sexual orientation were not in Litvack's
bill, it would be passed in a second." But Log Cabin Republican Chairman
Kevin Cromer is open to Evans' idea. "Is the exclusion of groups something
that creates a problem of vagueness? Or is it actually an innovation of
legislation that will serve as a model?" he asked. "Maybe the best
solution is to test this legislation."
The
Anti-Defamation League's Central Region director Jonathan Bernstein urged Utah
lawmakers to change the state's unenforceable hate crimes statute. Of 47 states
with hate crimes statutes, 45 include a list of protected classes, Bernstein
said. "We need a similar kind of law here in this state."
Evans
insists his bill has a better chance of being passed by lawmakers. "Is it
a hate crimes law we want? Or does it have to be a certain way?"
Litvack also is
unbending. "It's time to do it the right way," he said.
30
January 2004 Friday
SLC Premier
of "Latter Days", a romantic
comedy centering on a Gay LDS Missionary,
was canceled at SLC Madstone Theaters because management said the film
“lacked artistic merit."
J W Johnson Jr wrote: Hi Jr. Just a test tosee if this gets
through. Sure was good visiting with you. Send us some of your snow. Everyone
is praying for moisture back Love JW
I wrote back: Got you email. Hope
all is well back there. You can have the snow!
ha! Mom has her good and bad
days. Charline has been staying with her. It was really good to see you and
Pauline even under the sad circumstances. If Mom gets strong enough I'll see if
she would like to go back to
I am doing fine just waiting for
Spring. Love Jr
31
January 2004 Saturday
Thank you for
taking the time to write us concerning our recent decision not to screen the
film "Latter Days." The decision not to play "Latter Days"
was based solely on the film's cinematic merit and appeal. Prior to this
decision, Madstone had not received any negative pressure or threats from
patrons or local religious/interest groups regarding the film. Any reports that
indicate otherwise are incorrect. Any reports that claim that this film is
scheduled to play in any other Madstone theaters is also untrue.
Madstone's
programming strategy hinges on selecting the best films available, regardless
of their perceived controversial nature. In fact, we have on many occasions
shown films and hosted festivals that address wide variety of topics -- ranging
from religion to politics to sexuality.
We
hope this has clarified our position on programming, and we thank you for
writing to us. Best,Madstone Theaters
Jennifer
Flowers Religion News Service reported “LDS find comfort in 'Latter Days' Aaron
(Steve Sandvoss), left, and Ryder (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) explain the mission of
the LDS church in C. Jay Cox's film, "Latter Days."
“Film
director C. Jay Cox, a gay former member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, usually shies away from his religious background. But he
says he wanted to meet a long-gone version of himself while directing his first
movie, Latter Days."
"By
making this movie, I hoped I would send a message back to that 19-year-old who
was so uncertain about himself that everything was going to be OK," said
Cox, who went to the Philippines as a teenager on his LDS mission. "But he
ended up having just as much to say to me. I was able to reaffirm a lot of
spiritual tenets that I've kind of rediscovered because of him, because of the
movie."
"Latter
Days" tells the story of a young, sexually confused Mormon named Aaron who
is seduced by a gay man while on his Mormon mission in Los Angeles. While the
story is mostly comedic, one of its darker scenes depicts Aaron receiving shock
therapy from church members intending to inhibit homosexual desire.
The
film made waves at several gay-themed film festivals before its official
opening in New York and Los Angeles on Jan. 30. But Salt Lake City's Madstone
Trolley Square Theater canned the film two weeks before it had planned to
screen "Latter Days."
Madstone
co-CEO, Chip Seelig, said the theater dropped the film because "it lacked
artistic merit."
Film
promoters charged that the theater bowed to Mormons who threatened to boycott and protest at the
theater. Church officials declined to comment on the film.
Members
of Affirmation, an organization of gay and lesbian Mormons, believe
"Latter Days" can show many homosexuals who grew up in the LDS Church
that they are not alone. "That movie will shake gay Mormons," said
Scott MacKay, Affirmation’s former executive director.
Michael
Lambert, MacKay's partner and an inactive LDS member, attended the Seattle
premiere. He said the film would generate discussion within and outside the
Mormon Church.
"From
the day you're born, you're taught that you want to find a mate of the opposite
sex and procreate and have children, and it's a very important part of God's
plan in the church," Lambert said.
"Even
to the point that in the Mormon Church the only way to get into heaven is to be
married to someone of the opposite sex. So if you're gay, well, you're
screwed."
Tom
Lefler, associate chair of the Department of Theater and Media Arts at Brigham
Young University, said that while Mormon homosexuals might be "encouraged
or delighted by the film," that wouldn't be enough to get the attention of
his students. "If you said to most Mormons that this is a film about a missionary
who gets seduced by a homosexual, who comes home and gets shock therapy, they'd
probably think you're crazy," Lefler said.
"It's
so atypical. It sounds bizarre." Affirmation members say gay Mormons'
alienation from their cultural identity can be one of the most difficult parts
of leaving the church.
Ben
Jarvis, an actively gay Affirmation outreach coordinator whose LDS lineage goes
back seven generations to the beginning of the religion, said he understands
why some inactive gay and lesbian members of the church would want their
children to be raised in the denomination so they could learn about their
heritage.
"There's
a place inside of me that is empty and hollow because the[LDS church] is no
longer there, and there's nothing in my life that will ever replace that
void," Jarvis said. "My experience in the Mormon community was
extremely significant and meaningful in my life. It still is, but having said
that, I can never go back to the church."
James
Hicks wrote, “Hey folks, Why all you
people are worried about a movie, I wonder if you think about your future and
think about our community and our Civil Rights?
I'm curious, when there's all this talk about a Movie we all want to do
something about it.
Our Utah State Senators are calling us
perverted alcoholic, pedophiles. I don't
know about anyone else. But I'm pissed
off about this. If anyone of you want to
go see the movie. Jump on a bus, in a
car or hop a plane and go see the movie in Los Angeles or New York. Or better yet, wait until it comes out on DVD
and buy it.
Read
the latest Salt Lake Trib article. I
think I'll start a law suit for Defamation of Character and sue Mr. Butters
until he doesn't have a pot to piss in!”
February
3
February 2004 Tuesday
Yahoo
Group Site Postings in response to Madstone Theaters refusing to show Latter
Days, a film about a Gay Missionary.
Toni
Palmer wrote a response to James Hicks, “Mr. Hicks, This is email group is full
of intelligent people, not imbeciles.
Surely you know this is not about just wanting to SEE a movie. What it IS about is someone thinking they
need to make a decision, for other adults, that this film may be
inappropriate. It's also possibly
(though Madstone has denied this) about bowing to Mormon pressure. That is why this issue needs to be examined.
That does not mean, however, that the people talking about the Madstone
decision and this movie are using all their precious energy on just one
issue. Of course there are other issues
that are of more importance, but that doesn't make this one unworthy of
examination.
Tim
Keller of Logan responding to James Hicks wrote, “Why are we all worried about
a movie? Good question. After all, with what has been going on in this year’s
legislative session the censorship of a movie can certainly seem trivial.
Mr.
Hicks also asks the question: 'I wonder if you think about your future and
think about our community and our Civil Rights'? For my part the answer quite
simply is of course we do, and with all due respect to Mr. hicks opinion, I
resent the implication that writing about and expressing our displeasure at
being censored somehow makes us derelict in our civic duties as good fags. It
is entirely possible to act on both issues you know.
I
share your frustration with the idiots in the legislature but you act as though
this is the very first time the legislature has ever called us bad names and
tried to righteous-late us out of existence. This, or some twisted variation of
it happens almost every year. I hate it and I do what I can to fight it. But
the reality is this particular fight will ultimately be decided in the courts.
I for one take some solace in the bitter irony that even if the bill passes
{and it seems likely to do so} …. Its effect will be negligible.
We
can’t get married now and should it pass we still can’t. Now here's a question for you. Don't you
realize this is part of the same fight? In your letter you suggest if we want
to see the movie so badly we should just jump on a bus, in our cars or hop a
plane and go to LA or New York. [Presumably where things are more liberal and
we can actually go to a movie we want to see] or we could even wait till it’s
on DVD and buy it.
Following
this train of thought to its ultimate if absurd conclusion, I Suppose we could
jump on a bus, in our cars or on a plane and go to Vermont or CA or Mass. where
things are more liberal and we can actually get some semblance of marriage
rights, or …. better yet wait until the mess goes through courts, as it seems
destined to do and get married here when we win.
Both
scenarios follow the old Mormon school of thought which says, Don’t like the
way we do things? .... Leave !
Obviously
this option is for most of us unacceptable. I realize the comparison isn’t
really all that fair but if we can’t even stop the opposition from pulling a
movie they don’t want us to see. How can we expect to be of any influence on
the narrow mind of a Chris Buttars?
With
regards to Latter Days, the lunatic fringe have effectively censored us. Is it
permanent? No. But now they understand that they can. This seemingly trivial
situation may well have some unforeseen consequences. Understandably we need to fight this battle
together, but we need to fight it on all fronts.
Our
rights are being squashed by a seemingly uncaring legislature; however our
fundamental rights of free speech and expression are being squelched as well..
What battle in this cultural war will need to be won first? Tolerance and
acceptance among my fellow community members? Or the convincing of an uncaring
politician who answers to a constituency of bigots. Sincerely Tim Keller
4
February 2004 Wednesday
Cy Martz added
“Angels In America” to the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
James Hicks responded to criticism
of his opinion regarding Madstones decision to pull Latter Days from theaters.
“Hello Everyone: I'm glad to see that I got a response and some wonderful
dialog going regarding this subject. It
was never my intention to offend anyone.
It
would appear that our efforts to change Utah Politicians minds have failed and
SB 24 will more than likely be passed and signed into action. "Big
Surprise"
However,
on a lighter note it looks as though Massachusetts voted today 2/4/04 that the
only way things will be equal is for Gay couples to be able to get
married.
