Winter 1st Quarter Journal 1994 January-March

 1994 Age 42 and 43 years

JANUARY

1  January 1994 Saturday

I woke Mchael Romero up to early this morning but we were anxious to get an early start on lading up  the vehicles. I can’t believe Michael is coming home with me to Utah. I am so grateful to Providence. I fixed us a breakfast of French toast and tried to use up the remaining food.  It was pretty  this morning in Rock Springs, Wyoming but it began to cool down  as the morning wore on. I had a screw stuck in my tire of the Toyota Truck  and it was starting to get low but since there wasn’t any place open  today to get it fixed, we had no choice  but to just fill it with air and watch it along the way and hope for the best. Anyhow, we managed to get the entire contents of Mike’s apartment into my truck and his Blazer so we were totally out by noon. It was really amazing  as we could not have fitted one more item in either of our vehicles  but somehow we managed to get I all in one trip.  Funny, I thought I was buying the Toyota pickup  to help me move  but instead , it seems that in reality  I was buying it to help Michael move. We left Rock Springs at 12:30 and drove on into Salt Lake  by 3:30. It was a clear, beautiful day  without any inversion here in the valley. It felt good to be home with Michael. At the Riviera we started  unloading the two vehicles  and were able to fit a lot of his things in the storage unit beneath the car port. Benjamin Anderson was at the movies when we arrived. He went to see Sister Act 2 so we didn’t see him until around 4 in the afternoon. James Connelly still hadn’t moved out completely so we had to pile a lot of Michael’s  things into the front room, the best we could, until we cans sort it all out. I can’t say how great it is to be home, especially with Michael. Garth Chamberlain and Eric Robinson dropped by this afternoon right after we arrived. I guess they are friend again. I really didn’t get a chance to visit and hear any gossip. Benjamin came home from the movies but then went out again in the evening to see the film “My Concubine” at the Tower Theater. He’s kind of depressed for some reason. It’s a combination of his health and his being lonesome, I think. James came over in the evening and said he’d be out tomorrow. He said he’s not happy about moving back home but knows I can’t get rid of Billy Cat.  Well, we had pizza  for dinner, and the place is a complete disaster but it will be okay. Everything  will be wonderful. I love Michael and he loves me and we are making a home together this New Year’s Day! When Benjamin came home again he slept in the front room while Michael and I went to bed at 10, very tired boys. I am happy. I am so grateful to my sweet Lord and Heavenly mother. What a wonderful way to begin the  new year. I am  so exhausted and so is Michael darling.  I heard from Benjamin that there was some trouble at the Bricks club, the old In-Between, last night from fag bashers doing a drive by shooting There hasn’t been anything in the news so I wonder if it’s true. There were nearly 40,000 attending Salt Lake’s First Night activities. It was the first time the event was held here. Well time will tell what  this New Year will bring. It’s so totally different from the heart break  I had last year. This turn of the wheel had me breaking up with Jeff Workman and getting ready to move from the LeFrance apartments. It sure was a time of sorrow and heartache whilst now it’s bringing to me a joyful heart and gladness,

2 January 1994 Sunday

Michael and I slept in until 8:30 this morning. It felt great. I am still tired  but we had a big day a head of us. We had to move the rest if Benjamin Anderson’s stuff out of his old apartment and help James Connally move out of the apartment.  Also we had to try to find room for all our two combined households. Ot was a pretty day again thank goodness. It was up into the 40s’.  I can’t remember  the first days of January ever being this warm and pleasant in Utah.  I think Michael is still in a bit of a daze  since his whole life has been turned topsy turvy. But he has a job interview already tomorrow at 10 in the morning.  So, I hope things will work out okay for him. We were busy, busy, busy today.  Michael and I moved into the larger bedroom and Benjamin took my old second bedroom. I know James hated  to home and live with his parents again. You could tell. I think he ought to get it on and move in with Chris Sorenson. They have been dating  longer than Michael or me. We put Michael’s Rainbow flag on the wall in back of our bed and a light behind that  to illuminate the pink triangle.  Our bedroom is kind of cowboy chic.  We are pretty well popped  out by 4 this afternoon. By Michaels’ suggestion we quit and Benjamin, Michael and I went down to  Ardell’s Brown vehicles in Midvale where his interview is tomorrow.  While in Midvale we at Skippers and had all you could eat fish and chip. Then we went over to Redwood Road to Jim Dunker’s coach at his trailer park. Blanche had a Christmas gift she want to give Michael.  He bought a Halcyon lamp for us.  That was sweet of him but I still don’t know to think of him. He’s always kind of rude to Benjamin Andron so he hates going over to Dunker’s place because of it.  Michael said that Jim is asking Blanche to move out anyway because of their personality conflicts and also for breaking his toilet.  Balance is just a large, take charge kind of gal who heeds her own space.  Well after leaving Jim,  we took Benjamin to the Mexican Cvic Center on 600 West as he said he wanted to play volley ball. Michael and I  went on home and tried putting more things away. However,  James Kelly and Aaron Smith dropped by at 7 to visit. They stayed for about an hour  so we didn’t get much done. They said they are enjoying living with Bob McIntier over on Dorothea Street near Redwood Road.   I think James and Aaron are mismatched but I hope it all works out for them. Curiously I learned that James  is from Rock Springs and he knew the Jeff Perkins kid who’s a friend of Michaels who  I met there. Anyway the apartment is slowly coming together. We got the computer set up again so Benjamin can be on the modem and check out the  BBS sites.  His bedroom is coming together also.  I think his son Jared is happy that his father is living with Michael and me. In some ways I think Michael and I  give Benjamin a family life to him that he never received as a child. I am totally, spiritually, and intellectually in love with Michael Ray Romero. The more I am with him the deeper my love grows. I know he loves me too.  I see it in his eyes , in his sweet consideration, his bringing me down to reality, and his sweet sexy kisses. To find love at my age is a rare event, even rarer for a portly, middle aged, partially balding man who is Gay.  But I am truly and complete grateful  to what ever brought us together.  I called John Reeves today, finally, to wish him  a Happy New Years. He’s spending some quiet time by himself he said but will be going to New York City  in a couple of weeks to see Perestroika the second part of Angels in America.  There are angels in America . One is named Michael Romero.

3 January 1994 Monday

I woke up the lovers’ way in the arms of Michael Romero. When we were up he took me into work at Orchard so Benjamin Anderson cold use the pick-up to gather up his things and unload them. Michael had a job interview at Ardell Brown’s and he said he’d find out whether he gets it in a couple of days. Benjamin’s ex-wife is being a real turkey about him moving in with Michael and me. She is upset and doesn’t  what Jared exposed to our “bad influence.” She also wants Benjamin to pay her $200 a month  in child support and insists she inspects our home before Jared is allowed to come over. Benjamin told her to go to hell but still, he’s upset as is normal. I was so tired at work today. I just wanted to fall asleep all day. At the apartment, Benjamin and Michael worked really hard getting the apartment put back together. I fixed a beef stew and biscuits  for our dinner. Michael had the table cleared off so we could all sit down and eat together. This was the first time I’ve done  that in a very long time. I am so grateful we even said a prayer of gratitude. Jimmy Hamamoto called this evening and said he’d come over tomorrow for a visit. Later in the evening we watched Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in “Girl Crazy” on the VCR. Benjamin has this thing about old Judy Garland movies. It was fun to watch but I am wearing down and by 10 I was ready for bed. Michael joined me and we made love and then laughed and giggled. I am so in love with him and happy that Benjamin is part of the family. So 1994 begins our married life together.

4 January 1994 Tuesday,

Michael Romero worked at the Thrifty Car Rental place out near the airport that Jim Dunker manages because he was shorthanded. Michael took me into work  and again and later picked me up after school let out. I love being with him. At home I dd some several loads of our laundry and started going through  my things again, deciding what to keep and what to throw away. I cleaned out a couple of closets so I am slowly cleaning and putting things away Jimmy Hamamoto came over at 5:30 and stayed for dinner and we had a nice visit. We just had left over stew as I had made so much of it yesterday. He is still upset with the management of KRCL, especially Dave the station manager. They are trying to make the programs more polished and “professional’ at the expense of the station’s diversity and  alternative sounds. Jimmy said Dave Ball has dropped off the face of “faeriedom” and out of things in general. I guess Jimmy is now de facto in charge of getting the Salt and Sage Zine out. I doubt it will last very long as the Sacred Faeries have all but disbanded. Michael called his folks in Rawlins, Wyoming, and told them that he had moved to Salt Lake city. He also called his aunt Allice Romero with whom I got to talk to for a little bit. I told her how special and dear Michael is to my heart. Benjamin Anderson said he started this Gay Men’s Therapy Group tonight with Don Autin, who is an actual therapist,  leading it rather than Benjamin.  I suppose he resolved his issues with his ex-wife regarding Jared who called tonight to visit with his father. I talked to him briefly and said we would go to the show this weekend. I think he's incredibly lonely. Anyway, I gave Jimmy  a bunch of bed sheets and other household stuff with Michael taking him back home to Del Mar Court. Michaels’ left eye sure looked sore tonight  perhaps from lack of sleep and stress from not having a job. We went to bed at 9:30 tonight all tuckered out. However Michael made love to me before falling asleep. He stirs something deep down in my soul. I wonder how I know I’d never find a lover among Mormons and native utahns. Strange.

Additional Material JUSTICES REJECT WOOD'S APPEAL OF CONVICTION IN TORTURE SLAYING By Marianne Funk, Staff Writer Lance Wood has lost an appeal of his first-degree murder conviction for the 1988 torture and murder of Gordon Church. In a 3-2 decision made public Tuesday, the Utah Supreme Court rejected Wood's appeal, allowing his life sentence to stand. Last fall, Wood's accomplice, Michael Archuleta, also lost his appeal. Archuleta has been sentenced to die for the kidnap, rape and torture of Church. Wood appealed his conviction for three reasons. He claimed: two jurors should have been excluded because they believed in blood atonement, statements he made after asking for a lawyer should not have been admitted at trial and he should not have been sentenced for aggravated kidnapping and sexual assault as well as the murder. Wood also claimed that the evidence at trial did not support his conviction on first-degree murder. Wood claims he stayed in the car while Archuleta tortured and murdered Church. However, blood splatters on Wood's clothes suggest he was nearby during the murder, the ruling says. Wood claims the two jurors' beliefs would have prompted them to impose the death penalty instead of a life sentence. Both men are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and know of blood atonement, which means atoning for the murder of someone by spilling one's own blood, the appeal said. The court had earlier ruled that any potential juror whose beliefs require him to always impose the death penalty for murder must be banned from a jury. Jurors need to be able to apply the law to a case without partiality for or against the death penalty, the court said in a 1983 ruling. In Tuesday's ruling, the majority of the justices concluded that a generalized approval of the death penalty is not enough to warrant exclusion from a jury. The two jurors made it clear under questioning that their general belief in blood atonement did not mean the death penalty should be imposed in every case, the justices concluded. However, one juror's belief in the death penalty was so strong that the "judge was at the very limit of his discretion" in allowing the juror to remain on the jury, the ruling says. The court also ruled that statements Wood made to a law enforcement officer when he took officers to the murder scene could be used against him. Wood was not in custody at the time, the court ruled. Wood's Miranda rights only apply if he is in custody.  The court also ruled that Wood only made an ambiguous reference to counsel, wondering aloud if he should hire a lawyer at some point to help him get into the federal protective witness program. When the officer asked Wood if he wanted an attorney "for questioning purposes right now," Wood said, "no" and continued talking. That exchange does not constitute a request for an attorney during questioning, the justices ruled. The five justices split on the question of whether Wood should also have been separately sentenced for kidnapping and sexual assault.  Justices I. Daniel Stewart, Gordon R. Hall and Christine M. Durham upheld the separate convictions. Justices Michael D. Zimmerman and Richard Wood dissented.

5 January 1994-Wednesday-

I took the Toyota pickup  into work today because Michael Romero is working out at Thrifty’s, helping Jim Dunker out. It was supposed to have snowed today but it didn’t. Work went okay however Terrance Critchley’s mom made a big deal out of him stabbing himself with pencil lead. She’s nuts anyway and, I think, afraid of an abusive husband. At home Ben Anderson left to go see some friends while Michael And I went out to dinner at Crown Burger before going  to a dollar movie in Sugar House. Michael said we needed to take a break from all the work we have been doing. I am so glad Michael is here. We saw Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes in “Demolition Man”. I thought it was pretty campy especially the character “Associate Bob”  but I did love the costumes of the future. We didn’t get home until after 9:30. When Benjamin came  home, he came into our bedroom to visit as we were already in bed. He told me that Rachel Madsen, the transgendered person who works in the Utah Stonewall Library for me had  multiple personality disorder.

Additional Material Donald James Lynd, age 39 died of AIDS, at University of Utah Hospital. A native of New York  He  a hair stylist in Hollywood, Florida, where he lived until he became ill.  AIDS has killed more of our young men than the Viet Nam and Gulf War combined. If you wish to make contributions please send them to The Utah AIDS Foundation.

6 January 1994 Thursday

Michael Romero took me to Orchard today  so Benjamin Anderson could use my pickup. We are in a middle of a January thaw and  much of the snow  has melted. It’s been up into the mid 30s degrees and we don’t feel like we are in a  deep freeze anymore. The mountains and canyons have been dumped  on however, and there’s plenty of snow up there. Benjamin got a courier  job starting Monday.  Wonder how long he will work at it. I went grocery shopping  with Michael to buy ingredients to make clam chowder and corn bread. The  apartment is slowly coming together. We rented a movie while out, ”Three of Hearts” and Benjamin’s son Jared  came over tonight to spend time with his dad.  We popped some popcorn and watched the movie which was just okay. I was pretty tired and would have just as soon gone to bed early. Benjamin also showed a tape of Star trek promo from Universal Studios he was in as a Klingon. It was so funny. Anyway, he took Jared home and Michael and I went to bed where we made love. I fucked him for the first time. I am so in love with that man. Yesterday when I was being so insecure about not being everything I used to be as now I am fat, balding and aging, he said to me he loved me just for being me. It almost made me cry.

7 January 1994 Friday

It seemed like such a long week  back to work after Christmas Vacation. I was glad that school was over as I’ve been cramming  the kids hard with long division and social studies this week.  Michael Romero took me to work and picked me up . Then I went to see John Merrill at Body Works where he cut my hair and gave Michael a massage because I know he is stressing out being out of work and not getting hired at Ardell Brown’s. But it will happen sooner or later.  In the evening we rented a movie, “The Great Race” and just stayed home. Benjamin Anderson is being moody. He’s had a pretty rough life raised by an abusive father. Michael and Benjamin  took the rest pf the pots and pans and other kitchen crap that we don’t need or use to the Utah AIDS Foundaton  to see if they could use them Thee Pillar still hasn’t come out for January.

8  January 1994 Saturday

I went grocery shopping this morning at Smith’s on 8^th South and (th East and then cleaned the apartment. Michael Romero and I watched Rosalind Russell in “Auntie Mame” He had never seen it before.  We were going to  watch Schindler’s List” tonight  with Jared Anderson but he had a high school debate he had to attend and didn’t get home to his mom’s until late.  He wanted me to go with Benjamin but I was too tired to go out and went to bed by 10. I love Michael being here and us together. Benjamin Anderson’s neuroses is straining at time. H’s so insecure and needy. He wants a lover and yet at the same time afraid of having one.

9 January 1994 Sunday

It dumped quite a bit of snow last night. Benjamin Anderson had a date with some guy to meet at Brackman’s at 10:30 this morning but the dude never showed up. I can’t get that involved with Benjamin’s love life as it’s too emotional for me.  Later Michael Romero wanted to get out of the house so Benjamin, he and I drove to Solitude and Brighton. There were lots of skiers up in the canyon  and Michael said he’s like to go cross country skiing some time. It was a very beautiful wintry day but I was worn down. I’m not sure why but I am just plain tired.  I bought Michael a Carly Simon’s CD  while out and about. At 6:30 we went to the Utah Stonewall Center for the historical society’s lecture series that I scheduled to have Greg Garcia speak regarding the history of the Wasatch Leather Men Club. It was a good talk even if only 5 people showed up to hear it. I taped it however. Greg said that’s he’s going to be helping Willy Marshall with the Channel 38 television station that Willy bought. Greg said he wants to do a Gay “McLaughlin Report” type  format. It sounds fun. He wants me to be one of the panelists. I just laughed! The Pillar still isn’t out and advertisers are getting pissed off. I’m still the acting library director until next Sunday on the 16^th when Russell Kracke will take over and I can just concentrate on the archives.

10 January 1994 Monday

I went back to work at Orchard and was so tired feeling ran down for some reason. I had a terrific headache by the time school let out and was glad that Michael Romero picked me up. We the went to Smit’s Food King where I bought two Chinese dinners as I was too tired to cook. Today was Benjamin Anderson’s first day  on the job as a bike courier. He rides around delivering mail to lawyers and such. The weather was 44 degrees  today so much of the fallen snow has melted  already.  So far its been a very mild winter or at least January has been. I received two videos in the mail from the movie club I joined. They were The empty Bed and Parting Glances. Michael and I watched the Empty Bed  as Benjamin Anderson was getting ready to go out on a date. I was so exhausted I actually went to bed at 7:30 and took some Ibuprofen  for my headache.  I think I just really needed some sleep. So thus ends the moon cycle of the Wolf Moon in which both Michael and Benjamin moved in with me. My life is so different  now then it was back during the season o f Samhain. The Yule Season  brought to me a renewed hope in my life with Michael. I told him the whole story how the Pillar Gang stole the Pillar from me and broke my heart. He said I should start another paper. I don’t think so. I tried it but it was not to be. Besides it was a lot of work and deadlines.

