This Day In Gay Utah History SEPTEMBER 6th

 

This Day In Gay Utah History SEPTEMBER 6th

September 6th

Ogden Court House

1910 Land Set Free- This morning Judge Howell granted the motion to quash the information against L. Land which charged him with an infamous “Crime Against Nature”. The grounds upon which the motion to quash was granted were that the act complained of does not constitute a statutory offense.  Lang will be released from the county jail where he has been confined for a number of weeks. The Evening Standard Ogden. Name spelled Lang in the SL Herald "Crime against nature" n. an old fashioned term for sodomy (anal sexual intercourse), which has been a crime in most states. The term is also applied to sexual intercourse between a human and an animal (bestiality) which is a crime in most states.

Dr. Max's Shock Machine diagrams

1935- Dr Louis W Max of New York University addressed a meeting of the American Psychological Association. He reported that he had successfully treated a case of homosexuality by using electro-shock therapy delivered at "intensities considerably higher than those usually employed on human subjects." That notorious apparatus was designed to administer a powerful electric shock to the client whenever the client was experiencing what was considered an inappropriate erotic stimulus (i.e. viewing a picture of someone of the same gender whom the subject found sexually attractive). In later experiments, that shock could be anywhere from 80 to 100 volts for a short period of time (although in some experiments it could be as long as five seconds). Max cautioned in his original paper that the jolt of electricity could be very powerful. “Where possible,” he wrote, “electrodes should be firmly fastened to the subject, especially when intense shocks are contemplated, as the subject’s ‘startle’ responses may dislodge an electrode.” Later work by others determined the optimal shape for the electrode to deliver the maximum level of shock to the patient while minimizing burns to the skin. Dr. Max's talk at the American Psychological Association  meeting described the “cure” of a homosexual man — even though he also admitted the man was “backsliding.” The November edition of The Psychological Bulletin briefly describes Dr. Max’s talk, which was cited as one of many success stories: "A homosexual neurosis in a young man was found upon analysis to be partially fetishistic, the homosexual behavior usually following upon the fetishistic stimulus. An attempt was made to disconnect the emotional aura from this stimulus by means of electric shock, applied in conjunction with the presentation of the stimulus under laboratory conditions. Low shock intensities had little effect but intensities considerably higher than those usually employed on human subjects in other studies, definitely diminished the emotional value of the stimulus for days after each experimental period. Though the subject reported some backsliding, the “desensitizing” effect over a three month period was cumulative." Despite that mixed result, a new therapeutic approach was born one that was used for decades at Brigham Young University in Utah

1950 Wednesday- Carl Shugreen 52, of 858 South 5th East was sentenced 30 days in jail and fined $75 with 15 days suspended upon payment of fine. Truman E. Little, 33, of 537 West South Temple was ordered to pay a fine of $75 or serve 15 days in jail. Both arrested on disorderly conduct (homosexual conduct) and sentenced by City Judge Marcellus K. Snow (1914—1978) in Police Court. (SLTribune 09/06/50 pg.B 24 col.5)

Original Cast of Boys In the Band 1968

1970-The break through play "The Boys in the Band" closed after 1,002 performances. The Boys in the Band is a play by Mart Crowley about a group of Manhattan Gay friends gathered to celebrate a friends birthday when a “straight” interloper shows up. The play began as an off-Broadway production  on April 14, 1968 at Theater Four, where it ran for more than 1,000 performances. Actress Natalie Wood, who sympathized with Hollywood's Gay scene, financially supported Crowley, who is himself Gay, so he would be free to write his play. Mart Crowley, the creator of this play, said he reminded himself of the character Michael as "a complex person who is aware of what is politically correct but has a sort of contempt for it.” Crowley explained, "The self-deprecating humor was born out of a low self-esteem, from a sense of what the times told you about yourself."

 

1971- The annual convention of the National Organization for Women passes a resolution acknowledging "oppression of lesbians as a legitimate concern of feminism."

1973 The Herald Provo Utah Power Struggle May Be Factor
Troubles at State Prison Aired  Point of the Mountain UPI  Officials disagree on what exactly what caused the outbreak of violence at the Utah State Prison in recent past weeks during which inmates have stabbed one beaten, one critically, burned and another strangled to death. Some say drugs, some say homosexuality, and some believe at least part of the problem is the result of a power struggle among prisoners to determine who will be the next "con boss' the man with the extra privileges who tell other convicts what to do and stand to reap some financial reward. What investigators do agree on is that as long as the convict code of silence prevails most of the incidents will remain unexplained.  Salt Lake County Sheriff Capt. N.D. Hayward says the power struggle among inmates vying for the vacant position of con boss is probably involved in the month of violence. "I don't think that there's any doubt that there 's a power struggle going on down there. I don't know the exact extent but I am sure there is one."  Hayward whose office is charged with investigating any felony committed at the prison says his investigations into the eight attacks since late July have not succeeded in definitely linking them to the power struggle for top con.  But he says the July 30 strangulation of 27 year old inmate Michael Lamphear, could be connected to the struggle for control of the convict population.  Former Warden John W. Turner, who retired week ago attributed the violence to a new "drop of drugs."  "that the power struggle may be a part of it. But if so, I still think there would be a little drugs involved." And prison officials themselves have said they can trace at least two of the incidents to homosexual conflicts. Capt. hayward says there is a vacuum at the prison - a vacuum crested by the parole of one con boss last December, and his successor in early August about the time the violence began. He says that there has been a battle among inmates to fill that position and one convict who he declined to identify has emerging as  victor. Ken Shulson, administrative assistant to Warden Samuel smith says there is a power struggle among the inmates but he claims that has nothing to do with the current violence. He prefers to see the eight incidences as relatively isolated occurrences caused by drugs and homosexuality. "there are one or two explosions and a lot of the other situations that are brewing tend to come to the surface all at once."  "I don't see any active campaign for con boss taking place," Shulman says.  He says e has seen "no power struggle and no gang situations."   On the other hand however Shulman says of the attacks "Obviously they could have been  related to a power struggle but there isn't a significant amount of evidence to point that out. "When the top man cates  there's a struggle within the ranks of his followers to get to the top." "It's obviously taking place  but it hasn't surfaced."  Shulman says a con boss, " realizes some financial rewards, has a lot of people working for him, and his political position gives him special privileges. The financial rewards usually come form control of illegal traffic in drugs and commissary, he says  and the con boss is an officer to an inmate council. "these positions give the inmate certain privileges such as access to the commissary and food preparation areas. Although he describes the eight attacks as separate and due to different  causes he adds "some of them obviously  had some connection with each other. Shulman blames the wave of violence primarily on homosexuality. He says the prison administration has began isolating known homosexuals  setting up psychiatric counseling programs for them, and threatening to prosecute those practicing homosexual acts.  Both Shulson and Warden Smith claim drugs will continue to be a problem as long as there is a prison. "Short of complete isolation there's no way to eliminate it ( drug traffic), says Shulson. "We close the door and another opens up, Smith said recently. Whatever  the cause, only two of the attacks are moving towards prosecution. The five stabbing cases says Capt. Hayward have been "closed by exclusion- that is the victims refuse flatly to testify.  Earl Andersen 27 has been charged with attempted homicide for allegedly dosing fellow inmate Pierre Nelson with lighter fluid and setting him on fire. Nelson remained in serious condition at University Medical Center. And Hayward said investigation into the strangulation of Michael Lamphear July 30 has narrowed to several suspects. Lamphear was strangled in his cell and an autopsy showed his blood alcohol to be 362. Hayward says 400 is lethal.  The investigations continue. The causes remain vague. The only thing on which officials appear unanimous is that the exact causes will probably never surface. "We are having trouble with them talking to us, " Hayward says of the witnesses and victims of the eight cases. Shulsen says the "convict code" of silence will obscure many of the facts.: "The people who really know what's going on are the inmates," he says. "The people who know what's really happening just refuse to cooperate." 

1975 The Sun Tavern held its annual Labor Day Gay picnic in City Creek  Canyon in Salt Lake City, Utah

Orson Spencer Hall 

1976 Monday The Gay Service Coalition is formed in Salt Lake City, Utah as an outgrowth of the Gay Consciousness Raising Group which Monday meetings were held at Orson Spencer Hall at the University of Utah. The GSC was formed to replace the defunct Gay Community Service Center and maintain the Gay Help Line which Ray Henke kept in operation after the center folded. The Gay Hot line number 533-0927 was the only number listed in the white pages directory with the word Gay attached to it..