I've
attached the document in case others want to view it. I believe that's what it says. Any other interpretations? I'm making plans
to move quickly! I can't decide, Canada
or Massachusetts.. Here’s a saying I've heard lately. "Move to Canada, It's What America Used
to Be!" Hum? James Hicks
6
February 2004 Friday
COME SUPPORT
EQUALITY UTAH! JT Thorpe and Les Bailey
request the honor of your company at the
1st Annual Forbidden Fruit Extravaganza Friday, February 6, 2004 8:00 –
11:00 PM Club 6 Lounge (private club for members) 115 South West Temple Cover:
$2.00 minimum donation Benefiting Equality Utah
Whatever
you pay at the door will be deducted from the cost of a new Equality Utah
membership that night! (Equality Utah
memberships are $20 for one, $35 for two, $10 for students) ADMITTANCE IS BY
INVITATION ONLY. RSVP IS REQUIRED. Please
call 801.575.9000 to RSVP (ignore the recording that says you must RSVP by the
4th)If you don’t RSVP – YOU DON’T MAKE IT IN This is a private party Visit
www.sixlive.com for directions. ID required for 21 & up lounges as well as
18 No Restrictions Dance Floor See you there!
Nick Rupp posted, “As some of you
know, Patrick and I were planning to enter the Star 102.7(KQMB FM)
"Lip-Lockin' for McLachlan" contest, where couples compete in a
kissing marathon of sorts and the couple that lasts the longest without
breaking the kiss wins front-row tickets to the upcoming Sarah McLachlan
concert (July 19, E Center).
The
contest was held at Fashion Place Mall on Friday, February 6 from 7pm to about
9pm, with registration beginning at 6pm. Patrick and I arrived just after 6 and
got in the registration line. When we got to the front of the line, the girl
who seemed to be in charge (Karly - I kind of know her from when I was at
channel 4) said, "You guys are here to enter the contest?"
"Yeah,"
I said. She looked over at one of the other promotion people and back at us and
said, "Well . . . I just . . . I don't . . . I'm not sure . . . I can let
you enter." "Why not?"
"Just
. . . some contractual reasons, some legal reasons." "There are no
legal reasons - I know that." She was quiet for a minute, then:
"You're right. I can't keep you from entering the contest if you want to
do it . . . BUT, is there anything I can give you to keep you from wanting to
enter?" "Like what?"
"How
about I just give you a pair of tickets to compensate?" "Where are
the tickets?"
"Well,
they're not front-row, but they're pretty good. It's where I'll be
sitting!" "Honestly, I can get those seats on my own. It's front-row we're here for."
"What else can I give you? Do you want
Barenaked Ladies tickets too? Or Maroon
5?" "You know I can get those tickets too, if I want, through channel 4. It's front-row I
can't get."
"Yeah . . ." "Just explain to
me why this is a problem." "Look, you know it's not a problem for me
personally, and I can promise you Star has no problem at all with the idea
either. It's just that when we negotiated using the mall for this, Fashion
Place asked us to . . . kind of discourage this situation from taking place.
It's just . . . they're worried because they've got kids and families walking
by and they just don't want anyone offended."
I
told her we'd think about it and be right back. Now, Patrick didn't really want
to do this, he just knew I wanted tickets really badly. Entering the contest
with the 12 other couples didn't give us great odds of winning. Taking Karly up
on her offer did at least guarantee us free tickets.
But
there was definitely a principle at stake here. I called friends to ask
opinions and after chatting for a while went back to the registration table.
"Well, number one, if we can't sit front-row, we want to sit with our friends.
And number two, which is a much bigger issue, I'm not comfortable letting you
discriminate like this."
"I
know, I absolutely sympathize. I'm trying to keep everybody happy here. If you
really want to enter, go for it. I can't
stop you from entering, and you know I don't really want to, but I have to do
what the venue asked and try to get you to reconsider in exchange for some other compensation." "How about you
give me 6 tickets so we can sit with our friends who are getting ready to stand
in line tomorrow morning to buy tickets of their own?"
"And
then we're good?" "Then we're good." "Done."
She
was right, the tickets aren't front-row, but they're decent. It was a personal
win since I got 6 $55.00 tickets for free, but it was definitely a loss in
other ways, and I still have mixed feelings about not standing up for my (our)
right to enter. But, it's done and we're going to the concert.
I
do want to emphasize that Karly was very nice and I could tell she was truly
upset she was in this position - she did everything she could to be of help. I
definitely do not think Star was responsible for anything other than a poor
choice of venue.
I
am sending a letter to Fashion Place Mall, Star 102.7, Sarah McLachlan, and
Arista & Nettwerk Records (McLachlan's labels), and I'm telling as many
people as I can that Fashion Place Mall is not as gay-friendly as it should be.
They're
to blame for the discrimination and truly "offensive" behavior. In
that spirit, feel free to pass this along to whomever you choose.
Peggy
Fletcher Stack and Linda Fantin of The Salt Lake Tribune wrote: Sparks fly as
U. rejects an LDS studies scholar. History teachers at the University of Utah
see no "intellectual or cultural merit in Mormonism," says U.
religious historian Colleen McDannell. As proof, she points to the recent
rejection of a controversial Mormon studies scholar for a Utah history
position.
In
a Feb. 3 letter to U. administrators, McDannell said her colleagues' refusal to
hire D. Michael Quinn, a Yale-educated author and excommunicated Mormon, is
"blatant discrimination" and might be "actionable."
McDannell
added: "The absence on this campus of scholarly attention to Mormon
history, theology and practice is profound."
Others
on the search committee with McDannell deny allegations of bias. History
Department Chairman Eric Hinderaker said he was incensed by her
characterization of the committee's motives and by McDannell's
"astonishingly egregious breach of confidentiality" of closed-door
personnel discussions.
The
dispute comes at a volatile time for the U. The school is battling the
LDS-dominated Legislature over funds and guns. And a long-festering lawsuit
alleging anti-Mormon discrimination in the U.'s theater department is headed
back to court.
On
a more philosophical level, the personnel debate highlights an ongoing dilemma
for Utah's public colleges and universities: How to promote free inquiry and
academic freedom without disparaging -- or advocating -- the LDS faith.
The
tightrope is especially perilous when the subject is Utah history, which can't
be separated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The course
is required of every graduate who plans to teach history.
The
latest spat is complicated by Quinn's biography. Quinn was one of six scholars
recruited to fill the vacancy left by longtime history professor Dean May, who
died last summer. Students and faculty members revered May, who was LDS, for
his objectivity and soft touch.
Quinn
believes in Mormonism's divine origins and has many fans. Scholars praise his
groundbreaking research on early Mormons and their ties to the occult. Church
officials were less impressed; Quinn's books got him fired from Brigham Young
University and booted from the church.
Hiring Quinn might rankle the LDS faithful.
But
to McDannell, rejecting Quinn was tantamount to saying he's a bad historian.
"The word would be out: The Mormon church was right," McDannell told
The Salt Lake Tribune.
In
a phone interview from his Southern California home, Quinn said there has been
a "historical pattern of hostility toward Mormonism" at the U., but
he did not detect any during his job visit.
Even
so, McDannell, who holds a privately funded professorship of religious studies
within the History Department, has requested that the position be moved to a
different department.
McDannell's
accusations stung U. historian Robert Goldberg, one of eight professors on the
search committee. In the 1990s, Goldberg, who is Jewish, spoke against
anti-Mormonism on campus -- citing several examples from his own department.
Today, he insists, the department is "clean" of any
discrimination.
"Not one of the votes against Michael had
anything to do with denigrating Mormon history or the Mormon church," he
said. "In my mind, it was just the opposite."
Goldberg
said he and the five others who voted against hiring Quinn are not looking for
a Mormon apologist. But they don't want an avowed critic, either. Jim Clayton,
a senior historian in the department, said the school has no mandate to teach
Mormon history. "It presents all kinds of difficulties. Who could teach it
without criticism from either side?" Clayton said. "Mormons who want
the church's perspective can take a class at the LDS Institute across the
street."
I
wrote my Aunt Marie Williams: I got your package today with all the chilis
thank you. It’s been really cold and snowy here so it is perfect to have some.
Mom seems like she is finding out what she can do and what she can't. But seems
to be getting better. Doing okay here
just trying to stay warm Love Jr
7
February 2004 Saturday
Donald Steward
wrote- “Morning all...On Gay.com's movie review of "Latter Days"
(they dismissed the movie as cliche) there is an interesting Google link at the
bottom of the page. Based on their word search engine the related links go to
the Deseret Book web site...an LDS Singles web site, and an LDS Internet
Filter. How wonderfully ironic. I wonder if Deseret Book can get me a price
match on Manhandler Magazine? Fergie.”
The
Utah Gay Rodeo Association UGRA is having a bowling night at Bon Wood Bowling 2500
South Main.
My
sister Charline Williams Wachs wrote: Hi everyone. Just an update on Mom. She is doing so much better. Her back is hurting today. But I think that is due to all of the sitting
she has been doing. She has eye surgery
the 23rd of Feb. and then 3 months later she will get her other eye done.
Her
strength is returning. She is walking a
lot more with her cane and less with her walker. She is still eating. It just seem like all she gets to do lately
is go to the Doctor and Church. She
tries to make it to the senior [center] once a week. I am trying to talk her in to taking the
painting class that they have at seniors on Fridays.
We
went shopping this morning for a few things. Abby [James Clark’s daughter and
Charline’s granddaughter] had a birthday on Thur. the 5th of Feb. she is now 5.
Where does the time go.
Mike
[Wachs, Charline’s son] graduates the 1st of March from the School he is going
to in Denver. He still has two more test
to take to get his license to work on airplanes.
Dennis
[Charline’s husband] is at home. He went
down to look for work. He is coming back
up this weekend. Well that is about all the news I have. Will try to keep in touch with all of
you. Love ya all Charline.
My
sister Charline has been staying with mom in Palmdale to look after her with
dad gone.
My
Aunt Marie Williams wrote me: Thanks so much for keeping us informed. I hope all goes well and Dennis finds a
job. I have a heavy workload at the
office and since it is Valentines coming up I will be working at the floral
shop on Sat. I am not taking care of
Dale now he is in an assisted living. It is a real nice one and I told Virgil [the
Sedona Church of Christ minister] that is where I would like to go when the
time comes. Hopefully not for a
while. Well take care and write
again....Love M
8
February 2004 Sunday
Will Bagley
HISTORY MATTERS Recovering Utah's forgotten history and putting it online
Newspapers have helped make a lot of Utah's
colorful history, and newspaper wars fought over economics, politics and
religion sometimes entailed considerable violence. The early years of The Salt
Lake Tribune saw reporters and editors attacked with knives and brass knuckles,
and sad to say, they usually lost the fight.
During his "editorial labors" at
Corinne, Utah's colorful "Gentile capital" in Box Elder County, Utah
Reporter's J. H. Beadle criticized Judge Smith at Brigham City. Beadle noted
that the judge was married to two of his nieces, which happened to be illegal.