11 January 1994 Tuesday

So begins the cycle of the Frost Moon. I woke up too early and was up  by 5:30  this morning but I used the time arouse Michael and make love to him until it was time for me to get up and ready to go to work. While I was in the shower, Michael fixed  breakfast and took me into work. I love him taking me to work and spending time with him. It was anther mild day weatherwise. The temperature was at 44 degrees  so any snow, not in shadows, is melting fast.  It was just another typical day at work. The kids are having extreme difficulty with double digit  divisors in long division. These are the lowest  bunch of kids  I ever had lacking rudimentary skills.  We are also doing a packet unit on the Revolutionary War. Otherwise, nothing new at school just plugging along in the mid-winter doldrums.  When I came home Michael and Benjamin Anderson had fixed dinner of Chicken with buttered noodles  along with a salad. I made a yummy apple cobbler  for dessert. Michael said he wasn’t feeling very well  this evening. So I just stayed in and pampered him and he me. Benjamin went to his group therapy  meeting ran by don Austin. . Michael and I retired at 7:30 to read and cuddle.  Luci Malin called me back and said she would  do a talk for the historical society on the National Organization For Women  scheduled for February 6^th.  Michelle Davies  came over to the apartment to get my social security number  to start transferring  the Gay and Lesbian Community Council’s accounts over to the new officers elected last Friday.  She said she is moving out of the Riviera with Jeremy, Melissa Sillitoe’s roommate since she and Melissa had broken up.  I wonder how Melissa feels about that. Russell Kracke have me some letters of recommendation s he wanted me to write for him  for his application to graduate school.  When Benjamin came home he needed to talk so Michael and I stayed up to 10 o’clock visiting. I think he will quite his courier job as it’s too strenuous for him.

12 January 1994 Wednesday

It’s not much of a snow frost season as the weather has been above freezing and in the low 40s for several days. It certainly feels like an early thaw.  Michael Romero took me to work again and afterwards picked me up. He said that Benjamin was being really morose this morning and he isn’t sure how to handle his being that way. I love Benjamin but he is a mess. It’s almost like he enjoys being unhappy at times. We had friend pork chops for with corn, potatoes, and an onion gravy along with a salad for dinner. The we went down to the Utah Stonewall Center so I could work in the library and set up the Sir Plus men’s group in the back room. I shoed Michael how to process the donated books to put up on the shelves for to be checked out.  Benjamin worked out by front the front desk as a greeter. The Pillar still hasn’t come out so I wonder what the trouble is I paradise. Nominations for Board of Trustees for the center are open. I am voting for Kathy Worthington, Nikki Boyer, Val Mansfield, and Jeff Freedman.  Anyway, about ten people showed up for the Sir Plus Group that Jim Dunker and Rick are trying to get it off the ground. I heard that the group decided to meet the first and third  Wednesdays of the month for a social and pot luck. I saw Garth Chamberlain down at the center hanging out. I donated about $5 who of pennies to the center.  I throw all my pennies into a jar and when it’s full I donate them to the center. After the Sir Plus meeting, Benjamin and Michael  went out for coffee and dinner with Rick “Jacky” this transsexual. I didn’t want to be out late so I just went home and read some from the book “Conduct Unbecoming” about Gays being kicked out of the military before going to bed.

13 January 1994 Thursday

It was a laid back day as I was really fatigued. I had gone to bed rather early yesterday so I suppose I needed to catch up with my sleep as I am still just getting used to sleeping in bed with someone again. School is winding down with the second term ending and midterms coming up fast. I am trying to get all my kid’s papers and tests caught up. I’m also reading “Conduct Unbecoming”. It’s Randy Shilts book  on the military’s homophobic attitudes. One of the premises is whether the military is an institution created as a Rite of Passage into Manhood or an organization created to defend the country. Michael Romero is still taking me to work and picking me up but I think I am going to start taking the pickup again as Benjamin is driving it way too hard and I’d like it to last at least until it’s paid fro. Michelle Davies dropped off the back forms for GLCCU for me to sign.

14 January 1994 Friday

I so need a three day holiday so I am so glad that Martin Luther King’s Birthday is this Monday in the middle of January. We had a pizza for dinner and I went bike riding  before I went to the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah this evening  with Michael Romero and Benjamin Anderson. Nothing was set up when I arrived and Christopher Riese was just outside smoking  so Hank Hanna and I got the chairs for the meeting all set up. Only then did Christopher halfheartedly  helped.  He then informed me that I was supposed to have provided a written agenda  for tonight because be Cary Ferrin said so. I informed him that he was mistaken that the Secretary doesn’t set the agenda, that the Chair does. Christopher never contacted Hank or me to set up a prior meeting to discuss an agenda for tonight so I just let him hang in the wind. The meeting didn’t get started until 7:30 a half an hour late and council lasted until 9:30 primarily because the police liaison Shane Jones rambled on for a half an hour saying nothing  except that he isn’t being informed on what is happening in the community which makes him look bads to his superiors. Jared Brown is the new Rocky O’Donovan since Rocky abandoned Salt Lake for Moab. He was just whining about his own inadequacies instead of doing something positive with the Anti-Violence Program committee.  A lot of people just got up and left before the  meeting was over which was also  topic of discussion about being rude to those remaining. I got heated when some people objected to the length of the council meetings and I said I was bothered that some people felt so little community spirit  as to complain that a once a month meeting was too long. The changing of the meeting time will be discussed at the next month council.  Michael said he was not too impressed with the format of council as someone new  to the community  looking in for the first time.  We had wanted to go see Tom Hanks in “Philadelphia but we missed the last showing time so instead we ended  up just going for coffee at Village Inn with Kim Russo, Hank Hanna, Edward Kubriek  and some others. We all agreed that we were not impressed with Christopher’s style of leading a meeting and was concerned about him wanting to get a liquor license under the auspices of the GLCCU.  Anyway it ws nearly midnight before going home but I stayed up until 3 in he morning  typing up the minutes I took. I want to get them out to people by this weekend. Michael and Benjamin however went to bed at midnight. I would like to go to Monday’s DIGS Awards  but probably wont as I don’t have the money to go. It was not  happy time being there a year ago. Romanovsky and Phllips  are coming to Salt Lake in February  as a Utah AIDS Foundation Fundraiser

15 January 1994 Saturday

I slept in until  9 this morning and the was up but was really tired for most of the day from staying up so late. It was a gorgeous day out with the temperature nearly 55 degrees. it feels more like March 15th insisted of January 15th. Michael Romero and I rode our bikes downtown to the Broadway Theater to meet Benjamin Anderson and his son Jared to see “Schindler Lists.” The film was so gut wrenching that I thought I was watching the holocaust in real time. The film was riveting  and horrifying and it was very hard to watch at times. So much unbelievable horror and misery  inflicted by madmen. The movie really made me so unhappy and my heart just hurts that humans can be so cruel to one another. The fascist Christians would like to put us homosexuals through a holocaust if they could. I suppose AIDS is a form of a holocaust or genocide. When I came home I taped James Connelly’s porno he left here for Jimmy Hamamoto.

16 January 1994 Sunday

I was formally released as  the Utah Stonewall Center’s library co-director with Russell Kracke now the new director. He will be great. It was kind of a lazy day although I did fix dinner for Rick who we formerly we Blanche, Jim Dunker, and his new young chubby chaser boyfriend Glen. I fixed a salad, an Italian casserole with garlic bread and lemon cream cheese bars for dessert. This was the first real dinner party  Michael and I had since we all moved in together. Benjamin Anderson didn’t stay for dinner but rather went off to play volleyball with the Gays  and later went to the movies to see Philadelphia. He’s not crazy about Rick and didn’t want to be here. Rick said he’s being tested for cancer and Jim is thinking about moving to Oregon. I talked to Glen for a long time about religion as Jim had asked me to because of his hang ups. Glen is 28 years old and still hung up on Mormonism. He also came on to me and wanted to have sex with me but I declined. Michael and I think it’s funny. Michael and I talked about the Pillar and what it would take to start up another paper. After everyone left, Michael and I watched “Fortune and Men’s Eyes” which I first saw in 1971 when I was attending Cal State Fullerton. What a character Michael Greer is playing Queenie.

17 January 1994 Monday

I turned on the news this morning and heard that there was a major earthquake in Southern California with the epicenter  being in San Fernando Valley. It was a 6.6 quake. Thank god it happened at 4 .am  over a three day holiday  so the freeways were not jammed when many of them collapsed. I am not sure how many were killed but dozens. I called mom and dad  who said Charlien had called them and everyone was  okay, just shook up literally.  I spent much of the day watching the news and later taking my GLCCU minutes  down to be printed  at Aztec Printers on 3^rd South. Michael and I went driving around to get out of the house as it was another spectacular day with the temperature at 57 degrees. We took my old microwave oven over to Jimmy Hamamoto  for him to have and the 12 hours of porn I had taped for him.  I really hated going back down Del Mar Court after having left there. It now just seems so sleezy, dirty, and ghetto like, instead of urban Bohemian chic  that it once did. I am so glad I am out of there. It doesn’t feel like January at all.  Michael and I bought some ingredients to make a batch of chili verde for our dinner Wednesday with Greg Garcia and his lover Mike Morris. At Albertson’s we rented a couple of videos to watch, Walt Disney’s “Cinderella” and “Honeymoon in Vegas”. Benjamin was out and gone for much of the day. I really had a sweet time with Michael today and am so happy and grateful to have him in my life.

 Additional Material -1994 Dig Awards “At this time we would like to welcome you all to the 1994 Diversity Recognition Ceremony. As the Co-chairs we hope that tonight will give you an opportunity to meet some of the people who have made Utah a better place for all of us to live and that it will be an inspiring time for you all. We hope that when you leave here tonight that you will be as proud of the community that you live in as we are. All of the recipients tonight are just a small part of the vast numbers of people that it takes to make this community run. From Logan to St George and every place in between there are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and even Heterosexual people who are on the edge of a cliff pushing forward for our rights. Please take the time to think about the people who have helped you and or made it possible for you to be Proud of who you are and who have made tonight a necessity. These are the people that we try to honor each year. As Carrie put it in the December issue of The Pillar. "You don't have to be on the news or be an activist to make a difference. Many people make a difference just being openly Gay or Lesbian and proud of that fact. There are also those in the straight community that stand proudly with us and fight for equal rights for all people. Maybe someone is a good listener or give their time and or money to an organization or cause they believe in.......Think about the people who have influenced you or made an impact on your life. Then take a moment and tell us about them..."Started last year as a fund raiser for the Utah Stonewall Center, we hope the Diversity Is Great dinner will become a rallying point for all of the community. This year we are not only recognizing our Diversity Recipients but a group of volunteers, Members and or Employees of different Clubs, Organizations and Businesses that have been an asset to there group. Also two other businesses and one organizations for there continued support of this community. “Thank you's” go out to many people for their efforts and support in making tonight a success. As Kevin put it, "too many to try to mention here but too few to forget. I just know we will forget someone if we try it here." So please know that your support was greatly appreciated and needed. Again thank-you all for coming tonight and please remember that this is a fund raiser for the Utah Stonewall Center so DIG deep. Carrie Gayler & Kevin Hillman 1994 Diversity Is Great Co-chairs

·         Outstanding Members, Volunteers or Employees of Clubs, Organizations & Businesses Presenters: Christopher K. Riese & Kim Brown, Kendra Souder Utah Aids Foundation  Frank Loy Utah Gay Rodeo Association , Todd Dayley The Pillar of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Community, Jeff Williams Utah Stonewall Center, Bill Blevins Lesbian & Gay Chorus of SLC, Donna Land Maldonado KRCL, Angela Nutt Pride Committee,  Joseph D. Panek      Lakeliners, Antonia de la Guerra 1st & 3rd Thursday Women's Group, Robert Mandrake Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire, Pete Suazo Gay & Lesbian Utah Democrats                    

·         Entertainment -           J Nelson Ramsey, Wendy Bradshaw, Jimmy Raykovich  Lesbian & Gay Chorus of SLC  M.C.s Scott & Scott - Scott Perry & Gail Scott

·         KARI MOSS 1994 DIG Recipients Presenter Officer Shane Jones SLPD Kari is currently involved in a number of different organizations. She participates in the Utah Gay and Lesbian Youth Group, as well as being a frequent panelist through the OutReach Committee. This last year, lean played an instrumental part in educating the Salt Lake Police Department about lesbian and Gay youth issues. She attended a meeting with Chief Ortega, and a number of representatives from Gay and lesbian organizations. At that meeting, she brought up issues of lesbian and Gay youth suicide, violence in their homes, and at school. Because she was able to raise these concerns, a training was held with Salt Lake Area Policy Officers who work in high school to educate them about the issues. Last year, at the Gay and Lesbian Pride Day March, Kari gave an eloquent speech about the youth suicide problem in our community. In a powerful display she held up a list containing the names of the young people who had committed a suicide in our community. In front of everyone present she lit a match and burned the list. Kari is currently a student at Weber State University.

·         BOB MCINTIER 1994 DIG Recipient Presented by Marlin Criddle Esq. A year ago this coming February Bob started volunteering for the Utah Stonewall Center. He said that it all came about because he wanted to meet new people and get a better understanding of who the Gay Community of Utah was. He now serves on the Board of Trustee's of the USC and is the only Chairman of the Communication and Marketing Committee. Not only has he done these things but he has found time to install all the phones at the center and put up the motion lights. He has been working on the computerized phone answering system and many other jobs. People at the center say that because of Bob we are a lot further ahead today on making the USC a true resource place. Bob attended both the '87 and '93 Marches on Washington as well as two pride Marches in Germany and London when he lived in Europe. He moved to Utah in 1978 from Pocatello Idaho where had attended Idaho State University and graduated with a degree in electronics. Once here he worked for Channel Two and then for KSL for Eight years. He help design the studios at The Triad Center which is what he, as he put, sort of does at his present job with Broadcast Television Systems. From 1986 to 1991 he was President of the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ which has a special out reach to Lesbian and Gay Latter-day Saints. He served on the board of directors of the Metropolitan Community Church for one and a half years. This past year (1993) He co-founded "The National Association of Gay and Lesbian broadcasters. While talking to Bob you can hear him thinking of better ways to get things done and how to get more people involved. His only comment to why he stays active in the community was " I've been asked that before, but there is no short answer's."

·         JOHN BENNETT 1994 DIG Recipient Presenter Val Mansfield ]john Bennett: John is currently the president of the Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Salt Lake. It was John who had the vision to form the chorus and his diligence that got it started and kept it going. He is a member of the Salt Lake Good Time Bowling League and has been to both Marches on Washington in 1987 and 1993. He was on the planning committee for the Desert Mountain States Conference for two years. John also was a volunteer for AIDS Project Utah for two years. He was the second chair of the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah. John has been employed by medic-aid for the last five years. He wants things to get better for Gays and lesbians. He says, "things can't get better until you're visible. If people know someone who's Gay, they're more likely to support Gay and lesbian rights." John enjoys being visible with the Lesbian and Gay Chorus.

·         LYNN GILLMAN 1994 DIG Recipient Presenter Jeff Freedman  Lynn currently serves as the co-director for the Stonewall Center Library. She also is the president of the Salt Lake Good Time Bowling League, which is a lesbian and Gay league. She is a Field Assistant with the Southland Corporation, where she has been employed for six years. Lynn is also a recent college graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social and Behavioral Science. She got involved with the Utah Stonewall Center when John Bennett asked her to volunteer with him. She views involvement as "there's so much that needs to be done. We're in this growth period in the Gay and lesbian community and it's fun to be part of the formation of that" Lynn believes that ten years from now people will look back and say it's people like her that got things started. It's important to her to provide services to people that weren't there when she came out. She thinks every little thing you can do for this community is worthwhile and appreciated.

·         DALE SORENSON 1994 DIG Recipient Presenter Melissa Sillitoe Dale currently serves as the Gay and Lesbian Utah Democrats (GLUD) executive director. He is the Utah area canvas supervisor for the Speak Out Project through the Human Rights Campaign Fund. He is also the Utah contact for Gay and Lesbians Against Defamation. He has been a broad member for the Utah Stonewall Center and served as spokesman for the Utah Delegation to the March on Washington. He has also served as co-chair of GLUD, as well as secretary. He was an advisory board member for the Stop AIDS Project through the Utah AIDS Foundation. In 1990, he was an officer of the Gay and Lesbian Youth Group. In 1992, he was the first openly Gay national delegate from Utah to attend the Democratic National Convention. He has served as a committee member for the campaigns of Representative Pete Suazo, Representative Karen Sheppard, and former Congressman Wayne Owens. One of the most rewarding things Dale has been involved with is acting as the youth contact for the Gay help Line. Dale says "they were scared and confused and it's great to see them attend their first meeting, then second, and see them gradually start to smile." He feels privileged to have met a lot of great kids who are now a part of our community.

·         JEANNIE BARLOW 1994 DIG Recipient Presenter LaDonna Moore In April of 1989 Jeannie walked into the Utah AIDS Foundation and stated "I'll do anything you need." Well this started a long relationship with her and the UAF. Her First volunteering job was doing Out Reach in the Gay bars. She stated that they did some role plays about how to approach someone and get them to sign up for the Safer Sex Workshops that the foundation was sponsoring, as well as pass out condoms. Well to say the least she got the most people signed up for the safer sex workshops. But the next morning her eyes were swollen shut and she had a bad case of the hives. This was Jeannie's introduction to the Gay and Lesbian Community of Utah. Jeannie is married to John "Starch" Barlow and they have two kids Matt 13 and Robin 12. She has a BA Degree from the U of U in communication and public health. She is now the Director of Education for the UAF and has held this job for about one and a half years. Her job requires her to interact with the Utah Department of Health and the Utah Department of Education. She also has had her department do out reach to displace populations such as the Utah State Prison. When Jeannie first starting working with the Department of Education they wouldn't even let a Gay person in the schools and there was no AIDS Education. She states that now not only is there AIDS Education in all levels, but it is mandated. When asked how to make change her answer was simple. "You have to get a toe in the door and then a foot, push thru a shoulder and then smile.....! know you think you feel this way but you have to get to know a person as a person and being Gay is just a part of them....a small part." Jeannie stated that she knew she had come along way when she found a t-shirt on her desk that stated. "BIG FAG TRAPPED IN A WOMEN'S BODY."