Bare Bum Beach

1982- Lee Creek also known as Bare Bum Beach historically was a nudist beach. It was also a cruising area for homosexuals.  "Police Uncover Homosexual Beach Near Salt Air It was the naked motorcycle rider buzzing tourist at the new Saltair Resort on the Great Salt Lake that led Salt Lake County Sheriff’s deputies to the discovery of “Bare Bum Beach”. “You could see him from the beaches and the road at the resort,” recalled Deputy David Bishop who was on assignment in the area with the Sheriff’s Juvenile Tactical Squad. “We followed him and lo and behold, Sodom and Gomorra unfolded before my very eyes,” quipped the deputy. There about a mile north of the resort where the old Saltair Pavilion had once stood, was an accumulation of naked middle aged men. Some were busy with field glasses, watching others who lounged in the sun by their cars. Others were engaged in sex acts on the open beach, he said. And it is there that members of the Juvenile Tactical Squad spent part of the summer handing out citations for public nudity and making occasional arrest on felony sodomy charges. Sheriff Lt. Joe Gee who heads the Sheriff Assisting Youth Division which routinely patrols the resort area said the strip of white sand has become a gathering spot for “voyeurs and closeted homosexuals.” How long the activity has been going on, he can’t say. But the beach’s popularity has gained considerably this summer. Plains clothes deputies patrolling the beaches have issued more than 60 citations for lewdness and public nudity at the beach so far this summer, Lt. Gee said. Fewer than 5 of those tickets were given to women, he said. Deputy Bishop said that on one day in July he witnessed more than fifty naked men on the beach at one time. All of the sex related arrests stemming from surveillance of the area involved homosexual activity-often in plain sight of the road, he said. “I’d known about it but I always thought it was sun worshippers” , he said. “I had know idea this was going on.” Ages of those cited have ranged from mid-20’s to 72 with the average being in the late 30’s or early 40’s.  He said several “prominent business men” from Salt Lake City have been ticketed.  Although both officers are first to admit that the activity on the beach is more of a “nuisance” than it is a serious criminal problem they are concerned over what they perceive is a growing potential for a clash between the “Straights and the Gays.” Both men believe the increase in the popularity of the beach brings with it inherent increase in the potential for violence, most likely between the people who frequent the beach and people  who have “little or no tolerance for homosexuals”, Lt. Gee said. And drug usage involving marijuana and amylnitrate (a drug believed to have aphrodisiac qualities) is on the upswing Deputy Bishop said. “Our biggest concern is the drug and violence potential,” said Lt. Gee, “but a few tourist have had an eyeful taking the wrong cut off while trying to get to the new resort. The people who go out there think it’s a private area, but it is easily accessible.”  “They’ve taken over the beach and said in effect This is Ours, but its becoming more and more public knowledge that its out there.” Deputy Bishop said. “what’s happening is that the kids who hang out at Saltair are starting to talk about “going to Bare Bum Beach and rolling fags,” and what’s going to happen sooner or later is that someone’s going to get killed.”  The resort located just south of the beach has become a social area with teens from the Grantsville, Tooele, and Salt Lake City gathering “to cruise, show their bodies, drink, and get high.” It’s for this reason the Sheriff’s Youth squad began patrolling the area in the first place, Lt. Gee said. The sheriff office fears potential confrontation between the teens (many who feel they need to prove they’re macho) and Gays who frequent the nearby beach. But aside from this, points out Lt. Gee “There are laws against lewdness and public nudity and the sheriff’s office intends to enforce those laws.  It is not ours to  decide whether or not they should or shouldn’t be out there.” He said. “I think its everyone’s right not be offended.”, the lieutenant said adding that open displays of sex and nudity “are an affront to our community in the eyes of the tourist” who visit the Great Salt Lake. “If they’re got to solicit each other, they can do it somewhere else,” said Deputy Bishop who compares the phenomenon at the beach with similar occurrences a few years ago at Liberty Park. “There’s a lot of cruising going on down there,” he said. “the difference (between the beach and park situations) is that these guys get naked first and then drive around in the cars looking at each other.”  Another difference the deputy believes is that the majority of the people cited or arrested at the beach are not members of Salt Lake City’s established Gay community. “A lot of them are exhibitionists who have gravitated to the beach from the rest rooms in the parks.” because of the increasing pressures by area vice officers, he said. The exhibitionists attract the voyeurs, and the two groups attract what Lt. Gee referred to as “closet homosexuals” who do not openly admit they are Gay. Other he said are “sex deviates.”  “So they’re the same people you find looking over your shoulder in the public restroom in the parks.” Many who are cited have wives and children. “Usually the 1st thing they ask when we arrest them is this going to be in the newspaper? Noted Deputy Bishop. “We had one guy threaten to kill himself if his arrest was published.” He said the 2nd most frequent asked question is “How come you’re not out arresting real crooks?” Making arrests at the beach poses some interesting problems. Deputy Bishop said. Besides the fact that deputies must keep their clothes on, those who frequent the beach are “a fairly close knit community.” And are distrustful of new faces. “they’re  cagey” the deputy said. “When they go cruising by you’ve got to kind of smile at them so they’ll jump up.” Once he recalled he was looking through binoculars at a naked man looking at him through his own field trip. In another instance, a sheriff deputy with a camera was taking surveillance photographs to be used as evidence in court. When the subject saw the camera, he began masturbating and making obscene gestures, not knowing the photographer was a deputy. “Our guys go down there with field glasses and they think we’re just part of the action,“ Lt. Gee said. Both Deputy Bishop and Lt. Gee acknowledge that it is nearly impossible to entirely alleviate the problem using misdemeanor lewdness statutes but they can hope to force them to keep their clothes on. ”Its more of a deterrent than anything else”, the deputy said.  “It let’s them know we are out there.”(09/06/82 SLTribune page B1) Weekly Wire article 1997 Salt Lake Tribune Article 2006 To reach the Lee Creek area, one took Interstate 80 west toward Reno to Exit No. 111, 7200 West. Turned north at the stop sign, then turn west onto the frontage road that parallels the interstate. Drive west five miles to a small parking area north of the road.

Scott Stites

Robb Bullock

1986- Emperor X Scott Stites and Emperor XI Robb Bullock presented the "Royal Court’s AIDS Awareness Week". The court raised nearly $4,600 for AIDS education and services for people with AIDS.  Money to be used to assist people with AIDS and support various AIDS service organizations.  Emperor Bullock stated, “ I think it’s a hell of a reason to bring people together, but it has. People care because they might be affected and their friends are affected. And they recognize the need to do something.” 10 mile marathon kicked off the event.

1987 Empress Tina Sinclair presented Dangerous at Backstreet as a Royal Court Benefit

1988- At Unconditional Support for Gays and Lesbians, Eric Vaughn did a lesson on Communication Skills especially Listening Skills.

Marlin Criddle

1997- Utah Lawyers for Human Rights presented a workshop entitled “Same Sex Relationships: Marriage and Beyond” Lawyers included Jane Marquardt, Suzanne Marelius, Martin Criddle, and Laura Gray. They led discussion groups.

 2003 Dear Mike, At this last pride day, Frank Pignanelli stood before our community and told them that the reason he didn't vote on the Gay Club's bill in the house was because he had another bill that he had sponsored which took all his attention. Seeing as how I was a personal guest of Rep. Holladay and was sitting on the house floor for the entire day, I know Frank is lied. Pignanelli is telling the truth that he did infact have a bill that was voted on that day, however, the vote for the bill was MUCH earlier in the day. What Pignanelli isn't telling you is, that several times throughout the day the house was called to order since it looked like the State Sentate would vote on the bill soon allowing the house to vote on the bill as well. Several times when the house was called to order Pignanelli was in the house chambers but quickly exited the chamber each time. Shortly after Pignanelli ditched one of the calls to order, I ran into him in the hall. I asked him why he was doing what he was doing and ducking out every time. He said, "Oh, I had to use the bathroom." ... and quickly walked away from me avoiding any more questions. I asked Rep. Holladay if he knew why Pignanelli would do this and he told me that it was all part of a deal that he made with the republicans so that they would support his wife, who was running in an upcoming election. Pignanelli sold us out and now he's trying to cover it up. Later that day I again cross paths with Frank and asked again asked him why he wasn't voting on what could be the most important vote of his career. He never answered me but turned around and walked away. Not much later, Rep. Holladay said his wife was present and that since he could only have one guest on the floor at a time, that he wanted to spend some time with his wife and asked me to leave to she could come down from the gallery. I agreed. Just minutes after I left the floor, late that evening, hours after Pignanelli's other work was done, the house voted on the gay clubs bill. Frank was in the building, his other bill had been voted upon hours earlier, yet Frank kept his commitment to the Republicans and sold out our community for his wife's career. Now, Pignanelli is playing our community for fools and asking for our support after he left to fend for ourselves. He lied at Pride Day, he lied to us then. Don't be fooled by Pignanelli's charm. He's a career politician who is eager to deceive our community and is just looking out for himself. Steven Peterson

2003 Royal Court’s People With AIDS Kick-off 2003 - "A Night Under the Big Top" Presented by HMRH Shawn & HMRH Krystyna Trapp Patio Includes food, show, and game booths Door prizes, raffles, chinese auction, drag sale and other surprises Proceeds benefit the PWA Christmas Fund