"I alluded to that fact with
considerable severity, more, perhaps, than strict equity in journalism would
allow," Beadle admitted.
While walking into court after being
summoned to appear before Bishop Smith, a violent blow to the back of the head
knocked Beadle "almost senseless upon the ground."
"War Declared! A Horrible
Outrage!" thundered a Reporter headline, the reporters believing their
beloved editor was dying. "That settles the matter right here! If we have
got to go to war with these fiendish Mormons, let us have at it at once."
Beadle's collarbone was broken in two
places and his scalp torn -- "altogether," he recalled, "it was
a narrow escape" -- but his injuries were hardly life-threatening.
Since he was blindsided, Beadle was unable
to identify who hit him. "There was nothing to be done about it," he
waxed philosophically. "It was one of those incidents to which
newspapermen are liable anywhere." And after realizing that "the
fiendish Mormons" outnumbered their subscribers by 100 to 1, the Reporter
apparently reconsidered and declared peace.
Besides such controversies, newspapers
include detailed information about the lives of ordinary people -- and these
stories tell us more about the humdrum history of humanity than the sensations
and scandals that too often distort reality, which is usually about decent
people muddling along the best they can under trying circumstances.
To understand what the flu epidemic of 1918
was like, or the desperation people felt in the depths of the Great Depression
or the anger and resolve that swept the country after the attack on Pearl
Harbor, nothing beats paging through an old newspaper. The faces of the men and
women who didn't come back from World War II or Vietnam are every bit as
haunting as they were in 1945 or 1969.
Utah's hundred towns have probably given
birth to a thousand newspapers since 1850, and their pages contain a
treasure-trove of our past. Now a remarkable statewide project is helping to
spread the wealth.
The University of Utah's Marriott Library is
hosting the Utah Digital Newspaper Program, a collaboration between academic
libraries at BYU, SUU and USU, cities and towns like Murray and Fillmore, and
the Weber, Summit and Uintah county libraries.
"We're putting Utah's history on the
Internet," says program director John Herbert, who is organizing the
scanning and digitization of twenty newspapers from thirteen Utah counties.
Already, 136,000 pages are in place, and ultimately the program will mount
three to five million pages of raw history on the World Wide Web.
"Our vision is to create a robust,
statewide newspaper collection that is available to anyone with an Internet
connection," says Herbert.
The project hopes to turn up files of some
of Utah's lost newspapers, so if you know of any, contact Herbert at
john.herbert@library.utah.edu.
Back in the bad old days, using newspapers
to explore the past meant relying on microfilm. These films preserved many
acidic newspapers that were crumbling into dust and used a fraction of the
space taken up by bound volumes, but the quality was usually awful -- as in
unreadable.
"Microfilm," observed Brig
Madsen, the dean of Utah's historians, "is God's way of punishing
historians."
But God has now smiled on us all.
Presenting clear, scanned pages on the net is a big step forward, but optical
character readers now allow people to search for ancestors and events. Take a
look: as always, the past will surprise you.
You can search the wonders of the Utah
Digital Newspaper Program at http://www.digital newspapers.org.
9
February 2004 Monday
I wrote to my
Aunt Marie Williams : Hope you are staying warm... cold front has moved through
here. Talked to mom last night. Back was hurting her some. She sees the back
doctor today. Hope you are enjoying your music. Email me if you need more and
what you like.
Marie
replied: I am still listening to the CDs you sent. Brings back memories. Thank you so much. There are a few skips on some and maybe you
can redo them. Not necessary to it
now. The CDs have been a birthday
present that is hard to beat. Usually
the family forgets my birthday. Too
close after Xmas. I was very happy that
you remembered...Take care...Love Marie”
The
fifth annual Utah State University’s Pridefest
held in Logan with theme; "Something Queer in Everything I
See," started today and will run through February 14
10
February 2004 Tuesday
Kim Russo wrote
me “I never really got a chance to thank you for your kind words to me at
Smith's many weeks ago. You have given me some incentive and some strength. I
appreciate everything, and just needed you to know that. Kim”
Brandon
Burt wrote me, “Dear Ben, I was wondering if you would be interested in writing
a recurring gay history column for Salt Lake Metro News. I am imagining yours
either as a bi-weekly or a monthly column, probably around 600-800 words,
although this is a ballpark estimate--I will be able to give you an accurate
word count once I have more format information.
I'm
thinking something along the lines of "This Month in Gay History,"
although we can probably come up with a more catchy name. Once the business
model is completed I will know how much our writers will be getting paid; it
will be comparable to what City Weekly contributors earn. You would be reaching
a readership which is very interested in your subject matter, and I am very
excited about having smart writers who can provide useful and entertaining
content and who have expertise in their fields.
I
won't be issuing a formal call for submissions on this, because I can't think
of anybody better suited for writing this column than you. If you have any
questions or need more information, please let me know. Sincerely, Brandon Burt
Managing Editor Salt Lake Metro News
I replied that I would be interested
and Brandon responded in the affirmative and Brandon wrote back, “Great, Ben.
Things are moving really fast, and I'm going to be getting the contributor base
together over the next two weeks. I'm very glad to hear that you're interested.
The first formal submission deadline will be noon Thursday, April 8.
However,
I would like to get one or two sample columns by Feb. 27; that way we can get some idea the direction the
column will be taking, and we'll be able to able to see how it's going to look
on the page. Our photographer will be able to take mug shots of columnists;
however, if there is some photo you really want to use we can submit it to the
design department. Any specific questions? Brandon
11
February 2004 Wednesday
Brandon Burt
wrote, “Dear Ben, I'm really excited about the history column; I think it could
be interesting, funny, and quirky. I loved the research you were doing about
the gay ruffians and that other short bit about the Basque guy who used
"nose paint" and kissed his own reflection. You'll probably be
surprised at how short a 600 word column is. If this length becomes totally
unwieldy please let me know. We may be able to get you more space than 600-800
words, so keep that in mind in case you end up wanting to expand your
prototype--it just depends on how ad sales go, etc., and we'll know more as the
deadline approaches, but for these prototypes the shorter length should be
fine.
I
can trim it a bit if it goes too long, but I'm sure you wouldn't want me to be
hacking at it too much. I always find writing short columns helps me discipline
my (admittedly long-winded) approach to writing so that I am forced to focus on
one or two main points. Once we get the figures pinned down better, you'll have
a more exact word count, which will be helpful. Thanks very much! Brandon
15 February 2004
Radio personality Jimmy Chunga yelled at his co-workers on
air saying “shut up you stupid fags.”
Kenni Littlefield an offended listener demanded and got an apology.
18 February 2004
Wednesday
USU heterosexuals held a mock wedding in Logan to protest
Gay marriage. A crowd of about 25 dissenters stood near the table and jeered
shouting "Cake for segregation!" "Hate speech!" and
"Students for zombie thinking!"
19 February 2004
Thursday
Arrin Brunson of the The
Herald-Journal, Logan Utah reported, “Marital discord By Students clash over
marriage during rally- It wasn't true love that spurred a couple, dressed in a
wedding gown and tuxedo, to serve wedding cake on the Taggart Student Center
patio at Utah State University on Wednesday. Instead, it was principle that
caused two members of the USU College Republicans student club to lobby for
support of what they call a "traditional wedding" between a man and a
woman.
They gave away
280 pieces of wedding cake to the first of more than 1,000 students who signed
a petition opposing same-sex marriage.
Tom Robins,
state chairman of the Utah College Republicans and a USU student, called the
event "a creative way" to gather signatures for the petition that
will be sent to Utah Gov. Olene Walker. Robins dressed as the groom and Beckie
Kimber, a USU political science and economics major and club member, dressed as
a bride in a long, white gown. As it turns out, the idea was not only creative,
it was downright controversial. Five police officers, including three in
plain-clothes, were dispersed throughout the crowd. Although USU Police Lt.
Steve Milne said the students on both sides of the issue stayed "under
control" during the three-hour rally, tempers flared at times and some
participants raised their voices and yelled curse words. "During the class
change we had hundreds of people here and they mobbed the table to be able to
sign the petition when they were offered the opportunity," Robins said.
"People are excited to be able to support the traditional bedrock of
marriage." While several individuals squared off to argue with each other
in the crowd, at least one male couple responded to the controversy by kissing
each other. Excitement at the outdoor event peaked, though, when supporters of
same-sex marriage unplugged the sound system that was being used exclusively by
the USU College Republicans. "They cut off our microphones and we started
chanting 'Why squash free speech,'" Robins said. "Liberals only want
free speech when they have the microphone."Cy Martz, a public relations
major at USU and supporter of same-sex marriage and other gay rights, agreed
that some of the actions by supporters of same-sex marriage at the rally were
"inappropriate." "I don't think their mike should have been
unplugged because they did reserve the space, they reserved the microphone and
it is their right to protest," Martz said. "However, the homosexual
community has been attacked today, and I think it would have been a sad day if
we were just to sit down and be a silent minority." In spite of any
objectionable behavior, Martz was supportive of the rally. "It gets us
press coverage. It gets people thinking about the issue," he said. "I
think it's important for protests like this to go on and anti-protests like
this to go on, because if you're having to confront this issue, you might be
able to come to an understanding with each other." Martz explained that
the goals of the two groups aren't so far apart. "They're screaming that
they're for the traditional marriage, for traditional families and I think that
we're for traditional marriage as well," he said. "But I think that
we should be for all types of families and all types of relationships and I
think we should be supportive of those." The definition of marriage is a
"hot button issue" for several reasons, including the fact that some
straight people don't have the opportunity to know gay people and others won't
open their minds enough to try to understand gay issues, Martz said. People are
fearful of change and they're not sure what is going to happen next, he
said.The debate is fueled throughout the United States by recent gay-lesbian
activities including more than 2,636 same-sex marriages in the last week in San
Francisco. Two judges refused Tuesday to put an immediate halt to the parade of
same-sex weddings at San Francisco City Hall, ensuring that gay and lesbian
couples will be able to wed until at least the end of the week, according to a
front-page story in Wednesday's edition of the San Francisco Chronicle. Robins
said this trend is disturbing and any impression that most people support
same-sex marriage is incorrect. Californians supported traditional marriage in
2000 when they approved Proposition 22, the initiative that defines marriage as
between a man and a woman. "The silent majority can be silent no longer.