·         STEVEN B. BOYINGTON 1994 DIG Recipient Presenter Walter Larrabee  The nomination for Steven came in without a signature and so we just had what was written to go on. From the sound of the letter it was submitted by a fellow co-worker and someone who has been influenced greatly by Steven for being just who his is a Proud Gay Man. Steven stated "The best thing anyone can do is to be who they are, come out at work and breakdown the stereotypes...try to live the truth." This is how he says that he tries to live each day at work. He has a BA in Psychology from Weber State and a Master's International Business from the American Graduate School in Arizona. At the present time his employed at American Express here in Salt Lake. Steven is a member of the Diversity Advisory Group and is a Team Leader. What they do is look into any type of discrimination in the work place and try to resolve it as best they can. Because of his highly visible position most employees come into contact with him at one time or another and thus they met their first Gay Man. American Express has a non-discrimination policy but yet here in the Salt Lake office, where they figure 20% of the work force is Gay, they seem to have a high number of very sidle forms of forms of discrimination. Steven's job is to find out where the problem is and come up with solutions to resolve it. Steven is a past member of the Salt Lake Men's Chorus and sang with them for three years. The person who nominated him said that Steven has a saying at work that goes "If you're not true to yourself, you cheat everyone around you."

·         NORM JENKS 1994 DIG Recipient Presenter Martin Caldwell Norm makes his home in Millville, Utah, which is in Cache Valley. There he has had an incredible impact on Gay an Lesbian politics. He has served as co-president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Cache Valley, as well as served on the Cache Valley AIDS Council. He has also been a board member of the Desert Mountain States Lesbian and Gay Conference, which is held in different states throughout the Desert Mountain Region. Norm has a masters degree in mathematics and taught at Utah State University for nine years. During that time, he was an out Gay man. Norm feels that when something is important to him he can't expect others to do it for him so he does what he can for himself and for others.

·         DEAN L F WALTON 1994 DIG Recipient Presenter Kevin Hillman Dean L F  Walton aka Auntie De": In 1970 Dean moved to Salt Lake City from Logan, Utah and in 1977 he became active in the Gay community here. At this time Dean is a Floral Designer for Every Blooming Thing and teaches Floral at Salt Lake Community College a few days a week. De', as he is affectionately known, is a member of the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire (RCGSE). He was selected as the Grand Marshal for the Road Runner Regional Rodeo in Phoenix AZ in 1990 to represent the Utah Rodeo Association of which he is the only lifetime Member. His talents in the Floral Design field has given him the opportunity to design for the White House during the Reagan administration. De' also belongs to the knights of Malta. The RCGSE is one of if not the oldest service social organization in the State of Utah for Gay and Lesbian people. In 1983 Dean became 8th elected empress. As the Moon Empress, Auntie De' had a wish for a gathering place for the Gay Community and a desire to see a Community Center for us to rally around. Out of this came the Gay Help line which is still in use at the Aardvark's cabaret. With the opening of the Stonewall Center the wish he had for a community center became a reality. He wants to have those who have pushed forward with this know that they have finally filled a great need. This year De' is the Decade Empress of the RCGSE. De' has always been proud of who he is and the community that he belongs to. When De' was empress there was no Community Council to reach out to the Police or the Mayors and or the Governors Office. As such this fell on the Reigning Monarch of the RCGSE. Because of his contact with then Governor Matheson at his stepping down from Empress he received a Crystal Bud Vase inscribed with the Utah State Seal. When asked why he did these things he stated that "I believe that we are all First Class Citizen's and we deserve to be treated as such."

·         BARB BARNHART 1994 DIG Recipients Presenter Kim Russo Barb is a volunteer with the Utah AIDS Foundation. Her focus Primarily is with community education in schools and churches two or three times a week. She served as the chair-person for the People With AIDS Coalition of Utah. She was a nurse at the University Hospital and worked in the Kidney Dialysis Unit. She has worked extensively with the National Kidney Foundation and especially enjoys working with children. Barb grew up in Montana and lived through four years of BYU. Barb says you have to be pretty tough to do that Barb said, "I really remember the first PWA I met. He was a little boy in the hospital where I worked. I took care of him and it made AIDS real for me. I want to be that for people. 1 want to make it real. People need to put a name with a face to make it real sometimes." Barb also says that volunteering is a way of coping with her H1V status. She's the type of person that doesn't give up easily and community education is a way of making it less scary. She feels like she's fighting and educating to take care of herself.

·         MICHAEL AARON 1994 DIG Recipients Presenter David Nelson Michael currently serves as the chair of the Utah Gay and Lesbian Democrats (GLUD). He has also served as Public Relations Director for GLUD. Michael was the founder of the Anti-Violence Project in 1987 and has served as the director of AVP hate-motivated violence survey. The results of this survey were released at a press conference before the Hate-Crime statistic and penalties bills were introduced before the Utah legislature. He lobbied for the passage of both of these bills. He was the one of the publishers of Triangle Magazine which came out of the Community Reporter. He was president of the Lesbian and Gay Student Union at the University of Utah for three years. He was instrumental in reestablishing that organization. During that time, he started the Lesbian and Gay conference at the University of Utah. He attended the March on the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco in 1984, as well as both Marches on Washington in 1987 and 1993. He was one of the first Queer Nationalist. Michael says, "I tend to be involved with issues that people can't or won't be involved with." Michael said he got involved with LGSU because people had nowhere to go on campus. He is now involved politically because he believes he can help bring about bigger change on a bigger scale in a faster way.

·         SCOTT GIBBS MONSON 1994 DIG Recipients Presenter  Kyle Treadway " I have a sense of pride in our community and if I don't do who will, besides I like helping others." That's what Scott has to say about why he has served the Gay and Lesbian Community here in Utah for so long. Scott was a co-founder of the Utah Gay Rodeo Association and has served as Vice President for three years and as Treasure for two. He says he's really proud of the tide of Miss Pony Express that he got in 1992. Scott is a member of the Utah State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. He helped found the H1V Legal Issues Committee of the Utah Young Lawyers and has severed as it's Chair or Co-Chair for three years. Scott and Kyle Treadwell applied for a grant from the American Bar Association of Young Lawyer's in 1992 and with this money put on a town hall meeting and workshops for all interested lawyers in Utah. The American Bar Association was so impressed by what they did, that they were flown back to the National Conventions to share with others their ideas. Scott has always been an active person and in 1990 attended the Gay Games in Vancouver British Colombia Canada where he entered in the 5k, 1 mile and the marathon. He has also ran in 3 St George Marathon's. Scott is also a member of the Utah AIDS Foundation Board of Directors and has been for three years, and has been legal counsel for four years. Scott did a law review in College on the Downwinders and Rod Decker of KUTV did a, as he a five second interview. When watching it he said "Oh God What a Fag!" my five seconds of glory.

·         MELONI J GUNDERSEN 1994 DIG Recipients Presenter Carrie Gaylor Meloni currently is the director of the Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Salt Lake City. She has been out for about a year and a half. Meloni is originally from Kansas city, Missouri. She attended North Western University Studying music.   She finished her degree in musicology at the University of Utah. Meloni has studied under Margret Hillis, who was recently a guest conductor for the Utah Sym-phony. Meloni was also involved with Pro-Musica, a choral organization, which gave many public performances. Meloni has three children and says that her age is close to her golf score. Meloni is currently pursuing a second degree in elementary education. She wants to be an openly lesbian teacher in the Utah School System. It's important to her to help make it possible for Gay and lesbian teachers to be open and provide positive role models for children. Meloni says, " Music, people in music, it changes their lives. There's something special about being able to be yourself in that context. It’s individual lives that are enhanced. People working together can make magic.” Meloni says there something magical happening with the Lesbian and Gay Chorus right now.

·         JOE REDBURN  1994 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Presenter A Host of Characters Joe is currently the owner of two of the local Bars in Salt Lake City, The Trapp* and the Bricks*. He was also involved with the opening of the original "Sun Club*" in February of 1973, which set on the corner of South Temple and 400 West. The bar was named after the Midnight Sun in San Francisco. Coming from small town of Laramie Wyoming, Joe has spent time living in Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon where he said he liked it a lot. He served in the U S Army for two years from 1961 to 1963 at which time he moved to Salt Lake City to be a DJ. From here he went to San Francisco and got hooked on talk radio which he had transported back to Salt Lake which was the base for one of three all talk radio stations. KSXX was a jazz station that first started to play the talk format, which later became KTKK. Joe left KTKK last year and can now be heard on KCNR 1320 FM from 10 A.M. to noon every weekday. In the early 80's Joe was in Park City and saw a group of three very funny women whom he had to bring to his bar. Thus the birth of the long lasting relationship between the Gay community and the Saliva Sisters. When asked what some of the good memories are, "It had to be seeing Jan Michael Vincent coming out of a cake with the Saliva Sisters." Joe said. Being involved with the fund raising and politics are some of his passions. When asked about the March on Washington he could only say "There were a lot of people there." "There is nothing worse than a boring Gay bar," Joe stated. Its a place where we go to meet friends have a good time and ban together to fight against the injustice that we as a community have endured for years. That's the kind of space he tries to create in his bars a place for his friends to meet and have a good time.

·         The Co-Chairs of the DIG Award Committee would like to thank the following people for their help in making this evening possible. Almost without exception, anyone who was asked to give their time, money, space or even said yes. We wouldn’t be here without them. Charles Turner, Gastronomy Inc, Wendy Bradshaw, J Nelson Ramsey, Jimmy Raykovich, Melissa Silitoe, Garth Chamberlain, Marcus Gardner, Joe Redburn, Floyd Gamble Keith, The Trapp, Bricks and staff, Rich Brown, Price Rite Trophy, Kim Russo, David Nelson, Gale Scott, Todd Daley, The Pillar Staff, Lynda Lee, Graphic Trends, Debra Rosenberg, Renee Rinaldi, Verda Rinaldi, Marlin Criddle, The Lesbian & Gay Chorus of Salt Lake including: Neil Armstrong, John Bennett, Bill Blevins, Brad Clark, John Crapo, Paula Cronn, Margaret Douglas, Carrie Gayler, Meloni Gunderson, Juli Hale

18 January 1994-Tuesday-

Michael Romero mailed out the Community Council’s minutes for me while I went back to work. He picked me up at the end of the day and when we came home, we just ate a quick meal before going down to the Stonewall Center for me to work in the library. Michael wanted to be with me so we worked from 5:30 to 8:30 shelving books and checking them in. I brought with me the letetrs of recommendation that Russell Kracke wanted and put them in his mailbox cubby. Hank Hannah was at the center so we  had a conversation about the community council’s business. Later in the evening Kevin Hillman dropped in and we were all discussing matters pertaining to the council’s Board of Trustees for the center.  When I mentioned how Chris Riese wanted to get a liquor license for the center,  Melissa Sillitoe asked me not to make a big stink  about it. I said I wasn’t going to make a big stink. I just want to know what’s going on. I don’t think that is being unreasonable or anything else. Anyway Kevin and Melissa made me edgy and I thought do I want to go through all this hassle again?  Hmm. Back home, I called Chuck Whyte  tonight and he said he was going to join the community council but heard Kathy Worthington said she’d probably not. I called Michelle Davies about December’s council minutes and she said she gave them to Cary Ferrin. So I have to call Cary now to get them. Ugh.

Additional Material Steven Scott Markland died at the young age of 34 native of Wyoming. He graduated from Granger High School. He worked in several administrative positions during his career in the medical field.

19 January 1994  Wednesday

 Today is dad’s 69^th birthday. I had an in-service class on “site base decision making” which I had to attend after school let out. So I didn’t get  home until after 5:30, actually nearer to 6. Since Greg Garcia and Mike Morris were coming over at 7 for dinner, I had to hustle. I made Spanish rice and refired beans to go along with the chili Verde burritos and for dessert Chocolate cream cheesecake bars. We had a really nice time with Greg and Mike  by getting to know them a bit better. Michael Romero like the leather crows but I said I was a cotton flannel  shirt type myself. Michael and I teasingly  suggested we start a club called  “M & M”  or Macho and Masculine kind o f social club. Anyway Greg and I discussed the community and we had similar opinions especially about the Metropolitan Community Church and how they treated Bruce Barton by ousting him after all he did  to keep that church going. I think my Michael had a very nice time and Benjamin Anderson who was wary of the Leather Men after his childhood abuse by bikers  learned that not all leather men are Hell Angel child molesters.           Afterwards Greg and Mike, along with Michael Benjamin and I watched a little of the 1960’s Lost In Space and laughed over the nelly Dr. Smith.  I however went to bed at 11:30  since tomorrow is a school day. I don’t think the others stayed much longer. Michael finally got his last check from Rock Springs Great Western Auto plex. It was here all along but was misplaced by the post office but finally delivered today. I did find out from Ray Nielson yesterday,  that Bob Manchertz did resign from Unconditional Support for “emotional reasons”. Frank Lohmeyer and Kurt Robinson are running the group now. A Gay Republican running Unconditional Support ! My how times have changed. Benjamin Anderson  went to Ogden this afternoon to apply for a job  with the state but is pretty sure he didn’t get it.  The weather  still is as nice as one could expect with it being in the high 40’s and low 50s. The weather en say it’s the second warmest January on record here in Utah. Hower I guess they are freezing their butts of back east.

Additional Material-After abduction, shooting by husband, health is a top concern. QUINONES THANKS THOSE WHO HELPED HER SURVIVE ORDEAL By Nicole A. Bonham, Staff Writer Clad in a grape-colored jump suit, 16-month-old Bianca Quinones peeked from beneath the table in the governor's office Tuesday as well-wishers congratulated her mother for simply surviving.  Gloria Quinones, 24, was shot twice above the heart Nov. 4 by her estranged husband, Jorge Luis Santiago, 28, in the culmination of a three-day ordeal that left him dead. Quinones had separated from Santiago after learning he had tested positive for HIV before the couple's marriage. He was eventually diagnosed with AIDS. She came forward Tuesday to publicly thank the friends and strangers who helped her survive the November incident, including Jane Sager, a Washington Terrace woman who attempted to rescue Quinones in a Smith's Food & Drug parking lot. "I think of Gloria quite a bit," said Sager. "This look that went across her face was total loss of hope. It just broke my heart." Problems between Santiago and Quinones escalated Nov. 2 when he shot 50-year-old Lucy Valdez at her North Redwood home. Valdez intercepted a bullet aimed at Bianca Quinones. Santiago then kidnapped his estranged wife at gunpoint and held her captive during a trip to Portland, Ore., and back. On Nov. 4, Sager attempted to help Quinones at a Smith's parking lot in Ogden, but Santiago shot out her car tires. The couple's marriage officially ended hours later on a stretch of U-201 near the 4000 West off-ramp when police surrounded their car and Santiago shot his wife twice, then himself. Quinones, a Mexican native from the Sinaloa province, does not speak English. Her comments were translated Tuesday by Kathy Worthington, a friend who is helping the woman recuperate from a marriage marred by violence and brutality. In the months since the incident, Quinones has lived with the Valdez family in the North Redwood area. Her parents arrived from Mexico in November, and she plans to return with them to Sinaloa to rest and contemplate her future. Of top concern is Quinones' health. She was hospitalized twice since November with a collapsed lung and fluid around her heart. Before the kidnapping, she tested negative for HIV. But during the trip to Oregon, Santiago forced intercourse twice, again exposing Quinones to the virus. So far, she hasn't shown the symptoms typical of HIV and has tested negative during each hospital stay, Worthington told the Deseret News. "She survived nine months living with him," Worthington said. "There's a very good chance she'll come out clean." Despite obvious health concerns, Quinones appeared composed and at peace Tuesday. "She's really happy to have a chance to say thank you to the people who helped her," Worthington said. "Even before this became a public story, people were pitching in and helping Gloria." Quinones presented gifts and words of thanks to Sager; the Utah Highway Patrol; Olivia and Bill LeFebre, who cared for her after she was released from the hospital; Lucy and Robert Valdez; Worthington and an anonymous health-care worker who, suspecting Quinones didn't know her husband had AIDS, possibly risked her job to tell Quinones of his condition. Gov. Mike Leavitt presented commendations to Sager and Lucy Valdez, who is still recuperating from a bullet lodged in her spine. "This is a story in which there was great courage shown by many people," Leavitt said. "It was a dramatic story where people stepped forward to do a good thing." © 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.

20 January 1994 Thursday

Today is the end of the second term so only 90 more school days left. It’s been so warm outside and there’s very little snow  anywhere at all. Michael Romero took me to work again so he could finally get the Toyota’s tire fix that had a screw stuck in it. We had left it in and just had just a slow leak.  Once home I showed Michael how to get into the computer  in order to reprint his resume. We then took it down  to a place in Midvale. This evening Benjamin Anderson volunteered  at the Utah Stonewall Center while Michael and I just stayed home, tired out from yesterday. We watched a little T.V.  and then retired at 8:30 . We discussed  going some where this weekend to get away.  Tomorrow we are going on a double date with Jim Dunker and his young boyfriend Glenn.