2005 Tuesday Subject: [slmetro_staff] Changes at Metro Greetings one and all, With

Jere Keys

 some sadness and some excitement, I must announce that this will be my final issue as the Editor of Salt Lake Metro. I have been offered a position with the Sundance Film Festival and will begin working with them on September 19. Effective immediately, I'm asking you to begin submitting all stories and columns to editor@slmetro.com. Also, for story ideas and concerns after the September 15 issue, you should speak with Michael Aaron. I have enjoyed working with Salt Lake Metro and hope to continue contributing to the pages of this fine publication, but I feel that after nearly 6 years working in the queer media, it's time to allow myself to explore other areas of my career. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach me during my regular office hours this week or next and you can continue to email me individually at jere@slmetro.com.  My sincere thanks to everyone who has made my job such a pleasure to work at for the last year. Jere Keys

Michael Aaron

Subject: RE: [slmetro_staff] Changes at Metro First off, I want to congratulate Jere on his new position. Jere made me aware that he was talking to the folks at Sundance week before last and it is a great opportunity for him.  For those wondering about a replacement for Jere, I have decided that I will change title from publisher to executive editor. We will see if I can handle that workload to allow us to save some cash, further bolstering our financial position, and get me a paycheck of some size so the bill collectors will stop riding my ass (as fun as that may sound). If it begins to overwhelm me, we will likely bring a part-time staff writer and/or managing editor. I'd further like to thank those who are still writing for us and contributing to the growth of the paper. There is rarely a day that I go out of the office that I am not approached with a note of gratitude from someone and a reminder of the importance of our role in the community. I am very proud of what this paper has become and I hope you all share that pride. -Michael Aaron

2020  Obituary Joe Redburn [Joseph Willis Redburn]  November 17, 1938 - September 06, 2020 Joe Redburn, 'father' of Utah's LGBT Community, has died. Joe Redburn, 81 of Salt Lake City, Utah, died Sunday, September 6th at the Intermountain Medical Center. Joe was born November 17, 1938, in

Joe Redburn age 18 

Laramie Wyoming to Elmer W. Redburn and Gerda Christensen Redburn. He was raised and educated in Laramie.  [Note  In High School as a Freshman he was class Treasurer. He was on the annual staff for the Junior Prom, and was a member of National Thesbians .] He went to the University of Wyoming, and then Armed Forces Information School in Ft. Slocum, New York. "In those days you either gave yourself up to the draft -- which I did -- or wait 'til they drafted you," he said. "I just wanted to get it over with. In those days, if you checked the box that you were gay they rejected you, so I didn't. I went in actually lying to them. I was in the U.S. Army at Fort Riley in Kansas for two years. What we did was the news on local stations. Then when I got out, I went back to Laramie, and then I came over to Salt Lake to get a job here." With his ultra-deep bass voice, he began a long career in radio on KTKK -- one of the first all-talk stations in the country during the Vietnam era. Joe played a major role in the building of a true Gay community in the Salt Lake area. He has also been credited with establishing the first Gay Pride in Salt Lake. Joe was the owner of several Salt lake City LGBT clubs over the years, starting with the Sun Tavern in the 70s, He was honored with the RCGSE Community Service Award, and in 2004, was given the Utah Gay Rodeo Association Grand Marshal Award. Joe is survived by a niece, several nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his Father, Elmer W. Redburn, Mother, Gerda (Christensen) Redburn, his Brother Richard Redburn, and his Sister Nancy (Redburn) Valencia. Memorial services are pending and will be announced by the Franklin County Funeral Home, 56 S. State Street, Preston, Idaho. 

 Joe Redburn, ‘father’ of Utah’s LGBT Community, has died Joe Q Salt Lake  by Michael Aaron

Joe Redburn

Redburn, the owner of several Salt lake City LGBT clubs over the years starting with the Sun Tavern in the 70s, died of natural causes Sunday, Sept. 6. He died at the Intermountain Medical Center after being found unresponsive at the South Salt Lake Men’s Resource Center homeless shelter. He was 81 years old. Redburn bought the Railroad Exchange Saloon on the corner of 400 West and South Temple and opened the Sun Tavern as a gay bar on Feb. 20, 1973. We opened at noon on that day in 1973. I’d never done it before. We were all scared,” Redburn said in an interview with QSaltLake Magazine‘s JoSelle Vanderhooft in 2008. “The Sun Tavern had been the Railroad Exchange, and I found it because that’s where the anti-war people hung out. It was owned by a former Pittsburgh Steeler, and they had a sign outside – it was a Pepsi sign that said Railroad Exchange. And I changed it to say The Sun Tavern. I can remember a guy who had a bar just south who said, ‘You can’t do that! The gay bars can’t have signs!’ And I said, ‘Well, I’m gonna do it, anyway.’ That’s what got me, how oppressed this community was. We were oppressing ourselves. We didn’t think we could put a sign in front of a gay bar.” “I named it after the Midnight Sun in San Francisco,” he said. “When we got the old Sun, I think we put the first sound system in for a DJ in Salt Lake,” Redburn said. “I’ve never just catered to the gay community, everyone was welcome. So we had a lot of straight people that liked it, especially when we put in the sound system.” In the next few years, he leased an adjoining space and called it the East Room, which was arguably the first LGBT community center in the state. In 1974, Redburn hosted what many call Utah’s first Gay Pride — a kegger on the shores of the Great Salt Lake known as Bare Ass Beach. The next year it was held up City Creek Canyon. “We started having keggers up the canyon, and that kinda started everybody thinking – since Gay Pride was getting started around the country – that we should do more,” Redburn said in the interview. “And then other people kind of got involved so we started having another at Fairmont Park with a couple of hundred people. And that probably launched Pride out of the old Sun. Then it evolved into what it is today.” When the then-Delta Center was built at that location, the original Sun Tavern was relocated to 727 W. 200 South. He later started Bricks Club at the old In-Between bar when one of the owners died, and then The Trapp (now The Sun Trapp), which he owned for 20 years. Redburn was born and raised in Laramie Wyoming. He went to the University of Wyoming there and

University of Wyoming

then Armed Forces Information School in Ft. Slocum, New York. “In those days you either gave yourself up to the draft — which I did — or wait ‘til they drafted you,” he said. “I just wanted to get it over with. In those days, if you checked the box that you were gay they rejected you, so I didn’t. I went in actually lying to them. I was in the U.S. Army at Fort Riley in Kansas for two years. What we did was the news on local stations. Then when I got out, I went back to Laramie, and then I came over to Salt Lake to get a job here.” With his ultra-deep bass voice, he began a long career in radio on KTKK — one of the first all-talk stations in the country during the Vietnam era. “We started out with a program called Controversy. This was one of the first times in Salt Lake talk radio where the talk show host actually gave his own opinions,” Redburn said. “So we were different and we were probably that successful because I could give my opinions. I was a Goldwater conservative at the time.” Ultimately, Redburn gave up his conservative beliefs and, at the same time as Hillary Clinton, he began to support Democrat Eugene McCarthy and protested the Vietnam War. In time, Redburn would consider himself a Libertarian, while supporting Democratic candidates. He was on the board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union and ran for the Utah Legislature in 1976 in the Avenues. “I lost two-to-one to Genevieve Atwood. And then the Republican right wing got rid of her because she was too liberal,” Redburn said. “But now the Avenues are like Democrats. Salt Lake has become so Democrat, it’s amazing. I only ran for the legislature once, but it was quite an experience. Everybody ought to do it once.” Redburn was honored with the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire Community Service Award in 1983. In 2004 he was given the Utah Gay Rodeo Association Grand Marshal Award. Joe Redburn, received the Utah Pride Center's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. Over the many years he owned his bars, on Prides he always held a free steak fry, and hired the Saliva Sisters to perform. In recent years, Redburn spent much of his time posting barbs on Facebook. In the past two years, however, he seemed to drop off the face of the planet. It was then, it turns out, that Redburn found himself homeless. Former Sun Trapp bar owner Frank Chugg, who worked with Redburn for many years, saw him at the bar in August. He could tell he was homeless and Chugg appealed to the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire, whom Redburn hosted for dozens of years beginning with their first reign, for help. Friend Marty Pendry-Struthers did a GoFundMe fundraiser which raised about $2,000. “I can’t even begin to tell you the hundreds of memories we have with our friend, Joe,” said Pendry-Struthers. “What do you say about a sarcastically funny man who also cared so deeply about our community and the lives it surrounded? How do you put into words that his ‘bigger than life’ presence could either scare you or educate you or both? I truly think that, not only have we just lost a powerful and unforgettable human being, but we also lost part of our community’s heart. An icon, a leader, a presence, and a deep, intelligent voice. But most of all, we lost a beautiful friend.” “I first met Joe in 1981 when I repaired his sound system in the original Sun,” said Club Try-Angles co-owner Gene Gieber. “We had a sarcastic and fun relationship throughout the years. On Sunday afternoons, we would get into beer buying wars on the patio at Backstreet. After opening Try-angles, we would trade (friendly) jabs at each other in our weekly ads. At Off Trax, we named our grilled ham and cheese the Rita Redburn. He ordered one every time he came in. To say that Joe was an icon of the gay community is not enough. He WAS the gay community.” “Joe Redburn was my friend, boss, roommate, and business partner,” said Nikki Boyer, who worked with Redburn for many years since the 70s. “He was the father of the LGBT community. He gave us a wonderful, safe place to meet, exchange ideas, and dance our asses off. We owe him a lot. Rest, my friend.” “Joe was a man who would willing help anyone who needed it,” said Bob Childers. “He gave jobs to many in the community when they were down and needed help. Though he could be gruff on the outside he was a man with a true heart and spirit for the LGBTQ community. Born in Wyoming Joe always head that true western spirit and loved to play country music at Trapp in the DJ booth named for him. Rita’s Roost. He was one of Cher’s biggest fans and would often proclaim loudly, ‘Cher is God!’ Steak Fries, Fish Fries, and his annual Labor Day luau were famous, where he have someone barbecue a whole pig overnight at the bar. Pounds of cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day and, of course, the place to be for those without family on Thanksgiving. Joe donated to the community both financially and with a place for groups to hold gatherings. We have lost a true icon of the community of not only Salt Lake City, but all of Utah. He will be missed.” “Joe, I am so grateful for your life,” Jim Dabakis wrote on his Facebook wall. “The doors you opened. You made life so much more open and acceptable for so many of us in the community and the state. I am upset at the way life ended for you. If I could have found you, I would have helped. Special thanks to those that tried to help Joe. Salt Lake City flags should be at half-mast. This man was a great, albeit very human, Utah pioneer.” “I can only think of a few people who did as much for the Pride community of Utah as Joe Redburn,” Salt Lake City Weekly Publisher John Saltas wrote in his column. “He did the heavy lifting for decades, including hosting his outspoken radio program, opening the Sun Tavern (now known in its latest iteration as Sun Trapp), promoting and helping to fund the original gay community tabloids, and even hosting the seminal event that grew into Utah’s renowned Pride Parade. That he died alone and homeless is a real kick in the pants and a warning to all would-be pioneers: Very few will understand or care what you’re going through today, including some whose lives you’ve made better.” “Joe was a hero in this town. If you don’t know that, especially if you don’t know that and consider yourself part of the LGBTQ+ community, then shame on you,” Saltas continued. “He opened the door for you and held it open. He had the foresight to shape the minds of people like me, to push citizens to do the right thing, to hug, to share, to engage, to grow, to awaken, to be proud of one another.” Funeral services were handled by Franklin County Funeral Home. This story will be updated as funeral arrangements are made.