We need to stand up for traditional families before a court decides to
dismantle what that definition is and we're just sitting on the fence,"
Robins said. Robins said it is important for Cache Valley residents to be aware
of the programs supported by their tax dollars, referring to the activities of
the USU Gay Pride Alliance club. "I believe the vast majority of students
in Utah support the traditional family. However, at taxpayer-funded Utah State
University, departments at the school have helped to promote and advertise the
showing of such films on campus as 'Dildo Diaries,' 'Monogamous Slut' and
'Mormon Erotica,'" Robins said. The rally consisted of dialogue by members
of the USU Republican club over the loudspeaker with audience members often
responding with cheers or jeers. "They do not have the right to marry
under their circumstances, and that's OK," USU student Mike Robins said to
the audience members, many of whom stopped by on their way to class. USU
student Colton Christensen paused with a group of friends to listen.
Christensen said he was glad the conservative students were organized and were
taking a stand for their beliefs. It irritated him when the Gay Pride Alliance
celebrated last week by declaring it a sign of support by those who wore blue
jeans. "If you're wearing blue jeans, it doesn't mean you're supporting
anything," Christensen said. "It means you like blue jeans."
Stefanie Snow, a liberal arts and sciences major at USU, also stopped to find
out what the commotion was about. Snow said she supports the discussion of gay
rights, but she wasn't in favor of this format. Sometimes people get a little
too involved while standing on a soapbox and saying things to shock
people," Snow said. "I like organized debate ... minus the passion,
minus the emotion of the moment -- where people talk about the problems with
logic rather than trying to impress or shock people." Juan Franco, vice
president for Student Services at USU, granted the permit for the USU College
Republicans to rally through the standard USU free speech policy, but said he
also prefers formal debates. "But certainly it is within their right to
express their opinions and the other side has the right to express their
opinions," Franco said. "As long as we keep it at a professional
level I think it's fine."
Adam Bass wrote,
LATEST ABOUT THE UTAH LEGISLATURE Subj: Stop Constitutional Discrimination! We
need your help more than ever! If you do
only ONE thing during this whole year for LGBT equality then please pay attention
and act on this email! The Utah State Legislature is considering amending the
Utah State Constitution to discriminate against LGBT people! Despite the
overwhelming opposition, we are within reach of defeating this dangerously
offensive amendment. To stop it though, we will need the support of you and
everyone you know! 1- Below is a list of
legislators who are considered "moderate" or "fair minded"
on this issue.
Please look over
the list. If you know one of these people - if they are close to you (i.e.:
aunt, great uncle, neighbor, co-worker, friend, old boy scout leader, coach,
teacher, bishop, etc.) then PLEASE contact Adam Bass at: adamgbass@yahoo.com
immediately. We need your help!
2 - The next
thing you can do is to forward this email to EVERYONE you know. This isn't just
a "gay issue" any more. We are
talking about amending the Utah State Constitution. This isn't a gay issue -
this is an issue of amending a part of the constitution entitled "The
Declaration of Rights" to discriminate. Fair-minded individuals state-wide
are against amending the constitution to specifically deny any group of people
equal access to government. The legislature has already passed an anti-gay
marriage bill this year (passed the Senate 1/30/04 and the House 2/18/04).
To pass a
constitutional amendment this session too is just showing that they are out of
control and acting in fear of a non-existent problem. It is also interesting to
note that Utah Law prohibits gay marriage in about three or four places - in
addition to the bill they passed this session. I'm sending this to my mom who's
not interested in "gay politics," so I'm not asking you to do
anything I'm not doing myself.
3 - Plan to come to the capitol for part of
the day when this bill is being voted on. Usually we can have about 24 hours’
notice on when a bill will be presented for a floor vote, and so we'll send
word as soon as we know when this vote will occur. However, we need to fill the
capitol to capacity to let legislators know about the many citizens this
effects. This means all the gay community – including our parents, friends,
families, co-workers, etc. We need EVERYONE at the capitol for this vote. There
is TONS to do. Please email Adam Bass with any questions or if you can help in
any way. Thank you for all of your help.
Please let us
know if you have a personal or professional relationships with any of these
people: Eli Anderson (Tremonton) Craig
Buttars (Lewiston) Loraine Pace (Cache County) Curt Webb (Cache County) Sheryl
Allen (Davis County) James Gowans (Tooele) Neal Hendrickson (Magna) Kory
Holdaway (Salt Lake County) Susan Lawrence (Holladay) Peggy Wallace (West
Jordan) Morgan Philpot (Midvale) Karen Morgan (Sandy) Steven Mascaro (South
Jordan) Gregory Hughes (Sandy/Draper) David Hogue (Riverton/Bluffdale) Jack
Seitz (Vernal) Craig Frank (Pleasant Grove) Calvin Bird (Springville) Micheal
Styler (Delta) Bradley Johnson (Emery, Sevier and Sanpete Counties) Bud Bowman
(Cedar City) James Evans (Rosepark/Salt Lake City) Carlene Walker (Sandy and
eastward to both Cottonwood Canyons) Al Mansell (Sandy) Peter Knudson (Box
Elder, Cache, Tooele Counties) David
Gladwell (Morgan, Summit, Weber Counties) Lyle Hillyard (Cache and Rich
Counties) Beverly Evans (Wasatch, Daggett, Uintah, Summitt, and Duchesne Counties)
20
February 2004 Friday
My sister Charline
Williams Wachs wrote: Hi just wanted to give you Mikes new address # 8200
Sheridan Blvd. #303, Westminster, CO 80003. Mom is doing okay. Just having trouble with her leg giving
out. Waiting to her about getting her
MRI. If we do not hear soon I will call
and see what is taking so long. Then we
will have to make an appointment to see her back doctor again. Out side of all of that she really is doing
fine. Love, Charline.
I
wrote What ever happened to- "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it
any more?" We have been called by the people we pay taxes
to-"perverts, destroyers of the sacred institution of marriage, and even
the catalysts for the collapse of Western Civilization", and yet we do
nothing!
Even
the Constitution is to be tampered with; to insure inequality in America by
these cads! and yet we do nothing. If left to their own devises, the radical
religious far right will do away with all aspects of humanism. When are the
Lambda leaders going to call for demonstrations and sit- ins?
Civil
Disobedience to unjust laws is the birth right of all Americans! Doesn't anyone
read Thoreau anymore? (By the way he was Gay) The radical right has never been
on the correct side of any positive social change and never will be!
They are the fascists, the exploiters, the
dividers- who have never come up with one original thought! There have always
been the Tories, the loyalists, inquisitors, and supporters of privilege and
elitism; the impeders to the extension of Freedom.
Now
for the drones in the Utah State legislature, they are of the same ilk as
Lester Maddox, George Wallace, and Strom Thurmond of the separate but equal Jim
Crow South. They just use religion as a justification for their own prejudice,
and whether it’s the "mark of Cain", the "Curse of the
Lamanites", or the "guilt of the Jews", it is just plain wicked
to do so. The Bible supports slavery, the slaughter of unbelievers, women and
children as chattel, more than it ever called same sex love an abomination.
I
don't see a mad dash to legislate these fine Bibical Laws back into the legal
code. If the Republican theocrats have to selectively choose passages from the
Bible to legislate morality for "the people" how about my favorite "not grinding the
faces of the poor" to start with?
Perhaps
these people should commence with, as Jesus Christ did, "Liberating the
Prisoners and Binding Up the Broken Hearted." Or better yet, how about
"rendering unto Caesar's what is Caesar's" and realize that Christ
said "my kingdom is not of this world".
Lambda
people are Americans, not an insidious cancer on society as the radical right
would make us out to be. We need to stand as Americans so that all freedom
loving Americans, who love Justice and the American Way, who believe that all
people should have equal access to the pursuit of happiness, can see that we
are the same as they are. It is our collective duty as Americans to make
America truly the land of Liberty and Justice for all, as well as the home of
the brave. Don't you think?”
James
P. Hicks responded, “Hear! Hear! But remember were in the Bee-have state of
Utah. Where our so-called leaders are
like the "Borg in Star Trek" They have stated "We are the
Right-Wing Leaders!....Resistance is Futile" You will be stripped of your
individuality and ABSORBED into the Collective Hive...Or you will be Destroyed!
I've done my part, now it's up to others.
Chad Keller wrote, “Rising of his
Death Bed like Brigham did upon seeing the Salt lake and thinking it was the
Pacific ocean...comes a message. Puleeeaaase Maggie....it might upset a
precious coalition or some touted alliance, and we couldn’t have that now could
we. Remember, Social Working Alphas and their Beta Counterpart are in charge,
and getting paid. There is no rush, all will work out in the years to come.
(yeah right...I think I heard that from Anne Bolin while she waited for Henry
to forgive her)
I
will predict we will be right back to where we were in 1963 in this state, and
Union if Bush is re-elected. However this time, with the Patriot Act, there
will be no meetings in homes or coffee shops. We will be arrested, and
reprogrammed, if not quietly exterminated.
Jesus
is Coming Jesus is Coming will be their cry, and they will wipe sin away like
dust on our designer furniture.
Remember
when Communism ceased to be a threat or enemy, as predicted the Far Right set
their site on us and anything else that made them squirm. This is humanities
first battle; the next will be education and books.
Mad
enough, Hell yes, What should be the plan that the powerful and self-appointed
will approve of? Where's Toni [Palmer], that wonderful Queer Girl, whose mad
and ready to rumble. Now back to bed... CK
Wayne
R. Bensen author of "Anything But Straight " spoke at Salt Lake
Community College (SLCC) , to promote his new book, and to denounce ex-Gay
organizations such as Evergreen International, Exodus International, and
Homosexuals Anonymous.
“He
will be speaking in the cafeteria of Salt Lake Community College's South City
Campus (1575 South State Street) at 7:30 p.m. Parking is available on the east
side of the campus (turn east at 1700 South State). PFLAG is proud to co-sponsor Mr. Besen with
SLCC's Coloring Outside the Lines. Please join us and help us spread the word
about this event.
Wayne
Besen is a nationally recognized advocate for gay and lesbian rights. He is a
frequent guest on leading news and political talk shows including: the NBC
Nightly News, The Roseanne Show, CNN's Talk Back Live and The Point, Fox's
O'Reilly Factor and Hannity and Colmes, Fox News and MSNBC News.
He
has also been quoted in a number of national publications such as The
Washington Post, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, The San Francisco Chronicle,
Rolling Stone and the Advocate magazine.
Besen
made international news when he photographed "ex-gay" poster boy John
Paulk cruising in a gay bar in Washington, D.C.
Through
his extensive work on the "ex-gay" issue, Besen has emerged as one of
the nation's premier experts on this controversial topic. Anything But Straight
is his first book.