21 January 1994 Friday

It was a Career Ladder Day so no kids to deal with at work. I finished up  all my grades today and put together a science Fair package  for the kids but was really tired for most of the day. I left as soon as I could at 3:00 and went my First Security bank to get a pin number for my ATM card.  It’s 6846 the same as my phone number.  When Michael  came home we went over to the All Season Trailer park at 290 South Redwood Road to meet Jim Dunker and Glenn for our dinner date. We went to the Chinese Platter in Bountiful and the food was just okay. Nothing spectacular  however both Jim and Glenn thought the food was great. After dinner, we went to the Utah Stonewall Center and caught a  shuttle from the center to the Mexican Civic Center over on 600 West where the Royal Court was hosting a WinterFest event. Wilda Beast was the driver  and it was kind fun going with her. However, I was kind of weirded out  at the Mexican Civic Center seeing a lot of the Pillar staff staffing their booth. Brandon Creer sure seems creepy and on drugs but that’s my own prejudice I suppose. The Pillar made a major gaffe on their Front Page calling the event Winterfest ’93 . People who didn’t see the error was pointed out by me to what year this is. ha!  I saw a lot of people at the event that I hadn’t seen in a while like Brandon Burt, Mike Pipkin’s old boyfriend. He has joined the Wasatch Leather Men Club as had Scott Neff aka Hissy Snake  from the Sacred Faeries. I saw that Dave Ball was working for New Pathways, a metaphysical bookstore. I didn’t see Bobbie Smith at all and probably stayed away brooding somewhere. Carla Gourdin and Debbie Rosenberg were looking good and Coral Magnus had laser surgery on her eyes so she no longer needs glasses or contacts anymore. There was not a lot of out-of-towners  at the event but for its first Winterfest the attendance wasn’t all that bad. I didn’t see Bruce Barton, Chuck Whyte, nor Walt Larabee and Christopher Riese. Hmm. I was a little jealous when Michael was showing so much attention to this Metropolitan Community Church guy named Kurt. Oh well. After making the rounds we all went to the Deerhunter  where we all ordered just a coke. It was much busier at the bar than at the Mexican Civic Center, where we returned to at 11 but they were  shutting things down about that time. So we drove over to Denny’s on 500 South where we met up with Chris Brown. We all sat together at a booth to gossip. Chris said he’s really burned out with certain member of the community , especially Carrie Gaylor and Jared Brown of the Anti-Violence Project.  Well it was fun gossiping  but Michael and I didn’t get home until after midnight. I only have $38 left in my checking account. It is a good thing that I received $150 from the district for school supplies,

22 January 1994 Saturday

Michael Romero and I went on a day trip  up to Promontory Point to visit the Golden Spike museum and National Monument. I had never been there before and Michael is a Union Pacific train buff which s why we went there. It was really kind of interesting  and we did get to see replicas of the Jupiter and 119 Engines  that met here in 1869. It was a clear and beautiful day for a road trip. It was fun getting away from the city with Michael. We stopped at Brigham City on the way home and ate at the Peach City Drive-In where we had hamburgers and malts. It was the first time I have had a hamburger in over three years or more as I was mainly a vegetarian before meeting Michael. Anyhow we came hoe at 4 and we were both exhausted probably from the long drive which was about 140 miles round trip. John Reeves called from Boston shortly after coming hoe  but I was really too tired  to talk much so I said I would call him back tomorrow. Benjamin Anderson went over to visit with Mark Angus aka Asparagus which was his Faerie name.  They played game  while Michael and I stayed home and watched movies. I found out something about Michael today. He has a phobia  about bugs and especially spiders. That cracks me up because he is so butch  about almost everything else. We watched The Applegates until Michael freaked out when the  shapeshifting dog insect was squashed. So we watched Parting Glances instead.

23 January 1994 Sunday

Michael Romero hurt my feelings last night , unintentionally I think, by making fun if me being fat. I am really sensitive  about being overweight and then al day he seemed standoffish  with me, saying he was going to go to the Romanosky and Phillips Concert and saying other things like that which was really pushing my insecurity buttons. I called John Reeves  this morning to find out more  about his excursion to New York City. He said he had a wonderful time  even if it was freezing cold back there. He said he tried  to get tickets to Angels In America for June but the ticket sellers  didn’t know if the show would be extended  that far out. He couldn’t get through to the Portland Hotel either to make reservations for the summer. Oh well. I talked to Hank Hanna  also today and he said he would call Cary Ferrin about retrieving the minutes. I then called Christopher Riese about changing the Board of Trustee’s meeting to February 2^nd at 6 o’clock. He was pissy about it but agreed to the change.  Its going to be a fun year working with him. Not. Anyhow I didn’t do much else  this afternoon although Michael and I did ride our bikes up to Memory Grove and up to the Upper Avenues and then down again. I am really out of shape. The weather was good to be outside. In the evening, we went over to see Jim Dunker and Glen’s who invited us to stay for dinner that Rick aka Blanche made  that was horrible. It was pork and beans with ground hamburger in it served with  a mushy potato salad with diced ham. I was sick to my stomach afterwards and wanted to leave by 7 because they were watching America’s Funniest Home Videos  which I hate and find pathetic.  Finally back home, we just sat in the car for a while and I talked to Michael about me being insecure  and needing him to stop his teasing about my weight. Then up in the apartment he said that going to Seattle wasn’t a honeymoon which just hit me wrong.  So I just went to bed. Perhaps I was being overly sensitive so I just decided to go to sleep

Additional Material Archuleta convicted of 1988 torture-murder in canyon near Cedar City. EXECUTION DATE SET FOR KILLER OF SUU STUDENT Associated Press Michael A. Archuleta, on death row since 1989 for the torture-murder of a Cedar City university student, has been given an execution date. Fourth District Judge George E. Balliff on Friday ordered Archuleta to die March 18, and allowed the condemned man to change his preference from lethal injection to death by firing squad. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected without comment 30-year-old Archuleta's petition for a rehearing of the case last November.  He was originally scheduled to die on Feb. 12, 1990. The Utah Supreme Court upheld Archuleta's death sentence in March, ruling it was appropriate in light of what the justices called the "atrocious, cruel . . . exceptionally depraved" murder of 28-year-old Gordon R. Church on Nov. 22, 1988. Lance C. Wood, who participated in the murder, was convicted of capital homicide in a separate trial but was sentenced to life in prison because he was barely 20 at the time of the crime. Provo attorney Michael Esplin, who has been Archuleta's court-appointed lawyer since his murder trial, said the new date of execution can be appealed. Esplin said his client wants to die by firing squad because "he doesn't want to go out lying down. With lethal injection, he would be strapped to a stretcher, and he doesn't want that." Archuleta's adoptive parents, Stella and Amos Archuleta, were visibly shaken at the hearing. "(Everything is) a terrible thing, not just for us but for everyone, especially the victim's family," said Stella Archuleta, fighting back tears. Archuleta and Wood were on parole from the Utah State Prison when they abducted Church, a drama student at Southern Utah University, after meeting him at a Cedar City convenience store. They drove to nearby Cedar Canyon where they broke Church's arm, slashed his throat, bound him in chains and stuffed him in the trunk of their car. They then drove north 76 miles to a remote valley in Millard County near Cove Fort. There, they tortured Church, who died of massive blood loss as a result of injuries inflicted when the killers repeatedly jammed him with a tire iron, piercing his liver. After he died, they buried him in a shallow grave.

24 January 1994 Monday

I rolled over and hugged Michael Romero this morning  as I decided to let go of each past day and start fresh. I really do love the snot. I then went off to work where nothing spectacular was going on. The weather is still warm enough  to send the kids out for all their recesses and even to P.E. to play kickball. It’s the beginning of a new term and we are starting units on fractions and the Science Fair. After work I went grocery shopping and bought mostly fruit and vegetables . I rode my bike down to Liberty Park with Michael before coming back to the apartment to sit down to figure out my taxes. I should get $180 back from the state and $75 from the feds. Michael made our hotel reservations  for New York City for when we go back for the 25^th anniversary of Stonewall. Its hard for me to believe that its been five years already since I was there for the 20^th anniversary.  Michael applied at Jerry Seiners today and thinks he might find work there. I went to bed at 9 o’clock when Jimmy Hamamoto called about a CD of the Village People which was weird. Michael and I went back to making love and I fucked him and then we jacked off together. It was nearly 10:30 before getting to sleep. Then Benjami Andeson came home about 11 and turned the TV on so loud it woke me up. I was in no mood to deal with it so I jus shut the door and went back to sleep. 

25 January 1994 Tuesday

Michael Romero is mad at me because about 3:30 this morning I rolled over to hold him and I woke him up. He made such a big scene  about not being able to go back to sleep and got up and went into the front room. Geez. Perhaps we should have separate beds if he’s going to act like that. I know he has to be up at 6 to go to work at 7 at the Thrifty’s Car Rental  but still he sure made me feel like crap. I left right at 3:30 from Orchard to go home . Michael was there and very tired from washing cars at Thrifty’s. I called Elbert Peck  today to discuss the Sunstone Magazine  as he is the editor  of it now. He will turn 40  in February. Ha! Michael didn’t want to go to the library with me tonight so I went alone and worked until 8:30 with Lynn Gillman . She sure is bossy now that she’s co-director but that’s okay I suppose. The library does need a take charge  person. However, she told a volunteer  that while Bobbie Sith  did start the library and donated a lot of the books, what good he did for the library was negated by the friction he caused. I thought she was out of line telling a volunteer that, but still I suppose that is what he brought upon himself. Jeff Freedman is taking volunteer training at KRCL  so I heard to help Beck Moss with Concerning Gays and Lesbians. I never had any training when I jumped in back in 1987.  There was a Board of Trustees Meeting for the Utah Stonewall Center tonight with new members. They are Val Mansfield, Kathy Worthington, Nikki Boyer, and Jeff Freedman.  The other board members are Marlin Criddle, Bob McIntier and Gil Dickerson. There may be others that I can’t recall right now. All the old appointees of Craig Miller and Charlene Orchard are all gone  except for Marlin.  I worked entering the titles of books into the computer and reshelving mostly. I stayed mainly in the library because I am not feeling  particularly loved  by the center. Ha! Oh well.  Val Mansfield said that the community council’s Board Meeting conflicts with a Choir Meeting  so he won’t be there or probably won’t.   So neither will Carrie Gayler or Renee Rinaldi. Michael was already in bed by the time I came home. I held him for a  little bit then I went and slept in the front room so he could get a good night sleep undisturbed by me.

26 January 1994 Wednesday

It was a much cooler day almost like winter again. It sprinkled a little  but no snow yet. At school Karen Fisher’s  class had a doctor from the University of Utah  bring two human brains for the 5^th and 6^th grade students to observe and some of the kids were able to hold them and dissect them. That was a truly unique experience  for them.  At home Michael Romero said  he was interviewed for a job that he feels confident he will get. I know e’s been under a lot of stress not having a job even though I have been supporting him.  I stopped at Alberson’s on 2^nd South  before coming home and bought some hamburger meat and buns for supper tonight. It was the first time I have made home made hamburgers  in years and years. Benjamin Anderson went out  this evening and was going to see his son but he said Jared was I a mood so He ended  going over to Rachel Madsen’s and retrieving the Question and Answer library material back. I taped some children songs on a cassette for school while Michael watched  Walt Disney’s Fantasia. I am teaching them American Folk songs for February with a Valentines theme. So far I have Oh Dear What Can the Matter Be, Thees a Little wheel a Turning In My Heart, Jenny Jenkins, Billy Boy, Cindy Cindy,  Froggy Went a Courting, Little liza Jane and Bufalo Gals.  It was nice just staying home for a change. I watched a bit of a strange new animated show called the Critic featuring the voice of Jon Lovitz as the main character. It was very witty and funny. Blanche called and said that Jim Dunker had asked him to move out of Jim’s trailer. I told her that the Juel Apartments  had a vacancy and the apartments are furnished and cheap.  That would be a hoot if he lived there. I suppose Michael and I are going to Seattle in March  for the Seattle’s Men’s Spring Chorus. I know Michael will need to get away by then. In February we are going to Laramie, Wyoming to visit with some of his friends. I really love my honey husband.

27 January 1994 Thursday

It seems like the weather is becoming cooler and cooler but since we have had such a warm January I really can’t complain. There’s noting exciting happening at work.  I talked to Susan McAdams, Brenda Tau’a and Mrs. Knecht  about switching  grades next year. Susan wants to move to the 6^th Grade. Mrs. Knecht wants to move down to 5^th Grade  and Brenda and I want to move to the 4^th Grade. That would just leave a 3^rd grade opening for Stanger to fill.  At home there’s nothing new to report. Michael is so disappointed  that this one place he thinks he would like hasn’t made a decision yet. He was in a bad mood because of it and I feel frightened that he now thinks he made a wrong decision to move to Salt Lake and will want to move back to Wyoming.  I keep telling him everything will work out fine. I keep telling myself that also so maybe I will believe it.

28 January 1994 Friday

I came home from work today greeted with some fabulous news waiting for me. Michael Romero  got his job at the manufacturing  place as a salesman. The hours are 8 to 5 Monday through Friday with the weekends off. We went to Cinegrill on 344 South 3^rd East for dinner to celebrate and later to a movie. Cinegrill’s is an Italian Restaurant and their lasagna is so yummy and they have a great salad with their Italian dressing. We went to see Philadelphia  at the Broadway Centre which was really excellent  but was made mainly for a heterosexual audience  and was really, really mainstream. The film  was  to let heterosexuals  understand that Gay people are part of the family equation also. I loved being out with Michael tonight and it was a fun date night. I received a photograph  in the mail today from Mrs. Crutchfield of a pictures of a plaque in the Bonaventura cemetery in Augusta Georgia to honor Britton Williams’s revolutionary war service that she had installed. We are both descendants and trying to determine his ancestry.

29 January 1994 Saturday,

Michael Romero, Benjamin Anderson and I all woke up at 6 this morning. It was the start if a very strange day. Anyway Michael wanted to go out for breakfast hot cakes at a truck stop. So we drove all the way to Lake Point in Tooele Couty so Benjamin could  also see the three acres out there that his mother had left him who was murdered by his father. After eating breakfast we went to the Lake Point Cemetery to see his mother’s Grave. Mike had no idea that Benjamin’s mother was dead. We went driving out to Tooele and saw that the Tooele Army Depot was like a ghost town since it had been deactivated and closed. It seemed really eerie. From there we drove into Grantsville where I showed them the house Fran and I rented  on Durfee Street and Quirk back in 1978. That was in another life time.  Finally back home, Mike and I  went to pick up my repaired VCR ad then over to RC Wiley’s to look at furniture. Michael managed to get $2000 in instant credit. While in the store we encountered Russ Lae of  all people. I introduced Michael as my lover to him. I wonder why I did that . I had something to prove I suppose. After that because Michael wasn’t feeling well  we spent the rest of the evening at home and Mihcael went to bed before me because Benjamin wanted to tell me something.   Tonight, before going to bed, Benjamin told  me that he had a multiple personality disorder and that is how he knew Rachel Maden. He said he had four distinct  personalities, Teddy a 6 year old boy, Eddie, this power fucker,  a 15 year old Ben who is a nobody  and is depressed for most of the times and sometimes suicidal.  This disclosure sure explains a lot to me but I’m not quite sure I know what is expected of me. This afternoon after leaving Tooele County, Benjamin fell a sleep in te back seat and when he woke he was like a little boy and that kind of freaked Michael and me out,  I guess I will just treat  him like I’ve always had. The only thing I know about the disorder id from watch movies like Three Faces of Eve and Sybil. I like Benjamin and I don’t care about this mentalillness. He was so abused as a child that it’s a wonder that he’s sane at all.

Additional Material PANEL DISCUSSION ON GAYS IS SUNDAY IN S.L. Reconciliation - "Gays, Lesbians, Mormon Families and Friends Seeking Spirituality" will sponsor a panel discussion at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, in the Metropolitan Community Church, 823 S. 600 East. The discussion is planned for parents, gays and lesbians to learn about and understand each other and the challenges same-sex orientation bring to them and their families. Panelists, including parents, will include individuals who accept or who have difficulty accepting homosexuality. Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Sundays at 7 p.m. at the church. Meetings consist of prayers, a hymn and a gospel discussion led by a reconciliation attendee. The group has a no-bashing policy, which is strictly enforced. All who attend in this spirit are welcome, group representatives say. Call 596-8315 for more information. Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church, 823 S. 600 East - April 4, Palm Sunday process of palms and "Passion of Christ," at 11 a.m.; April 8, Maundy Thursday worship at 7 p.m.; April 9, Good Friday "Spiritual Renewal," service at 7 p.m.;

30 January 1994 Sunday

Michael Romero slept in the front room by himself, saying he just needed  to get some sleep without me. I was a little wounded that he didn’t want to sleep with me but I really did understand  the need for rest.  So, I slept alone in my bed  until both Michael and Benjamin Anderson pounced on me, wanting me to get up. So, I put the corned beef in the crockpot to start cooking and then went grocery shopping with Benjamin. I bought ingredients mainly to make some chicken and dumplings. Benjamin wanted to go to Bare Ass Beach this afternoon so Michael drove us out there but there were only a few men out cruising. We did encounter Craig Hunter  there so we stopped and visited some with him. Michael told Craig about the Four Wheeling Club he wants to start this spring like the one he was involved with in Denver. Other than that excursion we didn’t do much else. I fixed corned beef and cabbage for our dinner and then Benjamin went off to play volleyball even though he said his arm was still sore from last time.  Michael and I watched “Hook” this evening before going to bed at 10. Michael starts his new job tomorrow. He’s been out of work for nearly a month.

31 January 1994 Monday

Well Michael started his new job today this lasr day of the month. January ended being  very, very cold. At school I put up the Valentines decorations in class for February and took down all the snowmen art.  At home I fixed  dinner for Michael and Benjamin Anderson. Afterwards, Benjamin finally told Michael  that he has multiple personalities. Mchael is such a sweet, loving man  that he said it didn’t matter to him. He said his first day of work was fine but he loved coming home to a meal and to someone who loves him.  We watched Alec Baldwin and Meg Ryan in “Prelude to a Kiss” before going to bed.