Ben Williams: there seems to be a discrepency in reports ofthe death of Joe Redburn. A Salt Lake Tribune article mistakely stated that he died Spetember when actually that was probably the date he was cremated.  He died  September 6 in a hospital in Murray after living in a homeless shelter.

 Joe Redburn, founder of two famous Salt Lake City gay bars, dies in homeless shelter at 82 Salt Lake Tribune By Sean P. Means Joe Redburn, the founder of two iconic Salt Lake City gay bars who brought the beer for what became the first Utah Pride celebration, has died. Redburn died Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Men’s Resource Center in South Salt Lake City, according to the LGBTQ magazine Q Salt Lake, which first reported his death. He was 82. The magazine said officials had not released a cause of death. “He wasn’t just a bar owner. He built our community and kept us safe,” said Roy Li Zhang, chairperson of the Utah Queer Historical Society. “Joe really brought our community together with these bars. They really were our social clubs.” “Joe had great ideas. He was very progressive,” Nikki Boyer, a longtime activist and friend of Redburn, said. In 1973, Redburn opened The Sun at the corner 400 West and South Temple, facing the Union Pacific station. (The spot is now the northwest steps of Vivint Smart Home Arena.) Redburn was inspired by the Midnight Sun, a gay bar in San Francisco, Boyer said. The Sun, she said, “was like the first disco in Utah. It had the first disco ball, the first live DJs. … It was about all the freedom we had there. It was a good time. It was a great time.” Former Utah state Sen. Jim Dabakis had just left Brigham Young University, and was just coming out of the closet, when he first visited The Sun in the mid-'70s. “I remember being overwhelmed that this was possible,” Dabakis said. At the time, he thought, “Are there this many gay people in the whole world?” Dabakis also knew Redburn from listening to him as a host on talk-radio station KTKK, aka K-TALK. Redburn was a fixture there from the late-'60s until the station let him go in 1993. Station brass said they let him go because of a format change; Redburn said it was because he was openly gay and a liberal on an increasingly conservative medium. (In his final years on the station, Redburn was paired with arch-conservative Mills Crenshaw.) Dabakis said he gravitated toward K-TALK, and ended up working as an unpaid intern there. Listening to Redburn, he said, “is really where I learned politics.” Dabakis also rang doorbells in the Avenues for Redburn, when he made an unsuccessful run for the Utah Legislature in 1976. In 1975, Redburn, Boyer and others organized a party in City Creek Canyon for about 300 gay men and lesbians. Redburn brought some kegs from the bar. “Queers like to drink beer, let’s face it,” Boyer said. “We were loose. It was the ’70s, for God’s sake.” That kegger started a tradition that grew into the first Utah Pride celebration. At the time, though, Boyer said, “we didn’t dare call it ‘Pride,’ or nobody would have come.” The Sun moved in 1983 to its second location, at 200 South and 700 West. Redburn sold The Sun in 1990. In 1991, he opened a small, homey gay country-western bar, The Trapp, at 600 West and 100 South. “It was the place to be,” said Johnny Harris, known locally as Johnny Disco, a longtime bartender at The Trapp. “If you weren’t there by 6:30 or 7 o’clock, there wasn’t a bar stool to be had.”  In The Trapp, Harris said, “there was this amazing energy. It was classy, and clean. It was a beautiful place to be.” A focal point of The Trapp, recalled Debbie Hall, director of adult programs at the Utah Pride Center, was the tiny dance floor. Above the floor, instead of a mirrored disco ball, was a mirrored pair of cowboy boots. Redburn sold The Trapp in the late ’90s. When The Sun blew over in a tornado in 1999, the new owners of The Trapp paid homage by renaming their bar The Sun Trapp. In the last few years, friends knew Redburn had financial and health problems, and was experiencing homelessness at the time of his death. “He just kind of dropped off the face of the earth,” Boyer said. Redburn’s death, Hall said, points to a troubling issue in the LGBTQ community: the loneliness experienced by elderly queer people. LGBTQ people are twice as likely to be aging alone as non-LGBTQ people, Hall said — and four times as likely to never have gotten married or had children. “We are dealing with the generation where it was not OK to be gay,” said Hall, who oversees the Utah chapter of SAGE, a group for elderly queer people. They are a generation, she said, that has dealt with discrimination and ostracism, having their homosexuality treated as a mental disorder, and the deaths of friends during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. Harris said a memorial service is being planned for Redburn in November at The Sun Trapp.

A Find A Grave posting for Joseph “Joe” Redburn by Krista Al Qirim stated "birth unknown death 22 Sep 2020 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, USA burial Cremated  Joe was a pioneer in Salt Lake City’s gay community. He was one of the founders of the original Pride celebration, which had its roots in the annual Kegger up City Creek Canyon, the beer for which was provided by Joe. He was the founder of the famous Sun Tavern, and later the Trapp. Joe died at the age of 82 while a resident of a homeless shelter. Don’t let this humble exit fool you—he was a giant of a man who made the world a better place for so many. Those who loved and admired him are planning a memorial and celebration of his life in November of 2020."

.

 

Utah Stonewall Historical Society Archives

16 July 16-

1746-Mary Hamilton disguised herself as a man in order to marry a woman. Within a few According to Hamilton's own 

deposition, she was born in Somerset, England, the daughter of Mary and William Hamilton. Her family later moved to Scotland. When she was fourteen, she used her brother's clothes to pose as a boy, travelled to Northumberland and entered the service of a Dr. Edward Green (described in the deposition as a "mountebank") and later of a Dr. Finey Green. She studied to become a "quack doctor" as an apprentice of the two unlicensed practitioners. In 1746, she moved to Wells, and set up a medical practice of her own under the name Charles Hamilton. She met Mary Price, a relative of her landlady, whom she married in July 1746. The marriage lasted for two months before her true sex was discovered, and she was arrested. A deposition from Mary Price says that after the marriage she and Hamilton travelled selling medicines. During the marriage Hamilton "entered her body several times, which made this examinant believe, at first, that the said Hamilton was a real man, but soon had reason to judge that the said Hamilton was not a man, but a woman." When they were in Glastonbury, Price confronted her. Hamilton admitted the truth to Price, at which point she reported the matter and Hamilton was arrested. The justices delivered their verdict that "The he or she prisoner at the bar is an uncommon, notorious cheat, and we, the Court, do sentence her, or him, whichever he or she may be, to be imprisoned six months, and during that time to be whipped in the towns of Taunton, Glastonbury, Wells, and Shepton Mallet ..." The report in the Newgate Calendar concludes "And Mary, the monopoliser of her own sex, was imprisoned and whipped accordingly, in the severity of the winter of the year 1746." She was charged with fraud, publicly whipped, and imprisoned for six months.  In addition to Hamilton's and Price's own depositions, there are several reports of the case in the local newspaper, the Bath Journal. The first of these says that after news of the arrest got out many people visited the prison to get a look at Hamilton, who was very "bold and impudent". It added that "it is publickly talk'd that she has deceived several of the Fair Sex by marrying them."  Henry Fielding, In 1746,anonymously published a sensational pamphlet, The Female Husband, that gives a different account of Hamilton's life. The author claims that he had his information "from the mouth" of Hamilton herself. However, it is likely that he never met the woman he satirized in his work. The pamphlet was inexpensive and more than likely purchased by both men and women of different social statuses. Fielding exaggerated and fictionalized parts of the story in order to keep the audience interested and to entice people to read who might not be interested in erotic fiction. In Fielding's version the reader can be confused by the use of gender: "She had not been long in this city, before she became acquainted with one Mary Price, a girl of about eighteen years of age, and of extraordinary beauty. With this girl, hath this wicked woman since her confinement declared, she was really as much in love, as it was possible for a man ever to be with one of her own sex." Though Fielding's is the only full account of Hamilton's life before her arrest, it is not known how fictionalised it is. Historian Louis Crompton describes it as probably "one part fact to ten parts fiction