For
the last four years, Besen has served as a spokesperson for the Human Rights
Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian political organization. Prior to
working at HRC, Besen worked in the media, the political arena and in public
relations.
After
graduating in 1993 from the University of Florida with a B.S. in broadcast
journalism, Besen founded Sons & Daughters of America (SDA), a gay and
lesbian public awareness campaign based in South Florida.
Following
his tenure with SDA, Besen worked in television production at the NBC affiliate
in Fort Myers, Fla., and as a news reporter at the CBS affiliate in Bangor,
Maine.
In
1996, Besen served as the press secretary for democratic Maine State Senator
Sean Faircloth's bid for the U.S. Senate. Following the campaign, Besen moved
to Washington D.C. and worked for Edelman Public Relations Worldwide where he
specialized in media relations.
While
at Edelman, Besen worked for a diverse group of clients including Microsoft,
DLJ Direct, and former Ukrainian parliament member Yulia Tymoshenko. He is a
native of Fort Lauderdale, but has also lived in Houston and graduated from
Kaiser High School in Honolulu. His hobbies include playing basketball,
traveling, reading and writing.”
Heidi
Burton reported “CAKE, KISSES and more at USU Protest Traditional marriage
rally flooded by vocal dissenters” The Utah State University College
Republicans and Students for Traditional Values set up a table and microphone
Wednesday and asked students walking by to sign a petition in support of
"traditional marriage" between a man and a woman.
One
female and one male College Republican dressed as a bride and groom, and
signers were treated to a piece of wedding cake. A crowd of about 25 dissenters
stood near the table and jeered at supporters of traditional marriage, shouting
"Cake for segregation!" "Hate speech!" and "Students
for zombie thinking!"
"We
are the first college campus to do this," said Tom Robins, the
tuxedo-sporting state chairman of the College Republicans. "We are going
to start the revolution," he said. "The silent majority will be
silent no longer." Robins told students it was OK to support traditional
marriage and stop San Francisco from defining what is done here.
Jennifer
Smith, a USU student majoring in family and human development, took a piece of
cake, stood in front of the crowd and deliberately dropped the cake on the
rain-soaked cement. A young man picked up the cake, took a bite and walked away
to laughter from the crowd.
"[The
College Republicans'] methods aren't working," Smith said. "They're
yelling stuff over and over. It's not that [the dissenters] don't support
traditional marriage, but they also support gay marriage." Two female dissenters took a piece of cake,
fed a bite to each other in front of the crowd, and then kissed.
The
women, former USU student Cristy Street and Lisa Hizinbothem, majoring in
statistics, said they supported gay marriage. Hizinbothem said she was straight
but kissed Street to make a point. "It does not harm anyone to let people
make their own decision," she said.
Street
said she was bisexual and that it was the first time she had kissed a woman.
She said she came out about a year ago and "went through pure hell,"
going into depression, dropping out of school and dealing with her Mormon
family's struggles.
"Do
they think we asked to be this way?" she said. "I fell in love. I've
had to deal with this all my life."
The
event, which lasted from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., was monitored by five USU
campus police officers. Police Chief Steve Mecham said emotions "got a
little high, but people were able to calm down. Some of the crowd members
calmed their friends down."
When
other dissenters took cake and then dropped it on the ground, Mecham said he
asked them to pick up the napkins so there wasn't a littering problem, and said
the individuals complied.
Someone
unplugged the College Republicans' microphone three times, Mecham said. Robins said, "[The dissenters] want you
to accept them, but if you disagree with them, they'll cut off your
microphone."
Beckie
Kimber, a College Republican and senior majoring in political science, wore a
wedding dress during the event and stood by Robins in his tuxedo. Robins told
passers-by to take a look at what a married couple should look like - a man and
a woman - because "in 20 years, maybe kids won't remember what
[traditional marriage] is," he said to cheers from supporters.
"I don't care if people yell, it doesn't
faze me," Kimber said. "The majority needs to stand up and be
respected."
Jay
Chambers, business major and founder of Students for Traditional Values, said
742 people signed the petition supporting traditional marriage in about two and
a half hours. The petition will be sent to Utah Gov. Olene Walker.
College
Republican President Gabe White said he was surprised at the level of outlash
against the event. "This is so unreal. I didn't expect this," he
said, looking at the crowd shouting at College Republican Mike Robins while he
told students to not let one of the pillars of society be torn down by
Massachusetts.
A
dissenter shouted at Mike Robins "Open your mind, you freaks," to
which he replied, "If you open your mind too much your brain might fall
out."
One
of the outspoken dissenters, Travis Taylor, a junior in conservation and
restoration ecology, said prohibiting same-sex marriage is another form of
bigotry. "I don't think people should care whether same-sex people get
married," Taylor said. "A lot of the point of view against it comes
from religion. I just don't see why issues like this should even go to court.
People have different beliefs and you can't change that."
Carson
Nuttall, a senior majoring in engineering, said he thought the event was great
for letting the truth be heard. "[The dissenters] are afraid to let the
majority rule the country," he said. "The minority has been
controlling too much."
Smith
said the College Republicans were supporting "legal discrimination against
other humans, which is wrong."
One
student said sexual orientation and race aren't the same. "In my opinion,
homosexuality is a sin," said Kellon Hansen, a junior majoring in biology
and pre-med. "Minorities aren't sinning."
Marc
Nielsen, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, said both sides were "yelling
and screaming at each other."
Queer
Utah Aquatic Club (QUAC) hosted annual Ski and Swim Weekend 20-22 February 2004.
21
February 2004 Saturday
I wrote “Now
that I got my mad as hell rant out of my system I feel that need to apologize to anyone whom I offended
by calling members of the Utah State Legislature "cads" and
"drones." Calling names never changes anything and its only
momentarily satisfying.
The
people who run this state sincerely, no matter how wrongly, believe they are
doing what is in the best interest of their narrowly defined "public
constituents". Actually short sighted public servants are merely catering
to the basic fears and ignorance of an uninformed public, and to the dictates
of a powerful conservative lobbying organization that is driven purely by
angry, resentment, and frustration.
We
cannot afford to become like our enemies. If we are to be successful in gaining
the freedoms and liberties guaranteed by our "secular" Constitution
and gain the privileges of that social contract, we must take the high road. We
must look towards the teachings of Buddha, Christ and their disciples, Thoreau,
Gandhi, and King. We have to learn to love our enemies. Love them enough to
show them that this great civil rights movement is about love not simply being
a "sexual minority".
We
will fail if we do not grasp the concept of non-violence while actively, not
passively, striving for our civil liberties. We must march, we must sit-in, we
must love-in, and even allow ourselves to be abused to show what the radical
right is doing is wrong! They may hate us but we need to in turn love them
back. Perhaps I am greatly naive but I truly believe love is greater than hate.
Love can turn harden hearts soft. If one truly accepts the notion that God is
love then, who can fight against that? Love is not giving in...it’s truly a
noble struggle against oppression, injustice, inequality, and human and animal
suffering.
The
radical right do not believe they are wrong. We can never argue enough, shout
enough, cry enough, or even die enough to ever convince them that they are wrong. The only tool we have is love.
Fortunately I do believe God has given Lambda people an overabundance of this
ability to love in the face of hatred, animosity, and revilement. We loved each
other enough to take care of the sick and dying during the worse of the AIDS
plague. We need to draw upon that nfinite well and reserve of love to direct
that energy to those that despise us and
unmercifully
abuse us. History shows that social progress driven by love of fellow human
beings always wins out in time.
Rep.
Jackie Biskupski attached a call to action that “I am forwarding onto you.
Please disperse it to your e-mail list. It is possible that House Joint
Resolution 25 the constitutional amendment bill, will be heard on the floor of
the House Monday the 23rd. Thank you. I need your help to stop it from getting
a 2/3's majority vote.
Dear
Equality Utah Supporter, The following message is from Adam Bass who is working
on the hill for us this session. He is right that now is the time to act. An
amendment to the Utah constitution banning all recognition for gay and lesbian
couples willing to enter into life-long, committed relationships is nothing
short of shocking. Please take time to read through the email and take action.
And keep watching for more information from us as it develops. Yours in
equality,
Michael
Mitchell
We
need your help more than ever! If you do only ONE thing during this whole year
for LGBT equality then please pay attention and act on this email!
The
Utah State Legislature is considering amending the Utah State Constitution to
discriminate against LGBT people! Despite the overwhelming opposition, we can
defeat this dangerously offensive amendment. To stop it though, we will need
the support of you and everyone you know.
22
February 2004 Sunday
Ken Jones my
nephew wrote: Hello,This is your nephew Ken. How are you doing? I got your email address from Grandma and I
was wondering if you got the website address for our family genealogy? Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks,Ken
I replied: So
glad to hear from you...yesterday Jehil sent me an instant message and when I
went to reply to it-it disappeared. I was worried that she may have thought I
didn't want to talk to her. I will put you on the Williams-Danforth Yahoo Group
Site so you can access family pictures, histories, and get messages from other
family members on how they are getting along. I just called mom this morning.
She was tickle pink to hear from you. I
wasn't sure about whether you wanted to be on the site. I had your mother on it
but I guess your dad read it and had a fit as being an invasion of his privacy.
So I deleted your mom from the site so your dad wouldn't get mad at her. Sorry
I missed you when you came to see Mom when Dad died. I couldn't get out any earlier.
We had a massive snow storm on the day dad died and power was out for 24 hours.
In fact some of the snow that was dumped in December is still here. I was
working on updating your great-great-great Grandpa's family history when you
emailed. His name was Green Williams who had George Kearse Williams who had
Edgar Lewis Williams who had Louis Milton Williams who had Edgar Hugh Williams
who had your mom. Green was the son on a plantation owner from
Ken wrote
back: Hi, I would love to see any pictures you have of my family and I. Jehil
is obsessed with knowing my family history because she feels that it would be a
wonderful thing for our future children to know the history of their family. I
commend you on a job well done and it has been interesting and seems like it
will keep me entertained for awhile.
Though I do admit it is a bit confusing with all the names. I was wondering do you keep this information
stored on some kind of geneology program (i.e. Family Tree Maker). If so we would love to have a family tree
emailed to us. A year ago Jehil bought
Family Tree Maker but she has been struggling to find her family info, so I
figured we could fill it with some of my family information. At very least it will me understand more who
is who in the family. Talk to you later, Ken
23
February 2003 Monday
Chad Keller wrote;
“First let me apologies for the delay in rescheduling the Milestone Honor. Last October was just not a good month, and
personally recovering for the initial let down took me a little longer than I
expected. I purpose that on April 23, 2004 at the Trapp at 7:00 pm We have a
simple gathering to present the 2003 Honors.