FEBRUARY

1 February 1994 Tuesday

My paycheck came today and I cleared $1354 out of $1,882 I made. My annual salary is $22,588. I have 18 sick days accrued and 2 personal days that I haven’t used yet. There’s not much to write about which is certainly okay. Michael seems to like his work okay so far. Benjamin Anderson  is going to the V.A. tomorrow. His arm is still really sore. We confirmed reservations at the Stonewall Center for Ditz’s party this Saturday. He’s Jim Dunker’s newest roommate and I have know Idea what his real name is as that Jim calls him Ditz because he’s so ditsy.  Blanche aka Rick is still living there for the time being.  I talked to Hank Hanna while at the center and he still hasn’t gotten a hold of Carty Ferrin regarding the December minutes that he never handed out.  I later tried calling myself but no one answered. I didn’t have to do a shift at the library tonight because  some woman was in there working. I really didn’t feel like going in anyway. I looked through Kathy Worthington’s Womyn’s Community Newsletter  and there was nothing about Luci Malin  speaking at the historical society’s lecture except that the meeting was in the Calendar of Events. I was really disappointed. I don’t care that much for her anyway as she  is so stand offish and seems to be a cold fish. However she has a lot of admirable traits but her sociability  is not one of them, nevertheless she is a power to be reckoned with, I suppose. I stayed home with Michael this evening and we watched Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in “An Affair To Remember.” Which I thought was extremely sappy. “If you can paint again then maybe I can walk” ha!ha!. Benjamin hd his therapy group tonight and Michael and I went to bed at 10 tonight. Mihcael fell asleep before I did the poo tired thing. I can’t believe I am so lucky to have him and he me.

2 February 1994 Wednesday

This evening I had to attend a Board of Trustee’s Meeting  for the Community Council to take notes. We met at 6 and the first thing discussed was that Christopher Riese  said he was resigning as Chair for “health” reasons. When anyone resigns for health reasons it usually means he has AIDS. The real reason he is resigning  I think is that he was not an effective leader and was Carrie Gaynor’s puppet. All he ever talked about was how he had talked to Carrie about this or that issue like Carrie knows what she is doing! Anyway the news of his resignation was pretty discouraging as the council is in a slump for sure. I wonder if the community council will survive another year. When some of us went out for coffee to discuss Chris resignation  I realized that February’s monthly meeting is the 11^th and  that is when Michael Romero and I want to go to Wyoming to see his friends still there. When I came home Michael  said his mother and father  were in town with their airstream camper on their way to Arizona and were camped at the KOA on North Temple. So we drove over there  where Michael introduced me  to his parents as his “friend.” His folks are homophobic and know Michael is Gay as he was in a long term relationship with this guy named Howard. The only really they broke up in 1986 was that Howard was a transsexual and was having an operation to become a girl.  When ever Michael talks about it he sounds quite bitter as I suppose Howard was his John Cunningham. Anyway we visited for about an hour as it was late and they seemed like very down to earth sweet and good people. Well I met the in-laws. I hope they approve.

3 February 1994 Thursday

After coming home from Orchard, I  fixed a Chicken Pot Pie for our supper and then Jared Anderson came over near 6 to go to the movies with us and his dad.  We went to the Trolley Corners Theater  and saw The Summer House  with Joan Plowright, Julie Walters and Jeanme Moreau who played this character named Lily  which I just loved. The movie was excellent. in it.  

4 February 1994 Friday

Michael Romero hurt my feelings this morning and I was agitated and upset all day. He said something ti the effect that may be he should have stayed in Wyoming. It made me think what is the use of trying to make him happy. After work I took the pick up to a car wash because it was filthy but mainly just to waste some time as I wasn’t prepared to go home and deal with Michael. However when I did go home, Michael and I had s serious talk whether he is happy being with me or not. He said he was still in love with me but it’s that life in Utah I so strange and foreign to him. He said nothing seems to fit anymore. Anyway I was feeling kind of pissy myself over this birthday bash for Ditsy that Blanche wants us to attend at 2 a.m. I’m really resentful as it seems like  such a waste of time especially when we are having another party for him tomorrow at 7 p.m. Michael and I aren’t even that close to either Ditz or Blanche.  Anyhow Michael and I went to the State Street Noodle House  for dinner and then back at the house I took a nap. To kill some time, Benjamin Anderson a, Michael and I went to the Sugar House dollar theaters  and saw “Malice”  and “Ghost in the Machine”.  Malice and Anne Bancroft and George C Scott in it and I really liked it but both Michael and Benjamin hated it. Karen Allen was in Ghost In the Machine which Michael loved as he thought it was a hoot! Bizarre. I was mostly sleepy by that time and really didn’t care what we saw.

5 February 1994 Saturday

It was 2:30 in the morning by the time we made it to Jim Dunker’s trailer coach  and by then the party was over already! I was mad that we had tied up our schedule to accommodate Blanche’s whims. It was nearly 3 before we went home to bed but I couldn’t sleep past 9. So I got up to start cleaning the apartment. I did up all the dishes and fixed Michael Romero and Benjamin Anderson some eggs rancheros and fried potatoes for breakfast. Michael  cleaned and vacuumed the front room and Benjamin did the bathroom while I finished cleaning up the kitchen. At 1 this afternoon I went down to the Stonewall Center and worked for 8 hours. I processed 40 books and shelved them. It felt good to be down there working and witnessing all the interaction of people coming and going. I made arrangements with Hank Hanna to not be at Community Council on the 11^th  as I will be going with Michael to Laramie, Wyoming. I also told him that I found a copy of last year’s June and July minutes as I think David Ball must have slipped them into the archival room somehow. They weren’t there before. So now the only minutes missing are from December. The Quickbeam Pagans rented the large room and were having their Candlemas Celebration. Blanche held Ditsy’s birthday party in the smaller room towards the back. Michael bought $21 worth of pizza  for the party and had paid the $15 fee to rent the space. Blanche was broke so it was another fine mess he got us into. Oh well. Not many came to the party and actually Michael and I went straight home afterwards. Michael said he was done with Jim Dunker’s group of “ne'er-do-wells” who just uses him. I think they are all breaking up anyway with Blanche moving in with some guy named Michael. Jim and Glenn are an item and Ditz is just ditsy.  I guess his real name is Rob ha!Benjamin went with Mark Angus and Paul Willardson to the Sacred Faeries’ Sabbat which I think Tom Hennacy was the Pillar for this Candlemas. Mark and Paul have moved in together I think as boyfriends. At home Michael and I had a long serious talk and he finally confessed he doesn’t like his job after all.  

6 February 1994 Sunday

I fixed pancakes for breakfast for the boys to begin our day. Benjamin Anderson  went off to a Wasatch Leather Men’s meeting and Michael and I went out. We went shopping down on 9^th West and 35^th South at the Sam’s Club which was formerly Pace and before that Price Savers. I bought some bulk candy for my students and some blank video tapes for the Utah Stonewall library. We also went to Wal-Mart where we both bought some shoes and some other household stuff.  Then we found this great music store called Media Play where I bought 7 CD’s; Ethel Merman’s Gypsy, her Greatest Hits, The Village People’s Hits, The Andrew Sisters’ Greatest Hits,  and the Greatest hits of Marianne Faithful, Joan Baez, and Duke Ellington. This evening, I went to the Stonewall center to set up the Historical Society’s Meeting but no one showed up but Luci Malin, Michael and me!  How discouraging that no one came to listen to Luci’s involvement with the ERA and N.O.W.

7 February 1994  Monday

I went back to work after a very bizarre weekend. I had to attend a “Blood Pathogen Class”  after school about how to deal with bloody noses and cuts in this age of AIDS. We are supposed to keep hand gloves and sanitizer in our classrooms all the time now.  The class was during our prep time and I was out by 3:30. I went grocery shopping on the way home and bought ingredients to make spaghetti tonight and to make chili con carne to have tomorrow. Benjamin Anderson went to the U of U’s Union Building at noon to hear Patty Reagan. Her talk was on “A Gay History for Straight People''. I wish I could have heard it myself.

8 February 1994 Tuesday

It snowed a lot today so the kids were inside for most of the day. After work I grabbed a bite of Chili and beans that I made yesterday and went down to the Utah Stonewall Center to work In the library from 5:30 until 8:30 mainly on compiling the Gay and Lesbian Community Councils’ minutes. Michael Romero has a rash on his forehead  like perhaps a spider bite.

9 February 1994 Wednesday

Jeff Workman left me a year ago today. That was so painful but now I have Michael Romero  even if at times he hurts my feelings. I received a college catalog from Weber State for him. I wanted to la in bed with him and go over our future together  but he just wanted to stay on the couch and read it by himself. I was moody because of what happened a year ago so I just went to bed a 8:30 by myself and read from Randy Shilts Book Conduct Unbecoming.

10  February 1994 Thursday

There’s nothing new or exciting to write about. School is plugging a long as expected. Today was our 5^th Grade Science Fair held in Multipurpose Room. Ugh. Kids from Wood Cross High School came to act as judges. The fair lasted  all day.  This evening I stayed home and watched The Simpson’s . That was the highlight of my day. Ha! Everyone is fine I suppose. Benjamin Anderosn said he didn’t want to go to Wyoming with Michaela and me so I asked him to attend Community Council for me and take notes. He said he would so that’s taken care of.

11 February 1994 Friday

Sinc yesterday was the Science Fair today was rather anti-climactic.. I had the kids  make Valentine pictures in Art using cupids placed on a heart.  I came home as soon as I could and packed a bag to get ready to take off as soon as Michael Romero came home from work. However the snow storm that hit us this morning had moved into Wyoming. Michael called his lesbian friend Vicky in Rawlins and she said the highway between Rock Springs and Rawlins was closed down. So we had to cancel our trip. I was only mildly disappointed because it would have been a long trip as it is about a five hour road trip from here to Rawlins.  However Michael was, I could tell, really disappointed even if he acted like it was no big deal.  I could have gone to Community Council I suppose but I wasn’t up to it and felt like I should stay and be with Michael. Christopher Riese had called and left a message that he wasn’t attending tonight so I am glad I was able to get Benjamin to go for me. Since we were geared up to be going somewhere, Michael and I went driving around to find a place to go for dinner since I hadn’t fixed anything at home. We were going to go to The Kyoto Japanese restaurant  on 13^th South and 11^th East  but they were way too crowded  and we didn’t want to wait that long to be seated.  Instead, we ended going to Hires Big H on 4^th South and 7^th East which turned out to be rather expensive for  hamburger joint and it wasn’t all that great I thought. Michael and I fussed some tonight. I think he has the “I don’t know where I am going” blues. We went to bed at 10 and when Benjamin came home he said that Hank Hanna was elected chair to replace Reise and Kim Russo was elected vice Chair. Unfortunately I was left as secretary because no one would take the position.. Well this is te way it should have been in the first place if Carrie Gaylor would have stayed out of it and pushed Christopher on us.  I read in the Tribune that the state health department recorded 494 AIDS deaths in Utah as of February 4^th. The health department only recorded people who actually died in Utah and not those who went home in other states to die like David Sharpton did. Chuck Whyte called me and said that Rick Easter the owner of the Sun Club died today. He was 44 years old..

Additional Material- Richard Allen (Rick) Easter, 44,passed away February 11, 1994, in Salt Lake City, Utah.   He was born November 25, 1949, in Portland, Oregon, to Betty and Robert Easter , who preceded him in death.   Rick attended Brigham Young University and served a LDS mission to Peru, after which he settled in Salt Lake City. His working life was usually associated with his love for music and entertainment, and for the past seven years he has owned and operated The Sun, a popular local private club.   Rick was an active and important participant in his community, and he served his community well. He was responsive both personally and professionally to the needs of his community and worked tirelessly in support of numerous organizations events and causes. His leadership in these efforts was quiet but steadfast.   Rick is survived by sisters, Kari Teach of Sparks, Nevada; Crystal Swanda of Alaska; and by a large and loving family of friends.   A private burial will take place Monday, February 14, 1994, in Preston, Idaho. To celebrate rick's life and friendship a memorial service will be held Saturday, February 26,1994, at 2:00 p.m., at the Salt Lake Acting Company Theatre in the Marmalade Hill Center,168 West 500 North, Salt Lake City, Utah. Immediately following the memorial service friends are invited to gather at The Sun, 702West 200 South, Salt Lake City, Utah.   Rick's family of friends would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Kristen Reis and her staff and to the staff of Holy Cross Hospital   special care.   In lieu of flowers donations to an AIDS organization or fund in Rick's name are suggested.

·         Northern Utah AIDS Society an AIDS support center opened in Ogden,  offering services including a food bank and rental assistance to people with AIDS or HIV. ``No, we are not a gay organization; no, we will not be distributing condoms because it's not our place to do so; and we will tell kids that abstinence is the safest form of protection against AIDS,'' said Russell Griffin, a volunteer who handles public relations for the newly formed society.  The society operated out of a downtown office space, and was th only Ogden-area resource for people infected with HIV or  AIDS other than a support group at St. Benedict's Hospital. The Utah AIDS Foundation in Salt Lake City offered services to Ogden-area residents and their families. However, they often had to make the drive south to receive assistance, Griffin said. Since the first cases were discovered in 1981, the Centers For Disease Control have recorded a total of 201,775 AIDS deaths in the United States as of September 1993. (2/11/94  Page: D4 SLTribune)

12 February 1994 Saturday

I woke up at 6:30 and turned too Michael Romero and said why don’t we go to Moab? So we did.  Michael had never been  there before and he was up for getting out of Dodge.  We didn’t even shower  just pulled on some clothes and put our bags in the Blazer and we were on the road by 7:30. The valley was misty this morning , I suppose from the snow evaporating. It was a beautiful drive through Spanish Fork Canyon into Price. We reached Moab  about 12:30 so it was about the same time it would have taken to have gone to Rawlins.  We went to the Co-Op store  where I saw this guy Conrad that I had known from before and I asked him if  he knew if Mike Pipkin was in town. He said he thought  he was back from Santa Fe so we drove over  to his parent’s house and Mike answered the door. . He was shocked to see us.  He had us come in and we visited with his mom and dad. His dad wasn’t doing too well  as I guess he almost died last Monday from a stroke. Mike said he  had moved back to Moab last October  saying he had enough of Santa Fe. Michael, I could tell was smitten with Mike Pipkin as most people are. We took Mike with us to drive around town and Michael  just really fell in love with Moab. The three of us  drove out to Dragonfly Canyon up Potash Road  along the Colorado River, and later to the Anticline Overlook  which was such a spectacular view. It was dark about 6 when we returned  back to Moab and Mike Pipkin said we could spend the night at his folks which we did.  I could tell that Michael was turned on by Mike so we had a three way in Mike’s bed. However, Mike also started to drink which is always his downfall. Afterwards, as I was tired from all the driving and the climbing, so I went to bed while the two Michaels went to the Rio Bar to go drinking. Mike Pipkin later said that he saw Rocky O’Donovan there.  I am not sure what time they came in as I was asleep.

13 February 1994 Sunday

Michael Romero and I were up by 6:30 to leave Moab for home. We said good bye  to Mike Pipkin and then went to the City Market to get some coffee. I did take Michael on a hike up Power House  Canyon but we didn’t make it to Left Hand Canyon as the creek was too wide and flowing fast to cross. We actually left Moab around 11 and we were back in Salt Lake City around 3:30. We made some plans on the trip home about his going back to school and perhaps become a teacher and his quitting his job in June so he could drive Jimmy Hamamoto and me back to New York City. Anyway I took a nap as soon as we were home, then made love, and just tried to recover from our whirlwind adventure. I was exhausted  as I am sure Michael was. Michael said he realized that Mike Pipkin was an alcoholic from going to the bar with him and that colored  how he thought of him as a potential friend.  

14 February 1994-Monday-

I had such a sick headache all day at school today  that it wasn’t much of a Valentines  for me. However the kids had fun at their party the room mothers had for them. I read in the paper today how the LDS church came out and asked  its members to oppose same sex marriage. They are scared to death that the Hawaii case may open the door to the legalization of Gay marriages in the rest of America.  They really are hateful. Out of one side of their mouths they condemn homosexuals for being promiscuous and out of the other  they want too prohibit Gays from solemnizing their marriage so they can be faithful. I came home too sick to go grocery shopping or type up the minutes that Benjamin Anderson took for me. I just made a roast for a Valentines dinner with mashed potatoes and brown gravy with corn. I then tried to rest. We had our cable restored today and paid $26 for expanded basic plus  Encore and Star channels. Michael Romero made reservations for us to fly to Seattle  for the Seattle Gay Men’s Choir Spring Concert in March. I don’t know the exact time and date yet, just that we will leave on a Saturday and be back on a Sunday. Benjamin sure was bummed out by the LDS Church’s stance  on Gay Marriages. He feels really betrayed, hurt, and angry.  He said that his LDS Friend Doris was told by her Bishop  to stop having him as a friend. I wonder if Reconciliation will deal with this issue or still whine about not being accept by the Utah Mormon Church. Michael made me upset tonight at one point when he said that if Benjamin and I didn’t like it here, we should leave. I shouted, “Why should I  let the bastards drive me away? Why should I let the bigots prevail? We Gays need to stay home and fight not flee.”

Additional Material- The First Presidency issues a statement that reads, in part, “We encourage members to appeal to legislators, judges, and other government officials to preserve the purpose and sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman and reject all efforts to give legal authorization or other official approval or support to marriages between persons of the same gender.”  They stated “the principles of the gospel and the sacred responsibilities given” to Mormons, require that the church “oppose any efforts to give legal authorization to marriage between person s oft the same gender.

15 February 1994 Tuesday

My headache was much better  today and I finally went grocery shopping after work. I spent about $50 as we were out of most things.  I didn’t do a thing tonight  more than fix dinner and typed up the community council’s minutes. I did watch a little of Roseanne. Benjamin Anderson went to his therapy group  tonight and I didn’t go in to work at the Stonewall Center. Michael just read off by himself.

16 February 1994 Wednesday

Michael said he was really bummed out today as the people he works with are really just ignorant and not friendly at all like Wyoming people. They won’t even say “Good Morning” to him. Utah people are sometimes just rude  people. He also found out that this one place he had sent a resume into just threw it away just because he was new to Utah, meaning he wasn’t a Utah Mormon.  That really sucked. I had to go to the Utah Stonewall Center  to meet with Hank Hanna to sign some checks. At home I made stuffed bell peppers for our dinner and Michael and I watched The Critic tonight which was pretty funny. Sometimes I get very worried that Michael is getting fed up with Utah and will leave.  Benjamin Anderson went off to Rowland Hall High School to see about joining the Gay and Lesbian Choir.  Michael typed up on the computer a new resume for another job. The weather was nice and warm today, very spring like.