 

1854 LDS First counselor Heber C. Kimball recommends decapitation for adulterers and preaches from the pulpit concerning "unclean" women: "we wipe them out of existence."

1900 Ogden Standard Examiner Random References page 5 Sheriff  Lyne today arrested Thos Scott on the charge of intimidating witnesses in the sodomy case. Scott has spent 90 days in the county jail and was released Saturday. He agreed with [Mike] McCormick, and the two other men in for sodomy, to help them out and this is the result. If he had not been thrown in, there would probably have been an attempt at jail break for the prisoners had strings run through the screen to which files could have been attached and brought to them.

1950 Will D Renda 24, Broom Hotel had been sentenced Saturday by juvenile Judge W Lee Skanchy to a fine of $200 and serve 90 days in jail following his conviction of a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor by committing sodomy. Sixty days suspended upon future good behavior. Ogden Standard Examiner

1958 Wayne Richins requested a preliminary hearing during arraignment yesterday in city court on a sodomy charge, a felony. Offense was committed July . Bail was set at $1,500. Ogden Standard Examiner

Randy Wicker

1962-Randy Wicker of the Mattachine society in New York and six other gay men appeared on a 90-minute talk show on WBAI about what it is like to be homosexual. While it resulted in positive comments in several newspapers and magazines, a group of listeners contacted the FCC to challenge the station's license. The complaint was rejected. 

1965 Although the number of sex crimes investigated by the Salt Lake Police Department decreased during June over the previous month, that type of crime increased during the first six months of 1965 over last year.  In June 1965 there were 31 reported sex crimes in SLC while in June 1964 there were 38 reported sex crimes. This years total shows 209 sex crimes investigated in the first six months as compared to 202 a year ago.  The top crime in the sex category is indecent exposure. During June there were 19 such cases with a total of 129 for the first six months. Sexual Molests are next in line according to the report. In the first 6 months there were 55 molests. Other offenses listed as sex crimes and investigated during the month of June included homosexuality, carnal knowledge, lewdness, and incest.( SLTribune A-33)

1967 Justices F. Henri Henriod, E. R. Callister and R.L. Tuckett of Utah Supreme Court declared invalid part of Salt Lake City’s ordinance dealing with prostitution the court said. “We are of the opinion that the sate by enacting comprehensive and complete laws pertaining to sexual offenses has pre-empted that field.  It does not appear that the state intended that the municipalities deal with these offenses except in those areas pertaining to prostitution where the Legislature had made specific grants of authority to municipalities (07/18/67 SLTribune page 15)

1968 The US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Monday the conviction of a former Chicago policeman and a New Jersey man for bilking $10,000 from a Utahn in an alleged sex extortion ring.  John J. Pyle, 53, on medical leave from Chicago Police Department since 1952 and Robert  F. Schwartz, 27, of Belmawr New Jersey were sentence 20 June 1967 to 5 years in prison. A 3rd defendant Edmund C. Pacewicz pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 4 years in prison.  Judge Hubert L. Will of US District Court presided at the trial.  The government contended that Pyle was the mastermind of a nationwide ring, whose members lured men into compromising situations and later blackmailed their victims by threatening to expose homosexual activities. (07/16/68 SLTribune page 25)

Dick Leitsch

1969-A second gay power meeting was held in Greenwich Village at an Episcopal Church. Those attending planned a protest in front of St Patrick's Cathedral. GAY LIBERATION  Mattachine and its Action Committee parted company definitively as an outcome of the 2nd community meeting held at St. Johns Episcopal Church on Waverly Place. Marty Robinson as its leader initiated protest “hangouts” in which groups of homosexuals would congregate at some spot in the Village, declaring who they were and their “right to be there” and refusing to move.  Dr. Leo Louis Martello told fellow Gays that they must challenge every feeling of worthlessness they may have ever had about themselves. He was to develop his ideas further in the first issue of The Gay Liberation Front’s Come Out! Dick Leitsch in a brown suit with professional aplomb states Police brutality and heterosexual indifference must be protested, he asserts; at the same time, the Gay world must retain the favor of the Establishment, especially those who make and change the laws.  Homosexual acceptance will come slowly, by educating the straight community with grace and good humor and..” A long haired boy Jim Fourett jumped up on his feet and yelled “We don’t want acceptance, God Damn It! We want respect! Demand it! We’re through hiding in dark bars behind Mafia doormen. We’re  going to go where straights go and do anything with each other they do and if they don’t like it, well fuck them!.. Straights don’t have to be ashamed of anything sexy they happen to feel like doing in public and neither do we!  We’re through cringing and begging like a lot of nervous old Nellies at Cherry Grove!”  “Well, now I think,” says Mrs. Cervantes (Mattachine assistant) “that what we ought to have is a Gay vigil in a park. Carry candles

Jim Fourett

 , perhaps I think we should be firm, but just as amicable and sweet as..”  “Sweet!” called out Jim Fourett, “Sweet Bullshit! There’s the stereotype homo again man!…Bullshit! That’s the role society has been forcing these queens to play, and they just sit and accept it. We got to radicalize man!  Why?  Because as long as we accept getting fired from jobs because we are Gay, or not being hired at all, or being treated like second class citizens, we’re going to remain neurotic and screwed up! No matter what you do in bed, if you’re not a man out of it, you’re going to be screwed up. Be proud of what you are man! And if it takes riots or even guns to show them what we are well that’s the only language that the pigs understand! “Wild Applause. Dick Lietsch tried to reply but Fourett shouts him down. “All of the oppressed have to unite!  The system keeps us all weak by keeping us separate.. We’ve got to work together with all the New Left.  Dick Leitcsh is screaming for order but he is firmly ignored. After this meeting young Gay’s interest in Mattachine sposored actions was waning. 

Leonard Matlovich 

1976-The discharge of Sgt. Leonard Matlovich was upheld in a civilian court by Federal District Judge Gerhard Gesell. Matlovich was a Mormon Convert who received a Purple Heart during the Viet Nam War.

1979  -" Contacted by Karl Idsvoog and Chad Dobson of Channel 2 News for a documentary about Homosexuality and the Mormon Church. It made me recall the documentary I had done earlier filmed by Andrew Welch for K.Q.E.D. in California. I will view the Welch documentary Monday with Karl to give me an idea of what to say in this documentary if I decide to participate in this informative work. " [Diary of Donald Attridge]

1982-The United States  INS policy of barring homosexuals from entering the country was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge. 

1984-US News and World Report announced that gays and lesbians make up the seventh-largest voting block in the US. 