I will be checking with Joe today.
There will be no expenses to the Utah Stonewall Historical Society. I will be asking Michael Mitchell to serve as
Host and MC.
Quick,
down, and dirty. Any project worth doing is worth doing well and completing
it. But most importantly this for me is
to recognize the contributions of wonderful people who mean so much to so many. I may not be up to full speed right now, but
who is? This issue need to be completed
for 2003, and a process for 2004. I need
to see it happens, if not for my emotional wellbeing, just to see it though.
As
such, I am purposing that I will oversee and host for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
and 2008 a Milestone Honors Cocktail party as my gift to the USHS. I will be open for review in 2008, and
nominees and honorees will be selected through the outlined process agreed on
in 2003. Hope everyone is well. Please let me know if it works for you. Carthy D. Cartwright is fine with the date
and location, Thanks! Chad Keller
Mike
Picardi, Chair, Utah Stonewall Democrats
announced “Ladies and Gentlemen, Tomorrow, February 24, on the
"hill", HJR 25 will be voted on in the Utah House. It is the second
item on the agenda, so it should come up around 9:30 am. This is LaVar
Christensen's constitutional amendment to lock the LGBT communities out of the
legal and civil rights we are ALL granted by the US Constitution.
Last
week there was an incredible turn out to push HB 68 out of the Judiciary
Committee. We MUST have the same amount of lobbying to STOP HJR 25 from getting
out of the house. This cannot go on the ballot this November. We must stop it
NOW!!!!
PLEASE
come up to the Capitol and talk with your representatives, or at least CALL
them and tell them not to amend the Constitution to ban us from forever having
the same rights as every other citizen.. Thank you for your help and support!
My
sister Charline Williams Wachs wrote: Hi Everyone, Just an up date. Mom had her left eye done today it will be
about 3 months before the right eye can be done. She is fine.
We go back tomorrow morning to have the patch removed and to have the
doc look at it then we go back in 1 week.
We still have not heard about the MRI.
I am going to call tomorrow and see what is going on with it.
She
is getting stronger every day. You would
not realize that she is the same person that you saw in Jan. Kenny [Jones Mom’s grandson] called her
yesterday and she was thrill to hear from him.
He is going to come up and see her as soon as he can get it all
scheduled. I Know she will be glad to
see him and Jehil.
Denise
are doing fine she called today and has a job interview one day this week. She seems happy about the interview. Lets all keep good thoughts.
Mike is graduating the 1st of March. But he is going to take a couple of more
classes so he won't be out of school till around the first part of next year.
Dennis and I are still looking for work.
Hope to fine something soon. You all take care write when you can. Love
you all Charline
24
February 2004 Tuesday
House Bill 68,
a Hate Crime bill, never got out of Utah’s Judiciary Committee.
Aimee
Marie Selfridge wrote this; This morning I sat and watched as the President of
the United States proclaimed that it should be written into the Constitution
that I shall never be allowed to marry. He declared in front of millions,
probably billions of people that I am "a threat to the sanctity of
marriage" and that I am un-natural and " weakening the good influence
of society".
With
tears streaming down my face, I listened as he called to the masses to
"protect marriage" from me. I am unsure of all the "rights"
I miss out on because I cannot marry my partner, but I do know that all of them
are legal, financial, and medical rights, none to do with God or my eternal
salvation.
I
know that though I am the sole financial provider for my family, I am taxed and
treated as single. I know that if my partner gets sick, we will be paying the
full bill because she cannot be on my insurance. I know that there are many
forms to fill out and legal fees that we have to pay to insure we are
responsible for each other should anything happen to either of us, and I know
that either of our families could fight it in court and possibly win.
I
always dreamed of marriage as a child. It wasn't until I was around 12 years
old that I found out I wasn't "suppose" to dream of marrying another
woman. I still kept dreaming, after all we live in the "freest country in
the world".
How could such a great Country deny me that
right. How could a Constitution that guarantees " equal protection for all
under the law" deny me the same rights and protections.
Today
a movement has begun to make it equal protection for all heterosexuals under
the law and only selective protection for homosexuals.
I
find it odd that persons convicted of rape, murder, pedophilia, who are in
prison can get married, and yet law abiding, tax paying citizens who want to
marry someone of the same gender are turned away.
The
first same gender marriage performed in San Francisco this month was of Phyllis
Lyon and Del Martin, who just celebrated 51 years together. A marriage that has
lasted longer than most opposite gender marriages of today. Can any of you look
those two in the eye and tell them their relationship does not deserve the same
legal benefits as yours. That five decades does not warrant a marriage
recognized by the state.
Can
you look me in the eye and tell me without shame that you and your spouse
deserve more rights and protection than me and mine. Can you justify writing discrimination
into the constitution, can you show me how my marriage will impact yours.
Please think of me before you make a decision, think of the millions of
families you will have to look in the eye if you support an amendment that
would nullify "equal protection for all". Sincerly,
Aimee Marie
Selfridge
26
February 2003 Thursday
Charline
wrote: Hi, Mom got her package today she has been listening to the CD's. She is doing better she can even see moreout
of her eye then thought she would be able to. Not much new here. Rained last night pretty good most of the
night. Take care. We love you, Charline
27
February 2004 Friday
Maureen known
as “bob” Director of Youth Programs GLBT Community Center of Utah sent out a
request. Hey everyone! I am sending this email out to let everyone know that
through food contributions to the Youth Activity Center (YAC) by you and/or
your friends, we were able to feed over 1200 young people since May 7, 2003. We
started a program called Soup's On, to help young people with little or no
access to food.
We see many young people in the YAC who are
"couch surfing", living on the streets, or have very little money to
take care of their basic needs, such as food and hygiene. The community has
been great to the YAC in making sure the shelves have stayed full with cans of
soup.
I
am now sending out another email to ask for your donations again. Our shelves
are almost empty, yet we still have a consistent flow of young people who
access the Center, not only for resources and programs, but for food as well.
So,
here's the wish list of food items (things that the youth seemed to like):
Cup of Noodles,
Ramen Noodles, Fruit Roll Ups, Granola Bars, Soups, other than tomato, Chili, Macaroni
and Cheese, Rice, Bread, peanut butter, Popcorn, Vegan or Vegetarian options, Anything
that can be prepared in a microwave, Milk, Soy Milk. We are always in need of
plastic spoons, paper bowls, (for the soups) and paper towels.
Donations
can be dropped off at the reception area of the GLBT Community Center of Utah,
located at 355 North 300 West. Please leave your contact information with any
items that are dropped off so that we can write you a thank you letter.
The
young people are always appreciative and looking for ways to say thanks. If you
have any questions regarding Soup's On, or any of the Youth Activity Center's
programs, events, or activities, please contact meThank you again for your
donations to the YAC. You are helping to provide a safe space for young LGBTQ
people and their allies.
28
February 2004 Saturday
Sheri Dew,
President of the LDS-owned Deseret Book, likened those "who do not oppose
gay marriage to those who did nothing to oppose Hitler's rise to power. "
Sean
P. Means film critic for the Salt Lake Tribune wrote “Film with gay-LDS theme
will screen-The movie "Latter Days," a romantic comedy centering on a
gay LDS missionary, will be seen in Salt Lake City after all -- opening March
26, most likely at the Tower Theatre.
"We
are thrilled that 'Latter Days' will have an opportunity to tell its story to
Salt Lake City audiences," Raymond Murray, president of the film's
distributor, TLA Releasing, said in a news release Thursday.
The
movie had been slated to open at the Madstone Trolley Square Theaters on Jan.
30, but Madstone's New York management – reportedly after pressure from
protesters -- abruptly pulled the film two weeks before opening.
At
the time, Brooke Harper of the Salt Lake Film Society, which operates the Tower
and Broadway Centre Cinemas, had rejected the movie, calling it
"awful" and "embarrassing."
In
Thursday's release, Harper said, "while our initial decision with respect
to the exhibition of 'Latter Days' in Salt Lake was based solely on our
estimation of the film's quality, we recognize that others' decisions on this
matter may have been less honest and straightforward.
In
light of this fact and in support of the battles that gay and lesbian people
must continue to fight in communities across the country, we are pleased to
partner with TLA Releasing to present 'Latter Days' in Salt Lake." Harper
refused to elaborate when contacted by The Salt Lake Tribune.
Michael
Mitchell, executive director of the gay/lesbian organization Equality Utah, is
pleased a few protesters won't keep the movie out of Salt Lake City.
"Audiences should decide whether movies should be seen, and they should
decide with their ticket sales," he said.
"Latter
Days" tells of an LDS missionary who confronts his homosexuality after
meeting a West Hollywood party boy. The movie was directed and written by C.
Jay Cox, the writer of "Sweet Home Alabama." Cox is tentatively
scheduled to visit Salt Lake City for the film's debut.
29
February 2004 Sunday
The 14th
annual Oscar Night America hosted by Utah AIDS Foundation (UAF) was held at
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center in SLC
The
Salt Lake Metro will be hitting the streets in May and we are busy gearing up
for it. This Yahoo group is being set up to give people some sneak peaks,
notices of things like drastically-reduced classifieds for the first few issues, and to solicit ideas and feedback
as we shape this thing.
We
will also be having a members-only launch party being co-sponsored by Red Bull
and Absolut. Please join and help us make this newspaper something great for
Salt Lake.-Michael Aaron
Gay
unions accepted as routine in cultures for centuries Will Bagley HISTORY
MATTERS Marriage, says BYU law professor Richard G. Wilkins, "has always
been about one sexual relationship -- the union of a man and a woman." Of
course, this would be news to Brigham Young, who said "I do" to some
56 women.
Consider
the furor and outrage Mormon polygamy evoked in the 19th century. The laws
sanctifying the one-man, one-woman model of marriage had forced millions upon
millions of women "to become a prey to man's lust and a consuming
sacrifice upon the altar of illicit passion," the Deseret Evening News
thundered in December 1885.
"One
man to one woman only," the newspaper proclaimed, was "the exception
in Christendom as well as
heathendom" and was "one impracticable standard."
The
News argued that polygamous marriage "prevails all over the world, and
those who pretend to the contrary are very simple or very untruthful."
That's a debatable point, even though it appeared in the pages of what The Salt
Lake Tribune used to call "the font of truth," but marriage has been
a flexible institution throughout history.