17 February 1994 Thursday

It was a much cooler day than yesterday and kind of blustery so a front must be moving in. When I took the kids out for P.E. at 2:30 the wind was blowing so intensely that the kids could hardly run. Other wise school is okay however the kids were a little hyper probably due to the storm coming. In the news another naughty Mormon Boy Scout leader was sent to prsion for molesting boys in his home.

Additional Material The former assistant to the leader of a Boy Scout troop who admitted to abusing at least 16 boys was sentenced Wednesday for sexual molestation.  Robert Michael Tubbs, 42, Slaterville, was given a prison term of 6 years to life by retired 2nd District Judge Ronald Hyde, who was sitting in for Judge Michael Glasmann.   In addition, Tubbs was ordered to pay therapy costs for victims, which will be determined at a later date. Tubbs pleaded guilty Jan. 12 in 2nd District Court to first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child.   In return for his guilty plea, a first-degree felony charge of sodomy on a child was dropped. Tubbs was immediately taken into custody by bailiffs Wednesday and will be sent to the Utah State Prison this week. Because he pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse, sentencing guidelines require he receive a 3-, 6- or 9-year minimum mandatory sentence. Tubbs' attorney, Kevin Richards, said his client ``recognizes what he has done is wrong and is crying out for help.''  The crimes took place between June 1991 and August 1992.  Tubbs told police he had molested boys from his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ward at his home and once on a camping trip. Weber County sheriff's Det. James Hansen was contacted in May 1993, when a Mormon bishop reported he received a letter from a boy saying he had been molested by Tubbs. When questioned about the incident, Tubbs gave deputies the names of 16 boys he had molested. He also said he had been molesting boys since he was a Boy Scout in the early 1970s. Tubbs worked with Scouts in attaining the Order of the Arrow, which studies and replicates American Indian skills, dress and culture, Hansen said.  One of Tubbs' ploys was to have boys come to his home for ``fittings'' of American Indian outfits. He would then urge them to strip to ``get a proper fit'' and then molest them, Hansen said.  Tubbs' became an assistant to the Scout leader in 1985 according Richard Walker, national spokesman for the Boy Scouts of America, in Irvine, Texas. A Boy Scouts of America document lists Tubbs as his ward's ``varsity coach.'' He also was on the Boy Scout's Weber View District Committee.  Tubbs was stripped of his Scout membership after an earlier allegation of sexual abuse was made by a boy in 1990. Tubbs was ordered never to take part in scouting activities again and told to receive counseling by scouting officials.    Criminal charges were not filed in that incident for lack of evidence. Hansen said Tubbs told him that once he was banned from his Slaterville ward, he moved his activities to a ward in adjoining Harrisville and continued to advise boys in the Order of the Arrow, even though he had been barred from doing so. It was a Harrisville scout's accusation in May that led to the felony charges being filed against Tubbs in September. rapper Trail Boy Scouts chief executive Harvey Mortensen said his office had not conducted an investigation of Tubbs after the first accusations of sexual misconduct, but had ``instantly turned the information over to the police -- as was the proper and legal thing to do.''  He said the Boy Scouts have a number of rules pertaining to adult Scout leaders that minimize the chance of sex abuse, and that any deviation from them result in the adult's dismissal from scouting. The name of the person is also placed in a national file so that the individual cannot re-enter scouting at a later date or in some other place.   Mortensen says the Boy Scouts also have a course taken by all Scouts that provides information and warnings about what to do if approached by pedophiles.

18 February 1994 Friday

When school was out I was surprised to see Michael Romero sitting in his car in the school parking lot. He said he couldn’t take it anymore  and left his work at noon. He really hates that job as they are so ignorant to him. We ended up driving to Weber State College  where I showed him around the campus. I hadn’t been up there in a very long time  but I still like that campus. It was snowing on us a little bit while in Ogden. In the admissions office we sent off for his transcripts from Wyoming  and then applied  for acceptance at Weber. We afterwards ate dinner in Ogden at this café called the Railroad Station. The food was good  and Michael was enjoying himself.  After driving back to Salt Lake, we decided to go to a show but couldn’t decide on which one so we went to the Tower Theater on 9^th South and 9^th East  where we opened a membership  there to their Video Club. They have all these foreign and art films that Block Buster wouldn’t carry. We checked out “Taxi um Klo”  and “Ernesto” which were both Gay foreign movies. I always wanted to see Taxi Zum Klo. Anyway we snuggled up to each other to watch the videos. Well it appears like Michael will be quitting  his job and maybe going back to school.  It would be great if we were both school teachers with the same time off like Jeff Workman and I had. Benjamin Anderson has been acting more strange than usual. I wonder what is going on with him

19 February 1994 Saturday

The weather was poor today but Michale this afternoon wanted to go to the movies  so we went and saw Geronimo and The Addams Family Values at the Movie 10 in Sugar House. We liked Geronimo but we loved The Addams Family Values. At the theater  we encountered Blanche and a friend of his who went to the Addams family also,  It was a nice way to spend the day and get away from Benjamin Anderson’s wildly moody behavior. He has been starving himself and cooking pots of spaghetti noodles in the middle of the night just  to throw it all out in the sink. He’s been trying to date lots of guys on the Bulletin Board sites who have been rejecting him and he seems really self-destructive lately. He is hard to deal with because of his kinetic mood swings  like a live wire.  Anyway rather than head home  we decided to go see  Carla Gourdin and Debbie Rosenberg as Debbie was celebrating her 30^th birthday which is tomorrow.  Carla and Debbie were hosting an all-day “drop-in” so we went over at 6:30 and stayed three hours, playing games and having so much fun. I saw Marlin Criddle  there even, and we talked  about getting together maybe Monday to discuss perhaps merging the Utah Stonewall Center with the Community Council rather the center being a subcommittee. I saw Coral Mangus and Andrea Dahl  with Becky Moss and her new girlfriend, a black woman named Dave, and many more people I knew but mainly Lesbians.  I think Michael had a lot of fun and it was so good to see Debbie and Carla again and it was also good to see Becky.

20 February 1994 Sunday

It was freak out city today! I witnessed firsthand Benjamin Anderson’s multiple personality disorder. This evening while watching a movie with Michael Romero, Benjamin called me to come into his bedroom and asked if I would talk with him. I could tell he was different  and being very strange so I did. However, I wasn’t prepared  for what happened next. He had a steak knife and was sawing at his wrist. He said he wasn’t Benjamin that he was “Teddy” and he had to make himself bleed  because when he bleeds “bad things come out!”   He said it was “Mr. Nobody” who was starving the others  and they we all hungry.  I realized that I was talking with a child! I managed to talk him into giving me the steak knife and he suddenly was flipping channels going in and out of different personalities right before my eyes. Finally I held him and he said he needed to sleep,  I felt emotionally exhausted also. It was freaky  beyond anything I had ever experienced even with Mark Lamar’s schizophrenia. It made me realize so completely that Benjamin is truly a fragile human being yet incredibly strong as  that his personalities were trying to keep him alive. I talked to Michael afterwards about what had happened and said I didn’t know what to do.

21 February 1994 Monday

I avoided Benjamin Anderson  lot today until I could get a proper perspective  on what happened last night. Tonight I met with Melisa Sillitoe, Hank Hanna, and Marlin Criddle to discuss the possibility of merging  the community council and the Stonewall Center. Everyone seemed  opened to the consideration and said it had merit. Kim Russo was the only one who was invited who didn’t show up. We wanted to discuss the idea in more depth before presenting it to the council.

22 February 1994 Tuesday

Benjamin Andrson, Micael Anderson and I sat down this evening and had a long conversation about Benjamin’s condition. He apologized and said that he had run out of his psychotic medicine and he went to the VA today to get more medication. He is on some type of anti-psychotic drug. I hope that solves the problem of him flipping out as I don’t know if I am capable of living with someone with all that emotional baggage that Benjamin has.

23 February 1994 Wednesday

It was stormy and snowy all day, so much that I had Michael Romero take me to Orchard. He is coming  to school tomorrow to observe my classroom. After work Michael  hooked up th Cable TV  for the bedroom and Jeff Workman actually dropped  by to get mor e of his things that he had left he fro over a year. He had shaved his beard off ad said that he had come out to his principal at Midvale Elementary.  Wow! He said he was starting to go back to the University of Utah to get his Master’s and he wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to be hassle if someone found out that he is Gay. His principal  just said to keep his personal life personal and not to do things south of 33^rd South. I thought she was pretty liberal and actually decent. I know Stanger would have me fired on the spot.  Michael and I later watched The Critic  and it was great. Michael keeps teasing me by touching and poking at me like the Pillsbury Dough Boy.

24 February 1994 Thursday-

I couldn’t find my keys this morning  so I had to use a spare to drive to work. Later I found them in the carport storage  unit where I had left them after getting Jeff Workman his boxes he had stored there. I  attended our Faculty meeting before school began where it was brought up of having the 6^th Grade baseball game with the faulty and how some did not want to participate I said I’d do a Volleyball game but not a softball game. Well I guess I made my opinion  known so in the spring there will be no surprises when  I say I don’t want to participate. Michael Romero  came to my class  today to observe and help some of the kids with their math facts. I introduced him to Brenda Tau’a.  At home I fixed Spanish Rice and strip steak  for our dinner and then watch the Simsons and television for most of the evening.  

Additional Material Steven Allen Billas age 32, died at  his residence in Salt Lake City. A native of Pennsylvania Steven was a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University in May, 1983, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He was a resident of Salt Lake City since 1983, and in this period of time acquired many true and close friendships. He was first employed by Utah Biomedical Testing Laboratories as a chemist and spent the last seven years as a field service engineer for Hewlett-Packard. Resided with his friend and partner, Donald Snyder in Salt Lake City the past 11 years.

25 February 1994 Friday

After I came home from work, Michael Romero and I went to Souvlaki’s on 5^th North and 3^rd West for diner then we went to Sugar House Movie 10 theater to see “Six Degrees of Separation”. I loved that movie. It was really written well and Stockard Channing was excellent in it. Afterwards we went the Tower Theater and  checked  out Derek Jarman’s “Sebastian”  that we watched back at the apartment. It was good but kind of hard to understand because the English subtitles were hard to read at times. Jarman died this week from AIDS so I wanted to see his first successful gay teem movie.

26 February 1994 Saturday

Michael Anderson and I went for a long walk this afternoon because it was a gorgeous  day. We walked down to the 9^th and 9^th  area from the Rivera on 6^th South and 9^th East. The we walked  over to Liberty Park  and walked around the loop. I saw Bruce Harmon out and about walking also. We stopped and visited some and he said that Bruce Barton is slowly getting over the betrayal he received at MCC. I guess he plays the Bingo circuit and Bruce said he makes more money playing Bingo  than  holding down a regular Utah job. Ha!    They both have dropped out of Gay Society for a while. May be I will  as well after  my stint as secretary of the community council  is done. Michael and I then walked from Liberty Park  to downtown Main Street. Because Michael had never taken the bus before, here in Salt Lake, we took the bus out to the airport  and  back just for something to do. Our venturing really  killed the afternoon but it was so beautiful out an the temperature in the 50’s so it felt great to be out walking.  In the evening we went to Kenji’s party and had a very nice time. Kenji is this Japanese Hair salon owner who speaks very little English and what he does, is hard to understand. The Memory Grove Volleyball set was all there including Garth Chamberlain, Cal Noyes, Duke Bush, and more. Benjamin Anderson came with Mark Angus and Paul Willardson. There were about 15 people there altogether and Kenji sure put on the spread. He served sushi, teriyaki and lots of other Japanese dishes. We played some games and watched Tallula Bankhead in Alfred Hitchcock’s Life Boat. We had a very sweet and fun evening.  I think Michael had a lot of fun, which is what I was hoping for. We didn’t get home until after 1 in the morning. Benjamin is driving me nuts. I need a break from him. Even with medicine, he is like a little kid in some ways always needing to be entertained and needing assurances.  Blanche called the other night to tell Michael that he moved to Provo of all places. For Gawd’s sake what a mess. Hank Hanna left a message saying he wants to have an executive meeting sometime this coming week.

27 February 1994-Sunday-

This morning I went and shut myself in the bedroom just to be left alone from Benjamin Anderson. I just needed time to myself and time to relax to read the Sunday paper. I’m not sure why he’s annoying me  so much right now. I think it from his using the Toyota pickup without my permission, leaving the apartment unlocked, and perhaps from his draining my energy. This afternoon Michael Romero and I went to the movies to see “What’s Love Got to Do With It?, the story of Tina Turner. It was interesting. Now Michael  and I  tease each other by saying “Lets play Ike and Tina and I get to be Ike”.  Well tonight was the Romanovsky and Phillips  concert. Benjamin bought Michael and me tickets last week  when he was out “hooking”  with one of his personalities. He had a ticket for himself also but had lost it. I felt kind of sorry for him. He bought two tickets originally for us  and then  in one of his states, he gave the tickets to Mark Angus and Paul Willardson and then  feeling bad about that because we weren’t going after all, he went out and bought us two more tickets. The tickets were $20 a piece  as it was a fundraiser for the Utah AIDS Foundation. I’d say about 150 to 200  people were at the performance. Gail Scottw as so cute in her Tuxedo. Michael was surprised that none of the wealthier elements of the community showed up but I said they rarely do.  Joe Redburn, the owners of Cahoots and some of the other bar owners really don’t support the community at these types of events. I really enjoyed the opening act of Marilyn Pittman, this Lesbian Comedian from San Francisco. J Ramsey Nelson was good but I don’t really care about her material she sings about. Romanovsky and Phillips were as cute as ever but I miss their old songs. It was either rainy or snowy all day.

Additional Material - The SLCC Gay & Lesbian Student Association. held a benefit show at Salt Lake Community College for The Utah AIDS Foundation called ``A Night to Remember.'' which' was presented in the SLCC Grand Theatre,. Event featured the gay singing and comedy duo Ron Romanovsky and Paul Phillips; lesbian comedian Marilyn Pittman; and Salt Lake City-based folk singer and song-writer J. Nelson Ramsey.  Romanovsky and Phillips began their careers in San Francisco, performing as the musical break for Gay Comedy Open Mike Night at the Valencia Rose Cafe in 1982. The duo's first album, ``I Thought You'd Be Taller,'' was released in 1984. In 1988, Romanovsky and Phillips recorded ``Emotional Rollercoaster.'' The album included a cut ``Living With AIDS,'' used in a documentary film, ``Testing the Limits.''  Pittman, who has worked in straight and gay comedy clubs, has been the host and producer of two nationally syndicated radio programs --``By a Woman's Writ'' and ``Radio Free America's New Music Show.'' Pittman also is featured on two videos, ``Out for Laughs'' and ``All Out Comedy.'' Ramsey, who works in various festivals, clubs and restaurants in Utah, has released one  album, ``Where Am I Now,'' and is in the process of completing a second work. John Johnson, development coordinator for the Salt Lake City-based foundation, said the Utah AIDS  Foundation is thankful for support from gay or lesbian organizations. However, he stressed that the foundation seeks to be identified with more than just homosexual groups. Johnson said the foundation supports any community activity that educates about   AIDS. ``Our purpose here is to help people with  AIDS or HIV,'' Johnson said, stressing that the foundation is trying to educate the public that AIDS is not just a homosexual disease. ``[Public awareness] has gone away from that,'' he said. ``More people have family members who aren't gay and have AIDS. It makes it more real to them.'' (02/25/94  Page: F1  SLTribune)

·         Todd M. Phillips age 29 died at his home from complications of  AIDS. He attended Judge Memorial High School; and the University of  Utah. Todd has been employed by Western Analytical, Inc. for the past six years, working as a chemist.  Survived by companion, Richard Kiehl.

28 February 1994 Monday

Michael Romero took me to work today and spent my planning time taking down February’s Valentines themes and putting up  March theme bulletin boards mainly kites and St. Patrick day motifs.  The month went by pretty fast but then again, February always does. When Michael picked me up from school, he said he has an interview with APS an  auto parts distributors outfit.  So we drove out there so he could find it on 21at South and 4200 West.  While waiting, I went through the phone bill which was $117 with $78 of it being Benjamin Anderson’s from  calling the Man to Man sex line and the Private Eye dating line. The rest was because US West is still combining my long distance  with  my local bill.  Michael said he won’t hear  when  the interview will be  for a couple of days. We are planning on going to Wyoming this coming weekend if the weather is good. I asked John Amodt this cute substitute teacher to come in on Friday for me. Anyway back  home I fixed Spaghetti  for our dinner  and I had Michael disconnect our access to 900 numbers to keep Benjamin from running up  the phone bill again.  After dinner Michael and I went for a long walk down to Trolley Square to walk around the stores there. At one of them, Brookstone, we sat in these  massaging chairs and then we walked to Fendell’s to get some ice cream. From there we walked up to 4^th South and then over to 9^th East then back home. There we retrieved Michael’s battery charger from Bob Lowe  who had borrowed it and then watched “Ruthless People. Bette Midler was really funny in it. Not sure where Benjamin took off to as he wasn’t home when Michael and I went to bed at 9. I did try to get a hold of Hank Hanna tonight to say that Friday is no good for me to meet up but he wasn’t home and doesn’t have an answering machine.