1985 20 Clinics Established For AIDS Test  Twenty clinics have been set up throughout Utah offering blood tests for AIDS.  It was also announced Monday by Craig Nichols state epidemiologist that one new AIDS case (Sheldon Spears) reported in both June and July raised the states total to 15 with 9 deaths. Utah’s death rate is 65 percent compared with national average of 50 percent. Nichols noted high risk groups were homosexuals, people with many sex partners, intravenous drug abusers, people with blood transfusions, and Haitians. “All of Utah’s cases have involved people in the high risk groups,” he said. (SLTribune  16 July 1985 B3-4)

1986 Wednesday 19 bicyclists rode into Salt Lake City as part of “Cycle For Life” an AIDS fund raising group. They were met by only a handful of reporters and the two state officials they’d asked to met with, Governor Norm Bangerter and Mayor Palmer de Paulis said they were busy elsewhere. The group of bicyclists are traveling the country in search of funds to help people with AIDS 

Donny Eastepp

1987- I went to the Gay and Lesbian Community Council at 7 p.m “Ken Francis called me before I left and said that he couldn't make it because he was sick from getting so drunk yesterday at Radio City's Beer Bust. Poor thing. Anyway at the GLCCU about 20 people showed up and we discussed Gay Pride Day. We ended with about $800 for next year and elected Floyd Gamble to be Pride Day Chair for 1988. We gave Donny Estep a well deserved thanks for a job well done.  We also voted on organizing a task force to investigate whether the council should be come political that is become a political action committee. Many voiced opposition against becoming political in the fear that they might lose their tax

Mel Baker

 exempt statuses.  We decided to sponsor a Gay Day at Lagoon with Floyd Gamble organizing it, the renting of the Heber Creeper for an AIDS fund raising benefit, and raising funds to sponsor Mel Baker of KRCL's Concerning Gays and Lesbians as a representative of the Salt Lake Gay community for the March on Washington in October. I met this fellow named Joe Roach tonight who is going to be a writer for the Triangle Magazine. He's really a dynamically charismatic man.[Journal of Ben Williams]

1988 John Reeves and I picked up the giant chocolate chip cookies for tomorrow from the U of U. We bought 100 cookies at 35 cents to sell tomorrow at our booth.  In the evening I went to the Central City Community Center for the dance tonight at 9 p.m. Another small turn out but we made $45 enough to hold another dance in August.  After the dance went out with Dave Malmstrom, Alan Peterson, and Richard Morris to Village Inn where we visited until 3 a.m. People are getting so excited about Beyond Stonewall but I’m just feeling anxious [Journal of Ben Williams]

1989 -Rocky O'Donavan asked me over to meet a friend of his named Terry Trout who is a radical fairy from California passing through Utah.  We discussed paganism and Quakerism and how Paganism and Christianity does not have to be antithesis to each other. The faerie group I want to start is going to be pagan in the sense of coming to understand our place as Gay men in the natural and supernatural world but also for me personal I want to stay in tune with the spirit of Christus which I have come to understand as the Gay Spirit. The ethical teachings of Christ are as valid for me as ever i.e. forgiveness, mercy, turning the cheek, introspection, non materialism. However traditional heterosexual Christian dogma is anathema to me now.  I want to come to an understanding of the Great Mother and seek her love is helping me balance my male and female energies.  Christ as the male focus of true masculine energy is still the lover of my soul.  But I am done with heterosexual men's Patriarchal god of war, death, power, and destruction.  That is the convoluted side of the Great Matriarch. [Journal of Ben Williams]

Kathryn Warner

1990 - Kathryn Warner came over this late afternoon and gave me a Faerie Gift for reading her medicine cards. She made a little Faerie holding a crystal ball, which Kathryn said was good for healing. Now I have my own little household Faerie. In the evening I went up to LGSU on campus and saw Bobbie Smith. LGSU wasn't meeting this week so Bobbie and I went for a hike up behind the U of U. It was the first time I had ever been there.  Bobbie and I talked about what happened Saturday at Beyond Stonewall.  After the hike, which was great but tiring, we went to Village Inn and I saw David Sharpton and 

David Sharpton

his new boyfriend Mike Angotti. He's some kid from Price and seems really nice. But David was so mean and ugly to him. Here we were just meeting this guy for the first time and David was insulting him and talking down to him. I fear David is not dealing with a full deck anymore. I think he must be getting dementia. I hate seeing him this way. I hate people only knowing only this side of David. [Journal of Ben Williams]

Bill Clinton

1992-Bill Clinton became the first candidate for president to mention gays and lesbians rights in a speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president. 

1995 The Salt Lake Tribune Lesbians, Gays Gain Clout In Workplace Homosexuals Form Groups In Workplace By Lili Wright While lesbians and gays have historically been a silent, invisible sector of corporate America, a growing number are forming employee organizations to represent their views. Even conservative Utah is following the trend, and in one case, serving as a trailblazer.Last November, the New York headquarters of American Express Travel Related Services issued guidelines for establishing minority workplace groups known as employee networks. By year's end, a group of Utah employees founded GLOBE, Gay and Lesbian Organization to Build Equality. Since then, company offices in New York, Florida and Arizona have followed suit. Salt Lake City a First: "Salt Lake was the first one to jump on it," says Steven Boyington, an employee development consultant. "Now it's springing up all over the country."Elsewhere in Utah:--A group of Salt Lake County workers have formed GLEA, The Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Employees Association, and are now working to be officially recognized by the county. --Last year at AT&T, Utah workers formed a chapter of LEAGUE, Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay United Employees at AT&T. --This past May, US WEST's Salt Lake chapter of EAGLE, Employee Association for Gays and Lesbians, hosted a regional conference. While workers have been organizing since the advent of unions, most homosexuals have tried to hide their sexual orientation for fear of workplace backlash or even dismissal. Attitudes Changing: But attitudes are changing. Apple Computer, Levi Strauss and Walt Disney are among the more than 100 companies with established gay associations, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force based in Washington, D.C. By definition, interoffice groups lack the political clout to enact widespread change. Yet, lobbying on the local level is surprisingly effective, says Utah activist David Nelson. Employers are more receptive because they work with the people affected. And employees have more 

David Nelson

incentive to alter their office environment than fight a Congressional battle 2,000 miles away. "It's not a theoretical argument," says Nelson, who helped found GLEA. "It's right there at their desk." Some companies, like US WEST, go even further, with groups for female, black, Asian, Latino, veteran, disabled and American Indian workers. "Besides being the right thing to do," says US WEST Utah spokesman Duane Cooke, "diversity for US WEST is a key business strategy." There is plenty of money to be made. The U.S. gay market is estimated at $514 billion, according to the Chicago market research firm Overlooked Opinions. Some companies turn to inside experts when tapping into specialized markets. American Express, for instance, consulted its gay network about a recent ad campaign which ran in the national gay magazines, 10% and Out. The ads shows two-person travelers checks signed by same-sex partners. The company also participated in the Gay and Lesbian Business and Consumer Expo in New York. A specific group's agendas depend on individual companies. For many, the first step is to have sexual orientation added to a company's non-discrimination policies -- a protection accepted by a host of companies including IBM, Citicorp, Eastman Kodak, Digital Equipment, Pacific Gas and Electric and General Motors. Another common cause is to make gay partners eligible for the same workplace benefits as married spouses -- from insurance to bereavement leave to club membership. "They are not saying no," says Troy Pelaar, who is lobbying for the change at AT&T. "They are saying when not if." Others sponsor philanthropic and education programs designed to breed acceptance of homosexuality. American Express employees have worked with the YWCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and AIDS Walk for Life. They brought in a financial advisor to speak about money management for singles and screened a documentary film about homosexuality. The efforts seem to be working. Last year's Diversity Day brought in two dozen pieces of hate mail directed at gay employees. This year, there was a single letter. In the end, gay leaders insist it is the company that wins if employees feel accepted. They are less likely to jump ship to a more progressive competitor.  And they don't waste time and energy trying to be someone they are not. "It's much easier now for employees to be out in the work force and  not worry about repercussions from the boss," says Richard Cottino at US  WEST. "They know the company is behind them."

1996 A window at the state capitol was blown out by strong winds. Republican State legislators were in the room at the time discussing the ramifications of the secret meeting they held in January to bash Gays and Gay clubs in Utah Schools.

Mark Thrash

2003 Subject: USHS PROJECT: History of the RCGSE Mark Thrash to Chad Keller Chad, In many past emails sent from Ben Williams I have read several Excerpts regarding the instrumental role the RCGSE had in the implementation of Utah Pride Day, UGRA, GLCC, some timeline information regarding the crowning of past monarchs and also the origin of the RCGSE.  I would like to know the possibility of having all the information regarding the RCGSE's community involvement listed in one location to assist in my effort and goal to preserve our organization's history. I know after Pride Day, Ben has been burned on the kiosks, and although that may no longer be an option for us I would still greatly appreciate having his assistance in compiling all of the information he has regarding the history of the RCGSE and our role in Utah's gay community. I have emailed Ben directly once before regarding this project, and he mentioned that he planned to sit down with Marita Gayle [Marty Pollack] to compile this history, but I have not heard from him again regarding the progress of his plan. I would just like to at least start the ball rolling by compiling the information he currently has on file and then moving forward with  Marita at a later date.  Any ideas? Please let me know the possibility of having the USHS assist in this project, and what assistance I can be of in moving forward with this preservation. > Thanks... Mark Thrash Emperor 28

• Re: USHS PROJECT: History of the RCGSE Chad Keller to Mark Thrash As you are aware, I am overwhelming, and with the drama of Pride, Then To have the Kiosks severely damaged on their return, I’m sure left him wondering what I had gotten him into, and a much needed and well deserved break for him was in order. I know that he has mentioned the project, and I think is  ready to be of assistance as it has been a discussion as we have addressed the issues of meeting structure of the USHS. I think and am suggesting that you, I and Ben Go for Coffee.  There is no meeting tonight as we just had a board meeting on Monday.  When would coffee work for you next week.  I will also contact Ben and see how I might be of assistance to him to help us both meet the Goal of the Reign. CK 

• Re: USHS PROJECT: History of the RCGSE Mark Thrash to Chad Keller I'm available next Wednesday or Thurday (July 23 or 24).  Thanks! 