Much
of the current debate over same-sex marriage reflects a relatively new
tradition of fear and hatred of homosexuals in American culture.
The
concept of homosexuality only appeared in European medical literature in the
late 1860s and reached the United States by 1892, but it was the sodomy trial
of British poet Oscar Wilde in 1895 that introduced the concept to popular
culture.
The
"queer eye" was nothing new, however, even in Utah. When Wilde
(popularly known as the "Sunflower Apostle") visited Salt Lake City
in 1882, he complimented LDS Church President John Taylor for his fine
aesthetic judgment, and the Deseret News reported that young men adorned with
enormous sunflowers filled the front row of his crowded lecture on interior
decorating. (None of this was a stereotype in 1882.)
The
Victorians turned it into an identity, but same-sex sex has been going on since
time immemorial and was considered entirely natural in ancient Greece and Rome.
First
Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill didn't actually say "the only
traditions of the Royal Navy are rum, sodomy and the lash," but he may
have wished he had.
Rather
than treat gay people as social outcasts, many cultures integrated men and
women with transsexual natures into their societies. When French Jesuit
missionaries found men among the Iroquois who dressed and acted as women, they
called them berdache, incorrectly equating them with male prostitutes. Many
scholars now prefer the term "two-spirit."
American
Indian languages had a variety of terms -- winkte (Lakota), nadleeh (Navajo),
hemanah (Cheyenne), kwid-(Tewa), tainna wa'ippe (Shoshone), dubuds (Paiute) and
lhamana (Zuni) to identify "a person who has both male and female spirits
within," notes Lakota scholar Beatrice Medicine.
Anthropologists such as Elsie Parsons long ago
observed that two- spirited men often married other men. Even earlier, William
Clark told the first editor of the Lewis and Clark journals that Hidatsa boys
who showed "girlish inclinations" were raised as women and married
men. Somehow, male-female marriage managed to survive in these cultures.
Marriage
even survived polygamy, which had extended the "blessings of matrimony and
of home instead of discarding or destroying them," the Deseret News
argued. "It surrounds the domestic relations with safeguards and a
sacredness that are stronger and more enduring than any others."
Restricting such a good thing seems selfish. ---- Historian Will Bagley is
happily married.
March
3 March 2004
The Joint
Resolution on Marriage (HJR25), a proposed Utah Constitutional amendment
banning Gay marriage and civil was passed its final vote in the House as 200
Gay men and women seated in the gallery watched.
4-13 March
2004
Eight Annual
"Cancer Awareness" week sponsored by the Royal Court of the Golden
Spike Empire (ROYAL COURT OF THE GOLDEN SPIKE EMPIRE).
7
March 2004 Sunday
Charline
Williams Wachs wrote: Hi How are you doing?
Mom went to church this morning.
I will be glad when Mom gets her MRI done. I think Dennis is trying to come down with a
cold. He has been working since Wed. Gets paid on the 5th and the 23rd or
something like that. He has worked with
two of the guys before so at least he knows someone there. Have not heard from
Denise. She started her new job this
last Monday. And moved in to their new
house last Sunday. She said she would
not have a phone for about a week. She
was really excited about it all. Last I
heard she was going to get Nathan for the Summer. Her and Cody will get him to do home work for
school while he is there. So it won't be
just fun and games while he is there She
can not wait to see him. Michael is doing
fine. Both him and Patti are looking for
work. Patti still works for a 7-11 or
what ever it is but wants a new job.
Mike started school last Monday.
He has challenge two of the block he has to take and he has passed the
test for them so he does not need to take them, he can challenge one more. He has not gotten your card yet. Abby is
going home with Dennis today. We have
had here here since Tuesday. She has
been pretty good. Mom is just not use to
having kids around. She helps me cook
and do the dishes while she is here. I hate to ask you this but could I borrow
$1500 from you til we get our income taxes back. We should be able to repay it by July. If you do not have the extra money it is
okay. I understand. Take care of
yourself Love ya, Charline
8-12 March
2004
SLCC’s Gay
Straight Alliance Club hosted Diversity Week with the theme; The Straight Truth
Homosexuality is Not Just A Trend.
9 March 2004
Photographs,
purportedly of homosexual Mormon missionaries, by Don Farmer caused SLCC's
South City Campus students to get into a shouting match after one of them began
taking down Farmer's photographs.
10
March 2004 Wednesday
I wrote
Charline: Email me if you don't get the money. I sent it out Monday to Mom's
address. Also did Michael get his? If not I need to put a stop payment on it. I
sent it to the address you gave me. Don't want someone else cashing it. Your
brother
11
March 2004 Thursday
Michael Wachs
wrote: Well I finally made it through my Avionics course so I figured why not
continue a bit and go through the air frame part as well. Started that a bit
over a week ago now. Not bad so far so hopefully will go by quick. Really want to thank you Very much for the
card and check. Appreciate it very much. Will use it for help with moving. Have
no idea right off hand where to for sure but somewhere. No worries about not being able to make it
out here for my graduation. I know all heck has broke loose for the family and
lot of things are going on right now. Grandma and her health is more important
right now and we all need to make sure she gets through this all alright. Gotta get goin. Need to take care of things
out here. Miss everyone and hope to see you all soon. Mike
11-14 March
2004
Utah Human
Rights Coalition (HRC) Delegates participated in a national Equality Conference
to train HRC leaders.
12 March 2004
Don Farmer’s
controversial group of photographs were stolen from SLCC, where they were the
cause of fierce debate and near violence since going on display earlier in the
week.
13
March 2004 Saturday
Charline
Williams Wachs wrote: Hi, Mike is fine got your card and check. He said to tell you thank you and he would
write as soon as he got his email up and running. I do not know what he did to it. Talk to Denise she is doing fine. Finally got moved and working at her new
job. She really likes the job and the people
she works with. Her new phone # is
804-445-1150 she is in
I replied:
That is weird because I sent it out on Monday to Mom's mailbox. If its not
there by Monday I will put a hold/ stop on it and send another one.
"Straight
Over The Rainbow" Diversity Dance Held at SLCC’s Redwood Campus.
• Activist and fundraiser Chuck Whyte
hosted "PINK" his 2nd Annual Cancer Awareness Show for ROYAL COURT OF
THE GOLDEN SPIKE EMPIRE.
14 March 2004
Salt Lake
Men's Choir's spring concert: Abendlied (Evening Song) held at First United
Methodist Church SLC UT with a special regional premiere of
"Magnificat" by Antonio Lotti.
SUNDAY March
14, 2004 - The idea is absurd After listening to legislators and others say
that same-sex marriage somehow threatens traditional marriage and hearing no
valid reasons for this opinion, I hoped to see a reasoned response from Paul T.
Mero, president of the Sutherland Institute. Sadly, after reading the article
(Tribune, March 7) I am again disappointed that no one seems to be able to
articulate any compelling reason to believe that same-sex marriage constitutes
any threat. According to Mero the
"real threat of homosexual marriage" is that it is an inauthentic,
unnatural version of marriage. Even if you accept this premise, would this
confuse people? Would it make people insecure in their own relationships? The
very idea is absurd. People are not stupid. Mero's argument, carried to its
logical conclusion, also says that other forms of currently recognized family
relationships are inauthentic. To Mero, marriage is about two things only:
bearing children and raising children. According to this view, families with
adopted children, step-children, children born with the assistance of
reproductive technology, or no children at all are as inauthentic as families
with same-sex partners as parents.
The truth of the matter is that families of
whatever stripe are authentic where love, nurturance, caring and support are
present. And same-sex couples, from what I have seen, are just as good, if not
better, than traditional couples. I challenge Mero to show otherwise. Marlin G. Criddle
Salt Lake City
SUNDAY March
14, 2004 I really want to know In the interest of honest debate, can anyone
answer the following questions concerning the amendment to ban same-sex
marriages? Will the amendment encourage
those not married to get married, to stay married and to be more successful in
marriage? Will it prevent those who marry from perpetrating abuse, abandonment
and neglect? Will it cause those who marry to reproduce (or reproduce more)?
Will it make those who marry appreciate their marriages (and their spouses)
more? Will it eradicate homosexuality from our society? Will it prevent gays
and lesbians from forming committed relationships? Will it prevent them from
having and adopting children? Will it prevent them from creating families? Will
it protect children of gay/lesbian or straight parents? Will it make a
constructive difference in the lives of Americans? Will it add any rights (not
already promised) to our Constitution? Will it do anything except assault the
constitutional right of equal protection under the law or will it classify
discrimination as a constitutional right? Please, will someone help me
understand? I really want to know. Laurie Wood Orem
15 March 2004
"The
Vagina Monologues" was performed at Utah Valley State College (UVSC) in
Orem Utah
I
wrote this for Brandon Burt editor of the Salt Lake Metro THE STONEWALL SAGA
Chronicles of Queer History and Lambda Lore Marriage in America.
I
use to be a professional genealogist, a profession which professes to find all
the begats and begettings from the beginning of time. Any genealogist can tell you that the
marriage laws of America have been a hodgepodge of legal statutes from the very
beginning. Genealogists will also
confirm how frustrating these marriage laws can be since they vary from region
to region.
Politicians,
usually the most ignorant of all professions, do not have a clue about what the
legal status of marriage entails in America. Too damn lazy they rely on the
pontificating of the radical right. Holy Matrimony and Civil Marriage are two
distinct critters that happen to overlap in religious communities but rarely in
secular one.
The
medieval Holy Roman Church canonized marriage as a “sacrament” one of several
they held as essential for salvation. This was seen as a way of curbing the
lustful nature of humankind and of keeping the world from being over populated
with single moms. More importantly
unmarried church fathers realized
marriage was a
legal contract providing security for a woman and her offspring and a nifty way
for a man to actually know his progeny in an age when Vikings were raping and
pillaging most of Europe.
In
Western Civilization marriage was a way to procreate legitimate heirs for the
landed gentry and acted as a neat status symbol for telling the blue bloods
from the riff raff. In the medieval heterosexual world where divorce was
forbidden, boring wives were for procreation and pretty mistresses were for
love! (Unless, you were a king, and fortunately enough to have the pope’s ears,
and his balls in your pocket.)
After
the Protestant Reformation fractured the supreme clout of the Roman Church,
religious reformers began to look askew at the notion of “Holy Matrimony,” in
effect saying “Holy Cow!” Especially critical of anything smacking of papacy
were the Puritans who came in boatloads to Massachusetts in the 1630’s to avoid
the Roman trappings of the Anglican Church and to annoy the Indians. These zealots, as soon as they set of their
churches, villages, and farms, thumped the concept of Holy Matrimony by making
marriage a civil matter not unlike filing a land deed or a will. Marriages were
recorded in village registers of New England not in church records!