 

MARCH

1 March 1994 Tuesday

It was a pleasant Spring like day. I was paid today, $1,435 that I cleared.  I deposited $75 from my tax refund along with my paycheck so I have $1,510 to last me a whole month and to pay bills. Benjamin Anderson paid me $200 also for rent and $72 for his part of the phone bill. I gave that money however to Michael Romero so he could pay some of his bills. We went for a long walk along 8^th South up to 13^th East. It’s quite a climb up the escarpment so it was good strenuous walk.  Michael made spaghetti for dinner and Benjamin  went off to his therapy  group while I sat down and paid  bills, especially the utilities and the car payment. We then watched Roseann Arnold’s Gay episode when she goes into a Gay bar and gets kissed by a Lesbian. I though that was rather cool for television

Additional Material .     Tomm Ruud, a former principal dancer with Ballet West, died at his home in San Francisco Monday of Aids-related illnesses. He was 50.   Ruud, born in Pasadena, Calif., and raised in Afton, Wyo., earned his bachelor's and master's of fine arts degrees from the University of Utah. He joined the San Francisco Ballet in 1975, after 10 years as a principal dancers with Willam Christensen at Ballet West.   A versatile and dramatic dancer, Ruud was named a principal character dancer at the San Francisco Ballet in 1987.He was noted for his performances as Drosselmeyer in ``The Nutcracker,'' Lord Capulet in Michael Smuin's ``Romeo and Juliet'' and the tutor in Helgi Tomasson's ``Swan Lake,'' among others.   He was also a choreographer whose works included ``Metamorphoses,'' ``Trilogy,'' ``Introduction and Allegro,'' ``Richmond Diary,'' ``Step for Two'' and ``Mobile,'' the latter of which was performed by Ballet West in the 1970s.

2 March 1994 Wednesday

Michael Romero picked me up from school at 4:15 after  attending  an In-Service class on how to use the new science textbooks. There were lots of complaints regarding how they don’t even come close to matching our curriculum so what a waste of money. Back in Salt Lake Michael and I went on another long walk this time up 6^th South to 13^th East then down 9^th South over to Smiths on 8^th South where we bought a few groceries to carry home. After that we stayed home and watched “the Critic. I made arrangements for John Amodt to substitute for me this Friday. Benjamin Anderson was out at his multiple personality group this afternoon and in the evening he went to the Lesbian ad Gay Chorus of Utah’s practice. Benjamin said that John Bennett specifically wanted him to come back because there wasn’t enough males in the chorus. I was really weary  tonight so I went to bed by 8:30. I don’t know why I am  so worn down. I am so upset with Benjamin Anderson as one of his tricks called at 10:30 last night and woke me up so I couldn’t get back to sleep for anything. So I got up and played solitaire on the computer for about an hour then tried going back to sleep but I couldn’t. I just tossed and turned and grew resentful that he was out so late using my pickup

3 March 1994 Thursday

I wasn’t able to fall back to sleep  until after 3 this morning and so I was wasted at school all day. I took my pickup to Orchard  to keep Benjamin Anderson from using it. I managed to make lesson plans for my substitute  before Michael Romero  came to pick me up at 3:30 after school let out. We just left the pickup in the school’s parking lot in North Salt Lake, so Benjamin couldn’t run all over the city with it.  I’ve seen how he drives and he does abuse it. Who knows what personality is driving. Hopefully not Teddy.  Anyhow we drove out through Weber Canyon then caught the Echo Canyon  highway into Evanston and then drove on in to Rawlins, Wyoming. We only stopped  in Rock Springs to stop and get a bite to eat for dinner.  We reached Rawlins at 9 at night and stayed with Michael’s friend Vickie Schmuch who is buying a house there. She works as a counselor at the Wyoming State penitentiary.  I could tell Michael was glad to be home in Wyoming.

4 March 1994 Friday,

Except for our air mattress going flat, we had a pleasant sleep at Vickie Schmuch’s place. We all went out to breakfast together and ate at  the Pantry and it was very good. Afterwards, Michael Romero and I dropped Vickie off so she could go to work and we went over to see his grandmother, Nora Trejo, who is as sweet as she can be. Michael is her oldest grandchild and they just dolt over each other. We visited with Nora for a while before heading over to his mom and dad’s house  where we unloaded our things. Faye Romero fixed us a light lunch  while we visited before  taking off to drive around Rawlins so Michael could show off his home town. We went to the city library where I looked up his birth announcements  in their microfilmed newspapers.  Michael was born on the day that Marilyn Monroe  announced her marriage to Arthur Miller.  Anyway soon we went back over to his grandmother’s house where her sister, Michael‘s great Aunt Rose Trejo, gave us some more information regarding the family. Both Nora and Rose had married brothers.  Rose said she had more information locked up in her safety box at her bank.  For dinner Faye made Green Chili and it sure was delicious. I am really impressed  with Michael’s family and how they have treated me.  I’m thinking should I stay in Salt Lake City where people are so unfriendly? The weather in Rawlins had been wonderful so far and not really cold at all for early March. In fact  it’s been quite mild and we only needed a light jacket.

5 March 1994 Saturday

We went out to breakfast  with Michael Romero’s parents, grandmother and Vickie Schmuch’s  at the Flying J  Truck Stop . I just had pancakes. Then Michael took Vickie and me out to Fort Steele which was closed so we went out to the Hot Springs at Saratoga, Wyoming which are some public hot springs with dressing room  etcs and are really nice.  It was about an hour and a half drive from Rawlins. We all had a nice time there all though I slept a lot on the drive.  Back in Rawlins we had a scrumptious  Mexican dinner that Faye made and in the evening we watched Matthew Modine’s “Pacific Heights because Michael’s parents are landlords and one of their tenants had attacked them. We also watched Walt Disney’s Aladdin so it was late before we getting to bed in their spare bedroom. It rained and then snowed a little in the evening.

6 March 1994 Sunday

We left Rawlins to head back to Salt Lake this afternoon, after saying goodbye to his folks, his grandma, and Vickie Schmuch's. We were able to find a lot of genealogy on the family from this visit. Yesterday we went to the Rawlins Cemetery and found Michae ‘s great-grandfather Ricardo Romero. Anyway  we left Rawlins about 1  and only stopped in Green River long enough to find his great grandmother’s grave in the cemetery there. Michae drove all the way home, arriving around 5:30. We drove down Emigration Canyon this time. At the apartment, Benjamin Anderson was home and I could tell he was miffed as he left with Mark Angus to go to the movies. I didn’t see him  again for the rest of the evening. In the evening, I type up some of Michael’s  Romero Genealogy and the watched a Walt Disney production of the Donner Party. It wasn’t all that great leaving out most of the details.  I talked to Michael about becoming a travel agent. That would let him be his own boss and give him a flexible schedule. I had a nice time in Wyoming. We went to bed by 9:30 made love and tehn went to sleep

7 March 1994 Monday

I went back to work  this morning and everything was fine according to my substitute. Last week, Wayne Stanger said he was officially retiring so after school he held a brief faculty meeting to tell up that a first grade  position would be cut and someone would have to be involuntarily transferred from Orchard. We also discussed the rotation of staff for next year, as I am going down to the 4^th grade, Mrs. Knecht will move to 5^th grade and Susan McAdams up to the 6^th grade. Brenda Tau’a  is also considering moving to 4^th grade as there is another opening there. Anyway, Michael Romero is not feeling well. I think he caught a cold. I went to the Utah Stonewall Center for a meeting of the Board of Trustees  at 7 this evening. Only Kim Russo, Hank Hanna, Melissa Sillitoe, Kevin Hillman, and myself showed up. It was not enough people to formally do any official business. We did agreed to recommend  forming a committee to decide on what direction the Community council should take going forward.   

8 March 1994 Tuesday

After school, I went with Michael Romero to the LDS genealogy library  to look up census records. I located his great grandfather Ricardo Romero as living in Agua Negra, Mora County, New Mexico   in the 1900 census.  We also discovered his great-great grandfather Antonio  Romero also living in Agua Negra. He was born in 1836  when New Mexico was still party of Mexico. His wife was a Vigil.  I think Michael was amazed at how much  I was finding out but I am good at this. His family were landowners and had native Indian servants which since Mexico had abolished slavery they were called servants but were almost like slaves as they were tied to the land and family.  We stayed at the library until 8:30 then we returned home and I typed up the family tree and put them into family groups.

9 March 1994 Wednesday,

 Today is Jeff Workman’s 29^th birthday and  I called him right before going to bed tonight to let him know I was thinking of him and to wish him a happy birthday. Michael Romero said he’s going to go to Colorado Springs this weekend to see his brother John who  lives there. So we drove up to Huntsville right after wok and bought  some honey from the monastery there for his mom and dad and also a gift for his brother. It was a beautiful drive to Huntsville and Michael loved the little valley  in which the Catholic Monastery is located. He was really taken by the place.  In the evening, I fixed salmon patties for dinner. Benjamin Anderson and Kenji came to the apartment to visit while I typed up and printed out Michael’s genealogy  for his brother.  Michael said his cold is breaking up. He also has an interview tomorrow with Big A Auto Parts right before he had to catch his flight to Colorado.

10 March 1994 Thursday

Michael Romero’s cold seems better. He had a job interview at Big A Auto Parts before he caught his flight to Wyoming at 12:30 to go to Colorado Springs. As I was alone tonight I went to the genealogy library  to look up some records on Michel’s family in New Mexico. So far I have been able to trace  the family back to Antonio Romero  who was a farmer in the village of Agua Negra, born in 1836. His son Ricardo Romero was buried in Rawlins, Wyoming. He was born in 1862. Michae’s grandfather was Joe Modesto Romero born in 1901 in Agua Negra and his father Bill Romero was born in 1935 in Rawlins as was Michael in 1956.  I called Michael tonight when the rates are lower and he was said he was happy to be in Colorado Springs.

11 March 1994 Friday

I had the Gay and Lesbian Community Council of  Utah to go to tonight so I wasn’t too lonesome for Michael Romero although it was lonesome sleeping without him. I went about 6:30 and neither Kim Russo nor Hank Hannah had shown up so I ended up setting up the meeting myself. That won’t happen again for sure! The officers are Hank Hannah as chair, Kim Russo, Vice Chair/Treasurer, and I am the Secretary.  Anyway, nothing too eventful although we had a good turnout. Hank and Carrie Gaylor got into a spat over lack of attendance at the last Board of Trustee Meeting. We created a new committee tonight to study and report and make recommendations on which way GLCCU should go in the future. Greg Garcia, Ed Kubrick and I were elected co-chairs of the new committee. Carrie Gaylor reported that some asshole were harassing people at  Bare Ass Beach by pointing a gun at them. The meeting was over at 9 and I went home to type up the minutes. I worked on them until midnight  and then I went to bed. I heard that Carla Gourdin had a one-woman exhibit and reception to show her art work. It was between 7 and 9 so I couldn’t attend.

12 March 1994 Saturday

Salt Lake’s St. Patrick Day parade was held this morning so it was a pain trying to cross State Street to try to get to the genealogy library on West Temple. I had to detour all the way down to 9^th South and back track up Wets Temple.  Anyway I spent 8 hours  at the library  going through the old Catholic church records of Santa Getrudis de Mora which was the parish church for the Romeros of Mora County. It was a really a lot of work but there was a treasure trove of names and dates of Michael’s relatives. It was all in Spanish  which took me a while to decipher but once I learned a few words, things went  more smoothly.  Also looking up a book on the original settlers of New Mexico, one of Michaels probable ancestors may have been Francis Xavier Romero who was tried for sodomy in 1724 while living in Santa Clara, New Mexico. Perhaps it runs in the family.

Additional Material The ACLU of Utah and the University of Utah Gay and Lesbian Law Alliance hosted the "Lavender Rights Forum: The Law in Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Lives" from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The one-day workshop was held at the University of Utah College of Law. Keynote speaker, Roberta Achtenberg,. Topics include estate planning for same-sex couples, domestic relations, civil rights issues, AIDS, hate crimes and anti-gay initiatives. The cost for pre-registration was $10.

·         Michael James Hamilton died at home March 12, 1994 after many months of suffering. Born Oct. 23, 1960, Brigham City, Utah. Adopted son of Leo F. "Bud" and Mary Ann Hamilton. Some knew him as Mike and some knew him as James; he preferred James. James graduated from Highland High School and International Hair Design. He was a sweet, generous person even during his illness. He will be greatly missed. The family wants to thank Dr. Kristen Ries, Maggie Snyder; their T.L.C. is much appreciated. We also thank Alan and all those at Community Nursing as well as I.V. Plus for their help and concern.

13 March 1994 Sunday

I was very lonesome for Michael Romero but kept busy all day finishing up the minutes of the  Gay and Lesbian Community Council of Utah and also typing up what I had found  on Michael’s family history. I didn’t see Benjamin Anderson very much today as I think he’s avoiding me. I think our friendship is souring. He made a better friend than a roommate. He’s always moody and I am never sure when another personality  will emerge.  I think it’s time for him to find his own place.  I called Michael tonight and I said I’d pick him up tomorrow at the airport. Debbie Rosenberg and Carla Gourdin were in the Sunday Tribune newspaper.

Additional Material Carla Gourdin and Debbie exchanged wedding vows before family and friends almost two years ago.   The financial history of their life together already fills two drawers in the light-tan filing cabinet that sits in a nook just a few steps away from their kitchen table.   ``We have a paper trail five miles long,'' said Debbie. ``Formalizing our financial and personal affairs was just something that had to be done when we decided to stay together as a couple.'' For same-gender couples like Carla and Debbie, who do not have the advantage of being ``legally'' married in the eyes of the law, financial and estate planning can be a nightmare of seemingly endless paperwork and legal jargon.   ``At the very least it is an annoyance,'' said  Carla, a program analyst for Salt Lake City Corp. ``We are not protected by the law the way most married couples are protected.''   For nontraditional couples, setting up their financial affairs to accomplish goals that heterosexual couples take for granted can cost hundreds of dollars or thousands of dollars and take many long hours.   ``What do you do when the law does not recognize your relationship?'' asks Salt Lake attorney Marlin Criddle. ``You take the legal steps necessary to see you are protected, that everything is set up exactly the way you want it.''   And couples must make sure that all the i's are dotted and the t's crossed, he said.   Unlike traditional couples, the surviving spouse in a nontraditional relationship cannot always retain interest in homes, stock portfolios and other assets.   While the law for the most part looks on partners in traditional heterosexual relationship as their spouses next of kin, nontraditional couples cannot count on that protection.   Even in divorce, the courts are there for traditional couples to see that common property is distributed equitably.   A same-gender couple has no such assurances, unless it has taken the time to jump through all kinds of legal hoops.   The consequences of failing to spell out in minute detail who has the rights to assets, or who can make critical decisions if a partner becomes incapacitated, can mean disaster for such couples -- not just in financial, but in emotional terms.   ``The gay and lesbian community is full of horror stories on that subject,'' said L. Dean Hay, a retired Presbyterian minister and a volunteer at the Stonewall Center, a gay and lesbian community center in Salt Lake City.   ``I've seen instances where someone who has been in a long-term relationship has fallen ill, and his partner could not even get into the hospital room to see him,'' Hay said. ``I've watched as families rushed in upon the death of a son from AIDS -- a son who they hadn't talked to in years because they disapproved of his lifestyle-- and taken property from their son's partner, property that took the couple years to build up together.''   ``I have seen wills challenged on the theory that the relationship was not legal to begin with,'' Hay said.   Attorney Criddle says such things are best not left to chance, even though it may take a whole slew of documents to ensure that tragedy does not happen.   There is, however, hope that nontraditional couples will someday find it a bit easier to arrange their financial affairs.   A new body of law is gradually emerging that recognizes the rights of nontraditional couples.   ``It is not happening in Utah, but it is happening elsewhere,'' Criddle said. ``Most of itis coming from younger judges.''   And there is also the chance that same-gender marriages may eventually be recognized in at least some states.   That hope was born in May when the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled the state's ban on same-gender marriages may be unconstitutional because it is illegal sex discrimination.   However, in response to what was happening in Hawaii, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints urged members in mid-February to stand up against homosexual marriages.   A statement urged ``members to appeal to legislators, judges and other government officials'' to reject any efforts to approve same-gender marriages.

14 March 1994 Monday

Wayne Stanger came into my room after the kids were gone and said that I could plan on moving to 4^th grade  so I told Brenda Tau’a  that she had better talked to Stanger  if she wanted to move from the 3^rd grade to the 4^th to teach with me. Well the dye is cast and I’m committed to the 4^th grade now. I’ll be away from Elyne Day  finally and I will  have a new room  with a window. I heard through the grapevine that she was considering retiring next year anyway. After school let out I drove out to the airport  where I picked up Michael Romero . He had left his car at Thrifty’s at 2400 West North Temple  so we went there  first and then to La Frontera on 4^th South and about 12^th West to celebrate his coming home. He said he had a wonderful time in Colorado Springs with his sister Michelle coming down from Rawlins even to join them. However Michael  admitted he actually missed Salt Lake City. That’s because I‘m here, I think mostly. I really truly love this man.

15 March 1994 Tuesday

The weather her in Salt Lake has just been delightful. I have been taking the kids outside  to run around the field in the morning and for P.E. in the afternoon  to play kickball.  Everything thing seems to be blooming. Last Sunday I walked to Payless Drugs and bought some flower seeds and planted them in the planters on our porch.  Spiring is truly in the air. I’m even starting to get my hay fever from the elm trees starting to bud out and pollinate.  Mrs. Knecht is moving down from 6^th grade to 5^th for sure. I hope she can tolerate Elayne Day’s controlling everything. Brenda Tau’a  has been approved  for 4^th grade so it should be a fun year next year. I am keeping my fingers crossed. After school Michael Romero and I went to the genealogy library again  to lookup some census records. We only stayed until 6:30 because Michael was tired but actually I think it doesn’t interest him as much it does me.

16 March 1994 Wednesday

The weather is still unbelievably  pleasant. My hay fever is really kicking in however. They say the tree pollen count is high so that is why. I’ll be so glad to get away from Elayne Day. She is a very authoritarian, passive aggressive manipulative Mormon  woman wanting everything her way. Because she is unhappy the art specialist for the 5t grade, she wants ne to be in control of teaching art in all the 5^th grades. Well forget it. Michael Romero mailed out all my Community Council minutes mailed out finally. I don’t see Benjamin Anderson much anymore like he’s avoiding being here. He’s too volatile and Michael and I really need alone time together.