• Subject: Court History Chad Keller to Ben Williams “Ben, Mark is trying to get the history of the court together for future use, and I believe for the upcoming book to be published by the International Court System.  How can we best be of assistance too him to meet his goal. thanks! CK 

• Subject: RCGSE History Ben Williams to Mark Thrash Dear Mark, Chad forwarded your email to me regarding compiling a history of the RCGSE. As per our emails back in May I am still willing to help with this project. I have tried to contact Marita Gayle several times. I was to meet with her on Coronation Sunday but she changed her mind saying she was not in the mood. Later after Pride I emailed her again asking when we could get together and she has never responded back except for earlier this week when she asked for me to remove her from the Yahoo Group Site. Until this year I was never a member of the court but merely a spectator so I cannot vouch for my own recollections. I do have quite a few items from media sources however. I am willing to put together a time line of events for the court but can't vouch for complete accuracy. As a history also it would not be the same as a PR piece. History has warts and all. I am going to Colorado this weekend for my niece's graduation. By next week I will send you an outline of what I have. Best Regards and wishes Ben Williams 

• Subject: RCGSE History Mark Thrash to Ben Williams Ben, Please know that I never doubted your intentions to get a hold of Marita Gayle; my concern was that her lack of enthusiasm might deter desired plans to compile the Court's history. I also agree that additional research with someone who has been more involved in the Court's history will be necessary to ensure the accuracy of your records and for the compilation of more detailed history. My desire at this time is to merely take a giant first step towards a significant project that I feel has been overlooked by the RCGSE by beginning with the records you have.  Then I would like to move forward with the project and getting it the desired promotional piece I want completed during the 28th Reign. Have a great time in Colorado.  I look forward to reading what you have on file.  Thanks again for your dedication and willingness to assist. Mark Thrash Emperor 28

2005 KRYSTYNA SHAYLEE, EMPRESS 30--HEIDI HO WEST WATERS, EMPRESS 28-KIM RUSSO, PRINCE ROYALE 23-KYRA PRESPENTTE, PRINCESS ROYALE 26-ALONG WITH THE R.C.G.S.E.-PRESENT-"XMAS IN JULY"-SATURDAY, JULY 16TH A BENEFIT FOR THE PEOPLE WITH AIDS XMAS FUND PLACE:  MODIGITTY'S* TIME:  9: 00 PM $5.00 SUGGESTED DONATION

2005  - Swerve Family Picnic - Multi-Purpose Room & back lawn - (4-7pm) Bring yourself, your kids, Frisbees, basketballs & games. Also bring whatever you would like to grill and we'll have the grill hot and ready to go! We will also have plenty of sodas and snacks on hand! Come join us for this family friendly celebration of summer. 

2005 E-mail blitz blisters S.L. Co. GOP councilmen Talk of the Morning: Domestic-Partner Controversy By Derek P. Jensen The Salt Lake Tribune Sore hands, swollen knuckles, slumped shoulders. No, Salt Lake County Council aides haven't been in a brawl. It just feels like it. Since Tuesday, they have been swarmed by hundreds of e-mails lambasting the five Republican councilmen for rejecting domestic- partner benefits for county employees in a 5-4 party-line vote. The staffers are typing furiously at their computers trying to respond to the deluge, one by one. "We've had about all we can handle this week," says Michael Chabries, aide to Republicans Cort Ashton and Mark Crockett. "Bigots, homophobes and hatemongers. And those are the nice things they say." A taste of the invective: l "You five persons showed that you stand for injustice, intolerance, bigotry and inequality. These are not the values of an American citizen and I am ashamed to have you in a position of influence in my community." l "Thanks for the two-faced lies, people. I'm wondering WWJD [what would Jesus do] if asked to stand up and honor his word." l "It is you who are less because, instead of standing up and fighting for the rights of others, you cower behind the public beliefs of the masses." l "This vote adds to the disgusting record of this governmental body. You should be ashamed of yourselves. I am very disappointed in each and every one of you, and I expect an apology." As quickly as the zingers arrive, they are forwarded to the councilmen. Still, aides say, it has been exhausting to answer the scores of insults prompted partly by a letter-writing campaign organized through a prominent gay-rights group. "It seems like they're all replying from a mass e-mail from Equality Utah," says Ryan Perry, aide to Council Chairman Michael Jensen, who estimates his boss has 200 messages alone. "The name- calling and the bigot comments are kind of hard to read. But, other than that, people have been pretty civil." Tuesday's vote and subsequent e-mail barrage follow an emotional debate that left Crockett and the county's Gay and Lesbian Employee Association chairwoman in tears. The issue was framed by Democrats as a matter of fairness, while their GOP counterparts argued such a move would signal an endorsement of gay marriage, which they note Utah voters soundly rejected in November by passing Amendment 3. The shotgun e-mail, which triggered much of the response, included the phone numbers and e-mail addresses of each council member. It was a "joint statement" from the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Utah, Human Rights Campaign, Stonewall Democrats, Log Cabin Republicans and Equality Utah, according to the last organization's acting executive director, Jane Marquardt. "It was never our intent to

Jane Marquardt

 encourage hateful speech," Marquardt says. "But we have to have constructive debate to let the council know there are real unmarried partners who deserve the benefits since they do the same amount of work." She insists using the Amendment 3 argument in denying benefits for gay people is "just wrong." That failed to convince Jensen, who stands by his decision. "Most people would draw a connection between the domestic-partner benefits and the vote we held in November," he says. Jensen also downplays the feedback, saying the council also gets "swamped" over zoning issues. "It's just democracy in action." Chabries, who spent Friday wading through the missives, isn't so sure. "Anytime you deal with sexual politics it incites a different kind of passion," he says. Of the e-mails, consider this one from a University of Utah professor who helped the U. become Utah's only public employer to offer such benefits. "One day so will the rest of this sadly homophobic, intellectually challenged majority."

2009 A few simple perspectives Share Yesterday at 8:26pm This evening I attended the first Town-Hall meeting for Equality Utah's Common Ground Initiative. In the last several years, since the 'No on 3' campaign, I've had a bit of a chip on my shoulder with the Gay Community. Not necessarily the people as much as the Human Rights Campaign (Utah Chapter) and the Pride Center. I've felt that the HRC is an organization to raise funds for swanky cocktail parties with no real political action. Well, except for those free stickers they keep giving out. As for the Utah Pride Center; I've felt unwelcome, and disenfranchised every-time I've entered the facility. With the exception of the one time I mentioned my feelings to their public relations director. I sat down and had a very pleasant conversation with her. However the staff at the Center hasn't been the most welcoming since. As a Gay man that lives in Salt Lake County, I have many other friends that are gay and don't feel like it's worth anything to get involved with Utah Politics. Either because we're not a group of pretty boys who meet at the bar every night, or because we're not part of the 'now' generation. We are however Gay men with a fair amount of disposable income that enjoy a good dinner party once in a while. I'm not a politician, I'm a work-a-day guy, who comes home to his beautifully decorated house, and enjoys a quiet life. I wouldn't mind getting more active in Utah Politics, as long as I'm made to feel like a part of the process. There are MANY of us out there, we don't necessarily want to get our picture in the paper, but calling our representatives is no big deal. I can do that in ten minutes; and I have. Now on the subject of Marriage in Utah between LGBT individuals, this is not on the near horizon. Sorry to bum y'all out, but let's face reality. We need to start with smaller issues. Right now Marriage is too much of a hot bedded issue, and we are, after all in Utah. One thing I was always taught growing up was to set attainable goals. Build on unattainable goals, keep them with you at all times, but start with a good foundation. States like California, Vermont, and Massachusetts are years ahead of us politically speaking. I personally think we need to build a firm foundation, then go for what we really want. The Common Ground Initiative focuses on issues such as Expanding Health Care, Fair Housing and Employment. In Utah an LGBT individual can still be fired from their job. Reality check, it's 2009, the 21st century, and WE ARE STILL FACING THIS. We've been in this for 40 years, and as a 34 year old gay man I am impressed with how far we've come in just the last 15 years. Let's not take steps backwards by alienating ourselves from our community, let's take steps to be pillars of our community. I think the most appealing thing about this town hall meeting was how accessible it was. It was an open invitation to members of the LGBT community who happen to live in Taylorsville and it's surrounding areas. It felt nice that a group, formed within our community, was asking for people to pound the pavement, not just give them more money to throw at the problem. In 1992 I was a 17 year old kid coming out of the closet, there were organizations in the community like Queer Nation, Wasatch Affirmation, The Stonewall Center, and Ben will write a long comment on here if I don't mention The Sacred Fairies (I love you, Ben.). We've lost some of these groups, militant as some of them were, they got the message out. They were continuing Harvey Milk's notion to let people know that we were here, and we're not going away.  I know the current course in Utah is to attract more bee's with honey, and keep it professional. To some extent that has bothered an old activist; such as myself. With Equality Utah, I feel that redirecting our message is due. They are asking that we start educating the community around us. Maybe it's time once again to listen to Mr. Milk's 

Terry Gillman

suggestion that we come out. I live in West Valley, I know there are LGBT people out here. I know there are LGBT people in every corner of this county. We need to talk to our neighbors, we need to let them, and our communities know, that we're here. For those of us living in the burbs it's a little more difficult, we're not in liberal Salt Lake City. But we can start a dialog with our friends and neighbors to find that Common Ground. Call your state and city representatives, and let them know you are in favor of what ever initiative catches your eye. At least you'd be doing your part to BE ACTIVE in your own little corner of the state. Thank you.- Terry Gillman

Ruby Ridge aka
Donald Steward

2010 Subject: Bingo Ladies and Friends, PLEASE get the word out about Third Friday Bingo! Our charity is the South Valley Domestic Violence Sanctuary which is really struggling right now with no cash (they had two of their stoves go down this week and no way to fix them....NOT GOOD!!!!). We love this charity as it is the only facility in Utah that accepts domestic violence victims from same sex couples (both men and women). Our patriotic theme is "Above the Fruited Plain" so red white and blue and/or fruity will work fine for outfits. Thanks. Ruby [Ridge aka Donald Steward].