Colonists
of the mid Atlantic colonies and Southern colonies were not so radical but
still moderately sensible. Financial Bonds were required for a marriage
contract in these places, obligating the groom not to jilt his intended and run
off with his lover.
As the
Anglican Church was the official church of Virginia and the Carolinas, the
independent Baptists and Methodists said to hell with that and recorded their
marriages in family records mostly Bibles. They were married by their own
ministers rather than submit to Anglican tyranny.
Quaker
marriages were even more scandalous since there were no “official” ministers to
perform weddings. The peaceful Quakers would just all sign a wedding
certificate to show that a marriage had taken place in their community. Quakers
were prototype hippies.
Our
Enlightened Deist Founding Fathers ensured marriage would remain an America
“legal civil” contract. They did this by stating “Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion.”
Just because some people chose to embellish this civil institution with
religious accouterments does not make marriage sacred any more than filing
taxes. People will still cheat on both.
Go figure.
In
truth Lambda couples are saying to their fellow hetero Americans that they are
willing to submit to the same legally binding contracts as the hets- plain and
simple. So why all the fuss? Unless the
clause “all men are created equal” has been removed for homeland (read-
fatherland) security reasons, I cannot for the life of me see why not. But then
again I am a humanist. What do I know?
18
March 2004 Thursday
Charline Wachs
Wrote: Got both checks. Thank you. One came Tuesday tore it up got the second
one today. Mom went to the docs today.
It having muscle spason in her back.
I am glad we are have the MRI done Tuesday. She is not sleeping. I know that she is getting down cause she
can't do everything she wants to do. But
hopefully once she gets the MRI done
they can find out what is worng and give her some choices as how to fix it. THe
weather is warm. THe day have been
really nice. HOpe you are all well. Take
care Love, Charline
Long
time community member, activist, and dancer Tom Henacy passed away from cancer.
19
March 2004
The Utah Gay
Rodeo Association (UGRA) hosted its annual Silver & Gold Rush at the Paper
Moon where the Mr., Ms., & Miss pony Express competition raised over
$1500.00
25
March 2004
BYU professor
William Bradshaw gave a lecture on scientific evidence that homosexuality is a
result of biological orientation.
Paula Wolfe,
executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Community
Center of Utah since 1999, announced her resignation effective April 15th.
26 March 2004
The Tower
agrees to show the movie "Latter Days," in SLC.
I sent this in
to Brandon Burt to have some history columns for the Salt Lake Metro THE
STONEWALL SAGA Queer Chronicles and Lambda Lore SLAVERY AND MARRIAGE
I
know that I am not the only one that finds it deliciously ironic that a state
founded to protect a morally ambivalent marriage arrangement is now dominated
by a political party that was founded to end the “twin relics of barbarism”-
(insert slavery and polygamy here). I cannot afford to be smug however as I
come from a family whose ancestors held other human beings in bondage. My
ancestors, like Mormons, also used religion to justify human misery.
When
I was very young, probably after seeing Gone With the Wind, I was quite proud
that my family was among the slave holding gentry of South Carolina. Okay so I
was an idiot. As an adult, and after having lost my male privilege by coming
out as a “screamer”, I became more in tune with human suffering not simply
because I had a newly acquired minority status myself.
Coming
to terms with my family’s dark past I thought that the human beings who toiled
in bondage for my family were the only victims. However a more detailed look at
this peculiar southern institution revealed that the perpetrators of the class
system, which divided people by skin color and by European or African
extraction, were also diminished- if not physically, then certainly spiritually
by the affects of slavery. The issue was definitely not black and white. A case
in point is the fact that while miscegenation was illegal many of the slaves in
my family records were listed as mulatto and freeing slaves was “Against the
Law”.
Nevertheless,
a man named Elijah Willis, against his neighbors’ better judgment, fell in
loved with Amy his housekeeper. Unfortunately for both of them she was a slave;
who was purchased from one of my relatives, hence my involvement. Amy was
described as a “plain looking” woman, a fact that made neighbors scratch their
heads even more. She was also “high
yellow” meaning she was only a fourth African so chances are that she was a
blood relative of mine. A little known fact is that many people on slave gangs
were described as fair and blue eyed. But as old time Mormons could tell you,
it only took a drop to keep your blood impure.
Everyone
knew Elijah Willis kept Amy as a common-law wife allowing her the freedom to
gallivant across the countryside in his buggy. They also knew that he had
several children by her. Now the catch
was Elijah was not married and before Amy came into his life, he had made a
will leaving all his property to his siblings.
Now long in the tooth he was agitated that his children could become the
property of their uncles and aunts.
Under
a cloak of secrecy, a scheme was devised, and in the middle of the night they
escaped South Carolina. Elijah not only took Amy and his own children but also
her children by a former slave husband.
The family fled to Cincinnati where Elijah emancipated his family. He
still could not marry. Northerners were liberal but not that liberal. However
he found himself a Yankee lawyer, drew up a new will, left all of his estate to
Amy and then promptly died.
Elijah’s
South Carolina heirs had the vapors when they received news that Yankee lawyers
were contesting his probate. Cutting to
the chase the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the new will was invalid
because you can’t leave property to property. Luckily for Southerners the U.S.
Supreme Court had just recently concurred in the Dred Scott Decision keeping
human beings of African ancestry the status of a suitcase. Later when Elijah’s
relatives learned that he was buried in a “Negro cemetery” they basically said,
and snottily I might add, “It serves him right.”
Love
overcame the legal obstacles that Elijah and Amy had to face in 1855 and love
will eventually win out in today’s same sex marriage struggles. However I
wonder 100 years from now who will be ashamed of their ancestor’s actions as I
am of mine? I wonder.
27-28
March 2004
Celebrating
the Body Erotic Workshop held in SLC
Two
fundraising dinners at homes of John Johnson and Steve Sorenson and John Funk
and Patrick Curtin, raised nearly $15,000 dollars for the Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center of Utah with 66 guests attending the
'Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street' theme.
30
March 2004
The LBT Health
Care Advocacy Workshop was held for women and presented by Kellie Custen with
assistance from Kathy Worthington.
March 29 –
Peter Ustinov, English actor and director (b. 1921)
March 30 –
Alistair Cooke, English-born American journalist and broadcaster (b. 1908)
31
March 2004
A Lesbian and
Gay Student Union (LGSU) rally was held
at the University of Utah in response to the Utah College Republicans
planned mock wedding demonstration against
Gay families.
This
is the third article I sent to Brandon Burton for my history column. THE
STONEWALL SAGA Queer Chronicles and Lambda Lore What’s in a Name? Epistemology:
You Piss Me off
When
I was a youngster the worse thing a person could call someone was “queer.” It
was a word that sliced through the soul. For most it was fighting words but for
a sissy boy like me it was a “Scarlet Letter” that stung with the fury of a
thousand wasps. No wonder in college T.S. Elliott’s The Love Poem of J Alfred Prufrock held such
significance for me.
“And I have known the eyes already, known them
all— The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase…”
Ah!
That formulated phrase… queer, homosexual, a rose by any other name… These
depreciating words were the stuff of cold sweats and clammy nightmares until
the paradigm shift we call Stonewall turned the world topsy-turvy. Yes it would
be several years until I was ready to embrace my sexual essence and years more
until I was ready to proclaim to the world “I’m here. I’m queer. Get Use to
it.” Absurdly, I’ve lived long enough to
see most of the world not only get used to it but also now nearly bored by it. However that’s another subject. So how did we
get from “the love that dares not speak its name” to the love that won’t shut
up?
Some
members of “the community” have wondered why the Utah Stonewall Historical
Society uses the word lambda so much and would like to know exactly what the
hell is a lambda anyway? In a nutshell the lambda is a letter in the Greek
Alphabet that was first chosen as a symbol when it was adopted in 1970 by the
New York Gay Activists Alliance. It soon became the symbol of the growing
liberation movement. By 1974, the lambda was adopted by the International Gay
Rights Congress held in Edinburgh, Scotland as the symbol for homosexual
rights. It looks like this 
. Happy Now? And yes it is all-inclusive so
don’t get petulant.
So
what is the big deal on what we call ourselves anyway? Plenty. For centuries
“conversesexuals” identified we “same-sex lovers” by our actions. Say what?
Heterosexuals have been calling the shots how to define us. Yikes! That is so
wrong. According to my new left college professors in Minority Liberation 101
“an empowered people demands and chooses their identity.” For example-the Black Power movement of the
late Sixties demanded that people of color of African heritage no longer be
called “Negro.” Indians became “Native Americans” and forget Orientals as a
term for Asians!
So
what’s a sexual minority movement to do? Pansy, Nancy boy, bulldagger, dykes,
faggots, Lesbos just didn’t feel right. Homophile was good- but the radical
youth movement wanted to distance themselves from a name that conjured up
appeasement towards the medical and psychoanalytical establishments by
conservative homosexuals.
Gay! That sounded pretty good and it had
historical roots as a slang word for illicit sex. Even Webster agreed. Not only does gay mean
happy but it also means licentiousness.
So we began shouting Gay in everyone’s faces, and pissing people off who
felt like we corrupted a perfect good rhyming word for being merry.
The
snooty New York Times, which had barely gotten used to seeing the word
“homosexual” would have nothing to do with the word Gay for years. And finally, finally when the word became
acceptable in general usage, the Associated Press “powers that be” refused to
recognize it as a proper noun! The nerve. Did they think we would not notice
this affrontery? Well they were right.
Here
we are, some 35 years after “the Committee for Homosexual Freedom” voted “to
request all publications to hereafter capitalize the word Gay”, still caught
with our g’s down. Folks Gay is a proper
noun and adjective; one that describes a people! Whether heterosexual writers
and lexicographers are by lower casing the word “blamed for psychological
oppression of homosexuals..” as the
Committee for Homosexual Freedom argued is debatable. However the rules of
English grammar primly states that proper names of people, places, and things
and the proper adjectives that describe people places and things are to be
capitalized! Period!
Okay
before you think I am being awfully picky regarding a minute matter just humor
me this. Are you to be defined by what
you do or by who you are? If actions define your identity then you can
lowercase yourself all you want, buckwheat. But as for me “Give me a Capital G
or give me death!” I am who I am. But what do I know?
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