17 March 1994 Thursday

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and the parade was canceled in Boston  because the courts ruled that the parade officials had to admit Gay into the parade so the Catholic Bigots  just cancelled it all together . This evening Michael and I went to the Avelon Theater  down in Murray and saw Remains of the Day  which was petty good  although I think Michael enjoyed it more than  I did.

18 March 1994 Friday

After work, Michael and I went to the public library to look up career information. While there I showed him how to rent CD’s and Movies. Michael wanted to watch Suset Boulevard so rented it and stayed home  this evening to watch it  with a bowl of popcorn.  It was a lot of fun.

19  March 1994 Saturday

It’s the last full day of winter so Michael Romero and I went Mervyns  in West Valley to go clothes shopping. We also went to the Crossroad Mall downtown.  We bought a lots of shorts that were on sale and tops for about $120 so we were good consumers today. While  driving on 6^th East I saw Billy Bikowski and pointed him out to Michael who said he looked like a mess. Ha!  I said he probably was . And while I had a momentary pang and longing for Billy, I also knew that Michael is a much more sweeter  and wonderful man. I am grateful to God for him. We checked out “Witness for the Defense” from the library and Michael and I both love old movies.  Benjamin Anderson left for Wendover for the weekend  and it was really nice to have him out of the apartment.

20 March 1994 Sunday-

Spring began today on mom and dad’s 48^th  anniversary. Michael was feeling  restless today so we took off for a day trip out to Ophir in Rush Valley. Ophir’s is an old almost mining ghost town in Tooele County. Michael love s to gi  four wheeling off road.  We left in the afternoon  and were gone almost the entire afternoon until  5. It was beautiful day for a drive, although the weaher  has cooled off considerably. I called mom and dad  this morning to let  them know that Michael and I  are coming down to Arizona for Easter. I didn’t talk long  as my uncle and aunt Milton and Marie were over playing Mexican dominoes.

Additional material Kim Scott Wastlund age 37,  succumbed after a courageous battle with AIDS He is now free to hunt, fish  and craft glorious work alongside the Master Fisherman and Carpenter.

21 March 1994 Monday

 Back to work at Orchard  but after I was out, Michael Romero and I went to the genealogy library from 3:30 to 5:30 where I was looking up census records for New Mexico. I confirmed that Felipe de Jesus Romero  born in 1800 was the father of Antonio de Jesus Romero. Michael was getting bored  with the research  than I do which is understandable, so didn’t stay long.

22 March 1994 Tuesday

Great news Michael Romero was hired by Big A Auto Parts although he won’t start until April. I have been going to the genealogy library after work without Michael to locate as much as I can on the Romero’s before we leave this weekend for Seattle. I keep going over census records mostly . There’s not a whole lot on any of these counties the Romero lived in in the library files.  Tonight we watched Roseann  tonight but Michael doesn’t think she is all that funny since she lost weight and had a face lift. I don’t know. I still like the show.

Additional Material A 4th District judge has granted a stay of execution for Michael Anthony Archuleta, who was sentenced to die for the 1988 torture-murder of a Southern Utah University student. Archuleta, 30, was scheduled to die by firing squad Thursday. But Judge Lynn W. Davis stayed the sentence after receiving a challenge questioning the effectiveness of Archuleta's original trial attorney, Michael D. Esplin of Provo. Davis denied arguments last week by Archuleta's new attorneys, who asked for more time to prepare a motion to stay the execution. He said they did not trigger any legal reasons to halt it. But the stay was granted when Davis received a handwritten writ of habeas corpus from Archuleta. The writ allows a prisoner to be brought before a court and forces prosecutors to justify why that person is being detained. Archuleta's new attorneys, Ronald E. Nehring of Salt Lake City and Karen Chaney of San Antonio, are taking Archuleta's appeal free of charge. "The crime (Archuleta) was convicted of is shocking to most people, but that's not the issue we'll be dealing with. We go beyond that to look at whether he got a fair trial and whether or not the death penalty is appropriate," Chaney told The Salt Lake Tribune. Kris Leonard, assistant Utah attorney general, said defense attorneys have 90 days to amend the habeas corpus petition. "We're in limbo until the defendant acts," he said. If defense attorneys can prove the original counsel provided by Esplin was ineffective, then Archuleta could be granted a new trial and possibly obtain a new sentence, Leonard said. "It depends on what issues they raise to prevail upon," he said. Esplin said he welcomes the review of his work. "If there's something I missed, then the defendant should receive counsel that has the ability to pursue all the other alternatives for him," he said. Archuleta was sentenced to death for the Nov. 22, 1988, murder of Gordon R. Church in a remote region of Millard County. Authorities said Church's arm and jaw were broken, his neck cut, his liver stabbed and that he had been sexually assaulted with battery cables and a tire iron. Lance C. Wood, who also participated in the killing, was convicted of capital homicide in a separate trial but was sentenced to life in prison because he was barely 20 years old at the time of the crime.

23 March 1994 Wednesday

I am still going to the genealogy library after work to look up information on the Romeros. It takes a lot of time to read all the old church records of Santa Getrudis. They are all in Spanish and often in faded handwriting but slowly but surely I am gleaning  information. School  is the same except I am so happy that Stanger is finally going to be gone and I am taking over Hal Olsens’ room. He has so much clutter and junk in his room. I wonder how I will ever be ever be able to go through it all.  Michael Romero is edgy  about another interview at Big A. I know he’s uptight about having been out of work for so long and having Benjamin Anderson around. But when we are in bed and I kiss him to sleep, all seems okay with the world.

24 March 1994 Thursday

Benjamin Aderson is driving me crazy. He’s either  playing that damned Madam Butterfly aria  or he’s on  the computer  talking to guys trying to make dates. Michael Romero ignores him or  goes off to the movies to get away from him. Michael is really excited about going to Seattle this weekend. I’m concerned  about the money situation however, but Michael really need to get a way and I’ve taken him away from all that he was familiar with so I feel like what ever  it takes it takes. All I want is to make him happy.  He pleases my soul. When I come home from  work, he greets me at the door, and I feel really  happy and contented.  He is usually playing some music and has something going on in the kitchen.  I haven’t heard anything for Jim Dunker ad Glenn in quite a while. They must be okay I suppose.

25 March 1994 Friday

I had a substitute today because I took the day off from school just to give me a rest before  this hectic weekend. I spent much of the day at the genealogical library finding proof that Antonio de Jesus Romero  is the son of Felipe de Jesus Romero  who was the son of Miguel Romero a Spanish Don from the village of San Juan in Rio Arriba County. That pushes Michael Romero’s lineage  back to 1756 or two hundred years from his birth in Rawlins. I spent a lot of the day typing up what I found for his Aunt Alice Romero. Late in the evening some friends of Michael’s from Wyoming,  John and Phil  came  over. They are spending  about a week here in Salt Lake City. We said we would be gone this weekend  but would be back Sunday night. They seem like really nice guys and Michael is sure happy to see them. Benjamin Anderson is acting weird again and I wonder if he’s off his medication.

26 March 1994 Saturday

What a long and marvelous day. Michael Romero and I were up early to catch our 9:30 flight to Seattle. We flew with Morris Airlines  so had to be the early to get a decent seat. We left Michae's Chevy Blazer at Thrifts . The weather was great for flying although the old rust bucket did sound like its rivets were popping.  Alice Romero   met us at the airport. She said Judith Prince was in bed recovering from an operation.  Alice loaned us her the use of her truck and so Michael and I  went sight seeing in Seattle. We went to this park I think was called Washington that had a three mile  walkway around a pond. There were long boarders on the lake  having a race. We walked around the pond, people watching, and it was so pleasant and pretty being outside. We ate at Mae’s Phinney Ridge Café, the Moo Cow place that we ate at last December. . We then went back to Alice’s place to visit  and have a spaghetti dinner  they fixed for us before having to run off to the performance at Meany Hall auditorium at the University of Washington. To be truthful, I was not all that excited about going to hear the Seattle Men’s Choir as I am not all that keen of choirs. However they performed all these numbers  from the 1960’s  with so much queer  energy that it was  simply fabulous.  Both Mihcael and I thought the choir was simply wonderful I even bought  a poster and a CD of Christmas music for ourselves. It was near midnight when we returned to Alice and Judith’s place and we were completely tuckered out after our very long bad fu day. I had never flown to a city just for th weekend before  ad it was kind of exciting.

Additional Material  KRCL 91 FM presented 33 hours of programming by, for and about women, from March 26, 10 a.m., to March 27, 7 p.m preempting all other programing

27 March 1994 Sunday

We took our time getting up this morning and when we did I could see that it was another really clear, and gorgeous day in Seattle. If the weather was truly like this all the time, I really could consider moving here, however I know it’s not. Michale Romero and I went to the Farmer’s Market in the afternoon and just played like tourists. We bought  these really yummy strawberries which we ate for our breakfast  at the Broadway Market at Hamburger Mary’s.  We also went down  to the water front  to look around. Michael wanted to spend some time with his aunt before leaving Seattle so we spent the late afternoon at the house. We love her home which is a two story house overlooking the bay  and painted inside southwestern colors.  We ordered pizza for dinner . At 7:30 Alice drove us ack down to the airport and soon we were back in Salt Lake City. What a whirl wind of a trip. It didn’t cost us anything to park at Thrifty’s since Michael had worked there earlier in the year and they all knew him. We were back at the Riviera apartment by 10  at night. John and Phil from Wyoming were there with Benjamin Anderson. I guess they had a nice time while we were gone, having gone shopping and up to Park City. Michael stayed up to visit with them  but I had to get to bed for school tomorrow.

28 March 1994 Monday

It was hard being back at Orchard  after such a fabulous weekend. I had to attend a lunch schedule committee meeting  this afternoon between 2 and 3  as I was chosen the chair. We had to come up with ideas and alternative ways  of modifying  the lunch schedule to keep the upper and lower grades happy. Everyone wants the late schedule to have a shorter afternoon.  After school let out I came home to rest and relax. Phil and John have taken off for Wendover and Benjamin Anderson is acting all depressed again . All his Madam Butterfly records are out.

Additional Material – The Utah AIDS Foundation’s  fundraiser, "Friends of Oscar" was held at the Bay, at 404 South  West Temple. The cost was  $25 per person in advance, and $28 at the door. The Utah AIDS Foundation 3rd Oscar Night Gala Academy of Friends Awards held at Salt Lake's The Bay. Stars of the Salt Lake community received recognition beneath a heroic-sized  Oscar in a presentation prior to viewing the televised 66th Annual Academy Awards.  Kimberly Perkins and David Northfield were the emcees. LaDonna Moore presented the ``Best Divine Intervention'' award to the Rev. Peter Eaton, associate rector, St. Mark's Episcopal Church and Cannon Theologian for the Episcopal Diocese of Utah, who thanked the group for allowing him ``to be a priest and friend to you.'' Susan Stauffer and Tom Ehmer shared the Michael L. Elliott volunteer award; the Most Committed Support Award winner was Mark Chambers.     Bureaucrat of the Year, Laurie Lacy, Utah State Office of Education, joked that she wanted to avoid being a bureaucrat, but was grateful for the appreciation. Honorable mention award went to Donna Wysinger, also SOE. The advertising firm, Dahlin Smith White Inc., won the Most Original Support Award.   The Best Supporting Cast award went to Sue Marquardt, Patricia Steiner, Kent Wilson and Mary Ellen Hogle, who reminded guests that there's always room for more volunteers. Kris Hindale and Mark Chambers were co.-chairs for the event with the backup of committee members Rob Blackhurst, Sue Hurley, Judy Reese, John Stasco, Trace Sweeten, Dane Traeden and John Williams. Shane Nelson, Utah Roses, did the floral arrangements and party decorations Guests had three floors of gastronomic delights. Upstairs fare from Market Street Grill and Market Street Broiler There were cheeses and deviled eggs with caviar from The New Yorker. Downstairs was full of tasty choices: mini-tostadas from Cafe Pierpont; meatballs from Baci Trattoria; and pot-stickers courtesy China Star. Desserts were everywhere. (03/27/94  Page: E8 SLTribune)

29 March 1994 Tuesday

Phil and John came back from Wendover today and they were with Michael Romero when he came to pick me up from school. We went to Souvlaki’s for dinner and then we went to movies to see the Addams’s Family Values. We had seen it before and loved it but John and Phil hadn’t. I think it was even better the second time.

30 March 1994 Wednesday

Phil and John left this morning to go back to Wyoming. They had stayed with us sleeping on the fold out futon.  Michael Romero packed the Chevy Blazer  so we could leave for Arizona right after school let out. I had all my report cards  done this week  so they will be ready to pass out after the spring break. I’m not going in tomorrow for Career Ladder Day  so Michaela and I can  have more time for our vacation. Michael picked me up at 3:30 and we were on the road. We drove straight  to Las Vegas where we  stayed at a Motel 6  on Tropicana Boulevard. It was after 10:30 when we reached Vegas and was settled in our room. We did walk up and down the strip until midnight to see the lights but we were tired also so we went back to our room and went to bed.

Additional Material In the mid-1970s, the Mormon Church launched an unprecedented campaign against the Equal Rights Amendment, saying its passage would promote lesbianism and degrade the American family. Two decades later, the church is gearing up to fight another perceived threat to home and hearth: same-sex marriages. A concerted Mormon anti-ERA campaign raged in several states, and some believe the church tipped the scales for the amendment's failure. Proponents complained bitterly about what they saw as the church's intrusion into the secular, political arena. Like an echo from the past, the charges resonate today. In February, the church's First Presidency issued a statement urging members to oppose legalization of same-gender marriage and encouraging them to "appeal to legislators, judges and other officials to preserve the purposes and sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman."  Church leaders say they are apolitical and speak out only on public issues they consider also to be moral issues. "The church can teach whatever doctrine it feels appropriate," said Marty Baudet, a San Francisco gay activist and the national executive director of Affirmation, a gay Mormon support group. "But I don't accept the premise they can deny the citizens at large, people who don't subscribe to Mormon doctrine, the right to be recognized equally under the law," he said. As bothersome to Baudet and others is the appearance, at least, that church headquarters is orchestrating the fight. In Hawaii, where a recent court ruling could validate gay marriages, fliers instructing church members to support legislation to counteract the ruling and telling them how to get involved in the political process have been made available at church meetings. Hawaiian church officials say the effort is local. "We never expressed to our members that we require this," said Donald Hallstrom, the church's regional representative and spokesman in Hawaii. "There was no coercion, in any way, shape or form." The fliers contain no references to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Some list a telephone number for the "Hawaii Public Affairs Council," which rang to the church's public affairs missionaries. Hallstrom said the fliers were intended for church members only. William E. Woods, a spokesman for the Honolulu-based Gay and Lesbian Education and Advocacy Foundation, said several statements faxed to a Senate subcommittee came from machines at the church-owned Polynesian Cultural Center and the campus of Brigham Young University-Hawaii. "I am absolutely, personally and clearly aware that the church and its business organizations are actively developing testimony" on the issue, Woods said. Church spokesman Don Le-Fevre said that other than the February statement, church leaders have not involved themselves. LeFevre also said no church general authority was available for an interview on the issue. There are those, however, who believe that if church leaders are not conducting the campaign now, they will be. Historian D. Michael Quinn said the tactics closely resemble those used in the early days of the fight against the ERA. "I see this as a replaying of the anti-ERA campaign of the late '70s and early '80s," said Quinn, who last week presented a paper entitled "The LDS Church's Campaign Against The Equal Rights Amendment" at the Sunstone Symposium in Washington, D.C. "The tactics, although we're starting very early, mirror the kinds of tactics used then." Church claims that the Hawaii effort is isolated raise questions when taken in context with a flier Quinn said was passed out earlier this month to members of the Montgomery Village LDS Ward in Gaithersburg, Md. Similar in wording, it urges members to action against proposed ordinances that, among other things, add sexual orientation to Maryland anti-discrimination laws. Like the February message from the First Presidency warning of same-gender marriages, the church in 1976 issued a formal statement opposing ratification of the ERA, warning it may "stifle many God-given feminine instincts" and take away, rather than add to, women's rights. Not long afterward, members of the church's Council of the Twelve Apostles began publicly speaking out against the ERA. They also asked Mormon women to get involved in the International Women's Year conferences in 1977. Feminist and pro-ERA platforms in Utah, Hawaii, Montana and some other states subsequently were defeated. There are some notable differences between the way the ERA was handled by the church and its task in opposing same-gender marriages - the most prominent being the battleground. Where the ERA was fought domestically, the same-sex marriage issue will be fought globally. The week before the church issued its statement in February, the European Parliament approved a non-binding resolution urging members of the European Community to allow gay couples to adopt children. Affirmation's Baudet believes the church is fighting a political riptide, much as it did when black males were forbidden ordination to the faith's priesthood. Baudet said the church repeated that struggle in the 1970s with feminism. "It didn't have to worry back then because society treated blacks and women the same way," he said. "But those two groups put pressure on the church and things changed." In 1978, the church announced a revelation that "worthy men of all races" could receive the  Priesthood. "I predict society will acknowledge gay rights and, 20 years down the road, the church will find itself out of step once again and trying not to look bad," he said. Deseret News Publishing Co.

31 March 1994 Thursday

Today is Grandma Williams 92^nd birthday had she lived.  We didn’t leave Vegas until after 10:30 this morning because we had to get some washers to tighten the spare wheel on the back of the Blazer that holds our mountain bikes. We crossed  Boulder Dam then  down I-40  into Flagstaff. From there it was about another hour drive  to Cottonwood. We did stop first in Sedona to see my aunt and uncle Marie and Milton . We finally reached Cottonwood about 3:30 in the afternoon. Mom said that dad had twisted his knee walking across a stream bed with Milton and Marie the other day and his leg is all swollen up. It was good to see Mom and dad and have them meet Michael Romero. Mom fixed a light dinner. We just visited some in the evening before going to bed  as it was a long trip down from Salt Lake to Cottonwood, Arizona. Well so ends the month of March.