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

Clifford Rosky

 Equality Utah Board Chair Clifford Rosky. “Brandie’s expertise, grace and compassion have truly transformed the landscape for LGBT equality in Utah, and we very much look forward to seeing her work continue on the national stage.” “In light of everything that Brandie has achieved in the last five years, it’s hardly surprising to see her moving on to the national stage.  She has already been serving as the co-chair of the board of directors of Equality Federation for years, and her work in Utah has garnered attention from national organizations and activists across the United States,” Rosky continued. Shortly after she was named interim director of Equality Utah in July of 2009, succeeding Mike Thompson, the group announced the transition of its Common Ground Initiative from an effort to pass legislation at the state legislature to working with municipalities in the state to pass local ordinances. The effort was wildly successful, as 19 communities passed ordinances in all areas of the state, from Salt Lake City to St. George, to Moab to Price. In 2010, the organization was honored with Change.org’s Top 10 “Gay Rights Heroes of 2010” after securing its goal of 10 city ordinances in the first year. Also in 2010, Balken was named QSaltLake‘s Person of the Year and was featured on the cover of the January issue. In 2012, Philanthropedia, a division of GuideStar which reports on U.S. nonprofits, ranked the group seventh among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and ally organizations that had a high impact on their local community. Balken was also named by the organization as a top leader. Over the years, the organization helped many endorsed candidates from both sides of the aisle in their goal of a “fair and just Utah.” The group raised funds through personal donations and the annual Allies Dinner, which has grown dramatically since 2009, filling the largest ballroom in the state. The group expanded the dinner to include one each year in St. George. EU has also worked to forge relationships with politicians and other leaders at all levels of the state. Their reach of influence extends from senators to representatives to school leaders to the Utah Driver License Division. “Utah is a better place because of Brandie’s dedication, hard work and her talents,” Salt Lake City Parents and Friends of Gays and Lesbians said in a statement. “She will be missed, but will now be able to continue to affect change on a national level, which benefits so many more people. We extend our sincere gratitude and congratulations to Brandie.” “I cannot imagine going 

Mark Lawrence

through the events of the past year, without knowing that Brandie and Cliff and Equality Utah had my back,” said Restore Our Humanity director Mark Lawrence. “We have become not only a village but a new light in the universe and without Brandie and her work, that light would be much dimmer.” “Brandie Balken has been one of the greatest leaders of LGBTQ equality in Utah that has ever been my privilege to know. We all owe her a huge debt of gratitude,” said activist Eric Ethington. “When Ben Williams finally finishes his Utah LGBT history, Brandie will go down as one of the great ones. With legislators, her velvet touch masked in a backbone of steel. And organizationally, she is Fortune 400 material,” said Sen. James Dabakis. “I saw her steel

Jim Dabakis

 side one day in a meeting where it was suggested that if she dropped the ‘T’ from ‘LGBT,’ she might get a statewide nondiscrimination bill passed. She icely said, ‘That, my friend, is going nowhere.'” “Brandie is a class act. She knows how to engage issues with compassion and intelligence,” said activist Troy Williams. “As marriage equality becomes the norm, our movement is now shifting toward LGBT nondiscrimination work. There is no one better qualified than Brandie to move this work across the country. Utah’s loss is the nation’s gain. We love and miss her already.” Marina Gomberg has been named interim director as the board finds a permanent replacement for the position. Gomberg is a communications manager at the University of Utah and was a director of development and marketing at the Utah Pride Center for five years. She and her wife, Elenor Heyborne, are 

Marina Gomberg

plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the State of Utah seeking to recognize the over 1,300 couples married during the 17 days that marriage was legal in the state. “Marina has deep roots in the LGBT community of Utah and strong communication and leadership skills.  We look forward to utilizing her talents in this capacity while we conduct a thorough, comprehensive search for our next executive director,” Rosky said. “As always, Equality Utah remains fully committed to the growth of our robust programming.  Working together, the board and the staff will continue to raise awareness about the experiences of transgender Utahns, achieve nondiscrimination protections in employment and housing, and win the freedom to marry for all Utahns.” Rosky is excited about where Equality Utah is, and where it plans to be in the near future. “This is an exciting time for Equality Utah and the LGBT movement. We are stronger than ever. We are about to win marriage equality in all 50 states, and our public education and fundraising campaign to support the Kitchen lawsuit that has played a significant role in that effort and served as a model for coalitions formed in other states. We have won the passage of more than 35 LGBT-inclusive policies at the state and local level, which protect millions of Utahns from discrimination in employment, housing and schools,” Rosky said. “We are excited to launch our new trans* awareness project, and to bring Laverne Cox as our special guest at then EU Allies Dinner this year. We have a lot of great new things planned for the upcoming year, and we are thrilled to find a new leader to keep moving us forward.” Q Salt Lake 

2015 Utah Pride Center names Marian Edmonds-Allen as executive director The Utah Pride Center announced today the appointment of Marian Edmonds-Allen as their new executive director. “Marian is the right person at the right time. She is already a very well respected leader in our community,” said Utah Pride Center board president Kent Frogley. “There is much work to be done still and Marian stepping into the 

Marian Edmonds-Allen

leadership role at the Utah Pride Center will serve our community well in advancing the mission of the Utah Pride Center in providing important programs and services that meet the needs of the LGBTQ community. “We conducted a national search. We were very thoughtful and careful as we considered our pool of candidates,” continued Frogley. “The UPC staff were included in the interview process and are behind Marian as well.” Edmonds-Allen was named QSaltLake’s 2014 Person of the Year and a 2015 Petra Foundation Fellow as an, “unsung leader who is making distinctive contributions to the rights, autonomy and dignity of millions who are marginalized in America” for her collaborative work with families, community organizations, government agencies and religious institutions to prevent LGBT youth homelessness and suicide in Utah. She is currently the national program director for the Family Acceptance

Kent Frogley

Project, a research, intervention, education and policy initiative that works to decrease risk and to promote well-being for LGBT children and adolescents in the context of families, culture and faith communities. She is formerly the executive director of OUTreach Resource Centers and holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary. She lives in Pleasant View Utah with her wife and four children. “Marian brings critical leadership skills, deep commitment, vision and compassion to bring the community together to enable LGBT youth and adults to lead fully authentic lives. I look forward to working with her in this exciting new role as she continues to make a vital difference,” said Dr. Caitlin Ryan, Director of the Family Acceptance Project. “Equality Utah is thrilled to welcome Marian Edmonds to her new role. We are excited to see her vision and leadership in action. We look forward to working together to create a better state for all LGBTQ Utahns,” said Troy Williams, executive director Equality Utah. “Marian Edmonds cares deeply about our community. She has the ability to combine compassion with leadership skills that get resources and programs to the people who need them. She is a bridge builder who can bring diverse groups together in order to build a better Utah for LGBTQ people and their allies.” said Erika Munson, co-founder of Mormons Building Bridges.

Jon Schild

2015 Jon J. Schild  long time Gay community member died July 16, 2015 from cancer. He was born on November 16, 1944 and  graduated from Pocatello High School in 1962 and served an LDS mission to the New England states. Jon earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Idaho State University in 1969 and his Master’s Degree was from UC Santa Barbara in 1975. Jon lived a life of service. He was a ward and church organist for over 50 years of his life. Jon was an Air Force Veteran. He also served with the Big Brother’s organization for several years earning an award from Governor Bangerter in 1986 for outstanding community service. He volunteered with a half-way house program to help people rebuild their lives after incarceration. Jon loved the arts and acted in countless plays over the years. He sang in the Salt Lake Men’s Choir and then in the Utah Opera Chorus for over 20 years where he performed in many operas. He was a member of Wasatch Affirmation and Unconditional Support. Jon was preceded in death by his loyal cat Queen Vashti. He is survived by several dear friends. He continues to serve the community by having donated his body for medical research. Jon’s memorial service will be held at Sacred Light of Christ Church 823 S. 600 E. in Salt Lake City on July 26th at 7:00 PM.